The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 401 The Demon King's Clever Tactics

Time goes back to three days ago.

Near the Great Sage's Tower, in an adventurer's tavern called "Glacier Throat," the noise and heat dispelled the northern chill.

The fire in the fireplace was burning brightly, illuminating faces flushed from alcohol and boasting, amidst the cacophony of spittle flying and the clinking of glasses.

This is a favorite haunt of magic apprentices and adventurers alike. In the cold northern wasteland, nothing warms you up better than a glass of distilled spirit.

At this moment, Kemidil is leisurely stirring his favorite butterbeer, enjoying a moment of relaxation amidst his busy work.

Just then, a particularly loud boast coming from the next table caught his attention.

A burly adventurer with a full beard was boasting to his cronies sitting around him, spitting as he spoke.

"...The magic crystals you get from the maze are nothing compared to those natural magic crystal mines! When I went south to pick up some work, I met a magic crystal mine owner named Baron Guts. His magic crystal mines are incredibly rich, and they're all high-quality stuff that you've never seen before in your lives!"

The surrounding adventurers burst into laughter.

"Come on, Osa! If you really knew someone that important, would you be here with us, freezing in the wind?"

"Exactly! If I were you, I'd be lying on the beach at Whirlpool Beach by now!"

"Unless you produce evidence!"

An adventurer named Osa seemed to have his competitive spirit ignited. He slammed his wine glass on the table and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Evidence, is it! Fine, fine, you bunch of ignorant fools! I'll show you!"

As he spoke, he pulled a fist-sized crystal from a tattered leather pouch in his pocket and slammed it onto the table.

With a muffled thud, the noise of the entire tavern seemed to be absorbed by the crystal.

All eyes were instantly drawn to it, including Kemidil's. The magic crystal was a deep blue, radiating a pure and captivating glow in the dim light, almost without any impurities.

Kemidil's breathing quickened instantly.

With his perspective as a teaching assistant of the Source Law School, he could tell at a glance that the purity of this magic crystal was even high enough to be used to make silver-grade magic artifacts, and its value was at least twenty—no, thirty gold coins!

And most importantly, this thing is hard to buy!
Even in the most resource-rich enchanting school, these high-quality magical materials are monopolized by powerful professors.

How did a mere adventurer manage to get his hands on this treasure?!
While Kemidil was taken aback, he couldn't help but ponder it in his heart.

His confusion didn't last long, because soon that big-mouthed idiot took the initiative to explain the whole story.

Seeing his companions' dumbfounded expressions, Osa proudly put the magic crystal back into his bag: "How about that? I just picked this up casually near that baron's mine!"

The adventurers looked at each other in bewilderment.

The guy who had mocked him earlier spat and cursed the lucky fellow, then looked at his pockets with envy.

Some magic apprentices were also looking in this direction with excited eyes.

Although they weren't as knowledgeable as Assistant Instructor Kemidil, they still recognized that this magic crystal was no ordinary item.

We can't let him get away!

Kemidil placed his glass on the bar and walked over casually, a perfectly gentle smile on his face.

"My friend, the crystal you have is quite nice. Would you mind letting me... take a look?"

Osa glanced at him, saw the assistant instructor's insignia on his robes, and her wary attitude softened slightly as she reluctantly handed over the magic crystal.

"If it's just for looking..."

Although the mage was stingy, he rarely resorted to force or robbery, especially within the territory of the Great Sage's Tower.

Kemidil took the magic crystal, pretended to examine it for a moment, but was secretly overjoyed. He said calmly.

"Hmm, the quality is acceptable. I happen to need some spellcasting materials recently. How about it? Ten gold coins, how about you sell it to me?"

"Ten...ten gold coins?!" Osa's eyes widened instantly, as if he had heard an astronomical number. The adventurers and mercenaries surrounding them gasped in astonishment.

Although they guessed that the magic crystal was valuable, they never expected it to sell for such an outrageous price.

Seeing his naive and unsophisticated demeanor, Kemidil grew even more smug.

He suppressed a laugh, counted out ten gleaming imperial gold coins from his purse, and pushed them in front of Osa, as if stuffing a bag of candy into a fool's pocket.

He just wanted to close the deal quickly to avoid any unforeseen complications.

It was fortunate that he was the only teaching assistant in the tavern, and there were no mentors or professors with higher titles than him, otherwise he would never have had such a chance to take advantage of the situation!
Osa practically snatched the gold coin, then readily handed the priceless magic crystal to Kemidil, his face beaming with a smug smile.

