The Lord Demon King is Unfathomable!

Even if this is indeed the truth.

Unless he tears the disguise off in a more brutal manner, which carries another risk—the possibility of undoing all his prior efforts.

Should he risk the legend completely deviating from its original purpose to gain greater influence, or accept the chance of losing everything by letting it rest for now? He must decide between these two options.

Luo Yan pondered for a moment and ultimately chose the former.

"The matter of merging the two identities can be set aside for now. You all focus on spreading the legend of the Flame King for the time being."

"Understood."

Matt nodded slightly, paused for a moment, and then continued.

"There's another matter—just a few days ago, Erin Campbell sent an envoy to the church in Silver Pine Town. Representing the Duchy's royal family, the envoy expressed a desire for an audience with the Flame King."

Luo Yan furrowed his brow slightly.

"Who wants to meet me?"

"Princess Erin Campbell."

"..."

A would-be Hero wanting to meet the Demon King? That's a bold move.

What is she trying to do?

Speedrun her demise?

Upon hearing the news, Luo Yan was momentarily speechless, stunned for a good while, but shortly after, he understood.

From Erin Campbell's perspective, her decision wasn't unreasonable.

If he were to discover a Saint suddenly appearing in his territory, he'd likely be curious enough to seek an audience, just to see what kind of remarkable individual had emerged.

For one, it could showcase her approachable, benevolent image and win over the lower-class citizens of Thunder County; for another, she might even recruit a powerful Mage. Even if she failed, it wouldn't be a loss on her part.

Of course.

This was merely a perspective based on interest.

There was also the possibility that she hadn't considered all of that and was acting purely out of curiosity or a desire to see what she could do with her own strength.

"This is too dangerous!" Seeing the Demon King deep in thought, Sarah couldn't hold back and blurted out her concern.

As Luo Yan turned his gaze toward her, she stepped forward, knelt on one knee before him, and offered her counsel.

"Lord Demon King, let us not forget that Erin Campbell is the wielder of the 'Light of Praise!' The previous Demon King was killed by that very Divine Artifact!"

"I've heard of it," Luo Yan nodded slightly and continued, "So, what's your suggestion?"

"My suggestion is to nip the danger in the bud!" Sarah's eyes flashed with cold brilliance as she spoke in a low voice, "I've heard Erin Campbell has only just inherited the Light of Praise from the previous Duke, and her current level of strength is merely Bronze. Her combat experience is practically non-existent!"

"Such a feeble opponent hardly merits your personal intervention. I could infiltrate Thunder City myself and bring her—or her head—to your Maze!"

The icy voice echoed throughout the vast hall, her sharp eyes glinting with a Hunter's determination.

Sarah bore no goodwill toward the Campbell family.

Under their reign, those living on the surface—whether Demons or mixed-blood Demons—had largely been subjected to racial segregation or outright extermination.

This was starkly different from the treatment humans received in Demon City.

Now that the Campbell family bore the Light of Praise once more and had set foot in Thunder County, her intent to kill was unparalleled.

This wasn't merely for the Demon King; it was also to protect everything she now possessed.

Though, in truth, the two were one and the same.

Luo Yan had no doubt about Sarah's resolve; however, he did not encourage her to follow through with such actions.

Perhaps due to the training on Kao Planet, her character had absorbed a trace of the corruption stemming from slaughter.

After all, the effects of Chaos are mutual—those who confront it are likewise influenced by it, though the severity varies.

"That's the worst possible choice," Luo Yan said softly as he gazed at the sharp-eyed Sarah. Using a gentle tone, he added, "I've already tasked Matt to respond to the Knight Captain of the Campbell Duchy. The accord between us remains intact. If we were to act now, we'd be walking the same path as Reggie Dragon."

"But..."

Perhaps seeing the Demon King entirely unconcerned about the threat, Sarah's expression grew anxious, and she wanted to say more.

Luo Yan interrupted her, continuing, "The Light of Praise, strong as it is, is still just a weapon. What truly poses a threat to us is not the weapon itself, but the one wielding it. Regarding whether Erin Campbell poses a danger to us, I'd prefer to confirm that with my own eyes. Rashly replacing the current wielder of the Light of Praise might not be a wise move. The next wielder could prove to be even more troublesome."

Luo Yan wasn't foolish enough to believe that simply seizing the weapon would solve everything.

If things were truly that simple, what had the other Demon Kings been doing?

The Divine Artifact was surely more complex than merely binding itself to a singular wielder.

It likely symbolized some kind of blessing embedded in the bloodline—much like his own "Dragon God's Blessing" and "Giant Dragon's Blood."

If Erin Campbell were to die, the most probable outcome wouldn't be the weapon being left behind, but rather an ancient contract triggering a new divine decree—perhaps reclaiming the Light of Praise and placing it back in Campbell Castle or in the Campbell family's ancestral lands, waiting for someone else to draw it from a stone.

At least Erin Campbell was a known and manageable candidate.

The next wielder? Possibly not. It might turn out to be someone like Aaron Campbell—an utterly flawless Chosen One.

"I understand…" Seemingly persuaded, Sarah lowered her head in submission, realizing she had acted rashly.

Though her experiences on Kao Planet had tempered her disposition somewhat, her willingness to listen to reason remained unchanged.