Bloodmist Valley was located in the forest at the south of the Red Spirit Estate. The terrain was dangerous. It was a base built by Josh with great effort for many years. It was originally intended to restrain and monitor Town Mordo that was under Josephâs control. Later, after Joseph was dead in the war of lords, this base was used as a strategic buffer zone for the Dark Moon. Kanita was in charge of it.
The trek made it almost impossible for the Magic Shadow knights, who had been plagued by injuries and exhaustion, to hold on. Fortunately, the new force of the Red Spirit Estate played a role. Under Kanitaâs order, they supported each other and took out some stretchers to carry the wounded soldiers to march forward without giving up any soldiers. This greatly improved Nestaâs impression of Kanita.
The group finally passed through the forest and entered the base at the Bloodmist Valley.
This was Kanitaâs station. He immediately ordered the people to set up a pot to cook in the field and arrange for the treatment of the wounded and rest matters. Those injured cavalries and horses had been properly handled. âSir Kanita, thanks to you this time.â Because Kanitaâs identity was the heir to the Red Spirit Estate, so Nestaâs title was very polite. âI appreciate your capabilities very much. If I can get forgiveness from Royal Highness Regent this time, I will recommend you in front of Royal Highness.â
âThank you, general! Please directly call me by my nameâ¦â Kanita was overjoyed and bowed, âGeneral is a famous general in the empire. I have always admired general and hope to have the opportunity to work under general in the future.â
Nesta nodded, but he sighed, âI donât know if Iâm still qualified to command the Magic Shadow Legion. This failure is a painful lesson. What I donât understand is that my attack was carried out immediately after Royal Highness Obsidianâs order. Besides the legion members, only a few people knew about it, but the Dark Moon seemed to have insight into the raid long ago. They set a trap to lead me in.â
âThe âfew peopleâ mentioned by general include me and my father right?â Kanita also sighed and smiled bitterly, âI understand what general meant. Iâm now one of the suspects of the Dark Moonâs spy. The action just now was only to disguise my identity.â
If there were insiders around now, they would definitely despise Kanitaâs acting skills. Itâs too pretentious! Itâs too superficial. A fine script of playing hard to get is actually acted out so miserably and superficially.
âYou have misunderstood. You and sir lord is ruled out.â This timely assistance greatly improved Nestaâs impression of Kanita, so he immediately shook his head, âAlthough the legion members are all selected and trained by me, there are 20,000 people after all. Itâs difficult to say whether there is a spy. However, it can also be someone close to sir lord.
Although this general of the capital commanded his troops well and was also considered courageous, he had not engaged in political struggle after all. In a sense, he was not ruthless enough. If it was Ms. Secret Intelligence, everyone would be included in the scope of suspicion. She would rather kill by mistake than let them go.
âIn fact, there is no need to speculate because the answer is near us.â Kanita suddenly thought of something, âGeneral should remember that we brought back a captive this time, right?â
Nestaâs eyes lit up, âYou meanâ¦â
âThat guy is now in the water magic prison of the Bloodmist Valley. Let alone escape, I have even sealed the trick of suicide. By the way, the maid has already prepared food. General should eat something first, treat the injury, take a break for a while, then letâs interrogate him together.â
âAlright!â
A few hours later, Nesta followed Kanita to a prison that was transformed into a cave. Considering the confidentiality, Nesta did not bring any legion members in. Kanita also specifically ordered the guard at the door not to allow anyone to enter.
The 2 walked into the prison and went all the way down the stairs, and they saw the captured great demon Hardi in the lower level of the dungeon.
The dim magic lamp of the dungeon reflected the ghastly glow in Nestaâs eyes. This person is one of the main reasons for my failure. The terrifying trap caused me to lose three-quarters of the legionâs troops. I personally trained every soldier. Seeing them buried in the flames of arrow rain and magic crystal cannons hurt me as if my limbs are broken off.
However, this is not the time to vent anger. I must dig out more important matters from the captiveâs mouth.
Nesta didnât make a sound, but he slowly expanded his momentum, forming a strong mental pressure on Hardi. Kanita retreated to the dungeonâs door in cooperation to not interrupt him.
Seeing Hardi seemed to be overwhelmed by oppression, Nesta slowly dissipated the pressure. He said, âNo matter what your real name is, I should praise you, you did a good job! The Dark Moon ambush caused my legion to lose 15,000 elites. Your contribution is indispensable.â
âThe âindispensable contributionâ that general said should be a thousand cuts on me right?â Feeling the pressure dropped, Hardi gasped for a while and smiled mockingly.
âIt seems like you are quite stubborn.â Nesta nodded appreciatively, âAs long as you provide something of sufficient value, I can guarantee your life safety and even money and status.â
Hardi sneered, âThis time your failure is equivalent to a hard slap on Obsidianâs face. For the prestige of the coalition army and for the furious Royal Highness Regentâs own reputation, you are just a scapegoat who will get a heavy sentence. How can you protect my life or interests?â
âIt turns out you are not only stubborn, but also a sensible person.â Nestaâs momentum changed, âTell me what I want to know, and I can give you a quick way to die. Otherwise⦠I think you should understand what you will face. â
âA living hell?â
Hardiâs composure was beyond Nestaâs expectation. This lowly figure of only Demon King level actually made Nesta feel a sense of unease.
