Baator Hell Promotion

"You have lived up to my expectations, Ms. Hopper," the stern lady, who had listened to the entire report in silence, spoke. She lightly touched her fingertips together, as if pondering her words. "You were drawn into this conspiracy without prior knowledge. Your actions fully demonstrated the cunning and loyalty expected of an Enreyes, preventing the secrets of Torchhold from being leaked. I believe you deserve my gratitude."

"I can't say it's all my own work, ma'am," Hopper said, bowing his head in a gesture of humility. "You've already made all the necessary preparations. I'm just the lucky one who happened to meet the conditions in your numerous plans."

This was half compliment and half fact. When Hopper left the second floor of the treasure room, he found Professor Bi Guan waiting for him with a dozen guards armed to the teeth. Professor Yan Ke, who was said to have not returned from reporting on his work, had set up a small round table and was happily making tea.

"Well said, Ms. Hopper," the headmistress chuckled. "You not only protected my personal property, but also the entire Emberhold. Not only on my own behalf, but on behalf of the entire Emberhold, you should be rewarded."

"To be loyal to you is to be loyal to the Torch, and to be loyal to the Torch is to be loyal to the Supreme Asmodeus." Hopper lowered his head even more, and his tone became more humble. "This is my duty as a student of Enryes and the Torch. I should not be specially rewarded for this."

Professor Bi Guan let out a thunderous laugh that was muffled in his throat.

"Reward those who succeed and punish those who fail. This is how the ladder of Bartor is built," said the harsh lady. "Just as I wouldn't withhold punishment for Ms. Lati because she was injured, I won't withhold a reward for your unintentional contribution."

Hopper's mouth moved, but she didn't say anything. But the harsh lady seemed to know what she wanted to say and answered her question directly.

"Lady Lati attempted to steal my personal belongings and attacked Lady Naomi's assistant, seriously violating the laws of the Nine Hells and the laws of the Torchhold. Since she has atoneed for some of her mistakes with her actions, I will not bring her before the Tribunal of the Demons, but she should not remain here. I have already notified Lady Maiare, and Lati should be arriving at the Bronze Fortress by now."

Hopper breathed a sigh of relief. Lati would probably be severely punished by her grandmother after being taken back, but at least her life should be saved.

"Thank you for your kindness. As you know, I am a poor, lonely succubus, without a reliable background or a noble family. However, Professor Yuti, who escaped, is very powerful, and I am truly worried about my safety."

Lady Harsh raised her hand, indicating she understood. Professor Biguan took over, "Don't worry about that. Lady Harsh has already shattered the labyrinth you unleashed. From what I've heard, she must have been shattered by the dimensional rift. As for poor Professor Millennium Gut, her last strength was drained by her hateful enemy, and she sacrificed her eternal life to save the Torch Keep."

The succubus curled his lips inwardly. If the old hag hadn't wanted to hunt down Lil and Lati, why would she have appeared in the treasure room? Not to mention that Millennium Intestine was still breathing when he left. Fortunately, Professor Biguan was a green dragonborn; any other dragon wouldn't have said such shameless words.

"Speaking of which, Ms. Hopper not only ignored my orders, but also entered places she shouldn't have entered and saw secrets she shouldn't have known. She even indirectly caused the death of a professor." Professor Biguan's voice became sinister, like a hissing python. "Madam, I suggest you should punish her."

"What do you think, Ms. Hopper?" The headmaster, behind the iron mask, looked straight at Hopper without revealing any expression. "Your report didn't mention anything about your knowledge of the secrets of Torchhold. Are you truly not interested in this?"

"I cannot refute Professor Biguan's accusations. However, as you just said, I was unintentionally drawn into the conspiracy. The secrets of the Torchhold belong to you, to the Torchhold and the great Asmodeus, but not to me. And I will not risk my life seeking knowledge."

Professor Bi Guan seemed about to say something more, but the headmaster raised a hand to stop him, signaling him not to go too far. "Ms. Hopper, I've already said that the rules of Barto require us to clearly distinguish between rewards and punishments, so you don't have to worry too much. Professor Bi Guan, do you have any good suggestions regarding rewards?"

The Green Dragonborn scratched the scales on his chin, the green light in his eye sockets flickering. He hissed, "Lady Harsh, I have a good suggestion. Lady Hopper is an Enreyes, and I noticed she doesn't have any servants yet. It's not good for such a noble lady to be alone all the time."

