Baator Hell Promotion

Chapter 83 Negotiation

"Very good, a clever blue jay." The hag was stunned for a moment, then taunted, "Putting two little birds and an old cat in a cage, is this your plan?"

"No, Professor, we just thought we could talk." Hopper took off her veil, and her retracted wings gradually spread out. She was not afraid at all when facing the witch who was far stronger than her. She could only feel her heartbeat getting more and more excited because of this dangerous game.

Yes, you are all stronger than me, but it doesn't matter. Bartor has never been a place where muscle alone can prevail, and this is not the first time I have faced two enemies who can crush me.

The little devil Hap said this in his heart.

Lati turned around in surprise. In her mind, Hopper was always a restrained and calm demon. Even though he was labeled as Lilith's subordinate, he lived a more low-key life than most ordinary succubi in school. She had never imagined Hopper could be so confident and proactive.

"What are you talking about, little bird?" the hag's voice hinted at disdain. "You don't really think I'm willing to bargain with a succubus, do you? I know succubi much better than you do."

"Or do you think, with your brain, which is not much bigger than your fist, that I think there is still a possibility for us to live in peace after you already know my goal?"

"In essence, Lati and I have no direct conflict of interest with you. Isn't it Lil you need to target? At least today, on this occasion, we have room for cooperation." The demon said calmly.

"Latti's presence here today wasn't entirely her own will. Someone guided her here, hoping to accomplish something through her. Now that the alarm has been triggered, Professor Bi Guan will be here soon. How will you explain your presence here?"

"What does this have to do with me?" The witch didn't answer the question but directly asked, "How do you know I won't choose to kill you? Then I don't have to explain anything."

"If you ask me, it's not that you don't want to, but that you can't." The succubus spoke with increasing confidence, her thoughts broadening. "This city castle has a maze that detects student deaths. Both times you acted outside the school, which at least shows that you have a reason for not acting on campus. I don't know what that reason is, but I'm guessing it must be very important to you. Perhaps you don't want to leave the environment of Emberhold, or perhaps you have a very close cooperative relationship with Lady Harsh and you don't want to anger her. But in any case, you will avoid killing a student directly on campus unless it is absolutely necessary."

"Go on, little bird," the witch's voice became calm. "Give me a final reason that can convince me."

"Your biggest loss is that Lil's matter will have to be delayed off-campus. I don't know what you intend to do to her, but you can't kill her here anyway. At most, you can hint at her or control her a little. But tonight, instead of killing us, you can help Lady Harsh and Torchhold solve a problem they urgently need to address—someone is coveting Lady Harsh's treasure room. I believe you've heard about it."

"No, Hopper, you can't. We promised."

Leti's voice interrupted Hopper. Her voice was still as ethereal and beautiful, as graceful and moving as ever. The eagerness and tearfulness of her voice made it even more somber. Every "no" she said cut like a knife into Hopper's heart. But Hopper knew it was the effect of magic.

The demon gritted his teeth, ignoring every word she said, and said indifferently: "I have not made any oath. And I have not said to give up Lil, but at least we need to cooperate tonight. Your actions have put us in danger, Lati. So I don't think you have any more say in this matter."

"Very good, very good! Little bird. You truly are a well-taught succubus." The hag's voice stopped Lati from speaking further. A hunched figure appeared between the pillars not far from them. "Then here comes another question. Even if I don't kill you, how do you know there are other beasts in the cage besides the old cat and the two little birds?"

"Because Lati's actions were too reckless and too successful. She couldn't, and shouldn't, have rashly barged into the treasure room. Even with her grandmother's orders, she should have realized that even if she stole the belt, there would be no way to safely escape Torchhold, let alone deliver it to her grandmother. So something must have affected her mind. And since the last time she alerted the enemy and attracted attention, the mastermind behind this will definitely seize this opportunity tonight to make a breakthrough in one fell swoop. They won't wait any longer."

After saying that, Hopper bent his bow and shot an arrow into the distant darkness. The blazing feather arrow stopped in mid-air, then fell to the ground like a snake with its tendons pulled out, and went out.

A graceful beauty emerged from the endless darkness. Her outstretched crimson wings shone against the nine-tailed whip emblem suspended above her head. Her flowing black hair and smiling eyes, like amber wine, made her almost unrecognizable as the once dignified and solemn professor.

"Professor Yuti?" Lati said in disbelief.

