The Lord Demon King is Unfathomable!

The port area of Thunder City has been particularly lively these past few days, especially at a few large auction houses in the heart of the port district, where the boiling atmosphere is almost enough to blow the roof off.

Nobles and merchants from all along the coast of the Vortex Sea have flocked here, including Mages from the Northern Academic Federation. The auction hall is packed, not only are tickets hard to come by, but even outside on the streets, crowds of excited commoners and aimless Adventurers have gathered.

A frenzy centered around Diamonds has swept through the entire harbor.

Inside the auction house, one dazzling Diamond after another is placed on velvet trays, displayed in front of the crowd.

Under the light, these Diamonds, ranging from fifty to a hundred carats, might not be as exquisite as the one from the banquet, but they are still breathtaking.

These Diamonds are at least grade A, found only in the most prestigious auction venues.

The auctioneer, impeccably dressed, holds a gavel, and in a passionately vibrant voice, repeatedly drives those breathtaking prices to a climax.

"Seven thousand Gold Coins!"

"Eight thousand!"

"Nine thousand five hundred——!"

The treasure lying on the velvet tray easily surpassed Erin Campbell's pocket watch, galloping ahead on the road of soaring prices.

Amidst the feverish atmosphere, the nobles present watched with burning eyes. Eventually, an Earl sitting in the front row stood up and resolutely shouted out the insanely high bid that sealed the deal.

"Fifty thousand Gold Coins!"

Fifty thousand Gold Coins!

Sitting in the corner, Andor almost fainted.

He thought he was someone of some significance in this city, but in front of truly important figures, the money in his pocket seemed worthless.

The hall fell silent for a moment, then erupted into a frenzy of noise.

The Earl standing in the crowd bore a subtle smile, enjoying the adoring and envious gazes of the people, while waiting for the auctioneer's third knock.

There was no suspense.

After striking his gavel for the third time, the auctioneer beamed with smiles, tossing away his gavel and leading the applause.

"Congratulations to this esteemed gentleman for successfully bidding on the 95-carat 'Blue Star'! Let's give him a round of applause!"

Watching the Diamond sold for an astronomical price of fifty thousand Gold Coins, Socduo, like Andor, sitting in the corner, expressed a genuine sentiment.

"...It's just madness."

Thunder City has unmistakably transformed into Diamond City.

Stories of wealth circulate through every street and alleyway; no one listens to the Adventurers' boasting anymore, nor to the poems written by Minstrels; people are either discussing the Colin family's treasures or the mysterious family's fortune... So much so that he even felt that the domain of the Demon King was more personable.

It wasn't just the Nobles of Campbell Duchy but even Nobles and merchants from overseas were drawn by the myth of Colin family's wealth.

Yet to this day, no one can pinpoint exactly where the Kao Continent is on a maritime chart, only knowing it lies further west of the New Continent.

Due to a fear of unknown dangers in the deep sea, Socduo never ventured out to sea in his lifetime, only conducting "land-based business."

However, there was once a sailor among his Guards, and he vaguely remembered hearing that guard mention something about the area further west of the New Continent.

It's said to be a sea even more vast than the Vast Ocean, endless and unbounded.

Everyone who tried to traverse that sea vanished, not to mention establishing new routes, to the point that some even asserted that it might be the edge of the world.

Socduo doesn't know how the Colin family managed to successfully cross that sea, but if their stories are true, it can only be said that their abilities far exceeded his imagination.

"If only we could be part of it," remarked his apprentice standing behind him, unable to help voicing a thought.

"Don't think about it; that kind of business isn't for ordinary people," Socduo replied casually, pausing before adding, "Let's stick to what we're good at."

...

While the citizens of Thunder City were crazed over the specialties from the Rock Soul Tribe, far north of the Silver Pine Forest in the Great Graveyard, a particularly special guest arrived.

"Goron Steel Bone, King of Catastrophe Castle, brings greetings to the Monarch of the Great Graveyard! Where is your Lord Demon King? Let him come out! I have urgent matters to see him!"

At the entrance to the Maze of Beifeng Mountain, his booming voice echoed through the hall, as a Dwarf, looking like a barrel studded with steel pins, roared roughly.

He wore a heavy lava-colored armor, carried a large hammer on his back, and his beard was three fingers long and braided into two thick strands, but the most striking feature was not his beard, but his shiny bald head, polished like a boiled egg.

Seeing this funny-looking figure, the Players passing by nearby couldn't help but let out tasteless laughter.

Luckily for these newcomers, they couldn't afford Translation Crystals, or the creaking bone friction sound might break the defenses of the messenger who had come from afar.

Hearing the clamorous voice, Alakdo stepped out from the shadows on eight legs, malicious red eyes gleaming with sinister light.

"...So noisy. Where did this small Dwarf come from, thinking our Lord Demon King is someone you can just meet?"

Staring at the Earth Cave Spider emerging from the shadows, the bald-headed Dwarf squinted his eyes slightly, his demeanor equally fierce.

"Watch your tongue, you stinking spider! Or I'll tear your eight legs off and shove them down your throat!"