Chapter 32: Candice’s Killing Intent
Lomond was imposing, his terrifying aura overwhelming.
Compared to him, Horus felt so weak, almost as if she could crush him with a single finger.
But…
Horus was stronger.
Candice believed this wholeheartedly.
She couldn’t explain it, but she felt it in her bones. Horus’s unfathomable power, his enigmatic nature, was far more terrifying than Lomond’s brute force.
“Half-breed, you dare address the Prince without kneeling!” a cold voice snapped from beside her.
Candice jolted back to reality, quickly dropping to one knee. “My deepest apologies, Your Highness. Your presence overwhelmed me, causing me to forget my manners. Please, forgive my transgression.”
Lomond, however, seemed unconcerned. He waved a dismissive hand.
“Rise.”
His voice, booming like thunder, echoed through the mountain’s hollow core, shaking its very foundations.
“Candice, what brings you before me?” Lomond asked, his massive jaws parting slightly, his crimson eyes narrowed, scrutinizing the small figure kneeling before him.
He loathed her.
Her human blood, its scent a constant reminder of her tainted lineage, disgusted him.
But he was a Prince, smarter than those mindless Demons.
Despite his revulsion, he knew she was useful. So, despite his terrifying aura, he occasionally displayed a semblance of tolerance, a tactic humans called “winning hearts and minds.”
He was the Seventh Prince, the son of the esteemed Eternal Monarch. To grant an audience to a mere half-breed was an honor, a privilege she should be eternally grateful for.
Rewards?
He had deigned to meet with her personally. Wasn’t that reward enough? One shouldn’t be greedy.
Candice must be ecstatic, he thought, to be in his presence, to witness his magnificence. This must be a memorable day for her.
Candice took a deep breath, her gaze lowered.
“Great Prince,” she began, “I have two crucial pieces of intelligence to report.”
“First, the Second Hero has been summoned.”
Lomond’s eyes widened, a predatory gleam flickering within them.
The Eternal Monarch had seven sons. He was the youngest, his older brothers already accomplished, their deeds legendary. He, however, had yet to achieve anything of note. This gnawed at him, fueling his desperate need to prove himself, to earn recognition for his strength, his cunning.
The Hero was the perfect target.
The First Hero had caused them considerable trouble. If he could eliminate the Second Hero, it would be a significant victory, a feat that would silence his brothers’ mocking laughter, their constant reminders of his childhood… accident.
But Candice’s next words shattered his hopes.
“However, the Hero is constantly guarded by the Pope, the High Priestess, and the Emperor of Auville. It would be nearly impossible to assassinate him.”
Lomond’s good mood evaporated.
Augustus, Saint Monique, and Wadsworth, the three strongest humans.
Even his father, the Eternal Monarch, acknowledged their power. Lomond, though confident in his future dominance, in his inevitable ascension to supreme power, understood that, for now, these three humans posed a significant threat.
To kill the Hero under their protection was beyond his current capabilities.
Frustration gnawed at him. He clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking. He yearned to unleash his rage, to destroy, to kill, to vent his frustration.
His gaze turned predatory.
“However, though the Hero might be out of reach,” Candice continued, “I have another piece of information…”
“What is it?” Lomond growled, his voice laced with impatience.
“Members of the Hero Squad are traveling to the Auville Empire’s capital, likely to train the Hero. I have acquired the route of one of them.”
Lomond felt a surge of excitement, followed by a wave of disappointment.
If he couldn’t kill the Hero, eliminating a member of the Hero Squad would be a decent consolation prize. It wouldn’t earn him as much glory, but it was better than nothing.
He was intrigued.
Candice, observing his reaction, smiled inwardly.
This was all according to Horus’s plan.
Horus intended to manipulate Lomond into killing Benson, the Immovable Shield, using the Demon Prince to eliminate his enemy while simultaneously boosting Lomond’s status among the Demonfolk.
Lomond, compared to the Eternal Monarch’s other sons and daughters, was… easier to manipulate.
This brute, with his limited intellect, had no idea that he was merely a pawn in Horus’s game.
Everything was unfolding according to Qin Chu’s plan. Candice’s mission was just one piece of a much larger puzzle.
Eliminating the Demons lurking within the capital was another crucial step. It would prevent them from relaying information to Lomond and increase Candice’s value to the Demons.
And based on his knowledge of Lomond, the Demon Prince was strong enough to handle a single member of the Hero Squad.
Lomond, constantly overshadowed by his older siblings, craved recognition. Despite his princely status, his position among the Demonfolk was precarious. Compared to his brothers, his power was still lacking. His arrogance was a facade, a mask hiding his insecurities, his fear of being deemed unworthy.
This insecurity, coupled with his limited intellect, made him desperate to prove his worth to his father, the Eternal Monarch. He craved glory, recognition, any achievement that would elevate his status.
He was the perfect tool.
And this plan had another benefit: it would divert Lomond’s attention from Qin Chu, buying him precious time to grow stronger.
In his previous life, he had been ambushed countless times, barely escaping with his life on several occasions.
Lomond’s caution, his desire for a guaranteed victory, would crumble in the face of such a tempting target.
Candice watched Lomond’s expression, his eyes gleaming with greed and anticipation, his breathing quickening.
Horus’s plan was working.
As expected, after a moment of contemplation, Lomond looked up, his voice booming. “Candice, this is excellent news.”
“Which member of the Hero Squad have you located?”
“Benson, the Immovable Shield.”
Perfect!
Benson was the ideal target.
His defenses were legendary, tougher than a turtle’s shell.
But his attacks were weak, his offensive capabilities laughable. Lomond was confident he could defeat Benson. And even if he failed, Benson wouldn’t be able to catch him.