"Think about it, Lati. Didn't we meet her right after we first met that man? And who was it that taught you about the Strict Lady's Belt in the first lesson after you received your grandmother's letter?" Hopper put his hand on the bow, ready to attack at any time, but he knew in his heart that his fighting ability was nothing compared to a pleasure demon.

"Neither of you has disappointed me." Professor Yuti spoke. Her voice remained unchanged, but it sounded close to her ear, carrying a moist warmth, as if a gentle hand was teasing her ear with a feather. "Especially you, Miss Hopper. I believe your potential exceeds that of an ordinary succubus. How did you discover my existence? You shouldn't be able to see through my protective magic."

Hopper nodded and said, "Yes, Professor. I can't see through your magic, but I can smell your scent. This scent can appear anywhere in this castle, but it shouldn't appear in the treasure room of the Strict Lady. I guess you were in a hurry and acted in a hurry, so you didn't notice this detail."

"As for why you're so anxious, you should naturally thank our Millennium Intestine Professor. If she hadn't tampered with Lati's dream, causing her to be so impatient to act under your guidance and Grandmother's punishment, which led to the failure of the first operation, you might have had more time to prepare and examine."

Professor Millennium Intestine laughed a crow-like, unpleasant laugh. It wasn't her intention to ruin other people's plans, but the hag's nature made her happy with all disasters and misfortunes.

The Devil of Pleasure maintained her elegant smile, not angry at all. She clapped her fingertips gently, her smile growing even brighter. "Well done, Miss Hopper. I'm sure this isn't the first day you've doubted me, but how did you know for sure? You don't look like a judgmental young woman."

"Because the person we met that day was a man, we thought someone had used transformation magic." Hopper couldn't help but laugh as he recalled the scene where he and Lati confidently deduced in the dusty classroom.

"When I learned that Professor Millennium Intestine's suspicion had been cleared, I suddenly realized my own misconceptions. We're all so used to using magic to explain the inexplicable, yet we overlook the fact that many professionals have ways to disguise a woman as a man. Your usual attire and demeanor would make others overlook the fact that you're a pleasure demon, a true master of intelligence and espionage. Disguising yourself as a man's body and gait is a piece of cake for you. Theoretically, Professor Galafid of the Secret Combat School could do the same..."

"But it has four legs, right? So that's ruled out immediately." The Devil of Joy stepped forward and continued Hopper's words. "Your answer is really detailed. I can't help but wonder, are you always so honest?"

"Of course," the young demon said, bowing. "Besides, we have to wait for reinforcements."

Chapter 84: Negotiation Collapse

"Reinforcements? But I don't see any reinforcements." The Joyful Demon pretended to be indifferent and tidied her hair. The silver necklace on her neck sparkled with her movements.

"You've activated the protective magic of this treasure room, Miss Hopper. But it's been so long. Is there anyone who can come over? And who would be so unpleasant as to interrupt the noble Barakina's little game~"

Professor Yuti spoke, using her slender pinky finger to lift the silver necklace from her white neck. As the necklace rose, a delicate heart-shaped lock emerged from the depths of the valley. She held the lock between two fingers, childishly waving it in front of her face, showing it to the others.

"Space lock. I have a little surprise for you. Now all teleportation magic cannot reach here. We can enjoy some alone time and talk."

"I don't think you have anything to discuss with me, Pleasure Demon," the ghost professor sneered, clearly disdaining her spatial lock magic. "I have no conflict of interest with you, and what's happening here has nothing to do with me. Your magical attainments are far inferior to mine. You're merely using a spatial lock magic that relies on external objects. I'm fully capable of removing it."

"What if that's the case?" Professor Yuti suppressed her smile and glared at the hag. The nine-tailed whip symbol above her head lit up. As the symbol projected, crimson, glowing runes appeared across her skin.

If she had just been beautiful and deadly, like a poisonous plant, she was now like a blazing fire, the danger as palpable as the overwhelming heat.

"The Seal of Malboji?" the hag cried. "So, you've already taken refuge with Gracia. She's been coveting this castle for a long time. What does she want you to discuss now?"

A ball of fire ignited in Professor Youdi's hand, and an invisible wind blew her long hair wildly. She roared, "Respect the only princess of Hell!"

The magical sound shook Hopper so much that she covered her ears. The succubus stretched her wings forward, futilely trying to resist the invisible sound pressure. She retreated several steps before stopping. Meanwhile, a green light from Lati's belt emerged, shielding her and keeping her steady.

