The Lord Demon King is Unfathomable!

"Maybe we're just going to die here..."

The sailor sitting on the wooden stump muttered dejectedly as he chopped firewood, bringing the axe down hard as if to vent his despair on the wood.

"This godforsaken place isn't even on the Empire's sea charts, no ship would ever pass by here..."

If it were before, Captain Kedson would surely have rebuked any subordinate speaking such demoralizing words, perhaps even hanging the guy up for a few lashes, but now he didn't even have the strength to refute it.

Just then, a series of urgent footsteps interrupted his thoughts.

"Captain! Captain!" A lookout sailor burst into the makeshift camp, shouting like a madman, "People! It's Imperial soldiers! I saw their uniforms!"

Kedson leapt to his feet, as if struck by lightning.

Imperial soldiers?!

"What did you say?!"

Not only Kedson, but all the downcast sailors lifted their heads, a spark of hope flickering in their ashen eyes.

The lookout sailor, restraining his excitement, fully described what he had seen.

"They're Imperial soldiers! They came toward us from the mountain trail! A whole squad, and they're carrying firearms!"

He swallowed, and continued excitedly.

"We haven't washed up on some desolate island... No doubt! This is an Imperial colony!"

"Saint Sis above..." Ai Wen collapsed to the ground, kissing the deck in prayer.

Never had he felt such fondness for those who did nothing except collect taxes.

He had to vindicate them!

They were doing something after all!

Without sparing a moment more, Kedson jumped over the railing, sprinting up to the rocky outcrop outside the camp like a monkey darting toward the woods, and looked towards the forest trail.

Then—

He saw the hope he had long awaited!

In the lingering morning mist, a squad of orderly figures emerged through the lush forest, marching down the rugged mountain path toward their position.

Their familiar gray-white Imperial Army cloaks draped over their shoulders, faded insignias embroidered on their chests, long-barreled firearms slung on their backs, their marching formation impeccably precise, as neat as a Holy City parade, each step as clean as if cut with a knife, their breath imperceptible.

Such discipline was rare in the colonies.

The more remote the colony, the more Imperial soldiers resembled riff-raff, some simply exiled prisoners given a gun... yet these men were as disciplined as regular troops.

But Kedson was too overwhelmed with joy to ponder further.

Before he could settle his excitement into vigilance, his gaze was drawn to the person at the front.

That man walked at the head of the squad, dressed in a crimson noble's suit, a cloak with silver-edged moon patterns, a feathered soft hat on his head, a silver-tipped scepter in hand, and a sword at his waist gleaming brightly.

An air of arrogance exuded from his face without anger, his steps confident and ostentatious, like the master surveying his manor—except for those eyes, which looked like an eagle perched on a pirate's shoulder, sharp yet cunning, bearing none of the dignity and poise of Old Continent nobility.

Kedson knew this type of person.

Most of them were Old Continent nobles, finding life too boring, unable to find a use for the Extraordinary Power given by Saint Sis, so they came to the colonies for hardship, ended up deep in debt, lost their territory, too ashamed to return, whiling away their days mixing with sailors and prostitutes... almost every Imperial port on the New Continent had these types.

This man was one of them.

But his luck was clearly much better, likely finding refuge with some New Continent rural grand noble.

Whether the latter longed for high society life from the Holy City or found New Continent life too dull and simply needed a jester for amusement... nevertheless, that important figure had given him a costly outfit and a silver scepter symbolizing baron status, letting him maintain his former dignity.

In order to leave a good impression, Kedson swiftly tidied his appearance and as the man approached, immediately introduced himself.

"Esteemed noble sir... I am Kedson, under the Golden Seagull Chamber of Commerce of the Aus Empire, and we are the property of the Imperial Count of Castil..."

"Alright, alright, that's enough!"

Ticky took off his hat, casting a disdainful glance at him, then looked at the surrounding forest and the stranded ship halfway up the mountain.

"What is going on here?"

Kedson's expression froze, speaking softly out of guilt.

"We didn't know this was your territory...please, have mercy."

According to Imperial land grant law, all property within a territory belongs to the lord, and no one may infringe.

The colonies continue Imperial law, not as strictly enforced as the Empire, but these people's guns made up for it, and this noble was clearly a Transcendent... even if not a very strong one.

"Mercy?" Ticky raised an eyebrow, speaking imperiously, "Captain Kedson, I'm Ticky Cosia, appointed by His Highness Prince Roxey Colin to manage Withered Wood Port, overseeing these hills and cove."

"This is part of Withered Wood Port's territory."

"And these trees are my private property!"

Kedson was left dumbfounded, speechless for a long time.

Even knowing this guy was picking a fight, clearly exploiting the situation and making a fuss, he still swallowed his anger, held back the fury rising in his throat.

After all, being exploited was clearly less frightening than being stranded on an island where sunlight never touched.