Baator Hell Promotion

"Please enjoy this masterpiece created by Master Kang En, who has returned to the world and restored two broken elven treasures to new life."

As Master Kang En opened the top cover, a cool breeze blew out from inside. It was like the melted glacier water in summer, sharp and carrying the scent of sunshine and grass.

A silver-gray longbow lay stretched across soft black velvet, like a sleeping beauty. Vines forged from pure silver snaked around the bow's arms, gleaming with a cold sheen and radiating a strange halo. Each leaf on the vine was vivid, even the subtle serrations on its edges visible. The longbow emanated a heart-pounding magical energy, causing the air around it to tremble slightly, creating a hazy halo.

Hopper gazed at it, feeling as if the longbow had life. The forged vines twisted like a living thing, and the magic pulsing deep within the bow was like a pair of invisible eyes, coldly examining each of the surrounding dwarves, scanning their faces as if carefully selecting their masters. The aura of power it emanated was far more powerful than any complete Solstice Moon Hopper had ever witnessed. The pressure was so overwhelming that it made him hold his breath, filled with awe.

"She is so beautiful that she has taken my breath away." Leonidas held his breath while speaking, as if he was afraid of scaring Changgong.

"What is the name of this beauty?" Wade Liangmu was not good at fighting, but this did not prevent him from seeing the extraordinaryness of this bow.

With a "snap", Master Conn opened Wade's hand that was about to touch the longbow and said in a gruff voice, "If you don't want to die, stay away from Blue Moon. This lady is not friendly to people who are not good at archery."

"Master Conn repaired two elven bows—Vengeance and Winter Moon—and ultimately combined them into one," said Lady Hearthheart. "Now, this bow possesses the power of both, and a single strike from it is powerful enough to pierce the stars."

Just one strike, Hopper thought. After getting over the initial shock, she sensed something was wrong. The magical tide emanating from the bow was powerful but unstable.

Restoring an enchanted weapon was difficult, and fusing two completely different weapons into one was unheard of. Hopper doubted that even an elven bowmaker could piece together two broken pieces into a complete weapon.

Master Conn hadn't fixed it at all, he had just made it work.

Even so, Hopper couldn't help but marvel at Master Conn's worthy title of "Northland's Greatest Bowsmith." In such a short time, he had transformed a pile of useless wood fragments into a usable longbow by fusing two bows together. However, its unstable magical currents hinted at its impermanence.

A "blue moon" is a rare astronomical phenomenon, when the three moon ladies appear simultaneously in the night sky twice within a single month. Many races with limited lifespans, such as humans or dragonborn, may only see this once every two or three generations. Hopper believes that, as its name suggests, this bow will likely shine only once.

Judging from the expressions of Leonidas and the Black Anchor members, they had also noticed it. As for the other dwarves, most of them were non-combatants and could not see it.

"I'm truly amazed," said Lady Iron Ring, speaking first. Perhaps out of excitement, her voice trembled slightly. "Finally, finally, we can avenge that demon. I can finally avenge my husband."

Hopper raised an eyebrow and looked at Lady Hearth's seat. What? Was he the only one at the meeting who knew that this assassination attempt was destined to be a lifeless one?

"I understand your feelings, Niya." Lady Hearthheart looked a little uncomfortable. She forced herself to calm down. "I didn't mean to kill Adamant."

"What did you say..." Tiehuan and Liangmu screamed almost at the same time, looking at Lady Hearthheart in disbelief.

Finally, it was Wade Liangmu who cleared his throat and spoke with forced calmness: "I believe you just made a slip of the tongue. Our goal is to get rid of the demon who made our lives so miserable, right?"

"No," Hearthheart Lady repeated, her voice firmer this time. "This isn't a battle, it's a demonstration. I can't risk dragging all the Stone Folk into the war."