"You can't go back on your word!"

"Of course, the monks of Xuebang are known for their integrity. Also... if you have any similar good things, you can sell them to me. My price is absolutely fair."

Camidiel put away the magic crystal with satisfaction, looking upright and like a teacher, as if he were quite famous in the Great Sage's Tower.

The adventurer seemed genuinely intimidated, rubbing his hands together with a shy smile on his face, his cheerful voice tinged with a hint of ingratiation.

"Haha, I believe you! The magicians of Xuebang have an excellent reputation throughout the continent of Os. If you still need these shiny trinkets, we can cooperate long-term. By the way, my name is Osa! May I ask your name?"

Long-term cooperation?

Kemidil smiled slightly, inwardly disapproving of the "arrogance" of this boorish adventurer, but still wearing an expression of appreciation on his face.

He nodded gracefully and extended his hand.

“Of course. My name is Camidiel, an assistant instructor at the Tower of Great Sages.”

Upon hearing the words "Tower of the Great Sage," Osa's expression of awe deepened.

Kemidil thoroughly enjoyed the attention he received. He feigned generosity by inviting Osa to sit down and ordering him an expensive beer before casually getting to the point.

“Brother Osa, I’m very interested in that mine owner from the south you just mentioned. To be honest, we mages have a huge demand for high-quality magic crystals for our research. If you can introduce me to this esteemed gentleman, you’ll be well rewarded afterwards.”

As he spoke, he casually shook his money bag.

Although it was somewhat deliberate, he knew exactly what would attract these adventurers.

Osa swallowed hard, his eyes filled with longing, but in the end, that envious look turned into a troubled expression, and he sighed heavily.

“Mr. Camidiel, I would love to help you, but... this is probably not so easy.”

"Oh?"

Kemidil glanced at Osa without saying a word, took a sip of butterbeer, and waited for the adventurer to continue.

Osa scratched his messy beard, hesitated for a while, and finally lowered his voice to confess, "Master Mage, to be honest, I'm not that close to that Baron Guts... well, actually. He's a nobleman from the Duchy of Campbell, and I'm just a worthless adventurer. How could I possibly have the chance to build up that kind of relationship? I just helped him with a small favor."

Seeing Kemidil's disappointed expression, Osa blushed and continued to explain.

"Moreover, his magic crystal mine is actually quite troublesome. The richest part of the mine is right next to a mass grave. It's teeming with the undead, and even his lord's lord couldn't handle it, let alone a mere baron like him... The magic crystal I have here was actually picked up from the outskirts of that mine when I was completing a quest from the Adventurers' Guild."

Osa's words implied, on the one hand, that his relationship with the baron was lukewarm, and on the other hand, they pointed out the enormous difficulties involved in mining, seemingly trying to dissuade Kemidil.

However, Kemidil's eyes lit up instantly after hearing this.

Undead?

Unable to mine?
These two words together were like a key, instantly opening a door in his mind to fame and fortune!
A plan to kill two birds with one stone quickly took shape in his mind.

If managed well, this could not only make him a fortune, but also serve as a stepping stone for him to get acquainted with "Baron Gus"!
Unable to contain his excitement any longer, he grabbed Osa's shoulder and stared intently at him until Osa felt uneasy under his gaze before finally speaking in a low voice.

"My friend, I have a perfect plan that can make us 'win-win'. You don't have to take any risks but can share in the profits. If you're lucky, you might even earn enough money to last a lifetime... I wonder if you're interested."

Seeing Kemidil's mysterious expression, Osa nervously swallowed and whispered.

"…What's the plan?"

Kemidil beckoned him closer, then confidently laid out his idea.

"Our Great Sage's Tower is currently preparing for the All Souls' Day Labyrinth Trial, and my mentor is in charge of this trial. I happen to have some connections and can persuade him to approve a budget to hire adventurers like you to 'bring in' a group of undead for our trial..."

His plan is simple.

Just move the undead from Baron Guss's territory to the man-made labyrinth in the northern wasteland. They're all undead anyway, so I doubt Mentor Merck will care where he got them from or if there's any shady deal behind it.

Seeing Osa's shock at his plan, Kemidil's lips curled into a mysterious smile.

"Think about it, we've essentially used Xuebang's money to clean up the undead in the mines for Baron Guts for free. That's an incredible favor. You said you're not close to him, but I think with this gift, he'll definitely treat you like an honored guest, and that's just one aspect."

