Chapter 252 Surrender
As the amethyst dome slowly extinguished, night fell quietly.
A dull atmosphere shrouded the sky above the Magic City, as if even the wind was frozen by the invisible pressure and stagnated in this dead place.
The manor of the Dragon family stands majestically, like a sleeping ancient fortress. The towering obsidian walls shimmer with faint magical light, guarding the power and pride accumulated by this family for generations.
Surrounded by churning red magma, flowing with hot and dangerous light, the entire manor is isolated from the outside world, like a fortress isolated in the abyss.
However, this impregnable manor is now shrouded in an aura of despair.
Accompanied by the undead knights, the judges of the Ministry of Truth have arrived, and the strong sense of oppression has already crossed the high courtyard wall before them.
Under the night, the scarlet robe was like rolling magma, floating on the armor as solid as obsidian.
The judges stood quietly at the front of the team, with the undead knights arrayed behind them, death burning in the green soul fire.
A silent and chilling atmosphere spread in this area, like the calm before a storm, causing the surrounding pedestrians to give way.
However, this group of mighty warriors did not rush to break through the fortress surrounded by magma. Instead, they quietly surrounded the manor like hunters, laying an airtight net of death.
They seemed to be waiting for something.
"...Why don't we attack directly?" A young adjutant asked in a low voice, with a bit of confusion in his tone.
This is the Magic City, not the territory of the Dragon family. With the power they have in their hands, it will only take a matter of minutes to destroy the Dragon family's manor.
Beside him, a high-level adjudicator wearing heavy armor was quietly wielding a giant obsidian sword, his figure as still as a statue.
Time has carved countless battle scars on his armor, like medals.
He did not answer immediately, but quietly stared at the closed door of the manor, with a deep and calm light in his eyes.
After a long while, he spoke calmly.
"The door will open."
The adjutant was startled for a moment, and subconsciously looked at the solemn door. Red lines of magic energy appeared on the surface of the door, emitting slight vibration ripples like a shield.
That is the defensive magic of the Demon City nobles, which means that the people inside are aware of their arrival.
"...Why?" He couldn't help but ask, with confusion in his eyes.
The hand of the high-ranking judge holding the hilt of the sword was still as steady as a rock. His eyes never moved away from the door of the manor, but his voice was somewhat meaningful.
"There's no need to make it so ugly."
…
The dull night wind crossed the impregnable courtyard wall and blew the iron-like night curtain.
The spire study of the Dragon family.
This ivory tower that once symbolized supreme power has now become a breathless cage, with fear and hesitation reflected from the shadow of the inverted hammer.
Kamu Dragon was sitting by the window, his face pale, his fingers tightly clasped on the edge of the desk, cold sweat sliding down his forehead, dripping on the letters and official documents piled on the table.
The night outside the window was as quiet as death, and the walls and barriers guarding the manor were still impregnable.
However, the suffocating pressure still seeped in through the closed windows, as if some irresistible presence was approaching, shrouding the entire manor under the shadow of death.
That is the judge of the Ministry of Truth.
If there is anything that scares him in the entire Demon City, it is undoubtedly those guys in red robes.
And as for why they came here, Kamu knew very well -
His plan failed!
The turmoil in Black Wind Castle, the manipulation of the hearing, the game between the Dragon family and various forces in the Magic City... all of this should have been as usual, just an ordinary pressure, or game.
However, he never thought that things would get so big and out of control like this!
The most fatal thing is not this, but that he got a fatal grip in this operation, so much so that even the Supreme Council Chamber, which is usually closed, held an emergency meeting for discussion, and in the end even the adjudicator of the Ministry of Truth was dispatched!
Obviously this is not negotiation.
But the final purge!
It was the last act of decency not to rush in forcefully. After all, the Dragon family is also a member of the core power circle of hell.
However, he knew very well that this kind of dignity could not last long, and one hour was the limit.
In other words——
There is no time to delay!
Camu suddenly came to his senses and stood up abruptly, roaring with a hint of despair, his voice echoing on the high tower.
"Grandpa... Zakro!! What time is it, and you haven't come out yet! Do you want to wait for them to take me away?!"
There was no response from the empty study, only the candlelight flickering slightly, casting his fearful reflection.
Camu felt a sense of fear in his heart, and then he roared angrily.
"Yege!! Get out of here!"
That gargoyle may know where Zakro has gone.
However, until his voice disappeared in the corridor outside the minaret, there was still no familiar response.
Camu's heart sank suddenly, he clenched his fists and his face turned pale.
