Chapter Twenty-Six: The Demon Butler

“Misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding.” The members of the Blood Axe Adventurer Group grew anxious, rushing forward to argue their innocence.

“Arrest them. Separate and interrogate each one.” Viscount Karl, the lord, waved his hand, and soldiers stepped up to surround the three men.

The Blood Axe members’ faces turned ashen; they had plenty of criminal records and could not withstand questioning.

Viscount Karl was notorious for his brutality and unpredictable temperament. The number of people who had died at his hands could have paved the streets of Rockstead. Within his domain, he was the sole king—no one dared defy his orders.

Powerless to resist, the three Blood Axe members bowed their heads under the threat of swords and blades, knowing that any resistance meant certain death.

Though harsh and cruel, Lord Karl was equally greedy. Now, their only hope was that their leader would pay a hefty ransom to buy their lives.

After capturing the trio, Karl turned his attention to the weapon in the woman's hand.

He had witnessed the entire scene from afar; otherwise, he would not have bothered to come here. The fate of his subjects hardly interested him.

Understanding his intent, his subordinate stepped forward, seized the woman's weapon, and handed it to Viscount Karl.

Over the years, Karl had grown wealthy and seen many finely crafted magical items, even possessing advanced equipment from the dwarves and elves in his collection. Yet he had never encountered such a crudely made item capable of releasing magic. Was this ironmonger secretly a master in disguise?

Karl attempted to activate the magic, but failed.

“How does one trigger this magical equipment?” Karl raised an eyebrow at Old Mogg, the blacksmith, his tone brooking no refusal.

Mogg had been full of doubts ever since the flames were unleashed. Now, confronted by the lord’s inquiry, he was at a loss.

“My lord, this is merely a regular piece of equipment, not a magical item,” Mogg replied truthfully.

“Insolence! If the lord says it’s magical, then it’s magical. Speak the truth at once!” Karl’s subordinate stepped forward, his warning unmistakable.

He had a pair of demonic horns atop his head, making him appear especially intimidating.

“I—I truly don’t know. If I knew how to make magical equipment, I wouldn’t still be here,” Mogg said, wishing that he possessed such skill.

“What! Are you saying that if your skills improved, you’d betray the lord and leave?” Karl’s subordinate was a master of twisting words.

“No, that’s not what I meant,” Mogg hastily denied.

After inspecting the longsword, Karl frowned and tossed it to the ground. Then, he brought his greatsword down, destroying it completely.

“There are no magical runes on the blade, and its core is normal. It seems this is indeed not a magical weapon; the issue lies with the person,” Karl turned his gaze to the woman, his curiosity intense.

Mira, who had been brave enough to step forward and defend her earlier, now stood as immobilized as Mogg, terrified of provoking the lord.

“Take her as well. We’ll study her thoroughly tonight,” Karl’s lips curled into a sinister smile. The woman was quite attractive, and her ability to wield fire suggested she was some kind of demi-human.

Hearing this, the nervous Mira finally trembled as she stepped forward. “L-lord, she—she came from the goblin camp.”

Indeed, the mention of goblins brought a hint of disgust to Karl’s eyes.

Karl did not believe anyone would dare deceive him; a woman who had lived in a goblin camp was of no interest to him.

Mira continued, “The Blood Axe Adventurer Group disguised themselves as bandits and attacked her caravan…”

She recounted the woman’s ordeal. The onlookers had already heard it; hiding the truth was impossible now. It was better to let the lord punish Blood Axe severely.

Karl showed little reaction. He glanced at his subordinate, leaving the matter in his hands, and then departed the smithy with his guards.

The deputy left behind was the very one fond of argumentative banter—he was the lord’s steward and a tiefling, a hybrid race with demon blood, who had signed a slave contract with the lord. Not only did he wield genuine authority, but Karl trusted him implicitly because of the contract.

“Interrogation takes too long. Let’s solve it on the spot.” The tiefling steward’s eyes glowed purple as he turned to the wounded Blood Axe member.

“Was everything she said true? Did the Blood Axe Group disguise themselves as bandits and attack the caravan?”

The member was involuntarily ensnared by the steward’s magic. Under his companions’ anxious gaze, he answered in a trance, “Yes, our leader loves raiding caravans, and never leaves survivors.”

“Where is your leader now?” The tiefling steward licked his lips, eager for a fresh bout of slaughter.

“He’s at the Rockstead Tavern, drinking inside.”

The other two members closed their eyes in despair. Moments later, two heads soared skyward.

“You, hang their heads at the town gate. The rest, follow me.” The tiefling steward instructed a guard, then charged toward the tavern, clearly showing his own formidable strength.

Everyone hurried after him, leaving the woman ignored.

Mira and Mogg breathed a sigh of relief. They closed the shop and led the woman to the back room to comfort her.

Meanwhile, in the Mirror World, Chu Yun delightedly picked up a dropped orb of light. It had fallen from the leader of the Blood Axe Adventurer Group and contained thirty experience points.

Now, by following the tiefling steward, perhaps Chu Yun could level up without lifting a finger—and with luck, learn a few new skills.

The greatest advantage of the Mirror World was not only the rapid growth and learning it afforded, but also its concealment and capacity for dimensional attacks.

Chu Yun followed the steward to the Rockstead Tavern, a place so unlucky that hardly a day passed without someone dying.

An adventurer group required at least ten members to be called a ‘group;’ anything less, a small team.

The Blood Axe Adventurer Group was small, only fifteen members. Counting the three just slain and the two left behind, there were only ten in the tavern, including the leader.

Though a steward by title, the tiefling’s combat ability was formidable. By the time Chu Yun and the other guards arrived, the fight was already halfway through.

Of the ten Blood Axe members, five stood dazed, locked in combat with their own teammates.

This was another of the steward’s charm spells, highly effective, and Chu Yun was tempted to learn it.

Though the guards had arrived, the steward did not seem inclined to let them join in, instead allowing the group to slaughter one another. Like the demonfolk, he thoroughly enjoyed the scene, thrilling in its savage delight.