The Lord Demon King is Unfathomable!

That's also the most un-cat-like thing about her.

"Rise. Also, if you have any ideas in the future, just file a report. There's no need to perform the audience etiquette."

Luo Yan nodded at Sarah, indicating for her to return to her position, then turned his gaze to Father Matt standing below the steps and said.

"Relay my response to Erin Campbell's envoy. Tell them the Flame King agrees to meet with her, but not now—let's make it the beginning of next month. As for the specifics, you can come up with a story, perhaps I'm training in a far-off land or making a pilgrimage to the Holy City."

He trusted Matt to fabricate a perfectly plausible tale better than himself.

After all, that guy had been doing this sort of thing for a while now; the various rumors about the Flame King originated from him.

Matt nodded in acknowledgment.

"Understood."

Seeing there was nothing else to report, Luo Yan waved his hand and said.

"If there's nothing else, you may leave."

This throne is too hard, and without a cushion, sitting on it for too long makes it a bit uncomfortable. If not for maintaining the dignity of the Demon King, and the fact that both Hell's demonic creatures and art-appreciating Players seemed to delight in this formality, he honestly preferred a more approachable way of interacting with his subordinates.

With the Demon King's permission, Father Matt respectfully nodded and saluted, then retreated from the towering hall.

Watching that hunched figure disappear into the shadows of the audience hall archway, Sarah still looked worried as she turned her gaze toward the Demon King seated on the throne.

"Lord Demon King, are you really planning to meet with Erin Campbell?"

Luo Yan replied in a relaxed tone.

"Why not?"

Sarah hesitated with her words.

"But... what if she discovers your identity? Wouldn't your situation become very dangerous? After all, the surface world is human territory, and there are adventurers nearby."

Though she knew the Demon King possessed Silver Level strength, a sufficient number of adventurers could still pose a notable threat to him.

The difference in strength is not absolute.

Even a Diamond-level Demon could fall to an assault from a determined group of ordinary humans lacking Extraordinary Power.

Luo Yan knew what she was worried about.

However, her concerns happened to be the least of his worries.

If real conflict ever broke out, the alignment of the locals wouldn't be so straightforward.

Even the Demons of the Demon City knew that the citizens of Thunder City were a bunch of cowards, let alone the fact they'd long since been corrupted by him, directly or indirectly, until they were riddled with his influence.

Ever since his arrival, even the adventurers' income had increased, and the once-lethal Maze had transformed into a money-making machine rather than a place of fatal danger.

This change had occurred after Mist Town reopened.

Since the Great Graveyard took over the local adventurer guild, what had initially been an organization established to hunt down the Demon King had added a new line of business.

Adventurers who got captured by Maze Demons could automatically deduct ransom fees from their adventurer guild accounts, provided they pre-deposited Joss Paper into it, and get released unharmed into a safe zone.

This was also one of the crackpot ideas cooked up by the Players.

Fairly priced ransoms, transparent to all, with the added benefit of halving the cost for surrendering voluntarily, not only effectively reduced adventurers' resistance but also boosted Players' efficiency in earning gold.

Luo Yan found the idea amusing and implemented it directly, never expecting the Mist Town adventurer guild to end up running a banking business as a result.

Those valuing money over life were always in the minority.

For adventurers with high incomes, losing a ransom fee and earning it back later was always preferable to spending time in the Demon King's Dungeon.

"The term Demon King isn't stamped on my forehead. I've even crossed paths with her father; why should I fear her? Besides, only a handful of people have ever seen my true form. Within the entirety of Thunder City, our informants are scattered everywhere. Even if she were to suspect something, there's no way she'd pose a threat to me."

Looking at Sarah's worried expression, Luo Yan chuckled and continued in a comforting tone.

"Furthermore, as you mentioned, she's only recently acquired the Light of Praise, and her strength is merely at Bronze Level. For now, she's no threat to us. On the contrary, she may even prove to be an excellent pawn in our designs on the Campbell Duchy."

As he said this, he paused briefly before continuing to outline his plan.

"In a few days, I'm planning to make a trip to Thunder City myself—to take a closer look at this possessor of the Light of Praise and deal with some matters along the way."

Sarah stared at the Demon King in shock.

"You're planning to personally go to Thunder City?"

She had assumed the meeting would be held in Silver Pine Town; she hadn't expected Thunder City!

"That's correct."

Seeing Sarah's surprise, Luo Yan replied in a relaxed tone.

"The last time I passed through there, I was in a rush, and I didn't get a good look at the place. This time provides the perfect opportunity to investigate."

He had wanted to do this for a long time but had hesitated previously because he lacked the ability to protect himself.

Now, however, Sarah's strength was sufficient for the role of his guard, capable of handling troublesome situations on his behalf when it wasn't convenient for him to act directly.

Sarah's Demon bloodline was indeed a concern, but her traits weren't particularly noticeable. She could simply wear a cloak to hide her cat ears.

Without looking at her ears, it would be hard to tell the difference between her and regular humans.

Sarah asked in confusion.

"But... didn't you schedule the meeting for next month?"

"That's merely a pretense. I have no intention of adhering to the agreed-upon timing."

Luo Yan smiled faintly and continued.

"I operate on my own timeframe. If necessary, I'll converse with her face-to-face using the Flame King's identity at that moment."

"If there's no need for that, I'll have Father Matt inform Princess Erin Campbell that the meeting actually already took place."