âGeneral Nesta, before I say what you want to know, there are a few words that I need to say first. Regent Obsidianâs perverse and shameless behavior caused the entire empire to complain; on the other hand, the Princess Royal Highness of the Dark Moon has distinguished talent and put people to good use. In less than 10 years as a lord, the Dark Moon has got rid of poverty and backwardness to become the most powerful estate in the empire. Who is the most suitable ruler of the empire and who will lead the Fallen Angel Empire and Lucifer Royal Family to a further path, as a famous general of the empire from the Lucifer Royal Family, you should understand in your heart. You were also once a member of the Lord of Midnight Sun army, why not choose a master who is truly worthy of assistance?â
Nesta said without hesitation, âWhat you said sounds sensible, but unfortunately itâs useless! I can go from a small cavalry leader to the current legion commander thanks to the promotion of the Royal Highness Regent. I have sworn my allegiance to the Royal Highness Obsidian with my blood and long sword. I will never betray him regardless of the situation! I wonât support the little girl of the Dark Moon, even if she is the bloodline of the Lord of Midnight Sun!â
Hardi frowned and said, âGeneralâs loyalty is admirable, but to the general, the Lucifer Royal Family, the Fallen Angel Empire, or even to Prince Obsidian himself, this kind of blind loyalty is not necessarilyâ¦â
âEven if Royal Highness Obsidian walks on a path of no return, I, Nesta. Lucifer, will follow him!â Nesta coldly interrupted Hardiâs persuasion. The chill in his eyes became even more intense. âThis is ridiculous. A mere captive is actually persuading me to switch sides! Your nonsense time has passed. Now, you have 10 seconds to consider how to confess valuable matters. Otherwise, I will make you regret for not finding the opportunity to commit suicide sooner!â
âUnderstood.â Hardi sighed indifferently, âIt turns out to be Obsidianâs diehard follower. What a pity, then there is only another way for you to contribute to the Dark Moon. After all, the activation time for that thing is almost up⦠Kanita, are you ready to die?â
Nesta was taken aback, and he glanced at Kanita who was guarding the door. He thought Hardi had some kind of secret technique to break out of the magic prison to kill Kanita, so he immediately channeled his Demon Emperor-level power in preparation to stop Hardi at any time.
However, with this channeling, Nestaâs expression suddenly changed. His power that was full just now disappeared as if it was taken away by something.
Kanitaâs calm voice sounded as if to say a trivial thing, âIâm ready, my master, my value is over.â
If Nesta was surprised just now, it would be startled right now: Master?
And even facing âdeathâ so calmly?
âWhen you were having a meal, I had already set up this dungeon a little bit. Even if it collapsed, the people outside would not see or hear anything⦠Uh, please forgive me as I asked Kanita to add a little extra seasoning to the food. It will only make your power temporarily disappear for 10 minutes, but these 10 minutes are enough to complete many matters including the decision of life and death.â
As the indifferent voice of âHardiâ sounded, the dungeonâs water surface quickly swirled, forming a reverse vortex under the action of a certain force field. it slowly lifted his whole person out.
âIt turns outâ¦â Nestaâs hands trembled not because of fear but because of shock. At this moment, he already understood many matters.
âFrom generalâs expression, you have guessed something. In fact, the bodies at the Moonlight Fortress were all arranged long ago. The soldiers who were killed were actually death row prisonersâ¦â âHardiâ looked at Nesta who was desperately gathering his strength. Hardi shook his head and said, âStop wasting your effort. Even if you did not lose your intermediate stage of the Demon Overlordâs power, you will not be my opponent.â
An extremely dazzling white light suddenly appeared on âHardiâsâ body while he was talking. In Nestaâs impression, even the 2 moons with the strongest daylight was not as bright as this white light. The powerful breath revealed in the light made the despair in Nestaâs eyes even more intense: This level has exceeded the Demon Emperor realm!
This man is right, even in my optimal state, I am definitely not his opponent.
The figure of âHardiâ in the white light seemed to have undergone a certain change. An armor surging with strange and huge power covered his whole body. A strange mask on the visor gradually emerged. This mask was a bit familiar as if he had seen it in some kind of illustration book.
At the same time, Nesta caught a glimpse of Kanita, who was guarding the door, suddenly fell to the ground without any signs of life. As he said earlier, he was dead.
Suicide?
To die so indifferently and without hesitation, it is not like a master-servant contract, but⦠like a puppetâ¦
Yes! That mask!
âWho are you!â Nestaâs expression suddenly became extremely horrified as a terrifying hypothesis rose to his mind.
The figure in the starlight did not answer. When he slowly stretched out his hand, Nesta felt his body tighten and the sky spun around him. He lost consciousness in the blink of an eye.
Can this puppetry fool the eyes of Regent Obsidian?