Velgon stared at Garion for a long moment, his fingers slowly tapping the desk.

"…You gave yourself away just now," Velgon said.

Dahlia's eyes narrowed. Arden stiffened slightly. Dion tilted his head, already sensing where this was going.

Garion did not react. He simply waited.

Velgon leaned back in his chair, a thin smile spreading across his face.

"There is only one reason why you asked this kind of question to me about how to destroy the demon gate."

The room grew quiet.

"You're from the world connected to it," Velgon said. "The other side."

Dahlia's eyes narrowed. "Master?"

Velgon glanced at her, then back at Garion.

"I do not know how you are able to come here," Velgon continued.

"You do not smell like a demon. You do not feel like one either. But you crossed the gate. That already answers everything."

Garion shrugged. "Does it matter?"

Velgon laughed softly. "No. As long as the payment is good, I do not care who the customer is."

He leaned forward again, eyes sharp.

"But information about destroying the Demon Gate is not cheap. Money alone is not enough."

Garion crossed his arms. "Then say what you want."

Velgon smiled wider.

"Something that cannot be obtained in this demon world."

The room fell quiet.

Arden frowned. "What kind of thing would that be?"

Velgon did not answer him. He kept his eyes on Garion.

Garion stayed silent for a few seconds. Then he smiled.

"Oh. That kind of thing," Garion said calmly.

He reached into his spatial ring.

A moment later, a human corpse appeared on the floor.

Dahlia sucked in a breath. Dion's eyes widened. Arden stiffened but said nothing.

Velgon froze.

"…Human flesh," Velgon whispered.

Garion nodded. "High quality. Fresh."

Velgon slowly stood up, staring at the body like a starving man seeing food after years of hunger.

"You have no idea," Velgon said hoarsely, "how valuable this is."

Garion smirked. "Of course I do. I heard demons liked to eat it. This is enough, isn't it?"

Velgon burst out laughing. "Of course. This is more than enough payment."

He waved his hand, and the corpse vanished into his own storage.

"Now listen carefully," Velgon said, his tone turning serious.

"The Demon Gate exists because space and time around it are unstable."

Garion frowned. "So?"

Velgon spread his hands. "To destroy it, you need to fix that instability."

Dahlia blinked. "That's it?"

Arden frowned harder. "How the hell do we do that?"

Velgon shrugged. "I do not know."

The room went quiet again.

Garion stared at him. "You're kidding."

Velgon shook his head. "I am an information broker, not a god."

Dion rubbed his temple. "That's useless."

Garion exhaled slowly. "Is there another way?"

Velgon nodded. "Yes. Destroy it directly."

Arden scoffed. "With brute force?"

Velgon tilted his head. "In theory."

Garion's eyes lit up instead. "Interesting. I can try."

Arden turned to him. "Master, even for you that sounds insane."

Velgon raised a finger. "There is a third way."

Everyone looked at him.

"Let it disappear naturally," Velgon said.

"Given enough time, the instability will correct itself."

Arden shook his head. "That will take years."

Velgon nodded.

"Which brings us to the final way."

Garion leaned forward. "Go on."

Velgon lowered his voice.

"Some top noble demons possess methods to forcibly close or even open Demon Gates. Not ordinary nobles. The highest ones."

Dahlia frowned. "So we steal whatever they use?"

Velgon nodded. "That would be your best chance."

Garion thought for a moment. "Where are these nobles?"

Velgon sighed. "That is the problem. This region is an outer area. No top nobles stay here."

Garion straightened and nodded slowly. "I see."

He tapped the table once with his finger, then looked up.

"Then let me ask something else. What about this city? What's its name?"

Velgon raised an eyebrow. "You want to know the city itself?"

"Yes," Garion replied. "Who rules it? How things work. Politics. Power structure."

Dahlia crossed her arms. "Basically, who we're allowed to punch and who we're not."

Velgon chuckled. "Straight to the point. I like that."

He reached for a cup on the table, took a small sip, then spoke again.

"This city is called Black Ash City."

Arden frowned. "That already sounds bad."

Velgon nodded. "It earned the name."

He gestured around the room.

"Black Ash City is one of the largest cities in the outer demon regions. It exists for one reason. Trade."

"Trade?" Dion repeated.

"Yes," Velgon said.

"Information, slaves, weapons, corpses, artifacts, forbidden techniques. If it can be sold, it passes through this city."

Garion's eyes narrowed slightly. "So it's neutral ground."

"Exactly," Velgon replied. "Or as close as demons get to neutral."

Dahlia tilted her head. "Then who's in charge?"

Velgon smiled thinly.

"Officially, the city is ruled by a council of high demons."

Arden frowned. "Officially?"

Velgon laughed. "In reality, power here is split into three layers."

He raised one finger. "First layer. The City Lord."

Garion leaned forward. "There's a single ruler?"

Velgon nodded.

"Yes. A high demon known as Lord Kravos. He rarely shows his face, but all laws and executions carry his seal."

Dion asked, "Is he strong?"

Velgon did not hesitate. "Strong enough that no one here wants to test him."

He raised a second finger. "Second layer. The major factions."

Dahlia frowned. "Gangs?"

Velgon shrugged.

"You could call them that. Merchant clans, slave houses, mercenary groups, black market organizations. Each controls parts of the city."

Arden asked, "And the third?"

Velgon raised his last finger. "Individuals."

Garion smiled faintly. "That sounds familiar."

Velgon nodded.

"Strong demons who answer to no one. As long as they do not threaten the city itself, the council looks the other way."

Dahlia cracked her knuckles. "So if we cause trouble…"

Velgon cut in calmly.

"If you kill street demons, no one cares. Kill a faction leader, expect retaliation. Kill a council member, and the City Lord moves."

Garion nodded. "Good to know."

Dion then asked. "Then is this city important?"

Velgon leaned forward, lowering his voice.

"Of course. It's because this city is where things disappear quietly. No questions. No records."

Garion smiled slowly. "So if someone wanted to secretly obtain something dangerous…"

Velgon returned the smile. "This is where they would start."

Dahlia glanced at Garion. "Sounds like our kind of place."

Garion stood up. "Then our next step is clear."

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