"You're so naive!" Liangmu's voice was so shrill from excitement that it resembled a crowing rooster. "You actually thought a demonstration, especially one that threatened his life, would work? How do you know he wouldn't get so angry that he'd want to kill every non-human in the harbor?"

The Lady's patience ran out. She impatiently waved her hand to interrupt Liangmu, saying gloomily, "Wade Liangmu, I was originally hesitant, thanks to the reckless behavior of the Chuckle Club. If you hadn't killed that poet who preached about perfection everywhere, I wouldn't be so sure. Look at the reality. Eichmann wasn't completely sure about going to war, so he packaged and beautified Judith Green Harbor's death. Otherwise, he would have used her corpse as a banner to declare war on us."

Wade Liangmu was choked by her words and couldn't find any words to respond for a moment. He could only look at the other dwarfs attending the meeting.

"I have a question."

To the surprise of all the dwarfs, it was Jane Flash who broke the silence.

"What's your problem, Miss Flash?" The Dame's authority was repeatedly challenged, which made her tone even more unfriendly. "I thought you were a sensible dwarf."

"Everyone has heard Eichmann's boasting. He said the Perfect Man protected him, making him invulnerable to weapons, fire, and water. I don't want to doubt Master Kahn's skill, but on that day I only had one, maybe two, arrows to shoot. If I couldn't hurt him, everything would be in vain. My question is, how can you be sure that this bow can hurt him?"

Chapter 171 Letter

To the Reverend Lady Hearthheart:

Thanks to your generous introduction, I have successfully arrived at the Aerie and reunited with your servant. As expected, the explosives dropped by your Plains Pheasant Riders, combined with the fierce attack by our Blackwing friend, have unleashed a tsunami of chaos in the Aerie, sending fear and alarm throughout the tribe. It took many twists and turns to gain my contact, and even more time to earn his trust. He reports that the Blackwing friend's actions were so swift that many of his closest associates perished in the chaos. This, in turn, has served as a talisman for the contact; the chieftain maintains he has no involvement in the previous prison escape.

Normally, I shouldn't risk writing a letter to avoid revealing my identity as an informant. However, the important information I've discovered is likely to affect your plans, so I have to break this rule.

Thanks to your generous gift, my contact is willing to use their treasured resources to secure me a job transporting miscellaneous items. This assignment has allowed me to repeatedly enter the chamber housing the crystals and witness firsthand the orcs' manipulation of them. My Blackwing friend previously obtained intelligence that these crystals are used to channel the power of Hell to forge weapons. However, since he has never personally entered the chamber, his understanding may be distorted. The Hellish power within is far more powerful than imagined, and its influence has caused changes in all creatures within. Every time I enter this place, I feel as if I'm on the edge of an abyss, my nerves tense. Such a tremendous power cannot be used solely for weapon forging.

While my knowledge of magic is superficial, identifying basic runes is no problem. The runes engraved on those crystal pillars are mostly related to protection. Considering Mr. Bolt's bizarre experiences and the shadowy figure of the mysterious woman with deep connections to the priesthood, I've developed a bold hypothesis: the "Oriole" you've been following might not be a complete lie. Its claim to ward off all dangers likely stems from the power these crystals possess.

To avoid alerting the enemy with magical fluctuations, I was unable to obtain crystal samples. I can only depict the runes I saw as best I can and attach them to this letter. Considering that the mysterious lady and the "Marble King" may also be protected by crystals, I have decided to attempt to destroy them as soon as possible. I hope you will be aware of this.

Not well-known

Hopper turned the letter over and saw a string of runes neatly drawn in charcoal on the flattened sheepskin.

"Now you believe it, don't you?" Lady Tira picked up her teacup and took a sip gracefully. "Our mutual friend is working hard to resolve the issue you're worried about. It was the letter I received last week and the successful assassination of the Chuckle Society that prompted me to expedite the entire process."

The meeting was over and the location had moved to Dame Tiara's private reception room. Dame Tiara was very cautious and did not let anyone read the letter except Hopper, who was already aware of it.