Immediately, the Devil of Pleasure softened, the runes on her body and the nine-tailed whip emblem on her head vanishing without a trace. She spoke gently, "I bear no hostility, but you should also know that this castle was originally the private property of Grand Duke Gracia. All Devils are bound to be loyal to their queen. Millennium Intestine, this is a matter between us Devils. But I can still offer you a chance to pledge your loyalty to Hell's only princess."

"Your queen has been rejected by at least four archdukes. Since her mother couldn't reclaim control of all the succubi even when she was alive, all these years after her death, I can only assume it's the whims of a spoiled daughter." The hag scoffed. "Not to mention, what does this have to do with an old hag like me? I'm not a succubus. What sense does it make for me to transform this place into a brothel loyal to Gracia?"

The Devil of Pleasure shook her beautiful head and said, "Then there is nothing more to discuss between us."

Udi placed two fingers on her plump red lips, looked directly at Hopper with sparkling eyes, blew her a kiss and intoned, "I offer a kiss from hell to your heart, and you will offer your love to me."

Hopper felt her mind go blank, a truly bizarre sensation. She felt like a ghost dwelling within her own mind, watching her fingers open and close without control, and in an instant, she fired three arrows at the hag professor. The flaming arrows pierced the hag's form, shredding the phantom.

Before she could resist the Pleasure Demon's magical control, she felt herself regain control of her body, and then a silver icicle rushed towards her.

Before she could explain, Hopper rolled on the ground. A cone of ice, covering half the sky, barely scraped past her scalp, nearly freezing her to dust. She stood up, barely able to shake the ice off her feathers. She saw Lati place her hand on her belt, directing it into a rainbow-like rope of light, entwining it with the mid-air Delight Demon. But the rope held only for a moment before Yuti easily broke free.

The Devil of Joy casually pulled out a dagger and slashed the giant crow that had pounced on her from the shadows in two, sending feathers and blood flying through the air. She then turned her head and gave Lati a look of disdain.

"Ms. Lati, I have to say that your performance disappoints me. Didn't I teach you that as a high-level succubus, it would be almost impossible for you to influence my mind?"

Hopper sensed something was amiss with Lati. While she wasn't as meticulous as Hopper, Cambion's fighting instincts, born from the battlefield, were undoubtedly superior to those of ordinary succubi. She wouldn't make such a foolish, common-sense mistake as attempting to charm a succubus. Judging from her unusual behavior upon meeting her in the treasure room and her reckless actions now, Hopper had reason to suspect that the belt wasn't without a price. And that price was likely to make the wearer reckless and arrogant.

However, even a moment's delay gave the cunning witch an opportunity.

Professor Uti had barely finished speaking when, just across from Hopper, in the shadow of an obsidian pillar, tiny dots of starlight began to light up.

They were bright and beautiful, like a group of fireflies floating in the darkness. However, with the hag's final spell, these purple fireflies rushed out from the corner with long tails and a howling sound of destruction.

The Delightful Demon flapped its wings frantically, attempting to dodge the attacks by dodging and taking cover from the pillars. But the missiles, like wolves on their prey, pursued her flowing hair and flaming wings with unwavering determination. However, the battle wasn't over yet. As Yuti fled, the same brilliant fireflies appeared before the hag, chasing her from another direction, ultimately cornering the Delightful Demon.

Dozens of force missiles, like dying worker bees, fearlessly leaped towards the demon. Even if she could rely on her magic resistance to withstand some of them, she would still be in a terrible state.

"Well, do you think she will be directly killed by Professor Millennium Intestine's missile storm?" Lati asked in a low voice.

Hopper shook her head, indicating that she didn't know, but her hand never dropped from the bowstring. When she saw a figure standing and walking out from the fading light and shadow, she decisively let go of the bow.

Two long arrows flew away, but just like at the beginning, they stopped in front of the figure and fell limply to the ground.

When the smoke and dust cleared, Professor Youdi looked at them leisurely, not even a scratch on the corner of her clothes. In her hand, she held an antique silver-handled dressing mirror.

She gave them her familiar, graceful, and beautiful smile and said, "Ahem, everyone, it seems the attack wasn't effective."

Author's words: Have a good start to your work!

Starting from February 6, the update time will be changed back to weekdays, updating at 7 o'clock.

Chapter 85: Lightning

No one answered her words.