"Secondly, by dealing with the undead, the Baron can mine magic crystals smoothly, and I can also obtain the magical materials I need. As for the third, and most important point—"

He paused, his gaze fixed intently on Osa. "As the one who brought all of this together, all I ask for is 30% of the annual output of that magic crystal mine. Of course, you will have a share of that 30%."

He recounted his perfect plan of "killing three birds with one stone" in detail, his words filled with pride.

Osa was indeed tempted; at least, an excited expression appeared on his face.

But before long, his excited expression cooled down.

He scratched the back of his head and said hesitantly.

“Thirty percent? Master Mage, that’s too much for you… Baron Gus probably won’t agree. After all, it doesn’t matter if he leaves it unmined; he can leave the magic crystal mine to his sons and grandsons. That’s what all the nobles do.”

"He will."

Kemidil, looking confident of victory, elegantly picked up his butterbeer and took a small sip.

“You just go and talk to him. Also, don’t forget to remind him that this is not just a business deal, but also a fantastic opportunity to befriend a promising magician. I think that baron who lives in a remote corner will definitely be interested in this deal.”

"What can be passed down to grandchildren is not just magic crystal ore, but also the favors of magicians." It's true that he's only at the Fine Steel level now, but who can say what will happen in the future?

Don’t bully the poor middle-aged people!
Moreover, once this collaboration is finalized, he will quickly become successful, and even surpassing his mentor will not be a dream!

Seeing Kemidil's confident demeanor, Osa hesitated for a moment, but finally gritted his teeth and nodded heavily.

"Okay! I'll give it a try! But the teleportation array usage fee..."

Camidir smiled and placed a gold coin on the table.

“I think this money should be enough… consider it an advance payment as compensation to you.”

Watching Osa's hurried departure, Kemidil's face revealed a smug smile, as if he could already see the mountain of magic crystals beckoning to him.

At that moment, he was completely unaware that in the deepest shadows of the tavern's corner, a cloaked "adventurer" was taking in everything with his bright, vertical pupils...

……

As expected, Osa reached an agreement.

This was originally a setup targeting Kemidil; the so-called difficulties were just for show, to prevent him from becoming suspicious if he agreed too easily.

As for Baron Gus...

It's likely that even the baron, who is currently indulging in a life of debauchery in Thunder City, is unaware that there is actually a magic crystal mine on his territory, which has been converted into a ranch.

Meanwhile, Kemidil was also pushing forward with his own plans.

At a crucial moment, he persuaded his mentor, Merck, who was eager to make a name for himself, to introduce the undead as monsters in the labyrinth trials, ostensibly to add some "immersive" experience to the apprentices' trials.

As expected, his idea was approved by his mentor, Merck, who then entrusted him with full responsibility for the matter.

All is ready except for the opportunity!
Three days later, it was still the "Glacier Throat" tavern.

Kemidil practically kicked open the rickety wooden door, his face beaming with undisguised excitement and smugness.

He walked straight through the noisy crowd and found Osa drinking alone in a corner, then slapped him hard on the shoulder.

"Osa! My friend! Good news!"

Osa was startled by him. When he looked up and saw that it was Kemidil, a simple and honest smile immediately appeared on his face: "Respected...Master Mage! What brings you here? Judging from your expression, has the matter been settled?"

"Of course!"

Kemidil smiled slightly and sat down opposite him.

Seeing the bartender approach, he tossed him a silver coin to send him away, ordered the most expensive beer for the two of them, and then lowered his voice, speaking with great enthusiasm.

“Mentor Merck was very satisfied with my proposal. He praised my idea as a brilliant innovation, and the budget has now been approved! How about your side? How are the negotiations going?”

"Everything is under control, Master. I knew you would succeed."

Osa continued, his tone full of perfectly timed compliments and his manner ingratiating and eager.

"While I was in contact with Baron Guts, I had already made prior arrangements with the adventurers in Campbell's territory. To avoid wasting your precious time, they have already begun setting up a temporary teleportation magic circle!"

Camidiel was surprised, but that surprise quickly turned into complete satisfaction. He looked at the seemingly rough but actually "clever" adventurer before him and nodded approvingly.

"That's great, you've thought of everything very carefully!"

He now increasingly felt that acquiring such a capable fellow for only ten gold coins was the most worthwhile deal he had ever made in his life.

perhaps--

Who knows, they might actually be able to cooperate long-term?
Osa smiled sheepishly, looking flattered, and then "thoughtfully" reminded him.