"I don't doubt Inquisitor Igor's fighting ability." Hopper gave up on identifying the runes. Her level of mysticism was not enough for her to translate their meaning. "It's just that he only gave a guess. I don't..."

"It's more than just speculation," the Lady interrupted her question with a wave of her hand, her expression quite convinced. "If you knew his abilities as well as I do, you wouldn't doubt them. Even if you don't know him as well as I do, you should at least be familiar with Inquisitor Igor's character. If he says it's possible, then it's basically a 90% chance."

"Besides!" the dwarf raised his voice, stopping her from speaking. "I've already consulted mages, different mages, of course, and have examined it. They all agree that this string of runes is used to channel the power of Hell to provide protection."

After saying this, the Dame glared at Hopper sternly, as if offended by her questioning.

"If you've thought it through, I have no further advice," Hopper said coldly. It seemed the Inquisitor hadn't taught the Lady the most important lesson about dealing with demons: demons are petty and vindictive. If you don't have absolute power over them, don't offend them.

"I don't think you have any left either," the Lady said, quite satisfied with her concession. "Inquisitor Igor is quite optimistic about your abilities. I respect his opinion, and I hope you will live up to his regard."

Hopper raised her eyebrows and pouted, wanting to throw the tea in her hand in the other person's face. But thinking about the progress that had been made so far, she decided to give the lady another chance.

"As we discussed last time," the succubus said bluntly, "my help isn't free. And you haven't responded to my offer yet, let alone paid a deposit."

Teela Hearthheart jumped to her feet, her nostrils flaring as if Hopper had slapped her.

"I'm quite open-minded, ma'am," she said, suppressing her anger. "Are you suggesting I'll run away from my debts?"

"I always like to receive advance payment," Hopper retorted bluntly. It seemed that this knight really regarded himself as a dwarf who obeyed her orders. "If you don't show enough sincerity, how can you expect a devil to work hard for you?"

Lady Hearth's hands were shaking. She pointed at Hopper with a trembling hand, her eyes blazing with fire, her face filled with contempt and disdain. "You disappoint me so much, Miss Hopper. I thought the devil would be willing to contribute his strength to the cause of order, but it seems I was wrong. You're no different from those mercenaries who are obsessed with money. At least they recognize money, but you keep pretending."

The atmosphere in the room was freezing cold. Hopper looked at the furious lady and felt like laughing.

With a click, the devil put the untouched tea back on the table and stood up calmly.

"It seems like this deal won't work out." She stretched and prepared to leave. "Our work styles are different. It's really rude to force someone to cooperate with you."

With a rustle, a small bag was thrown at Hopper's feet, and several gold coins and a crystal rolled out.

"This is the deposit," Tierra Hearthheart said through gritted teeth. "I'll pay you the rest after the Harvest Festival. Do you have any questions?"

Her tone and expression made it clear to Hopper that it would be best if he didn't have any more questions.

Hopper turned, bowed, and picked up the bag, all in one smooth, seamless motion.

"Thank you for your generosity," the demon said, holding the Soul Prism up to the light, not even glancing at the lady. "Let me know once you've finalized the details of your plan."

Hopper walked a long way out, but she could still hear the sound of Teela Hearthheart smashing the cup to the ground in the distance.

The demon smiled at her. She knew that Tira Hearthheart wouldn't default on her debt, but like all nobles, she looked down on everyone except herself.

What these nobles love most is to exert extreme pressure. They enjoy seeing others become uneasy or even furious, which gives them a secret sense of superiority.

The devils like such souls, which are full of tyranny and control. They will not only bring themselves to hell, but are more likely to make the entire family or even the country become harsh and rigid.

She hummed a song and walked back to the bakery under the starlight. An's identity would still be useful for a while.

However, she didn't expect that she would have to read more than one letter today.

