Chapter: 35. Intelligence (5K, please vote for the monthly ticket at the beginning of the month!)
“Rebellion? Did I hear that right? Belis, you said rebellion? The Third Legion? Wow… is this for real?! How ridiculous…! Cough… how absurd is this! When was the last time there was a rebellion? How can such a thing happen in this day and age?!”
“Yes, Queen Sister, there is absolutely no falsehood in the news. I am not very clear about the specifics yet; right now, Father and the others are still discussing countermeasures in the Great Hall, and we need to go listen as well. Tsk… you two? Do you really have to follow us?”
The answer was unquestionable.
Silver-haired Xiya, disguised, and Livra, who quickly changed into formal attire after returning to her room, both wore serious expressions as they followed behind the Xue Feiya sisters and quickly made their way to the Demon King’s Great Hall.
They were determined to shamelessly push forward without looking back.
“Belis, I know that, given my position, I should avoid this matter, but I feel that if it concerns the kingdom… my identity might actually be of some help. Moreover, I have this disguise; it’s not a problem.”
“Right, right! Just as Lady Xialet said, we are definitely not here because of Shaya… I mean, we will do our best to contribute, Princess Belis, please let us follow! We will absolutely remain silent; silence is golden!”
Of course, if you say you’ll chop me up right now, I’ll immediately go back and take a long nap.
Belis and Xue Feiya walked shoulder to shoulder in the lead.
She glanced back with her peripheral vision to observe the determined expressions of the two behind her. Even though Belis wanted to issue a dismissal order, the current situation didn’t support her in doing anything excessive.
One by one… they clearly just wanted to follow the Queen Sister’s lead, yet they spoke so grandiosely.
Belis’s intention to stop them was also because of the Queen Sister… so it’s a mutual feeling.
Standing on the teleportation magic circle directed towards the Demon King’s Great Hall.
Before Belis activated the magic to transfer everyone, she tucked her silver hair behind her and turned seriously to Xialet.
“Especially you, Xialet, remember that once we arrive at the Demon King’s Great Hall, there will be many officials present. You must not say anything unnecessary.”
“I understand. In this political context, silence is…”
“I won’t admit that the Queen Sister has a lover outside! I warn you, you’re disguised as a demon and are getting this close to the Queen Sister, don’t you dare think about using that identity for anything!”
“……”
Xiya felt embarrassed and ashamed.
Belis, if you hadn’t said that, I wouldn’t have even thought of the possibility of making something out of that identity!
I’ve learned my lesson.
But…
But you think relationship issues are more urgent and severe than political ones?!
What a coincidence.
Xiya thinks so too, huh?
…………………………………
At the endpoint of the dark purple teleportation magic array, the coordinates were right in front of the Demon King’s Great Hall.
The large doors were slightly ajar, and moving to the side felt the overwhelming pressure of the hall—serious yet noisy.
Two rows of candle flames barely illuminated the still dim surroundings.
The moment Xue Feiya and the others appeared, Demon King Dizna, sitting upright on the throne, shifted slightly.
He slammed his armrest, and the light magic stones illuminated with a chain reaction, brightening the originally mysterious and dark environment.
——Swish!!
The mysterious atmosphere that the old man always maintained in the Great Hall was gone.
Now, one could see that the usually empty hall had already gathered a multitude of demons, which was the source of the previous clamor.
Seeing the lights turned on, several demons clicked their tongues in regret.
Hey hey… how much do you guys really like the dim atmosphere of rituals?!
Predominantly four-winged, with fewer five-winged.
And judging by their formally dressed attire, these were nobles from the Demon Capital, Canbino.
Noticing the arrival of Princess Xue Feiya and Princess Belis, the hall quieted down halfway.
The other half didn’t immediately turn around; they were still deeply engrossed in discussing the situation, filled with worries.
“How could this happen… what on earth is Princess Ailer doing? Didn’t the rumors say she set off from Canbino a few days ago? Since she has gone, why did a rebellion occur?”
“The Third Legion has always been insubordinate… they are the weakest link of the Demon King’s Army. Tsk… a bunch of unfaithful scoundrels, constantly causing trouble for His Majesty the Demon King. I will personally lead a large troop to exterminate these treasonous scoundrels!”