"Damn..."
Where is the guy who claims to be in control of everything?
Didn't he say that his chess pieces are all over the Magic City, and they will be useless at the critical moment?
There is also Yege, that capable servant of the gargoyle bloodline. Hasn’t he been carrying out Zakro’s orders?
Why did they disappear? !
Kamu felt an unspeakable fear, and his body trembled slightly.
It was only at this moment that he suddenly realized that the "family pillar" he had always relied on was not as reliable as he had imagined.
At this time of life and death, they all disappeared!
Kamu gritted his teeth, threw off his robe behind him, and hurriedly walked down the tower.
He must find Zakro before everything becomes irreversible!
Although I don’t want to rely on that old guy, the political resources of the Dragon family are basically in the hands of the latter. The guy said he retired, but he never really handed over the power in his hands.
Camu got angrier and angrier as he thought about it. He couldn't help cursing and hurriedly came downstairs.
The main hall of the manor, which has always been used by the nobles as a place for banquets and negotiations. Usually not many people are there, but at this moment it is crowded with panicked horrors.
As members of the Dragon family, they are usually very pampered, walking on the streets of the magic city like emperors on tour, but now they are talking in low voices in the hall, exchanging the fear in each other's eyes.
"Damn... the people from the Ministry of Truth!"
"Why are they here?!"
"I heard that there was too much trouble in Black Wind Castle..."
"Shouldn't we go to the lord there! What are we doing here?!"
"I heard... they seem to have found evidence related to us."
"This is slander and frame-up!"
"It's useless to talk about it now... think of a solution quickly!"
The moment Kamu stepped into the hall, all eyes fell on him.
A member of the side family immediately stepped forward and asked eagerly in a lowered voice.
"Master! What is happening outside? Why did the judges from the Ministry of Truth surround the manor?!"
"Is it the devil's conspiracy?! Go and explain to them!"
"This must be a misunderstanding! We have to clarify it in parliament!"
Everyone was asking, and everyone was looking forward to an answer, but Kamu couldn't say a word.
His whole body was stiff, his throat seemed to be strangled by something, and his face was ashen.
"I... don't know..."
He struggled to squeeze out a few words, his face extremely ugly, "Elder Zakro... did any of you see where he is?"
Everyone looked at each other, with confusion and fear after the confusion written on their faces.
The voices of discussion spread quickly, and panic filled the air, spreading like a plague.
Looking at the frightened tribesmen, Kamu swallowed hard and said in a trembling voice.
"We must find Elder Zakro first! He must know what to do -"
"That's enough!!!"
At this moment, the door of the hall was violently pushed open, and the sound of heavy footsteps was particularly harsh in this depressing space.
That voice, with unprecedented sobriety and anger, hit everyone's eardrums hard.
Everyone turned around subconsciously and saw a tall and muscular figure striding into the hall.
That is Xino Dragon, Kamu's younger brother, a person who is regarded as a "fool" in the family!
However, at this moment, Xino standing in the hall was different from the frightened people. His face under the horns had a sobriety that was rare in ordinary times.
His face was heavy, and his gaze swept across everyone in the hall like a knife, and finally stopped on Kamu Dragon's face, with long-repressed anger.
He said in a low growl.
"Elder Zakro? What time has it been, and you are still looking for that guy!"
Camuse glared at this fool with an inward look.
"What do you know——"
"I don't understand!"
Hino strode forward, staring at his powerful but cowardly brother with stern eyes, and said angrily.
"I don't understand! Why! It's obvious that you, Kamu Dragon, are the master of this family! From the moment you become the head of the family, the fate of this family is in your hands! Why do you want to be that old man's puppet and lead all of our clansmen to be his chess pieces!"
Hi His words were like thunder, hitting the hall hard.
For a moment, the entire hall was silent, and everyone's breathing seemed to have stopped.
Kamu stood there, his face turning green and white. He had never seen Xino speaking to him in such a tone, and he never expected that this brat would actually expose the fact that he was extremely ashamed of but ashamed to admit.
It is true——
His appearance is no different from Zakro's puppet.
But what can he do? !
The whole family is counting on the old man from top to bottom, and even the servants don’t listen to him!
But now, even this silver-level terror dares to fight with him.
"I... what about you... you dare to talk to me like this, who is behind you?"
Kamu suddenly understood something. He squinted at his brother, his voice gradually became colder, and a sinister smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Haha, I understand, no wonder we lost, it turns out the traitor is among us——"
Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by a disappointed voice.
