This dungeon has mushrooms growing on it.

Chapter 680, 679. It was all... a scheme.
"Cough, cough, cough...!"

Mortis took out a silk handkerchief and wiped the unsightly mark from the corner of his mouth before looking at Mofrey to confirm, "Eugene is dead?"

The news was so shocking that he could barely taste the [Delicious LV8] Blood Jade Wine he had just drunk.

Mofley didn't look up, but simply presented the stack of intelligence in her hands with both hands.

It was an urgent secret report from the northern border, along with the latest message from Duke Dean, which was presented to the Emperor.

A group of tribesmen demonstrated strength far exceeding expectations.

Duke Eugene, who went to fight the enemy, was almost killed in front of Dean.

Mutant Puji, Fungal Creep, Parasitized Individual, Vampire Traitor Who Gained Promotion Through Unexplained Means.

The emperor reviewed these intelligence reports one by one, his gaze lingering a little longer on the information related to Louise.

"The Holy Scripture is actually in the North...?"

“Your Majesty,” Mofrey asked in a low voice, “Dean’s request for reinforcements…should we change the current arrangements?”

Mortis was silent for a moment, then shook his head.

“No, grant Dean full authority to take over the entire northern border. He needs to hold on on his own until things are settled here.”

"Yes!"

After taking another sip of the Blood Jade Wine, the latest tribute from Sigismund, Mortis revealed a genuine smile.

There is only one way for vampire traitors to advance, something Mortis knows all too well.

Now, only he and Vesalius possess the blood-stealing ritual, and it is impossible for beings at the pinnacle of bloodlines like them to leak this ritual.

Therefore, it can only be a sacred text that has not yet been found.

Given the presence of traces of sacred texts, it becomes self-evident who is behind the unusual behavior in the North.

The purpose of launching this attack at this juncture is clearly to distract him and disrupt the existing arrangements.

In other words—the Demon King has made his move.

However, this actually boosted Mortis's confidence.

Despite possessing the entire empire, Mortis, whose opponent was the Demon King, never felt certain of victory.

But since the Demon King needs to go to such lengths to weaken himself, it is clear that he is not in good condition and is not entirely confident.

But he wouldn't fall for the trap. Even if the entire northern border were engulfed in flames, Mortis didn't care as much as the Demon King.

Furthermore, he has a hidden trump card...

After arranging matters on the northern border, Mortis led the succubus out of the tent.

Outside the tent, at the entrance to the Dragon Cliff Underground City, a bustling scene unfolded.

Thousands of craftsmen and mages are busy near the entrance, and a giant composite magic circle is beginning to take shape.

The array patterns are nested in layers, and the magic crystals at the core are stacked into a tower. Each piece needs to be precisely calibrated. From a distance, the scale of the array is enough to cover the entire valley.

But Mortis didn't even glance at it. This was all for show. Faced with the Demon King, who stood at the pinnacle of spellcasters, most magic circles wouldn't even be qualified to be activated.

He turned and walked into an inconspicuous secret passage. The passage was narrow and winding, without a trace of magical energy. All the mechanisms were purely physical structures: gears, levers, and hidden doors, extending deep underground layer by layer.

When he pushed open the last stone door at the end, a completely different space unfolded before him.

That is the ring-shaped underground space excavated around the Dragon Cliff Underground City.

The dome is high and the walls are smooth, with a dim kerosene lamp every few dozen steps.

Meanwhile, underground, a group of artisans and mages were also busy setting up a different kind of magic array.

A magic-suppressing array. Unlike the ostentatious displays outside, every mark here is carefully concealed, and every magic crystal is encased in lead, ensuring that not a single trace of magic power leaks out before activation.

"How's the progress?" Mortis's voice echoed in the empty underground.

“It will be completed within two months,” Mofley replied.

"Keep it a secret?"

“These people have been forbidden from all communication with the outside world since they came in.” Mo Fulei’s voice was very low, so low that the craftsmen not far away could not hear it at all. “Once the array is completed, I will personally deal with all those who know about it to ensure that no one can leak the layout of this place.”

Mortis nodded.

“Not bad, but don’t forget to show your face at that magic circle outside every now and then, so as not to arouse unnecessary suspicion.” He paused, a smile appearing on his face. “This is a surprise I’ve prepared for the Demon King. Don’t let anything go wrong like Eugene did.”

……

The northern border of the empire.

Dean looked at the appointment letter that had just arrived, but there was no joy on his face. He was under more pressure than ever before.

Having just suffered a major defeat, the northern forces are at an unprecedented low, yet the emperor shows no intention of sending reinforcements?
You see, even if the tribes in the North had no intention of attacking, the dwarves would not let such an opportunity pass.

Although he had reached a mutual assistance agreement with the Duke of Levy immediately, his future remained uncertain.

What troubled him even more were the demon soldiers who had escaped...

"Chieftain, those defeated soldiers are causing trouble again."

Having learned of the Creep's surveillance capabilities from Eugene's last words, and seeing these creep demons running back, how could Dean not have any doubts?

They were kept in several separate camps, ostensibly for care, but in reality, they dared not release them.

Dean wasn't sure what their situation was either. Although they didn't seem to have betrayed them, who knew how much of them had problems?

Who knows if these parasitic mycelia have some functions that even they themselves are unaware of?

“Chief, I think we should just kill them all! There’s no need to gamble on that possibility,” a demon suggested.

Before Dean could speak, other demons stepped forward and said, "You mean, you want to kill Cecily, Fallingfire, and the others too? And all those thousand-plus demons to be killed as well?"

The two demon commanders he mentioned, Sehi and Luo Huo, were the ones who accompanied Eugene on this expedition.

Before this, they were able to stand in this room and discuss clan affairs together.

Due to the problem of mycelial parasitism, the returning demon descendants have been temporarily quarantined.

Within the Demon race, unity is paramount, at least Dean values ​​this highly.

After the objector said this, the demon who had suggested killing them all could no longer say anything.

Dean leaned back in his chair, watching this scene, and couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh.

Killing them is impossible; killing them would only alienate both internally and externally.

While they could maintain control of their own territory through long-term management, the nobles and soldiers under Eugene, who had recently gained control of the Duke of Eugene's territory, were unlikely to directly rebel, but they were not expected to contribute much in the subsequent battles.

Closing it would waste already limited manpower and cause internal strife, and it would also leave behind several potential threats that could explode at any time, which is even worse.

In order to prepare for the impending war, and to maximize combat strength without reinforcements...

Dean may seem to have a choice, but in reality, he has no choice.

“Sigh,” he sighed heavily, rubbed his forehead and waved his hand, “Let them all go and reorganize them.”

……

Meanwhile, the dwarves celebrating their victory in the fungus castle are still unaware of the seriousness of mycelial parasitism.

(End of this chapter)