“Hmph, spare me! This kind of good thing, does it fall to your old bones? My demon race has many talented young leaders; eliminating the Third Legion will be a piece of cake! Ah… it’s just too bad that this is infighting, letting outsiders see a joke—what a disgrace.”
“You…!”
The atmosphere was lively and passionate.
If no one maintained order, the hall could turn into a gladiatorial arena for competing over command at any moment.
Just a few discussions further ignited the fervor, declaring the differences between the demon race and the human kingdom.
The innate warmongering and radicalism, juxtaposed against the constant conservativeness and caution, was the greatest difference imprinted in the bloodlines of the two races.
Even Livra, the human princess, couldn’t help but praise this peculiar atmosphere in the demon nobles’ discussions.
“Wow… everyone is so enthusiastic, unlike the subjects of Aulus who are always analyzing things according to reason and insisting on acting prudently. The demon nobles don’t analyze things at all… no wonder people often say there are many reckless demons; it’s a real mix of good and bad, and it truly can be logical… Um, Miss Shaya, help! Did I say something they could hear? I feel my life is in danger…!”
“It’s okay, Livra, in such a noisy place, nobody can hear you. But your life being in danger is indeed true.”
“!”
“Better stay close to me, or you might have trouble.”
I’ll stick close to you right away!
Indeed, the demons’ hostility towards Livra wasn’t because they heard what she said.
It was because they saw her—this human princess—and already had instincts of hostility and dislike, after all, the demon race and human race were mortal enemies.
Present were the great nobles of the demon race, many of whom recognized the Third Princess of Aulus.
Livra, repeatedly pushed aside by Belis and Xiya from next to Xue Feiya, had to cling closely to her, like a small magnet, while trying to maintain her dignity and elegance as a human princess.
Livra’s hearing was not as sharp as Xue Feiya’s.
She could catch snippets of conversations that Xue Feiya was able to hear.
“Tsk… isn’t that the human princess? Why did you bring her here?”
“No big deal, isn’t she just a toy sent by the King of Aulus to Princess Xue Feiya? Didn’t you see how scared she looks? She’s definitely already been tamed by the princess; just a few days, and the princess is truly ruthless… Ha, but brutality in our demon race is a kind of talent!”
“Indeed, I heard that the King of Aulus directly sent his daughter to Princess Xue Feiya to cooperate with our demon race?! Laughing to death… this old king really isn’t as young as he used to be… Ugh!”
They were speaking in extremely low voices.
But this noble, who was taking the liberty to gossip, suddenly turned his head—only to face a chilling gaze.
Princess Xue Feiya didn’t look directly at him.
But the icy glance, as if it could freeze bones, sent a chill down his spine.
Naturally, he would instinctively fall silent.
Then, they remembered what they should say at that moment.
“Congratulations to Princess Xue Feiya on your return home!”
“Your Highness, as always, you are as short … valiant as ever!”
“Today’s chaos still requires Your Highness to give a judgment. Who do you think should lead the troops to exterminate the rebels?”
Xue Feiya nodded in response but did not stop her footsteps, continuing to lead everyone forward.
Some things could be said.
But some matters that didn’t need to be discussed, especially those that Xue Feiya didn’t want to hear, were better left unsaid.
The nobles in the hall consciously formed two lines, paving a path for Xue Feiya and the others to the Demon King’s high platform.
Some always held a sense of wanting to see a show; they believed that after Princess Xue Feiya had been imprisoned for a few months, she would likely have lost her sharpness, and that once-proud and brutal princess would return like a little dog, trembling at the slightest wind.
But in reality.
At this moment, the feeling of pressure, where one could be thrown into the lake to feed the fish with just one extra word, was no different from before.
She remained herself.
Still unmistakably the Calamity Witch, who once led the Second Legion on campaigns near and far.
Of course, some noticed the silver-haired state of Xiya, the symbol of the royal side family.
Some were puzzled as to who she was; however, amid the chaos, since she was brought by Princess Xue Feiya and Princess Belis, there was naturally no need for them to ask more.
