I'm really not a dragon.

The Devil's Tip is an ordinary magical artifact shop. The owner is a Karatu who has no name, only a nickname.

It's usually deserted and there aren't many customers; it looks like it might go out of business soon.

The shop owner also showed no intention of changing the status quo.

But the old Bode residents all know that if a store doesn't make money but can still stay open, then it definitely has a business that can't be put on the table.

Three figures stopped in front of the devil's tip.

"Finally here!" The dwarf sat down on the ground with a sigh of relief, sweat beading on his forehead and beard.

The dwarf used two spells that enhanced his mobility—oiling his feet and leaping—to barely catch up with Sun and the barbarian.

Barbarians are one thing, but why is Suen able to run so fast?

"A devil's tip? Could there really be a devil?" The northern barbarian wondered uncertainly.

He had only heard of demons in tribal stories, such as a warrior making a deal with a demon that led to the destruction of the tribe.

Not only in the civilized world, but also on the desolate spine of the world, devils and disasters are synonyms.

Suen looked up. The shop had a typical hellish aesthetic, decorated with blood-stained horned skulls, chains, and burning flames. Of course, most importantly, there was the pervasive smell of sulfur.

"Thank you all for your help. I can manage the rest of the way on my own!"

Suen patted the northern barbarian on the shoulder, then bent down and patted the dwarf on the shoulder.

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Dwarf Brian curled his lip.

"Sword Coast man, I know you don't want to drag us into this. If it weren't for you, I would have died in prison long ago, or perhaps been exiled to the Thurte Peninsula as a pioneer. In any case, you helped me, so I have to help my friend!"

After saying this, the dwarf nudged the barbarian with his elbow, signaling him to say something.

"Uh!" The northern barbarian hesitated. "Two wise mages, demons aren't good people. Do we really have no other choice?"

The devil is indeed not a benevolent creature; he is cunning, greedy, and treacherous. But in some ways, the devil is quite simple.

They only ever wanted human souls.

Once you grasp this point, dealing with them is quite easy.

"Friends, when dealing with the devil, do not believe a single word they utter. Do not agree to any deals with them. I have a way to disregard the pact with the devil and reclaim my soul, but I do not know if you have such a way."

Upon hearing this, the northern barbarians and dwarves looked somewhat strange. If that was the case, it seemed that they did indeed have some way to escape the pact with the devil.

Well, neither of them actually owns their own souls.

Seeing that the two seemed to have made up their minds, Suen pushed open the door to the Devil's Tip and stepped inside.

As you push open the door, a whiff of exotic spices fills your nostrils.

On the counter were some rare and precious items that were rarely seen on ordinary days, such as fist-sized black pearls, dragon scales, and unicorn spiral horns. However, judging from the dust on them, it was clear that the shop owner rarely took care of them.

The walls were crammed with scrolls, books, and manuscripts as light as feathers.

The mage Mel, whom they had met earlier, was tending to the walls. Upon seeing the group appear, she instinctively drew her wand.

"That's enough, Mel, show some respect for our guests!"

Behind the counter, a man resembling Karathu shouted to stop him; he was carrying a wand as tall as himself.

His expression was gentle.

"Hello, guests! What would you like to order?"

"I know you have some deals here that aren't usually seen," Suen said bluntly.

"Well, every shop has similar deals; it just depends on what you can offer."

The shop owner smiled.

After thinking for a moment, Suen pointed to himself, "My soul!"

The shopkeeper's expression changed slightly as he scrutinized Su En intently: "Are you serious? Once a soul is traded, there's no going back!"

"Have you heard of the Duke's Mansion massacre, the Lower City whale oil poisoning case, and the hand-cutting serial murders? A sinner like me only has my soul left to trade."

Thanks to Thorlin Silver Shield, Sun has taken care of all the murders, big and small, that have occurred at Baldur's Gate over the past two months.

He was so overwhelmed by the weight of this burden that he could barely breathe.

The shop owner looked at him meaningfully. "Then please go upstairs. The true master of the devil's tip is waiting for you there!"

-

The devil's tip, second floor.

Aurelia had been waiting for a long time. She was dressed the same as before, wearing a studded red leather armor over a black dress, with short, curly hair that reached her ears.

She raised her hand in greeting, smiling sweetly:

"Hello, my love. I told you we would meet again."