The delight demon passed through the dots of arcane light, and the arcane that should have blasted her to pieces became an ornament that enhanced her beauty.

She glanced around but didn't see the Thousand-Year Intestine - the old witch immediately activated invisibility and disappeared the moment she realized the spell didn't kill her.

"Then," Youdi held up the glowing mirror and looked at herself, then fastidiously adjusted her hair. "I'll just have to kill you first and then slowly find a way out."

The Devil of Pleasure smiled charmingly, put the mirror back into her waist, bent down like a cat, pulled out the dagger from her boot, and pointed it at Hopper: "I hold my love in my hand. First, please allow me to offer my passion to Miss Hopper."

Before she could finish her words, she descended like a fireball from the sky, faster than Hopper had imagined. The succubus was already a very agile fighter among the demons, but the pleasure demon was even faster. For her, flying a few dozen feet was even faster than teleporting.

By the time Hopper reacted, the dagger was already at his chest.

A streak of gray light arrived first, deflecting the Devil of Pleasure's dagger with a clang. Yuti, using the recoil, locked onto Lati's rapier with her dagger, then tumbled through the air like a red crocodile, her left hand slapping Hopper across the face.

Hopper's face was swollen, but he didn't care about being angry. He quickly flapped his wings and broke away from the fight. The succubus usually served as archers on the bloody front lines, but who would have thought that the pleasure demon was actually a master of close combat.

Professor Yuti chuckled and was about to flap her wings in pursuit when her grip loosened. Lati's rapier struck the dagger with force, breaking free from the dagger's hold and slicing directly at the Delight Demon's wrist. The Delight Demon dodged easily with a flick of its wrist, then met Lati's kick with a powerful kick.

But this time she was wrong. She was flying in the air but Lati was firmly standing on the ground. The kick made her fly backwards unconsciously.

Hopper waited for her to lose control, and two arrows lashed out at her waist like falcons. Professor Uti practically coiled herself in mid-air, the dagger dancing in a dazzling silver arc as she struggled to deflect the first arrow. However, the second, more cunning arrow still tore through the leather armor under her left breast, drawing a spray of blood.

At this moment, Lati's rapier followed suit. The silver-gray Cambion might not have been very clever, but her attacks were always fierce. The rapier made a whimpering sound as it pierced the Devil's calf.

"Ugh..." Youdi's eyebrows tightened and she couldn't help but groan in pain, her beautiful face looking pitiful.

She covered her chest weakly, tears streaming down her face as she looked at Lati who had withdrawn her rapier and attacked again. She opened her red lips and said, "Run!"

The tall Cambion seemed to have seen something extremely terrifying. He screamed and turned to run, disappearing into the dark stone pillars. Even Hopper, who was some distance away, felt a sharp pain in his head, and it took him a while to resist the urge to run.

Yuti adjusted her stance in mid-air, giggling, and with a wave of her delicate hand, she swept over like a whirlwind of vermilion, orange, yellow, and red. Hopper advanced instead of retreating. Even though she wasn't good at close combat, she had to buy time for Lati to return, otherwise they would be defeated one by one.

The dagger came at her like a meteor, and Hopper only saw it clearly at the last moment, only able to turn her head to avoid it. The silver light brushed against her long hair, almost slicing her cheek open.

But she couldn't avoid the Pleasure Demon's left fist. Hopper was hit on the soft abdomen by her punch. She felt a sweetness in her throat and almost spit out blood.

This was the opportunity Hopper had been waiting for. She endured the pain and grabbed the Devil's left fist with one hand, then leaned forward and hugged Youdi's slender waist. The activated rope wrapped around her legs whizzed around and bound the two demons together.

"Now!" Hopper shouted into the dark sky, clinging tightly to the struggling Devil of Pleasure.

Under the pitch-black ceiling, the old hag appeared atop an obsidian pillar. Her eyes flashed yellow as she analyzed the resistance of the Devil of Delight. She then muttered something, forming a triangle with her finger, pointing towards the Devil of Delight, whose back was exposed.

The glow was so intense that Hopper felt Youdi, who had just tried to stab her, suddenly become quiet and stiff. She quickly let go of her hands and the rope and stepped back.

The Devil of Joy stood in a strange posture, her limbs and hair rapidly turning gray and stiff, gradually turning into stone.

Youdi's frozen face suddenly trembled, and a playful smile bloomed. She stuck out her tongue and said to Hopper, "I was just kidding. I was just pretending, hehe."