Hopper had a bad premonition in her heart, and her mind was working quickly. She didn't want to have Professor Bi Guan's spy with her at all times.

"I noticed that Miss Hopper seemed very interested in my guards, and I would be happy to provide her with a personal attendant," Professor Bi Guan said, picking up the bell on the table and shaking it.

The door opened, and a young, brown-skinned tiefling walked in, his turquoise eyes blank. It was Ziz.

"Poor Ziz is completely bewitched by Miss Hopper," Professor Biguan's voice was filled with laughter, but Hopper only felt his oppressive power. "If I let him stay by my side, I'm afraid he'll get lovesick. It would be better if he could be Miss Hopper's attendant."

Before the succubus could think of a way to refuse, the harsh lady clapped her hands in agreement.

"Okay, okay," the headmistress said. "Although Torchhold doesn't allow followers, Ms. Hopper will graduate soon, and having a follower will make it easier for her to enter and exit high-end places. Professor Biguan, you are more thoughtful than I expected. Miss Hopper, what do you think of this reward?"

The succubus resisted the urge to roll his eyes and could only smirk in agreement.

The Green Dragonborn professor's smile became even more pronounced. He walked over to Ziz, patted him on the shoulder, and then bowed to the Stern Lady. "Then I will go and prepare the necessary formalities, and then have Ziz deliver the servant contract to Miss Hopper."

Then he left with Zisi, who hadn't reacted yet. As the footsteps faded away and the door slammed shut, the principal's office fell into silence again.

"Professor Biguan thinks highly of you. I believe Zisi will serve you wholeheartedly." The harsh lady's posture did not change, but she looked at Hopper with burning eyes. "However, he is right. You have caused losses, and you should make up for it."

Chapter 90 Farewell

The sound of the door closing behind Hopper made her shudder and break away from her thoughts. She looked up and saw Lacey waiting outside in the hallway.

Lexi wasn't the most beautiful succubus Hopper had ever seen. When she and Danya stood next to Vera, everyone automatically focused on the silver-haired Vera.

"She's probably not as pretty as me," Hopper thought with a certain amount of pride. But she had an air of mystery about her that was easily overlooked. Perhaps it was her profession, or perhaps she had deliberately created it. This subtle aura made the red-haired succubus standing against the wall seem full of intriguing charm, making people want to explore her.

After knowing her true identity, Hopper had to suspect that all the mysteries about her came from the snake-like Grand Duke behind her.

"Look, look, who is this? The great hero who saved the Ember Keep." Lexi also saw her, said in an exaggerated voice, and walked over quickly.

"Don't let Lady Silver Eyes see you leaning against the wall, or she'll have to follow you with a bell and yell at you a hundred times to pay attention to your manners," Hopper said jokingly with a smile.

Strictly speaking, Hopper's relationship with Lacy wasn't nearly as close as hers with Lati and Lil. It could even be argued that before yesterday, Nora might have been closer. But sharing a secret was key to quickly closing the gap, especially among demons, and especially among succubi—at least until they betrayed each other over their secrets.

"Come to think of it, I haven't thanked you for the brooch yet. It really saved Lati's life." Hopper looked at Lacy. The sunlight shone on her. The brooch that he had retrieved was pinned on her exquisite neckline, reflecting the rainbow of the sunlight.

"Let Lati come and thank you in person." Lacy shook her hair. Her fiery red hair looked like spilled tomato juice in the sunlight, with a fluffy warm light. "I'm here to say goodbye to you."

Hopper suddenly realized that the old hag who was the professor of arcane arts had turned into a shriveled corpse, and as a sorcerer, it seemed that Lacy could indeed graduate.

"The only Barikina has defected, and is said to be a spy for Grand Duke Gracia. Vera feels that this place is not safe, and she is anxious to leave." But Lexi gave another reason.

She glanced around and lowered her voice, "There are too many people in the dormitory. I came out specifically to tell you this—Grand Duke Gracia is very unhappy about Yudi's situation. Grand Duke Maman has already sent a letter to the sixth floor to express her serious concerns."

Hopper clenched the ring in his hand, the harsh lady's warning just now ringing in his mind.

"My advice to you to take this mission isn't entirely as a punishment," the stern-faced principal said sternly. "We've done our best to erase any trace of you in this matter. But you should also fully understand that it's only a matter of time before you're noticed. And by then, no one can say whether you'll be able to withstand the influence of the demon behind the scenes."