Upon seeing the woman's face, the dwarf clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with murderous intent. "I really want to give this bitch a good beating!"

"Little dwarf, it took me five minutes to get you to sleep last time. Do you need Mommy to keep putting you to sleep?"

A grinding sound came from between the dwarf's teeth.

Suen stood in front of the dwarf and said coldly, "We're not here to argue."

"I understand, I understand, darling, you've come to see Raphael." She smiled sweetly.

"Where is the devil?" Sun asked.

"The devil isn't here, of course. Hmm, please give me some time to prepare."

She took out the drawing tools needed for the magical ritual from the study, including blood, mercury, and finely ground gemstone powder.

She busied herself in the room, lying on the floor to level the ground and setting up the ceremony area with a ruler and compass.

This expert-level demeanor made Suen and the dwarf take a serious look.

The two crossed their arms and leaned against each other, whispering to each other.

"Summoning demons, huh? How interesting!"

"Hmm, this rune clearly points to Purgatory. Heh, I've tried summoning spells before, and they're never drawn like this."

"That's about the average skill level!"

"He's still a self-taught mage after all! He's not as good as one of us orthodox monks."

The northern barbarian watched as the two "mages" academically bullied Aurelia. Considering the past, he wisely chose to remain silent.

Aurelia covered her mouth and laughed, mercilessly interrupting the two laymen's speculations:

"I'm not summoning Raphael. Summoning the true form of a great demon would require far too many things. Hmm, I'm just setting up an interdimensional portal."

Interdimensional portal?

Hmm, no wonder it was drawn wrong, now it makes sense.

However, could an interdimensional portal lead to other worlds?

"Are we going to meet the devil?" Cold sweat broke out on Suen's forehead.

Aurelia smiled and explained, "This portal leads to the Mansion of Hope, which is a demiplane. Hmm, you know what a demiplane is, right?"

"..."

Suen looked at the dwarf, the dwarf looked at the barbarian, the barbarian looked...

The barbarian couldn't hold back any longer. "No, why are you all staring at me? I'm from the north, and I only learned the common language two months ago."

Aurelia sighed and explained, "A small world formed through magic or nature, where the laws of physics are not fully realized. Raphael built his mansion in a demiplane."

In other words, their next destination is the devil's territory.

Aurelia finished the final stroke, took a gold coin from her pocket, and tossed it into the magic circle.

The surface of the gold coin ignited, and the flames gradually spread throughout the entire magic circle.

A portal was opened amidst the raging flames.

Aurelia bowed slightly and said with a smile:

"Alright, the three of you, our lord is awaiting your arrival at the Hope Mansion!"

-

at the same time,

Vikram, the leader of the Ghurs, obtained his Upper City pass from Vera, an apprentice at a perfume shop.

The last time I saw the pass

It was that period known as the "Cataclysm of the Saints" or the turbulent years.

That was an era rife with chaos.

For the Sword Bay region, its fate is inextricably linked to the god of murder.

Baal, the god of murder, foresaw his own death, and thus left many offspring on Earth.

The murder of the gods was like raising poisonous insects, causing them to kill each other. Only the one who survived was qualified to become the vessel for Baal's resurrection.

Fortunately, one of Baal's sons saw through this. He defeated his brothers and became the strongest of Baal's sons, but he alone rejected the temptations of the source of his bloodline.

After the turbulent year ended,

Only two of Baal's sons are alive: one is Apodel Ardern, the current Grand Duke of Flamefist, though his other name is perhaps more familiar to many: "Chanem." The other is his brother, the former Lord of the Iron Throne, Shaflock.

No, perhaps there is still one alive...

Vicon's thoughts lingered here.

The Upper City opened its doors to him, a hunting ground he had never set foot in before, and one that felt more dangerous than any monster's lair he had ever encountered.

But he still came, perhaps for some deeper reason.

Carnivorous beasts may be able to resist the urge to chew on wild grass, but ultimately they will tear apart their prey and devour its flesh.

This is human nature.

Just as the two sons of Baal would eventually meet and, driven by their bloodline, kill each other.

One's true nature cannot be escaped.

As his thoughts drifted away, Viktor unknowingly followed Vera to the entrance of the Audel perfume shop.

The shop door slowly opened.

Viktor glanced at it, then drew his crescent blade from his waist.

"I've felt something was off since just now; it's like this girl's scent is trying to cover something up!"

