The Shepherds Are Dense – Chapter 400

Chapter 400
“Red Phase” Pomanach
The Red Fortress of Star Antimony was a palace built by the “Red Phase” in the deep mountains during the early days of the founding of the nation.
While called the “Red Fortress,” it was not actually red.
This was partly because a large amount of gold was used in its construction. Whenever the sun set, the twilight sky would reflect the golden palace, making it appear as red as fire.
On the other hand, it was because the “Red Phase,” believed by the Star Antimony people to have long since passed away, was actually an immortal Child of the Moon. This palace was his eternal paradise for pleasure.
Although officially, this Red Phase had long since retired from politics for many years.
However, the wealth and connections he had accumulated throughout his long life were sufficient to operate and grow on their own. Therefore, he did not need power to leisurely enjoy himself day and night in the Red Fortress.
Even though it was now winter, there was not a speck of snow in the courtyard. The plants were verdant and full of life, and scantily clad dancers were performing in the center to the music of the band.
A handsome youth, who appeared to be in his late twenties or early thirties, sat at the head of the table. Beside him was a clear spring, and on top of the spring were many tropical fruits.
The youth was wearing a half-open white robe, and a beautiful, young blood servant was sitting on his lap, draped only in a white sheer veil. He held her with one arm, her slender waist twisting as she let out a soft moan.
Behind him, another blood servant with waist-length black hair and a pale complexion respectfully offered him a glass of red wine with a drop of blood in it. The youth took a sip, then kissed the girl on his lap, sharing her fresh blood.
Not far away, a beautiful and curvaceous woman in her early thirties was seated.
She held a young girl in her arms, and one foot was placed on the face of a fair-skinned, silent, and thinly clad boy, whom she was playfully crushing with a laugh. She paid no attention to the growing commotion from the youth’s side, happily enjoying the dancers in the courtyard.
The woman completely ignored the Eye Demon serving her.
But the Eye Demon still vibrated the air and reported on its own: “The first time I saw Miss Alistair, I saw her face with my clairvoyance. Comparing it to the appearance of Duchess Beyad when she last appeared, I confirmed it was her, without a doubt.
“Then I used True Sight to peek, and confirmed her race was Child of the Moon.
“Later, when Eivass’s personal maid, Lily, took Miss Alistair’s Shadow Demon into Griffith’s basement, I performed a close-range scan. I was thus able to confirm that Lily’s profession was neither Demon Scholar nor Fiend. Her possession of the Path of Love and Path Adaptation, perhaps due to a high-level Shadow Affinity, allowed her to contain the Shadow Demon’s power.
“At the same time, I also confirmed that the Shadow Demon and Lily had no contract.
“Meanwhile, before escaping, I performed a final scan on the Shadow Demon on Lily. I was able to confirm that it clearly carried the distinct scent of Duchess Beyad, who had appeared before the reporters earlier.
“From this, it can be concluded that Miss Alistair is the long-lost Duchess Beyad. She occasionally entrusts her Shadow Demon to Lily to protect Eivass when she cannot appear directly.”
After hearing the Eye Demon’s words, the woman casually waved her hand, intending to dismiss it.
But just then, the handsome youth suddenly spoke, asking, “What about the Book of Law? Did Wolfram get it?”
“Wolfram is dead.”
The Eye Demon calmly replied, “He died somewhere I couldn’t see. I doubt he got the Book of Law either.”
Hearing this, the youth nodded. He also signaled the Eye Demon to leave.
So the Eye Demon curled the surrounding space and slowly retracted under purple lightning, returning directly to the Dream Realm.
After the Eye Demon left, the woman with peach-heart-shaped pupils spoke, “Father, what do you think?”
The youth she called Father was “Red Phase” Pomanach, from the early days of the Star Antimony nation.
Over three hundred years had passed, yet he showed no signs of aging.
However, although he was called “Father,” the woman was not his biological daughter.
In the tradition of the Children of the Moon, after being granted a “second life” by a senior Child of the Moon and being cared for through the initial irrational stage, one could call that senior their father or mother.
“Beyad…”
Pomanach looked up at the sky, his tone filled with longing.
He said slowly, “It has indeed been a long time. The last time we met was before the Shattered Earth War.”
“Are you and that Duchess friends?”
Emma, with her curly hazelnut hair, asked curiously, “And you haven’t let the Eye Demon retrieve that Sacred Relic yet.”
“You could say that. As for that thing, consider it a gift for an old friend. It’s not anything precious to her.”
Pomanach’s lips curled slightly into a smile. “I remember the last time I saw Beyad was at Crescent Moon Manor.”
Crescent Moon Manor—
Upon hearing that dreaded, fallen name, Emma, also a Child of the Moon, smiled knowingly.
It was a place of entertainment where humans were slaughtered and consumed like cattle at will. Once someone was brought in or sold in, it was impossible to escape on their own. The remaining life would be burned out like a candle, turning into bloodstains like melted wax, consumed as food or toys. The only way to survive was to be bought by a powerful figure as a private pet. And even that did not mean the end of suffering.