"If you were like Ms. Lati, with a powerful but mentally unstable grandmother, you might be able to avoid it. But Enreyes, who walks alone, can't always keep his eyes open to guard against the knife in his back."

"Youdi is dead, but the bloated demon you imprisoned in the maze with is still alive, likely drifting to the Material Plane. As someone with inside information, you're the most suitable person to accept this retrieval mission. It will also allow you to escape the scorching gaze. Baator's schemes never cease, and by the time you return, there will be more plots to divert their attention."

Lacy waved her hand in front of her, interrupting Hopper's thoughts.

"What are you thinking about? You're so lost in thought."

Hopper shook his head and didn't answer the question. The red-haired demon also knew what to do and didn't ask any more questions. Instead, he took out a folded black cloak from his bag and handed it to Hopper.

"Here, take it, it's your reward as promised."

The cloak felt strange, like a black mass of mud, cold and smooth. Hopper had the illusion that if he didn't hold on tight, it would flow to the ground.

"The protection of the shadow." Lei Xi helped her tie the cloak. "It's not a very expensive item. It can help you resist the overly strong sunlight, reduce the brightness of the surroundings, and blend in with the environment."

Lei Xi looked at her critically and said, "It suits you very well. I think it will match your crown very well. There are still too many upright people on the Prime Material Plane. It will be safer for you to carry this on your mission."

Hopper raised an eyebrow, and Lacy smiled mysteriously. It seemed she had considerable power as a spy. Lacy fixed her hair one last time and strode off.

The succubus sighed deeply as she stood there. She truly didn't want to provoke Gracia, but in Bartor, the will of a single devil was of the utmost importance. Even the Grand Dukes were driven to fight each other by their own desires and the surging tide of power.

But on second thought, this isn't a bad idea. Just imagine how many souls you could acquire on a trip to the Material Plane. You're no longer the imp you once were. You have plenty of strength and skills, Hopper thought to himself. Let them stay in Hell and fight each other. If I can collect enough souls, I might even advance further and become a true Nemaed.

This was what Lady Harsh had just hinted at. In fact, the headmistress was quite pleased with her progress in lighting the torch, and Hopper guessed that this was one of the reasons she was willing to help. After all, she was the only one in the current Torchhold interested in the Ancient Road of Enreyes.

"As long as you successfully bring back that escaped bloated demon, dead or alive," the harsh lady's cold voice seemed to still echo in her mind, "I will personally write you a letter of recommendation and allow you to join the Thistle Palace."

The thistle was the sacred flower of Nemesis, the inescapable goddess of vengeance. Hopper had read that the Thistle Temple was Nemesis's divine domain in Baator. If he could join it, he would indeed have no need to worry about Gracia's trouble for a while.

The steady footsteps stopped in front of Hopper. Ziz knelt on one knee in front of the succubus, raised a scroll with both hands and said, "Honorable Lord Hopper, this is my contract. My life will continue according to your command."

Hopper took the scroll, which had a line of red words written on it personally by Professor Biguan - from today on, this dragonborn tiefling will be owned by Enriyes Hopper, and she will have nothing to do with him no matter how old, sick or dead she is.

The succubus began to feel a headache. She couldn't bring a tiefling with her on the mission. Moreover, given her current social status, she was neither an officer in the army nor worked in a noble palace. She didn't have a large amount of private property, so she had no place to accommodate a servant.

I should have been less righteous and more greedy and asked Ms. Yankee for money to buy a house. Whether it was Dis or Minaunos, or even the Bronze Fortress on the front lines, the housing prices there were simply too high for me to afford. Even renting a house long-term was a luxury.

A servant's death was his death. But if he was driven out to the streets because of his master's poverty, he would never be able to enter the upper echelons of Bartor. He would be ridiculed as a poor bumpkin wherever he went.

Zis looked up at his master, somewhat bewildered. After all, according to normal procedure, the succubus should have accepted the scroll and expressed his loyalty, rather than standing there in a daze. The tiefling groaned inwardly, wondering if he could be rejected on his first attempt at loyalty.

Hopper also observed Ziz. Professor Biguan had assigned him to him for a reason. This tiefling had just reached adulthood, like a young olive tree, tough and fresh. Aside from his turquoise eyes and a few inconspicuous scales, he was practically indistinguishable from an ordinary human. He was one of the more respectable gifts.