With these words, the petrification that had been spreading just now dissipated almost instantly, having no effect on her at all. At the same time, the mirror on her waist emitted an increasingly brighter light.

"What about this?" Along with the roar came a lightning spear as thick as a bucket flying across.

Bright white lightning cut through the darkness, engulfing the unprepared Devil of Pleasure with crackling sounds and the smell of saltpeter from the ionized air, carrying her straight out and slamming her hard into a distant pillar, making a huge crash that shook the entire floor of the room.

Gasping, Lati leaped from the top of an obsidian pillar. The corpse seated on the throne atop the pillar, its hands clasped like a spear, now held empty. The price paid was that Cambion's right hand was scorched by the electric shock. The treasure couldn't possibly be devoid of traps. Professor Yuti had secretly assisted Lati in retrieving the belt, so the traps might have been disarmed long ago, but not everyone is so lucky.

"Are you okay?" Hopper asked with concern, but her eyes did not look at Lati. She put her hand on the bowstring and aimed in the direction where the Delight Demon flew.

"It's okay, I'll be fine as long as I can get out." Lati came over breathlessly, twitching with every step, the residual current preventing her from fully controlling her body. Cambion struggled to stand, bringing with him the aroma of roasted meat. He held his sword in his left hand and looked in that direction with the same vigilance.

Hopper felt something was wrong. The succubus's perception was very sharp, but she couldn't see clearly what was happening at the pillar in the distance. Even the crackling sound of the remaining electric current from the spear was muffled in her ears as if it was covered by a hood.

She touched her face, which was still swollen. It didn't hurt, but it felt like a piece of beef, completely numb. It seemed the Devil of Pleasure's slap wasn't meant to humiliate her, but to poison her.

Suddenly, in the distance that Hopper could not see clearly, a white spot of light appeared and the sound of rolling gravel was heard.

"Miss Lati," the Devil of Pleasure's voice echoed through the darkness, a faint smile audible. "I'll have to give you some extra points, or write you a letter of recommendation to Professor Biguan. You're really good at seizing opportunities in battle."

With a clang, Yuti casually tossed aside the spear, which no longer gleamed with lightning. She emerged from the darkness, her bright red wings flapping. The left side of her coat had been charred by the lightning, and a bloody gash on her trembling breast was healing at a visible speed under the illumination of the Nine-Tailed Whip emblem above her head.

But this was the most serious injury she had suffered from such a powerful blow.

In contrast, the snow-white light from the mirror in her hand was as strong as the midday sun, so bright that it was blinding, forcing Hopper to squint to look at her.

Chapter 86: Passage

"Okay, warm-up is over."

The Devil of Pleasure leaped lightly, hovering beneath the darkened ceiling. He extended a hand to the eager Hopper and Lati, who were waiting for him, and said, "You've tried everything you can, but unfortunately, nothing has had any effect on me. So, are you willing to listen to me?"

"I am deeply saddened by your rude rejection of my proposal," said the Pleasure Mage. "But it is not surprising. You were deceived into thinking you were loyal to Lady Stern and this castle."

"However, Her Highness the Princess of Hell has long seen through everything. I now give you a second chance, and I hope you can give me a satisfactory answer. Are you willing to be loyal to Lady Gracia?"

Hopper reached out to stop Lati, telling her not to speak. She stared at the mid-air pleasure demon, but remained silent. The hag hadn't made a move for so long, and Hopper knew she was waiting.

Gracia ascended the throne by stepping on the corpse of the former Sixth Lord, the Hag Countess. Therefore, no matter what, the Pleasure Demon's recruitment could not possibly include Professor Millennium Intestine.

If Hopper agreed rashly, she might think of killing them all together, so that she could become the hero who killed the thieves who invaded the treasure room.

"Are the conditions insufficient? Or are you still confused about the current situation?"

Seeing they didn't speak, the Devil of Joy didn't get angry. She simply asked casually, holding up the mirror in her hand like a small sun. Almost the entire treasure room was illuminated, and the rough surface of each obsidian pillar reflected shimmering white light.

The Delightful Devil asked in a relaxed tone, "Aren't you curious? I left the plans for Torchhold in a prominent place. You shouldn't have missed them, right?"

"What should we be curious about?" asked Lati. She had always thought that Lil had discovered the drawings accidentally, but she didn't expect that even this was arranged.

"I'm curious about the structure of this treasure room," the Joyful Demon asked as a matter of course.