During the late Empire, many people’s faces would change and they would tremble at the mere mention of its name… and this was the most prosperous and powerful period for the Children of the Moon.
Now, whether it was Star Antimony, Iris Flower, or the destroyed Daffodil Duchy, it was difficult to restore their former glory. From the founding of the Daffodil Duchy, the Children of the Moon had tried to rebuild Crescent Moon Manor.
But since the Shattered Earth War, every rebuilt Crescent Moon Manor had been a shoddy imitation.
They were either destroyed, had too many uncontrollable slaves escape, or went bankrupt due to poor management… There was no longer a place of depravity that could so easily gather the continent’s elite like the original Crescent Moon Manor.
“After that, she became very mysterious. And from the start of the Shattered Earth War, I followed Basir to conquer the world. After that, I never heard from Miss Beyad again.”
Pomanach reached out and pinched the blood servant’s neck, playing with her chin and earlobes like one would with a cat, casually saying, “Some say she went to the countries east of the desert. Others say she’s dead… After all, the once prosperous Beyad Group gradually declined, and she never returned to take a look.”
“It seems she is not dead,” Emma added.
“I suspect she came for the ‘Sacred Entity’.”
Pomanach narrowed his eyes, a scarlet halo flashing. “Does she think the Sacred Entity is Eivass… It’s not impossible.”
“Then Father,” Emma asked, “do we still need Yulia Heracles? If Eivass is the Sacred Entity, should we capture him too?”
Although Emma was the mentor to Prince of Giants Wolfram, she clearly did not care about her student’s life or death.
To the Children of the Moon, both humans and giants were merely incomplete races.
Even “long-lived races” like giants would age. Giants were a race that found it difficult to understand “love,” and it was hard for them to give birth to Children of the Moon.
It was fine if such inferior races died.
“We still need to capture Yulia. Without the Blood of Heracles, the Hrasal Secret Treasury cannot be opened.”
Pomanach embraced the girl, thought for a moment, and casually said, “Jacob hasn’t made a second Heracles in so long, I suspect he’s run out of materials. You go and capture her. If absolutely necessary, at least retrieve her heart. As for Eivass…”
He pondered for a while and took another sip of blood wine.
“Never mind, don’t mess with Eivass. Give Miss Beyad some face.”
The handsome youth smiled freely. “When I knew her, she wasn’t ‘adult’ yet and was very resistant to these things. Now it seems that beautiful woman has certainly broken her fast… I don’t want that madwoman coming here to disturb my peace.”
“Do you value her highly?”
“Of course. She reached the Fourth Tier before she was ‘adult.’ She’s the most talented Child of the Moon I’ve ever seen.”
Pomanach marveled, “As long as she completely releases her suppressed desires, she can easily reach the Fifth Tier. With the power of the Fifth Tier, it’s not strange for her to capture a Shadow Demon.
“Moreover, I did hear that she was once involved with a Shadow Demon, and I imagine she was thus tempted into the Transcendent Path. Now that she has a Shadow Demon in hand, her combat power is equivalent to that of a top-tier expert at the Fifth Tier of dual paths. I’m not saying you definitely can’t defeat her, but it’s better to avoid trouble if possible. After all, if you can’t suppress your power, the ‘Succubus’ inside you will burst out from your abdomen. It’s better to wait until the Ouroboros Ring ritual is complete before undergoing demonic transformation.”
“Transcendence and Love…”
Emma gazed at Pomanach with her peach-colored pupils, her expression becoming solemn and cautious. “Father, does she also know… about that advancement?”
“You mean [Perfect Being]? How is that possible…”
Pomanach initially laughed outright, but after a moment of thought, he realized something was off and his smile gradually faded. “It is possible.”
As everyone knows, “humans” are the children of the Snake Father and Hengwo. Because of this, humans are the race most likely to give birth to Children of the Moon.
And within the lineage of the Children of the Moon, there is a saying—if one can reach the Sixth Tier in both the Transcendent and Love paths, they can reach the realm of [Perfect Being] and obtain an incomparably powerful job change.
“It is indeed possible that she is also pursuing this path…
“Now that she is pursuing Eivass… could it be that she wants the Heavenly Envoy Fragment within him? To reach the Sixth Tier and become a perfect human again…”
Pomanach pondered for a while, his expression becoming serious. “Try not to oppose Beyad, understand? The Mage Tower is stirring now, and we’d best not attract new trouble.
“—Go and make it clear to her. We only want Yulia, only the Blood of Heracles. Not Eivass, not the Sacred Entity, not the Book of Law… If you say this, she should understand and will not oppose me.”
“Understood.”
Emma nodded in agreement, casually kicked away the boy at her feet, then rose and bowed with a smile, “When I return, please bestow upon me… Father.”
“Go, my little succubus,”
Pomanach said with a smile.