The succubus took the scroll and touched the tiefling's face. He pulled his lips apart to check his teeth, then gestured for him to stand up. The tiefling's skin was warm and smooth, and the scales behind his ears had a strangely slippery and comfortable feeling.

Why not sell him to the slave market in Minaunos? A good-looking dragonborn tiefling would probably fetch a lot of money, Hopper thought viciously.

Although Zisi stood up, he was obviously made uneasy by her.

"Sir, this is at the door of Madam Strict's office," he reminded quietly, swallowing nervously.

Hopper didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She knew that the young guard had misunderstood her, but she was too lazy to explain. As a lust demon, being misunderstood was her fate.

She motioned for the guard to turn around and arch his back; she had just thought of a good place to go. Ziz looked humiliated and ready to cry, but he obeyed.

Hopper took out a pen and paper from the bag under his neck, placed them on the guard's back, and after a moment's thought, he wrote the first line.

"Dear Demon Hunter Lightning, thank you for your letter..."

Epilogue

Finally, thanks to all the readers' great support, the second volume was completed on the day when the 1000th copy was reached.

I never thought that so many people would like it. I am really grateful to everyone.

The academy volume itself wasn't planned to be that long, but I accidentally lost control... (guilty). I actually had a lot of ideas in mind, like Vera and Danya's side stories, only having the teachers show up once, and expanding on Yuti's conspiracy, but I abandoned them all because I was worried they would be too watered down.

The biggest headache every day is how to keep the title within two words (for the sake of order in hell!).

We also received feedback from many readers saying that they didn't like Yi Zhuan Academy. I would like to apologize to the readers who had a bad reading experience.

The third volume will slowly connect to the main storyline, and the academy probably won’t come back much in the future.

Also, I've been troubled by the fact that my writing is quite dry. Do you think I should polish it up a bit? I feel like the descriptions of the appearance, environment, and special effects aren't very rich.

Oh, by the way, if anyone wants to be an NPC or is dissatisfied with something, please leave a message.

See you in the next volume then.

Volume Three

Chapter 91 Vacation or Work

Scholars usually call the northernmost land Hyperborea, which means the Northern Paradise. This name carries the best expectations and ardent hopes of its discoverer and namer.

Of course, no one, whether the locals of Hyperborea or the merchants from far away, ever thought such a difficult name was appropriate. They all unanimously called it the Northern Continent.

If a captain was willing to spend enough gold coins to buy half a ship on a high-precision map from the Cartographers' Guild, he would find in the upper center that the Northern Continent resembled a goat's horn dropped from the sky, floating in the vast ocean, its curved tip extending southward. And Emerald Harbor was a cocklebur stuck to the very tip of the horn.

The Lead-Gray Mountains plunge steeply from northeast to north, then sharply curve eastward at their southernmost tip, forming a nearly circular fjord. Here lies the Northern Continent's largest trading port, the dazzling emerald, the City of Sea Breeze, and the ice-free Emerald Harbor of Riyadan. The warm currents flowing through the city and the protection of the Lead-Gray Mountains make it the warmest and most humid city in the entire Northern Continent, and the most suitable for living.

Hopper, meanwhile, was overlooking the emerald landscape of the North. The donkey cart moved at a leisurely pace. It was past noon, and the sun, resting on the leaden mountains, gazed down upon the distant world. To the left of the carriage lay a vast pine forest and a steep cliff. The fresh fragrance of the pine trees, mixed with cold moisture, was carried to him by the mountain breeze. The succubus took a deep breath and sighed from the bottom of his heart.

When it was still a little devil, it had been to the planet called Menelao. But it had never been to the city of Ryadan. After all, the divine realm of the perfect people was on the Twin Continents in the south, where the fighting was fierce and it was exactly where the devils needed to show their strength.

Hopper looked around with satisfaction. She now felt that what the Strict Lady had said was absolutely right. This mission had no time limit, no soul requirement, no supervisor, and no requirement to bring the Bloat Demon back alive. This was not a punishment at all, it was simply a vacation.

Hopper silently praised the principal, thanking the generous Lady Strict. He even regretted not bringing Zisi with him. After all, his only problem now was that he didn't have much money. He probably couldn't afford a maid to keep him in good shape. He would have to work hard to get into the upper echelons of Riyadan City.