"However, sir, to make everything appear flawless, we need to go through one last step. I suggest you post a related quest at the Adventurers' Guild in the name of the Great Sage's Tower. Once the quest is posted, I will accept it immediately. This way, the accounts and procedures will be perfect, and no one will suspect anything."

"Of course! How could I possibly forget something so important!"

Kemidil was increasingly satisfied with Osa's reliability; the guy was practically a perfect tool.

At this moment, the bartender brought over two large pitchers of beer.

He raised his glass, ready to drink with Osa to celebrate their impending "great success." However, Osa, contrary to his usual behavior, did not respond to his enthusiasm, but instead spoke in a tone of advice.

“Sir, I appreciate your kind intentions, but the plan is at a crucial stage, and we can’t afford to falter now. Let’s save this wine for after everything is done.”

Kemidil was slightly taken aback, but smiled nonchalantly and clinked glasses with him.

"It's alright! A couple of drinks won't hurt!"

Anyway, he has a magic potion to sober him up...

……

After Kemidil left satisfied, Osa finished the rest of his drink alone and also got up and left the tavern, which was almost buried by the heavy snow.

The streets were dimly lit, and the magic apprentices had already gone home before curfew. All that remained were vendors packing up their stalls and adventurers returning home.

However, instead of returning to his hotel, he cautiously circled the streets several times, and after confirming that no one was following him, he finally turned into a deserted alley.

A cloaked figure had been waiting in the shadows like a statue, his indifferent and bloodthirsty gaze like a cold moon hanging in the wind.

And that sliver of moonlight seemed to be the only light in the alley.

Osa dared not meet those eyes, but instead stepped forward cautiously, bowed his head respectfully, and reported the final results of the mission.

"I've done everything you asked me to do!"

Kemidil was destined to be disappointed.

He never went to the Duchy of Campbell, nor did he know Baron Gus. From the very first magic crystal, it was all just a carefully crafted script.

As for why this lady was playing tricks on a Taoist priest, he had no idea. Perhaps she also had a master behind her, and behind all of this lay a game he did not understand.

Sarah didn't say a word, but simply reached out from under her cloak and tossed a heavy bag of gold coins to the ground as the final payment for the mission.

The crisp clang made Osa's heart skip a beat, but when he saw that it was a money bag lying on the ground, a joyful smile immediately appeared on his face.

"Thank you! It's my pleasure to serve you."

Sarah said succinctly.

"This is the reward you deserve. You know what to do next."

"I understand, little one!"

Osa happily picked up the money bag, weighed it in his hand to assess its satisfying weight, and finally couldn't suppress his curiosity, so he asked a question.

"Speaking of which, where are you planning to find so many undead? Or did you intend to stand that magician up from the very beginning?"

Sarah did not answer.

Her figure began to fade, as if to blend into the night, leaving behind only a casual yet undeniable statement at the end.

"You don't need to worry about that."

As soon as she finished speaking, that graceful yet dangerous figure had completely disappeared.

Faced with the utter silence of being all alone, Osa shivered, clutched his purse tightly, and hurriedly left the alley without looking back.

While the friendship of the monk is certainly appealing, offending a powerful figure whose true strength is unknown is equally frightening.

To have a powerful individual, possibly at the Silver or even Gold level, become her "death squad," the master behind her must have a soul level at least two levels higher than hers.

Platinum?

diamond?

With Saint Sith above, possessing such a soul level, whether or not one truly wields extraordinary power is no longer important. This world is not one where only extraordinary individuals can have absolute authority.

He didn't want to trip and fall while walking at night and wake up as a ghost.

Osa is already content.

In just three days, he has earned more money than he could ever spend in a lifetime. He could easily consider moving to a different place to start a new life.

I've heard that the Empire's development of the continent of Gana is in full swing lately, why don't we go there...?

At the same time, in the desolate wilderness far from the Academy, Luo Yan had just drawn a huge teleportation array on the snow.

He clapped his hands and stood up, then took out his wand and waved it gently as if conducting a symphony orchestra.

A surge of magical power erupted from the tip of the staff, flowing into the core of the magic circle, and together with the howling cold wind, played a prelude to summoning the dead.

"Kaka——"

Amidst the shimmering magical light, a rift was torn open in space.

One by one, pale skeletons slowly emerged from the light, their empty eye sockets burning with eerie green soul flames!

How can All Souls' Day be complete without the spirits of the dead?
These are all brand-new bodies he prepared for the "players".

Luo Yan wore a pleasant smile and gently raised his hands.

"Awaken—"

"My servants!"

(End of this chapter)