Vicon grabbed a handful of powder and threw it into the air.

The dust sprinkled on Odelle was like flames igniting an illusion.

Amid Vera's screams, Odelle gradually revealed her true form: sharp, forked ears, a cross-shaped crown, and an otherworldly appearance.

All these characteristics point to one point

"You look like a child of witchcraft; you are the hag's chosen child, destined to be transformed into an evil and hideous hag at some point in the future!"

Viktor said incredulously:

"But strangely, your bones are too old; the age of bones cannot be faked. The widow's son has a rare beauty, but almost none of them can maintain their beauty after the age of thirty."

Odelle waved her hand, and the door slammed shut instantly, followed by the curtains closing one by one.

She lit the incense in the room and said approvingly.

"As expected of the Monster Hunter leader, what else did you discover!"

"You still haven't answered my question, you hag!"

"What do you think a witch is? A monster that manipulates witchcraft and steals babies? Or an evil spirit covered in filth that turns good people into frogs, goats, and wild boars?"

Weikang couldn't quite figure out the other party's true nature.

As for witch doctors, he had dealt with several of them before. As long as the number of witch doctors did not exceed three, he was confident that he could kill them.

But the question is, is she really a witch?

"Witches were originally beautiful and kind spirits, but once our hearts fall into darkness, our faces become ugly. As for the reason, I don't think you're interested in hearing it."

Audrey sat on the sofa, crossing her shapely legs.

"However, since you're here, it means you intend to accept this private commission from me, right?"

"I've changed my mind, you old hag!"

Vicon does not intend to stay here any longer.

A monster hunter who believes in a monster, and even accepts a commission from the monster.

No, that's impossible.

"Don't rush, let's look at the deposit first, Vera, my dear girl!"

The young apprentice at the perfume shop nervously clutched the check and held it above her head.

Viktor glanced at the check and couldn't look away. It was a check from the Clearing House, worth five thousand gold coins, and this was just a deposit.

Five thousand gold coins could allow the Gur people to equip themselves with better gear, and even purchase several magical weapons.

"No matter what results you find out, I will reward you with 10,000 Dragon Gold Coins!" Odelle slowly dropped the final bombshell.

Damn rich people!

Wei Kang took a deep breath, pinched the check between his index and middle fingers, and casually stuffed it into his pocket.

"I will complete the task as soon as possible, madam!"

After leaving the Audel perfume shop,

Vicon is still frustrated.

As a monster hunter, I encountered a monster that resembled a hag—

Was his attitude a bit off? Was he too aggressive?

If I were to negatively impact any wealthy woman's opinion of me, where would I find such a lucrative job again?

While reflecting on it with frustration,

Viktor walked without stopping until he reached the gates of the Duke's mansion.

Because of the murder, security here is extremely tight. Patrol teams pass by the Duke's mansion every thirty seconds or so. Thirty meters above the ground, a gargoyle sits atop the castle, its head slowly turning to take in everything that happens on the ground.

Vicon calculated the patrol patterns of the teams and the gargoyles.

He opened a bottle of invisibility potion, thought for a moment, and then took out a vaporized pendant and hung it around his neck.

The former allows him to conceal his form, while the latter allows him to transform into clouds.

And so, an invisible cloud brazenly entered the Duke's mansion.

In this magnificent manor, the lingering stench of blood still lingered, stirring Viktor's senses.

Almost subconsciously,

He arrived at the scene of the massacre. The scene had been cleaned up once, and there was hardly anything left.

But Vicon still found something interesting. "Hmm, purple worm venom, refined. That's not cheap!"

"Lucans Blood Wine? This rotten smell suggests it's been aged for quite some time."

In a flower bed, Vicon discovered traces of bloody wine. Just as he was about to collect the evidence...

Footsteps suddenly echoed in the garden.

The vaporized form of Vicon drifted more and more into the flowerbeds.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a pale-faced middle-aged man slowly walking towards him, swirling a wine glass in his hand.

In an instant, the burning desire in his blood reignited within him.

Like two wild beasts meeting in a pitch-black world, they raised their heads, their eyes filled with a desire to kill each other.

Vicon's teeth chattered, and his vaporized body gradually revealed its true form as he greedily gazed at Thorlin Silver Shield approaching him.

He knew he might not live past today.

After all, one cannot escape the nature of a beast.