The devils' work processes are always similar. Unlike those demons who jump out of the portal and immediately roar to kill all targets within sight, devils often prefer to rely on key figures in high positions of power, whether they are high-ranking clergy, politicians, wealthy businessmen or powerful spellcasters.

The devil will hide behind these characters and give ninety-nine flawless suggestions and one vicious suggestion that best meets his needs. And when they find the problem, it is often too late.

The clues given by the harsh lady eventually pointed to the city of Rheaden. After learning this, Hopper had been trying to find a way to enter the port of Emerald Harbor so that he could obtain various information more conveniently.

Bloat demons aren't uncommon demons. They often gather in dense clusters, occupying the streets of Dis, the front lines of Avernus, and the sewers and dark areas of various levels, performing a role slightly higher than scavengers. Of course, the one Lady Harsh had locked up in the treasury wasn't just any ordinary bloat demon. At least, Hopper had never seen a bloat demon with a lower body made of tentacles. According to Yuti, it seemed to be related to the ancient races of Baator.

However, as Hopper had explained to the Harsh Lady, she had no interest in finding out the secrets of the Torchhold. Besides, a bloat demon, no matter how special it was, was still just a bloat demon, and it was impossible for her to dig out any important information.

The donkey cart jolted, causing the passenger in the innermost seat to scream. Hopper then realized that the hooded and veiled passenger sitting in the corner was probably a young woman. Her package fell onto the cart, and a lute rolled out. It seemed she was a poet.

Seeing the lute reminded Hopper of Lil. Poor little Cambion, she woke from a nap to find her enemy dead. One of her two friends was being carried out of Torchhold, and the other was about to leave, leaving her nearly in tears. Fortunately, Zetu'a, after learning the details through the crystal ball, promised to take her to see Lati, comforting the devastated Lil.

"Whoa!" The old orc driving the cart tightened the reins, slowing the donkey cart. As a seaport city, Ryadan was a hub of fleets from around the world, refugees seeking a living, and sailors who had lost their ships. As a result, the city was a vibrant mix of people, a melting pot of races.

"What's going on?" A thin dwarf sitting on the same side of Hopper stood on tiptoe to see what was happening over the driver's broad shoulders. The dark-skinned native who was originally sitting next to the woman in black robes also stood up.

The driver had no time to answer them; he waved his hands wildly back, gesturing for them to be quiet.

Hopper leaned over to take a look and saw that the two donkey carts ahead of them had also stopped. The entire convoy seemed to have been stopped for some reason.

Soon, a crossbow arrow answered their question. Everyone in the caravan stared at the arrow, still trembling slightly, nailed to the car body, in silence, not daring to say a word.

Soon, a tall masked orc came over with two goblins. He was six feet tall, wearing leather armor with shaggy fur, and holding a bloody long knife in one hand.

"You're lucky," the orc glanced at the driver. "Even though you have the blood of a Sharptooth, you're still half a Sharptooth. The warriors of the Eagle's Nest don't kill Sharptooths, so all you need to do is pay the ransom for the Sharptooths in your cart."

Hopper almost laughed out loud. This was her first time being robbed, and by an ordinary orc at that. It was a very fresh feeling.

"A wild pink skin, fifty silver coins." The orc pointed at the natives, then looked at the dwarf and held up three fingers. "A hairless dwarf, thirty silver coins."

"You, take that thing off your face," the orc growled at Hopper.

Hopper twitched his ears, not intending to tear his face off with the bandits just yet. He was ready to continue playing this highway robbery game. Maybe he could even try to become a bandit leader.

She took off her veil without waiting for the orc to say it a second time. For a moment, Hopper felt that the orc had been petrified. He and the two goblins stared blankly at the succubus who had turned into a human, and there were suspicious water stains on the veil.

"One, one city powder, one gold," the orc turned his head away and stammered.

As if feeling that he had been attracted to Hopper's appearance and had damaged the reputation of a robber, he turned to the last passenger, another masked woman, and shouted, "You, didn't you hear me? Take that thing off your face!"

The woman shook her head in horror, covering her face even tighter with her hands, and almost screamed.

The orc slapped the woman with his hand, sending her head lurching sideways. The goblins let out a cackle of laughter and rushed forward, grabbing the woman's hands. The native man seemed ready to explode in anger, but halfway through, he saw the bloody long knife and sat back down.