Under the hazy starlight, a tightly bound sheepskin hangs from the bakery's doorknob. A silk thread, gleaming with gold wax, juts from it, holding a polished tag.

It says:

"To Lady Jane Flashessoe."

Chapter 172 A Dangerous Invitation

Hell has its own will.

All creatures that set foot on Baator should keep this in mind, and for the demons living there, this rule is simply the iron law of their society.

Every devil is a component of the sophisticated instrument of Baator. Hell has its own will, and it assigns different authorities and abilities to different devils so that they can better serve the cause of order.

No devil (not even the great, graceful, and beautiful Artimus) would boast that he could completely replace another devil.

Take Hopper for example. When she was a little devil, she could ask questions to Hell itself through magic similar to "theurgy", but when she was transformed into a succubus, even though her status had a qualitative leap and she had more and more powerful abilities, she could no longer do so.

Because Hell positions Succubi as powerful scouts, messengers, and seducers. The same is true for the teaching purpose of the Torchhold, which only teaches Succubi around Hell's positioning.

Therefore, out of the cautious instinct of a succubus, even though he had lived in Emerald Harbor for quite some time, Hopper would choose to avoid the old lighthouse area where priests and devout believers gathered to avoid any accidents.

So, when she stood in front of the Golden Dome Church for the first time, she even felt a little dazed.

It was nearly dusk, and the tallest tower of the Golden Dome Church was already ablaze with bright lights. The square in front of the church was almost deserted, and a dwarf standing alone at the foot of the steps stood out.

The Church of the Perfect Man would not tolerate any foreigner standing openly in front of the most sacred golden-domed church. Soon, the closed door opened a crack, and a tall figure walked out.

Hopper squinted his eyes as he watched her approach, his pupils shrinking uncontrollably, and he was so surprised that he almost turned back into a succubus on the spot.

"Miss Shansuo, please follow me." He walked over hurriedly, looking around all the time, as if he was afraid of being discovered talking to a dwarf.

Rachel was a tall woman, dressed in a tight purple gown that seemed to blend into her body, and her waist-length golden-orange hair seemed to literally burn in the evening light.

Seeing that Hopper didn't move, she was a little surprised and took the initiative to extend her hand and said, "I am Rachel, the housekeeper of Master Eichmann, the most perfect servant of the perfect man. I sent you the letter, remember?"

Hopper didn't respond to her smile and overtures. She just nodded and followed Rachel into the church.

The Golden Dome Cathedral took decades to build. Successive archbishops, each embracing it as the sacred earthly abode of a perfect being and revered as the church's most significant miracle, poured countless sums of money and time into its construction. Thus, when Hopper stepped into the magnificent hall, the mere sight of the ceiling, gilded with gold leaf and inlaid with gemstones, dazzled her. More crucially, she now found herself in the earthly abode of a deity, a weight of invisible pressure weighing heavily on her heart, like a mountain.

Fortunately, Rachel quickly took her to a side hall that was equally luxurious but much more understated in decoration, and then walked up the alabaster staircase that was as white as a woman's skin.

Along the way, they met many people, including robed clergy, kneeling believers, and busy sextons and servants. Hopper noticed that everyone (literally humans) bowed to the housekeeper, but except for introducing herself at the door, the housekeeper remained silent throughout.

Ms. Rachel held her head high and her back straight, and she carried Hopper like a goose with her chicks, climbing higher and higher up the stairs until she reached a golden door.

Jane Shansuo was tall enough that even on tiptoe, she could only touch the knees of the golden guard statue on the gate. But she didn't need to see the whole thing to know where she was. The pressure emanating from behind the gate was as thick as the frankincense that seeped through the crack.

She was taken to Archbishop Eichmann's office.

The housekeeper knocked lightly on the door and immediately stood aside, bowing her head respectfully. The door slowly opened, revealing the scene inside to Hopper.

Compared to the magnificent hall, the archbishop's office is low-key and elegant, with all the furniture in calm brown mahogany, and no exaggerated carvings and gold foil on the wall panels.