As Xue Feiya and the others reached the front of the platform, Queen Herlith, who stood elegantly on the platform, merely lifted her head and waved, and four shining crystal chairs appeared out of thin air, floating gracefully down to the front of the high platform.
Clearly, she was indicating that she hoped everyone could sit and listen to the developments of the situation.
The queen might not need the children to offer any suggestions, but she always felt that letting Xue Feiya and the others experience more political matters would help them.
At least, it was far better than hibernating in bed sleeping the day away.
As everyone took their seats, Xiya and Livra hesitated for a long time before finally sitting down together, only then noticing a man half-kneeling in front of the Demon King’s high platform.
He bowed his head respectfully, with his left hand gloved in white, fist resting on the ground, reporting to the Demon King and the queen.
Wearing rimless chain glasses, with black, short hair partially obscuring his sharp face, and in a formal suit, he appeared dignified.
Xiya turned slightly, lowering her voice to inquire.
“Xue, why does this person look somewhat familiar…?”
“Look at your memory; this is the First Legion’s chief of staff who stopped us at the gate on the day we came to the Demon King’s Castle! Salno Yalin! I can’t stand this guy; when I used to fish, he would interfere, saying something about sustainable fishing. How could I not know whether I can catch all the fish in the lake?”
“After all, you can hardly catch a few… I said nothing! But… did you just say the First Legion’s chief of staff…? Isn’t that an important official position, to be given to someone so young?”
“But Salno is over a hundred years old, an old stubborn man—how is that young?”
“!”
Alright.
In the demon race, looks and age may not match, so one really cannot judge by appearances.
This young-looking and suave First Legion chief of staff, upon the arrival of Xue Feiya and the others, lowered his head in acknowledgement.
Then.
Salno Yalin bowed his head again, facing the Demon King and Queen on the high platform.
The report was still ongoing.
“Your Majesty, as I stated, the Third Legion is marching rapidly into the Northern Border, and the route from the border city to the Northern Border has vacant defenses. I suggest immediately arranging for the First Legion to rush to the front lines to intercept…”
“Lord Salno? Before you continue explaining the situation, you should answer the question I just asked you first, right?”
“Sorry, Your Majesty.”
Demon King Dizna’s tone and expression today were exceptionally serious and solemn.
Rebellion—this matter had severely touched his bottom line.
Regardless of the demon race’s territory.
Or regarding his own family.
Because the commander of the Third Legion… was the Demon King’s younger sister, Princess Ailer.
If the Third Legion has rebelled, then where is Ailer now?
The question the Demon King had just asked was precisely this.
Before knowing the answer to this question, he was unwilling to hear any other intelligence; if Ailer faced any danger, then any plan would be meaningless, and the King would lead the nation’s fierce generals to slaughter the traitors.
Having accompanied the Demon King for so long, Salno naturally understood how much weight the king placed on family.
That said, he didn’t really think his unfortunate sister would be in any danger.
However, he still instructed people to prioritize investigating intelligence related to her.
Salno slowly opened his closed eyes.
Moments ago, his subordinates had reported to him via his mind.
“Your Majesty, Your Highness, I have just learned that the Princess left for the border city Lide Qidu the day before yesterday and arrived safely yesterday. But for some unknown reason… soon after, the Third Legion rebelled.”
Upon hearing this, the room erupted in a clamor.
Ailer had just returned to the legion not long ago, and now there was a rebellion?
Doesn’t this imply that the ringleader of the rebellion is the Princess herself…?
However.
These voices had no effect on Demon King Dizna’s judgment whatsoever.
“I want to ask, what is Ailer’s current condition? Is this question really that hard? Do I need to go and see for myself?”
Impatience gradually surfaced in the Demon King’s crimson eyes.
He didn’t ask, “Is the rebellion related to Ailer?” because he knew there was no need for that.
Though that girl often caused trouble, she was not greedy for power.
On such matters, she wouldn’t do something meaningless.
Salno did not answer immediately, as he was still using his mind to confirm the situation.
Reports in the hall must be thoroughly accurate.
“Princess Ailer is safe, but… she seems not to be acting along with the Third Legion.”
“Meaning she’s still in Lide Qidu?”
“Yes… most of the Third Legion has already left the border city, and only a small portion remains stationed. The Princess is still in Lide Qidu; I believe she must have been delayed by some matter… Hmm…?!”
