Seeing the girl begging for mercy before her eyes, Avira nearly forgot the arrogant and self-righteous Lilina from before. She even hesitated to believe that the person in front of her shared the same soul as the one from the past. In truth, no extensive explanation was needed—Avira could already guess the gist of it.
On the contrary, she had anticipated that something like this would happen in the future, which was why she had confidently sent this traitor—who should have been executed—over to the Blood Clan.
The internal conflicts among the Blood Armor Knights would be infinitely amplified in the face of powerful invaders. The Blood Clan’s chaotic and loosely structured systems and institutions left them unable to mount an effective resistance. Belis served, in a sense, as the facade for their combat power, but against the fully prepared Stan People of Pomistan, they didn’t even have a chance to fight back.
Thus, the Blood Clan would collapse, perhaps even go extinct, vanishing forever from the river of history.
Of course, Avira felt it was a pity, but the fate of the Blood Clan had nothing to do with her.
The Demon Race had no relation to the Blood Clan either.
She simply wanted to survive, so she had to build a safe haven rather than play house with ticking time bombs.
The Blood Clan was a ticking time bomb, and Belis was even more so. Placing Lilina right next to the bomb was another form of execution.
Evidently, this execution had succeeded—and far exceeded Avira’s expectations.
Belis had most likely gone searching for the Seal, and judging by Lilina’s attitude, the two seemed to have forged a profound friendship… or perhaps some other kind of relationship?
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”
The girl hysterically begged for mercy, slamming her head against the ground again and again.
Avira and Ophitia remained silent simultaneously. The only sounds filling the room were the rhythmic, crisp impacts and the girl’s hoarse pleas.
The Demon Race had no need for her apologies, nor would it offer pity.
Finally, Lilina remembered she still had one bargaining chip.
Before coming here, she had planned to negotiate first, to test the Demon King’s attitude. Now, she understood where her mistake lay.
She pulled out the Red Box and opened it. Inside was no strange magic.
It was a crystal ball.
The crystal ball was exceedingly beautiful, radiating dazzling light even in the dim room.
However, that light was extremely cold, reminding Avira of one of Molly’s skills.
“This is the Seal. I want to… use this to exchange for Belis’s life.”
Ophitia took the Seal and smiled.
“This Seal was originally delivered to us personally by Pomistan’s envoy or a bishop from the Holy Church. And now, it has ended up in your hands.”
“Belis was searching for the second Seal along the way, right? In other words, you two have stuck your noses into the competition between the Holy Church and Pomistan. Now, if both sides found out that I accepted your Seal, what do you think they would do?”
Accepting this Seal would be a diplomatic incident between races.
To save one person, she would brew an event that shook the balance of power.
The Demon Race had no reason to accept this Seal.
Lilina’s eyes widened as she suddenly remembered Belis’s instructions.
This had never been a negotiation—it was a one-sided act of charity.
No, not even charity.
Yes, if things continued like this, the Demon Race would refuse.
If she failed this time, she wouldn’t even have the chance to return to Belis’s side. She would be exiled, and if she was lucky, someone might take her in. But if she survived by clinging to life, just as Belis had said, she would spend the rest of her days drowning in regret.
At that moment, she seemed to recall a method of pleading she’d heard somewhere. All so-called dignity became worthless in this instant.
Yes, before Avira could reject her on behalf of the Demon King, she spoke first:
“I love Belis. I love her.”
“…”
Avira had been about to refuse, but those words left her stunned.
So that was the nature of their relationship?
She hadn’t thought much of Lilina before, merely curious about how much useful intelligence this girl could bring. That was all.
In truth, neither the Demon King nor she cared much about the choices of the Holy Church and Pomistan—after all, they wouldn’t leave their fate in others’ hands.
Now, however, she had to reevaluate this Demonkin girl who had utterly abandoned her dignity.
“At first… I didn’t feel that way…” Lilina’s voice shifted from hesitant, despairing hoarseness to growing clarity:
“But along the way, I remembered—the only woman who had ever been kind to me. She was like my mother, like my sister. I recalled how that figure trusted me… I tried calling her name, but she didn’t appear by my side.
“We fought together, we faced life and death, we were each other’s last companions. I betrayed the Demon Race, she was betrayed by the Blood Clan… We’re bound by the same fate.”
“I love her. I’ll protect her at any cost. I… will never abandon her. So please, Demon King, Lady Avira—I can do anything for you, anything…”
Lilina had tried to stay strong, but tears flowed again as she spoke. She crawled to Avira’s feet.
Avira couldn’t understand.
She thought she could control everything, predict everyone’s actions to devise a meticulous plan. If her judgments were correct, she could even achieve a form of simple foresight.
Yet every time, she overlooked something utterly obvious, missing the true reality by a mile. Atia, Oka, Catherine—it had happened with all of them.
Where exactly had she gone wrong?
Ophitia reached Lilina first. She squatted down and actually patted Lilina’s head:
“Yeah, so you’re also a scoundrel who’ll use any means for the one you love?”
“I…” Lilina choked up.
“I forgive you. I can’t speak for Avira or my sister, but I admire your character. Letting someone like you die would be such a waste. You know, in this world, offering your life for the one you love is a luxury of virtues.”
Ophitia pulled her to her feet, her eyes seemingly burning with fire.
Avira understood even less. Suddenly, she felt like she and Ophitia, Lilina, and everyone else existed in different worlds.
It was as if she couldn’t see a certain color, or sense something intangible.
By the time she snapped out of it, Ophitia had stood and come to her side, taking her hand and touching her ear.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make you understand someday.”