"My friend told me that a person who is used to being a slave looks like a slave to everyone. Even if he stumbles on the street, he must find a master behind him." Xino looked at Kamu with disappointment and a hint of pity in his eyes, "Brother. ...When did you become like this?"
"Shut up!!!"
Kamu glared at him angrily, and his figure rushed to Xino like lightning and grabbed his throat.
As a platinum-level terror, his strength is far superior to Xino!
As long as he wants to, he can crush him to death in an instant!
But——
He couldn’t do it after all.
That is his relative after all.
Camu's fingertips were trembling, and his ferocious expression was twisted unconsciously.
Hino looked at his brother without fear, looking directly into his burning pupils.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"Luo Yan came to see you..." Kamu gritted his teeth and squeezed out a sentence from between his teeth.
"He came to see me, and I'll tell you the truth, we talked for a long time... but it had nothing to do with his fight with the Dragon family, we just talked about some things between us."
Hino admitted frankly, and then said.
"I told him that the reason why I found him for a duel in the first place was because Elder Zakro told me that he got to the maze of Thunder County through the back door. But I went there to see it, and it was not a fertile land at all. The little devils there hid in caves, eating insects and growing wildly. The crypt spiders are almost destroying the maze, and the demons underneath are still fighting among themselves! None of the demons there hate us. It’s not a treasure at all, but a mess that no one wants!” Kamu gasped and stared at him.
"What do you know..."
"That's what you said again, so tell me, what do you know?" Xino stared into his eyes and continued, "Elder Zacro is interested in that place again, simply because he feels that our father studied out a way to become a god before he died, isn't it?"
Kamu’s pupils were dilated a bit, and his eyes were filled with incredible light.
"How did you..."
"How could I know, right?" Xino looked at him with pity, "I guess you still want to ask, why should I say it, right?"
Kamu did not speak, but stared at him.
Hino sighed secretly in his heart.
Just as Luo Yan guessed, his brother was also bewitched by Zac Luo.
It's just different from what bewitched him. Grandpa probably promised him to become a god.
But how is this possible?
In the long years, that guy has long forgotten that he is a living thing and has become a living stone.
Stones have no feelings.
He only has the obsession to become a god in his heart, and he is willing to sacrifice everything, even his own family, for this goal.
Hino was silent for a while, looked at his ferocious-looking brother, and continued.
"Luo Yan...actually realized before that we might not want the territory in his hands, but our father's notes, so after the duel, he took the initiative to return the notes to us, hoping to end this meaningless battle."
Kamu shook his head.
"You are too naive, my brother. That note may not be complete... Without the help of the power of gods, how could a mere mortal calm down the chaos of the entire labyrinth in such a short time. There is only one explanation. Our father actually completed the research, or almost completed it -"
"You wouldn't say that if you went to Thunder County."
Xino looked at him disappointedly and continued.
"The changes there have never been due to the power of the gods. It is even precisely because the local lords no longer pursue the power of the gods that the labyrinth has become different from the period when our fathers ruled."
Looking at Kamu who was stunned, Xino continued.
"He once mentioned to me that he used force to suppress the rebels in the labyrinth, but he did not just kill the demons who opposed him. He solved the problem of the little demons, the problem of the crypt spiders, and solved almost all the problems that the demons are facing or may face, even the problems faced by humans on the surface. Only then did they surrender to his throne from the bottom of their hearts..."
"On the contrary, because our father longed to become a god, he always dragged the demons there to do meaningless things, which caused the demons there to suffer miserably. Reggie Dragon's research was not successful at all, and even led to a dead end from the beginning. If his research is so useful, why don't his servants use it themselves and have to wait until hell sends a new demon king?"
"Zacro has gone crazy. He blames the power of gods for anything he can't do. He even wants to drag you with him... wake up!"
Kamu couldn't say a word, but the strength in his hands relaxed slightly, and he slowly placed Xino on the ground.
Indeed——
If becoming a god is really that simple, why did my father's subordinates dedicate that notebook to the Demon King?
Wouldn’t it be better to keep it for yourself?
It was obvious that their father had failed completely, leaving nothing but a ruined maze.
Zacro did not want to admit that his hard work was in vain, so he fell into crazy thoughts.
And I am not innocent either.
He relied too much on Elder Zakro.
Even though the family has reached the end of its rope, he still instinctively feels that his grandfather must have a way.
Hino held his neck where the claw marks had been pinched out, with a trace of sadness in his sincere eyes, and looked at his brother and continued.