A slight look of surprise first appeared on Salno’s steady expression.
A cold sweat trickled down his forehead as he reported the latest news accurately.
“The intelligence personnel were unable to articulate because it seems the Princess has been trapped by some kind of sealing magic…?”
The Demon King raised an eyebrow, a curious arc forming at the corner of his mouth, while the twitching at his temple indicated his hidden anger and displeasure.
The discussions in the hall did not cease; many began to speculate about the unreliability of Salno’s intelligence.
A six-winged demon trapped by sealing magic…? What a joke! Is there really such magic in this world? Are you sure the information isn’t flawed?!
Disregarding their wild guesses, Salno’s report only respected the truth.
“My subordinate has also never encountered such sealing magic; it is said that a golden light beam descended from the sky, enveloping the Princess in golden light, and since then, she has been sealed within, unable to break free.”
“Oh? How do you know this is just sealing?”
“My subordinates risked their lives to investigate, and they heard laughter coming from within the beam; they deduced it was the Princess’s laughter, so we can basically ascertain that she is safe and sound.”
“Ha…hahaha!”
Yes, that’s right, Your Majesty, that kind of laughter of yours has become the basis for our judgment.
Seeing you and the Princess laugh, one could not tell the difference, which certainly saved the intelligence team a lot of effort.
The Demon King stood up from his seat, the madness in his laughter carrying elements of anger, but more so, like someone who found something amusing.
“Ha! Not bad! Interesting! I never expected there to be a magic that could trap Ailer?! Didn’t she say she could go wherever she wanted, that no one could stop her? Ha ha, you all heard that, right?! The enemy is well prepared; don’t let your guard down!”
Of course, there was no need for the Demon King to remind them.
The fact that Princess Ailer, the six-winged demon, was trapped by magic had already led Salno to elevate the danger level of the rebellion to its peak.
Xue Feiya pondered carefully.
To be honest, she was somewhat surprised.
“Did you hear that, Belis? Auntie is actually trapped.”
“She’s still laughing, so she’s probably not dead.”
“Uh… she’s probably not dead, but I meant to say, what sort of person in the Third Legion could use magic that could trap Auntie?”
“There shouldn’t be anyone like that; it is indeed strange. Not only that, but Aunt Ailer was the original commander of the Third Legion… the entire legion actually betrayed her?”
“Oh, that’s not surprising. Isn’t it her fault for just wandering about without working?”
Xiya was listening on the left and then on the right.
A bad possibility slowly emerged in her mind.
“Xue… do you think the rebel army received some external assistance?”
“Xiya, you’re clever again.”
“For example… the residents of the border city, or the Kingdom of Aulus provided them with some sealing secret techniques?”
“Uh oh, I praised you too early.”
“!”
Xiya could analyze, but only in part.
Livra pondered with her chin resting on her hand.
With her dark locks cascading down to her shoulders, the way the royal princess seriously considered problems seemed profoundly wise and calm.
In a sense, Livra was the true strategist.
“As for who provided the assistance, that should be observed from the movements of the army… Princess Belis, did you just say that the army is advancing northwards? Charging towards the Northern Border?”
“Yes… uh, why do you suddenly seem like a different person?”
“That doesn’t matter; I think like this when I’m thinking. The key point is that to the north of the Northern Border… is the territory of the high-level races…”
“You’ve pointed out the crux of the problem.”
Everyone hadn’t thought it through earlier.
But if they contemplated carefully.
It seemed they could discern the reason behind the Third Legion’s aggressive actions.
If the instigator of the Third Legion’s rebellion and the one providing assistance is the high-level races…
Then it might explain the situation.
At the moment Livra articulated this conclusion, Salno, the army’s chief of staff, also raised his head.
Since he could serve as the chief of staff of the First Legion, it meant he possessed the intelligence that matched that position.
He once again seriously proposed this preliminary suggestion to the Demon King and the Queen.
“I implore Your Majesty to issue an immediate order for the First Legion to swiftly engage and intercept the rebel army, so they must not reach the Northern Border. Otherwise, if they meet successfully with the high-level races, the consequences will be unimaginable.”