Chapter 310: Huge Ship, Big Palace, and Demon Prince
Among the sea of stars, a massive ship could be seen hovering above a decent-sized planet.
The ship was almost as long as the diameter of the planet beneath it. It's hard to tell how exactly it was made and what kind of materials were used for its creation; it's also unknown just how expensive it was and how long it took for this entire thing to be made.
Looking at it closely, it's truly unique. It followed a somewhat primitive and evil theme, but the interior was systematic and modern. As for how many creatures lived within, well, who knows? Though such a large ship should definitely be able to support millions, if not billions, of lives, right?
Aside from this large ship that could sail among the stars, it was also flanked by smaller ships that had other functions. Most are suited for combat, and a few were specifically made for resource plundering.
One thing to note about this is that, be it the main ship or the smaller ships, they leave a trail of dark and infectious miasma behind. You'd see this trail present all over the nearby asteroids and planets, especially on the one that's directly underneath the ship.
With how large this main ship was, anybody could easily get lost in it. They would definitely need a guide or a detailed map if they wanted to explore its entirety, and going by foot would certainly take time.
But if there's one place that could not be mistaken and held significant importance to the ship, it would undoubtedly be the palace that is built at the helm. That stands out the most.
The dark miasma was concentrated there. One could even say that it's the source of it. The density of it almost obscures the palace itself, but it makes no effort to hide the sheer majesty and undeniable authority it represents.
This palace was huge, but that's not our main concern for now. In the largest hall within this palace, a few figures could be seen having a feast.
Several demons of all shapes and sizes could be seen eating their fill. The hall was filled with boisterous noise, and all kinds of depravity and sin are present here: stomach-curdling meals, filthy whores jumping from one person to the next, creatures fighting and killing each other, maddening music, etc.
The hall was filled with the stench of blood and corruption that seeped into one's marrow. Even the most battle-hardened veterans of humanity would easily fall into depravity if they were placed here.
But despite this rather chaotic scene, there's just no denying that everyone in this hall was among the most dangerous demons that the Demon Race had.
Each one, if placed on Prime Earth, could easily shatter the confidence humanity has built so far. Their might would make the Undead Bone Dragon look like a whiny child instead.
Click Click Click
The sounds of heels clacking weren't very loud, but for everybody present in the hall, it was an unmistakable sound that they're all so familiar with. The moment they heard it, all the chaos and depravity ceased. It's as if everything that happened a few moments ago was nothing but a mere visual illusion that faded when the sounds of the clacking heels were heard.
Everybody sat in order in front of a long table. Everyone wore a disciplined expression as they waited for the arrival of the person they'd been waiting for.
The giant walls at the other end of the hall opened widely, revealing a stout figure flanked by hulking creatures that eyed everyone else like they were prey.
These large creatures were obviously guarding the smaller demon—a weird sight, but one that everybody in the hall was used to. Frankly, they couldn't care less about the big and dumb creatures; it's the little ones that they were most wary of.
The stout demon, in reality, isn't truly that short. Everyone else was just big. This demon took on a humanoid shape and is about 7 feet tall. He seemed to be a male creature. His skin was black as coal, which has visible golden veins; he has short and unruly hair, sharp brows, and a muscular physique; and he's wearing formal attire that enhances his class and represents his status.
His defining feature was his eyes, which looked like a pair of moons shrouded in crimson, as well as the horns on his head, which seemingly followed the shape of a crown.
He strode past the silent and disciplined demons, who seemed to not even dare breathe loudly in his presence, flanked by his two dumb but loyal guards. Upon reaching the other end of the table, he unceremoniously sat down and said,
"Greetings, everybody."
"Greetings, Demon Prince." Everybody in the hall was greeting in unison, their voices filled with respect, awe, and fear towards him.
The Demon Prince smirked in response and gestured for everyone to sit down. His face then morphed into sheer indifference, which many obviously noticed and caused a shiver down their spines. Some even began feeling nervous for some reason.
"My dear father, the Demon God, is still in seclusion, so he can't be with us for now. I hope all of you understand," the Demon Prince stated with an indifference tone. "Well, this isn't new for any of you, so it's just the usual. If anybody has something to report, feel free to speak."
Tap Tap Tap
The Demon Prince drummed his finger on the table softly. But because of how silent the halls have become, everybody could hear it, and their hearts almost synchronized with the sound.
"Ahem!" One of the demons on the far end of the table cleared his throat.
He stood up from his seat but almost fell down when the eyes of the Demon Prince landed on him. The charcoal-skinned demon didn't even do anything other than state, yet it still terrified the other party.
"I'd like to report a summary of the recent developments from our exiled agents on Prime Earth."
"Oh?" The Demon Prince raised a brow. A smirk appeared on his face before he ordered, "Speak. I'd like to hear more about it."
"Yes, your highness!"
The other party then began his summary. His report mainly focused on the developments this past year.
Actually, this demon was quite strong. He's actually a Demon Emperor and is responsible for relaying orders from the main ship to the exiled agents on Prime Earth. But even with his impressive authority and strength, he acted meekly and cowardly in the presence of the Demon Prince, which shows the sheer disparity between them.
His obvious wariness and fear of the Demon Prince didn't arouse any mocking from his fellow demons, though. Mostly because they could relate to what he feels.
Since the Demon God was in seclusion, the Demon Prince became in charge. But even though this was the case, the prince actually doesn't show up often either, mainly because he's immersed in his training and doesn't have any time to spare on other matters.
The length of seclusion varies a lot, so for the most part, the tasks that originally fall under his responsibilities are passed down to his subordinates.
"...upon further investigation done by Lady Envy, Azure Terra has been hidden from their perception as well, making it unlikely for our agents to investigate even further," the subordinate reported before swallowing nervously.
His report was filled with negative developments, so he had every right to be terrified. Despite this, though, he was completely transparent about his task and didn't dare lie in front of the prince or make false assurances. Everybody in this hall knows that what the Demon Princes hate the most are liars and pretenders.
"Hmm, how very amusing." The Demon Prince sneered as his pair of round silver eyes glanced beneath him as if he'd been coldly regarding the planet right under the ship.
His eyes then landed once more on his subordinate, who couldn't hide the way he shivered like a leaf. He was then asked:
"How will you remedy this situation then?"
The subordinate blanched, despite his dark complexion. He swallowed nervously before replying:
"This slave plans to send more capable people to reinforce our exiled troops using the loopholes in the forced oath. We have already prepared the necessary equipment to assist in unraveling the formation that hid the continent. And if possible, we will also try to hinder their progress and move on from there."
The Demon Prince wore an indifference expression to his plans and replied, "Good enough, I suppose. I'll leave it to you then. If any of you have a better idea to implement his plan and disrupt their development, don't hesitate to discuss it with him."
After saying this, the Demon Prince stood up from his seat, and he was once again escorted by his loyal dogs.
"I'll be busy for a while; don't disturb me unless it's an emergency."
After saying this, the Demon Prince left the hall at a brisk pace. Once he's out of there, he feels a bit irritated. His eyes then seemingly passed through several walls and landed on the sealed doors that led to his father's seclusion room.
"I really don't understand why you're so obsessed with this world. What does it have that arouses your greed so much? This isn't like you at all."
The Demon Prince had a complicated expression before walking to his personal chambers.