However, in Hopper's view, Archbishop Eichmann himself is the most flamboyant and dazzling presence in this scene.

When the door opened, the man sitting by the fireplace stood up. The last rays of sunlight shone on his golden hair, making him look even more handsome. If Hopper were a believer, he would probably have fallen to his knees at this moment.

"Welcome, dear Lady Shansuo," the Archbishop said, extending his arms with a flawless smile, his white silk vestments rustling melodiously. "Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule. The autumn breeze is cool, please come and sit here."

When Hopper first received the letter, he did not take it seriously. Archbishop Eichmann was certainly a powerful priest, but he was not an easy person to deal with.

But upon seeing Lady Rachel, the proud succubus decided to change her ways. She bowed deeply, obediently walked to the fire, and said in her most respectful, girlish voice, "Thank you for your invitation, Your Excellency Eichmann."

Beside the fire stood a round table, laid with sliced ​​desserts and a steaming pot of strong tea. Two chairs sat side by side, one large and ornate, the other perfectly adapted to the dwarf's height.

To Hopper's surprise, Ms. Rachel also moved a chair and sat down and started pouring tea.

"It's really abrupt to ask you to come here so hastily. Please don't mind." The archbishop held the silver cup steadily. The scalding hot tea seemed to have no effect on him at all. "But I heard some very disturbing news yesterday, which made me anxious to see you."

The dwarf politely grasped the crystal cup that had been passed to him. Unsure of the archbishop's meaning, he replied in a formal manner, "Your Excellency, you are the most powerful man in this city. How can a humble baker's apprentice like me help you?"

Eichmann took a sip, his smiling eyes looking at Hopper from above the cup through the mist, as if he were looking at his most satisfied disciple.

"You are not a humble dwarf." His voice was full of the magnetism of a mature man, but the words he said made Hopper's heart tighten. "Lady Furnaceheart would not choose an unknown person to shoot that crucial arrow into my heart."

Hopper's performance was flawless. She dropped her cup in shock, spilling tea, her voice distorted with fear. "Perfect Ones, how could you have imagined that Lady Hearthheart would allow me to do something so horrible, so outrageous? What vicious villain is slandering us?"

Eichmann's smile remained unchanged. He blew the steam off his cup and said calmly, "I always respect my guests, Ms. Flash. But lying in the church of the perfect man is not a wise move."

He paused for a moment, then sighed and said:

"Since you don't want to admit it, can you tell me what you, Wade Brightwood, Master Conn, and the other dwarfs were discussing in Lady Hearth's toy workshop the night before last?"

Chapter 173: Long time no see

Hopper was stunned, then immediately understood that someone must have informed on him.

Who could it be? I received the letter that night, so I could rule out Ms. Luxin or Master Kang En, who stayed until the end.

"Since you already know, why don't you arrest them all?" Hopper was only shocked for a moment by the devil's cunning nature. Her face turned cold and she didn't try to continue pretending to be ignorant. "Do you want me to stop working by inviting me alone?"

Archbishop Eichmann also put down his cup, his smile perfect and false.

"No, quite the opposite. Ma'am, I expect you to do this job with all your heart and soul."

Hopper was genuinely surprised. She asked tentatively, "If I heard correctly, you want me to shoot you?"

The blond man laughed out loud, causing Ms. Rachel next to him to also let out a crisp laugh.

"No, no, no, my dear lady, I certainly don't think so," the Archbishop finally said, his laughter finally quenched. "Let me explain it to you in detail."

"My beautiful assistant, Miss Rachel," he nodded to the purple-robed lady sitting beside him. The latter humbly bowed her head in response, a gold chain around her ivory-smooth neck reflecting tiny glints as she moved. "She has some big, strong friends."

"Not long ago, her friends brought her very sad news. A black-winged angel descended from the sky and brought them a massacre."