“Is this information reliable?” Lomond asked.
“I apologize, Your Highness, but I cannot guarantee its accuracy,” Candice replied, feigning regret. “However, I am seventy percent certain.”
She didn’t want to oversell it. Absolute certainty would only arouse suspicion.
Lomond pondered her words. Seventy percent wasn’t a guarantee, but it was worth the risk.
“Excellent, Candice. This information is very valuable.”
“You have earned a great reward.” Lomond praised her generously.
But it was only verbal praise. There was no tangible reward.
Candice scoffed inwardly. What a stingy Prince.
She couldn’t help but compare Lomond to Horus. Lomond offered empty words, while Horus had bestowed upon her a Super-tier spell.
Demons and humans were truly different.
The gap between them was vast.
Candice was convinced that siding with Horus was the best decision she had ever made.
“I will remember your contribution,” Lomond continued, oblivious to her thoughts. “Now, return to the Auville Empire’s capital and continue gathering information for me.”
Candice’s face contorted in feigned panic. After a moment of hesitation, she spoke. “Your Highness, regarding that… I request permission to leave the capital. I wish to serve by your side.”
“The capital is dangerous now. The Second Hero seems to possess an Ability that allows him to sense Demons, to see through their disguises. Many of our brethren have been exposed and eliminated. I fear…”
Lomond’s face darkened.
He was displeased by her refusal.
But considering her recent contribution, he restrained his anger. “Candice,” he said, his voice low and menacing, “are you refusing my order?”
“You needn’t worry. Your human blood is the perfect disguise. The Hero won’t detect you.”
“But…” Candice tried to argue.
But her words only fueled his rage.
He had been patient, treating this half-breed with a semblance of kindness, yet she dared to defy him, repeatedly? Who did she think she was?
Dark red energy, a manifestation of his fury, surged around him. He lashed out, his massive hand snatching Candice from the ground, his fingers tightening around her, crushing her bones.
Candice screamed, her face pale with pain, her body trembling. She couldn’t withstand his strength. She felt her bones grinding under his claws, the sound echoing in her ears.
“You dare disobey me, you wretched half-breed?”
“P-Prince… please…” Candice whimpered, her voice barely audible.
Lomond reveled in her suffering, a sadistic pleasure coursing through him. He wanted to crush her, to grind her bones to dust.
But he restrained himself.
He prided himself on his intelligence, his self-control.
According to Candice, most of the Demons hiding within the capital had been eliminated. Only Candice, with her half-human blood, had remained undetected.
This made her even more valuable.
He loosened his grip, his voice softening. “Candice, don’t worry. The Hero won’t discover your identity.”
“Serve me well, and I will reward you generously. You desire acceptance among the Demonfolk, don’t you? Once this is done, I will vouch for you. With me as your patron, no one will dare mistreat you.”
He released her, dropping her to the ground. Even in the end, it was just an empty promise.
Candice gasped for breath, her face pale and slick with sweat. She bowed deeply, then turned and fled.
As soon as she was gone, the mountain’s core erupted in a cacophony of voices.
“Ugh, a half-breed in our midst. The air is tainted. Disgusting.”
“Hee hee hee, that foolish Candice, dreaming of serving by the Prince’s side? What a joke! She’s unworthy.”
“Hah! To even meet with that half-breed made me want to vomit. If she stayed here, I’d go mad. Our royal dignity would be sullied.”
“Why didn’t the Prince kill her?”
“Patience is a virtue. Though she’s a repulsive half-breed, she’s still useful. I’ll extract every bit of value from her before discarding her. And then, she’ll pay for her insolence. Ga ha ha ha…”
“As expected of the Prince. Wise and decisive…”
They roared with laughter, believing she was out of earshot.
But Candice possessed a unique Ability, her hearing far more acute than that of ordinary beings. This was one of the reasons she had been so surprised when Horus had detected the approaching Demon before she had.
Their words, their insults, their laughter, pierced her ears.
Her face, previously pale with pain, contorted in rage.
She would have her revenge.
She would make these Demons, the ones who had used her, abused her, ridiculed her, even threatened to kill her, pay dearly.
Horus was her only hope.
Lomond, Lomond…
You fool. You’ll realize your mistake soon enough.
…
In the Auville Empire’s capital, within the Holy Maiden’s chambers, Loseweisse shredded a newspaper, her rage a tempestuous storm.
She hadn’t experienced a single moment of peace since Qin Chu’s arrival. Her days were filled with frustration and anger.
She had lost her temper more times in the past few days than in her entire life.
The shredded newspaper contained fragments of text, headlines proclaiming Qin Chu’s achievements.
“Second Hero, blessed with divine sight, exposes Demons lurking within the slums…”
“Hero Qin Chu eliminates one hundred and sixty-four Demons hiding within the noble district, bringing peace to the capital…”
“The savior of the Heavenly Continent!”
“Hero Qin Chu possesses two Super-tier Abilities, surpassing the First Hero, Jie Luo.”
“Qin Chu’s talent far exceeds that of Jie Luo!”
“The Messiah has arrived, even more extraordinary than the First Hero.”
Different newspapers, similar headlines.
Loseweisse’s rage boiled over. How dare they claim that Qin Chu, that bastard, was more extraordinary than Jie Luo?
Who gave them the right to write such lies?
Were they blind? Couldn’t they see Jie Luo’s perfection?
Kill him…
Kill Qin Chu.
The thought consumed her, a venomous seed taking root in her heart. Her eyes burned with a crimson fire, her fingers tracing the outline of a scroll, its contents a ritual for resurrecting Jie Luo.