Seated opposite him, Ticky soon confirmed his initial instinct, as the Baron performed a gesture of noble etiquette respectfully and humbly.

"Your Highness, Prince!"

Not wanting to be regarded as uncouth, General Hammerdon instinctively imitated the gesture… something he wouldn't usually do.

"Your Highness, Prince, ever since I set foot on this port, I've frequently heard the locals speak highly of your reputation. And today, meeting you, it's indeed extraordinary!"

"You're too kind, General Hammerdon," Luo Yan returned the standard Imperial noble etiquette, and sincerely said to the humbly bowing Imperial Navy general, "I've received your letter and have longed to meet you. Unfortunately, I was engaged in meetings with the King of the Gutaf United Kingdom in Assam City and only recently returned north of the Sun Step Mountain Range… I truly apologize for making you wait here so long."

"No worries!" Hammerdon chuckled heartily, looked at the Prince before him with eager eyes, and continued, "Someone as noble as you is worth my time waiting for. Besides... the afternoon's events prove my decision was correct; perhaps this is indeed the will of Saint Sis."

"Speaking of which… I must express my gratitude."

Luo Yan nodded to Hammerdon in acknowledgment, his tone solemn and sincere as he continued.

"On behalf of the people of Withered Wood Port, I thank you for reaching out to us in our time of peril! Everyone here, including me, owes you a favor… I raise this cup to you!"

Upon saying this, he picked up the wine glass on the table, took the wine jug from the waiter's hand, filled it himself, and then drank it all in front of General Hammerdon.

General Hammerdon looked flattered and quickly said.

"You're too kind, Your Highness. Defending the Empire's territory is the duty of us soldiers. How could we possibly ignore you and your people? Furthermore, just a few hundred demons, nothing worth mentioning, my soldiers scattered them in no time… It's just unfortunate that the Demon King escaped!"

This remark differed from what the previous officer had stated.

As for whom Luo Yan believed, it was naturally General Hammerdon.

After all, he was present, observing as those players perished, and later sent Thanos for the final clean-up.

Otherwise, relying solely on Egger's small frame, escaping in front of a general with Gold Level strength would be challenging.

Demons of the same tier are no match for humans, let alone one tier behind.

"Demon King?" Luo Yan furrowed his brows slightly, looking at General Hammerdon with confusion, "Sorry… I don't quite understand, what does Demon King mean?"

Ticky stole a glance at him, admiration written all over his eyes, then quickly shifted his gaze away.

"…This is precisely what I need to explain to you!"

Not noticing the Baron's look, Hammerdon earnestly gazed at Luo Yan and seriously said.

"Hell has likely set its sights on this land! And that Demon King is the vanguard they've sent here!"

The silence settled over the tent, with the candle's flame flickering on Luo Yan's face, revealing his uncertain expressions.

He pondered for a while, then spoke to General Hammerdon.

"Apologies, dear General, it seems in the past five hundred years… many things have transpired outside unbeknownst to the Colin family. Could you explain to me more thoroughly? I believe this concerns not only the safety of the Colin Duchy but also the Gutaf United Kingdom… Please share everything you know."

Hammerdon nodded, understandingly, took a deep breath to suppress his tipsiness, and continued.

"The so-called Demon King Territory… is like a nail Hell has driven into the heart of the Empire. They usually appear in the form of mazes, sometimes as castles or ruins. In any case, they're not good, as demons continuously emerge from the mazes. But conversely, killing demons can drop Demon Crystals, and some adventurers make a living from this."

Luo Yan nodded, indicating for him to continue.

General Hammerdon continued.

"From the Empire's standpoint, we wish to eradicate these mazes entirely. But those demons are cunning; they never confront us directly but rely on the terrain for defense. Once our forces are engaged, they can seize the opportunity to gain a greater advantage on the front lines, so typically, we depend on the adventurer's guild and the local lord's power to deal with these demons hiding in mazes… Even if we can't annihilate them, we can at least suppress them."

"How are they spawned? I'm more concerned about this." Luo Yan asked with furrowed brows.

General Hammerdon spoke in a deep voice.

"We're currently speculating that among the survivors you took in, there might be followers of the Demon God hidden."

"How could that be?!" Luo Yan looked at him in shock, "They're all devout followers, how could there be followers of the Demon God among them?"

Hammerdon chuckled bitterly and sighed.

"Everyone claims to be devout, but no one knows what they truly think. Perhaps some people pray to the idol of Saint Sis by day, and by night sell their soul to an Enchanting Demon... cough, I meant a demon."

"How could there be such despicable people..." Luo Yan clenched his fists tightly, trembling in anger.

"Indeed… these unforgivable scoundrels deserve to go to Hell! I am at odds with them!" Hammerdon vowed nervously, then hurriedly switched topics, "In any case, the Empire's territory is vast, and the population numerous. We can't guarantee that everyone's faith in Saint Sis is genuine, especially those sailors far from the church for years... I frankly don't trust them."

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