"We have all been used...whether it's you, me, or our father. Zakro has never loved us, including the entire family. He only loves himself and the power in his hands. Ruling the Dragon family is not enough for him Satisfied, he wants more, even to replace the Demon God... I guess he must have promised you to become the new Demon God."
"I think he probably made the same promise to our father, so he arranged for him to be in the distant Thunder County."
"That's enough, I know, don't say any more," Kamu closed his eyes in pain, "Why... didn't you tell me earlier."
Hino was silent for a while, looking up into his eyes.
"Have you heard what I said?"
Kamu fell into silence, and then the silence turned into a sigh.
"It's my fault."
As the leader of a clan.
Elder Zakro certainly has his own responsibilities, but this does not mean that his responsibilities can be shied away.
The surrounding family members looked at each other in confusion, including the servants huddled in the corner. They were all at a loss at this moment, not knowing what to do.
"This is our last chance..."
Hino took out a notebook of Reggie Dragon from his arms and slowly handed it to Kamu's hand.
Looking at Kamu who looked surprised, Xino said in a deep voice.
"Zacro gave me this note and said that I will be the next head of the family from now on, and asked me to report meritorious deeds to the Ministry of Truth, and put all the responsibilities on you... I agreed to him at the time, but I did not intend to put all the responsibilities on you as he expected, otherwise you would be really finished."
After a pause, Xino said in a serious tone.
"I think... you should confess the situation to the Ministry of Truth yourself and make it clear who you are and who Zakro is in this farce. It may be helpful for your final sentence."
Kamu was silent for a long time after hearing this, and finally a bitter smile appeared on his face.
Unexpectedly, in the eyes of Elder Zakro, he had already become an outcast.
What an irony.
In the end, I was still hoping that the old guy could find a way to reverse the situation.
Kamu reached out and held the note in Xino's hand, but did not take it away.
After pondering for a moment, he slowly spoke.
..."If the situation of Zakro is revealed, I'm afraid it will not be good for the Dragon family. Many of our resources are in his hands."
Xino knows what his brother is thinking.
If you follow the overall situation, it is indeed the best choice for the head of the family to take care of everything.
But——
He is not a cold stone.
He believed that his brother was not the same.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so anxious after hearing that he was missing, and would even threaten Luo Yan to break up completely.
He only knew these things after Luo Yan told him.
Hino let go of his hand, put the note in Kamu's hand, and said seriously.
"There's nothing terrible about losing those resources. We still have territory, and we still have our own people. If we let him continue to control us behind the scenes, then our future will really be over."
Looking at Xino with firm eyes, Kamu's serious expression gradually melted away, a touch of approval appeared in his eyes, and a happy smile appeared on his originally ferocious face.
It's like settling down a worry.
"...You have grown up."
He reached out his hand, patted Xino's head, and then stuffed the note into his arms.
"I am relieved that you will be the next head of the family."
Looking around at the frightened tribesmen around him, Kamu announced in a majestic voice.
"After I leave, my brother will inherit my title and glory. He will be the next head of the Dragon family! You must obey his orders unconditionally and follow behind him, just like you followed me and my fathers. Revitalize our fallen flag and glory... Just start everything again." After saying this, he looked at Xino again.
"I'll leave this to you."
Hino looked at him and nodded solemnly.
"...I will definitely live up to your expectations."
In just three generations, the Dragon family, once ruled by an amethyst-level demon, was reduced to the point where a silver-level demon was required to carry this heavy burden.
Camu sighed in his heart, but he was not as panicked as before, and even felt more calm than before.
If it was a year ago, he would definitely feel that the sky was falling and he would not be able to face the ancestors of the Dragon family.
But now——
Him Instead, he felt that maybe tomorrow would be better.
The high-ranking judge standing with a sword looked slightly surprised, looking straight at Kamu who was walking leisurely, his eyes fixed on the raised right hand - or the notebook in his hand.
Not quite as expected.
Didn’t we agree that the one who came out was the younger brother? How did he become the older brother?
He felt a little bad in his heart, but now it was too late even if he wanted to do something.
There are too many eyes here...
The adjutant looked at Kamu with the same surprise, but for completely different reasons.
Things turned out exactly as his commander said.
The door is really open!
Kamu stopped at the door, knelt on the ground with one knee, and lowered his proud head in front of the murderous team.
"My dear Kamu Dragon, I am unworthy of the grace of His Majesty the Demon God. I was blinded by treacherous words and got into a huge disaster in a moment of confusion..."
His Adam's apple moved and he said in a deep voice.
"I want to surrender."