Chapter 399: Iciz
Chen Rui didn’t know his influence was so great that the male demons temporarily betrayed their faithful belief in the Demon God while he still absentmindedly accompanied the 2 ladies strolling on the street.
“The hot pot just now is really delicious.” Liliz praised, “I have tasted it before in the Dark Shadow Empire, but the taste is far from the authentic one here. I wonder if I should use my power for personal gain to include the authentic Dark Moon hot pot recipe into our cooperation plan?”
Chen Rui laughed and said, “Miss Liliz is really humorous. This hot pot is a masterpiece of the Cloak Gang leader, Aguile, but it is basically no secret, mainly because there are some subtle differences in the base ingredient. Since Ms. Liliz likes it, I can make the decision to add a hot pot branch with excellent chefs in your empire’s capital. I guarantee you can taste all flavours of the authentic Dark Moon hot pot anytime.
“Thank you so much, sir.” Liliz switched the subject, “Speaking of the leader, Aguile, I heard that he is very mysterious. No one has ever seen his true face? As far as I know, many people are speculating that the one who defeated the Red Spirit Lord Josh and capital envoy, Rus, in Town Leith’s wilderness was the leader of the Cloak Gang?”
This speculation did exist in the minds of many soldiers and civilians of the Dark Moon, but Aguile and the Cloak Gang did not receive special rewards after the war. Besides, it seemed that Aguile was just a Higher Demon when he fought against Arux a year ago? How could he soar to the level of Demon Emperor all of sudden?
“I also have such speculation too, but Princess Shea once revealed that even she has never seen the true face of Aguile.” Chen Rui was telling outright lies, “However, Princess Shea is very courageous. She dares to employ him. I, a foreign human being, am able to serve as a sheriff and then a financial officer is the best example.”
“Princess Shea is indeed a strong, courageous, and respectable female lord. She worked hard secretly in adversity, and she managed the dilapidated Dark Moon to the vibrant situation it is today.” Liliz praised sincerely, and she glanced at Iciz, “I’m a little tired. I’ll go back to the royal inn to rest first. I still have to report to Her Majesty Empress about the details of this cooperation. I also want to buy some special gifts this time, and Iciz also knows about it. I will have to trouble Sir Chen Rui to accompany her.”
Then, Liliz returned to the royal inn to rest, while Chen Rui continued to shop with Iciz.
When Liliz was there, Iciz seldom spoke. She took the initiative to speak now, “Sir Chen Rui, have all the residents of the Dark Moon City used the new type of water system in the royal inn?”
“Almost, this system is the masterpiece of Master Xingxing. Didn’t we talk about it in our cooperation? We will help the Bloody Vine Flower Estate to build the same water supply and sewage system. I believe this kind of facility will soon be popularized throughout the Demon Realm.”
Iciz nodded, “This is really an amazing and great creation. It is almost comparable to the grand master-level invention of the magic lamp. That Master Xingxing will be included in the history of the Demon Realm and become one of the most amazing mechanics.
It’s just that I have a doubt. Master Xingxing is just an independent senior mechanic master before this. Why does he start to shine so brightly after coming to the Dark Moon? I’m not questioning the master’s ability, but I’m just thinking that things like the battle ball and water system are never seen in the Demon Realm before… It seems that before the master came to the Dark Moon, some novel things have also appeared in the Princess Retail Store. For instance, burr puzzle, demon-fighting chess, Huarong Dao and so on. I’m thinking whether these factors can be linked?”
Terrifying inference power!
Chen Rui was secretly shocked, and he asked, “Ms. Iciz, do you believe in coincidence?”
Unlike Liliz, Iciz’s face was covered with a thin veil. A clear outline could be seen in the ambiguity, but he could not see her real face. She said lightly, “I believe it, but too many coincidences… or it could be said the combination of coincidences shows a certain truth. With the wisdom of Sir Chen Rui, you should understand what I mean.”
Chen Rui smiled bitterly, “The little products in the Princess Retail Store previously were the works of some masters that I copied from the human world. However, due to the lack of mechanics, I could only make things that look impressive without real worth. It is more for entertainment purposes. When Master Xingxing came to the Dark Moon later, he was very inspired when he saw these things. As the miss says, this may be the truth in the conincidences.”
“Really?” Iciz asked again, “I also know a human in the Dark Shadow Empire capital, but it is strange. Whether it is Huarong Dao, demon-fighting chess, burr puzzle, Peg’s Solitaire, Rubik’s cube, flying chess… as well as the rules of the battle ball, these should be phenomenal creations that have been widely circulated, but they have not appeared in the human world! I don’t know where did Sir Chen Rui copy these strange things?”
Chen Rui was secretly shocked. For the first time, his background was seen through. Perhaps when he faced a noble lady of amazing wisdom a long time ago, he also had this feeling of being seen through.
However, his “Master Arthur” identity should not be exposed yet. He was exposed in the Dark Shadow Palace last time mainly because he mentioned Christina’s name in the mechanic contest, and then the empress tentatively exposed him.
Iciz listed almost all the “new things” in the Princess Retail Store, and she also sought confirmations from the humans in the Demon Realm. It seemed that she had deliberately spent a lot of effort to research and analyse this mere human. This also sounded a wake-up call for Chen Rui. I have gone from obscurity to the stage now. I must properly conceal some things. Otherwise, if Iciz can see the flaws today, then Bloodfall or other people will also notice it in the future.
Chen Rui thought quickly, and he said, “Miss, have you ever thought about why I, a powerless human, came to the Demon Realm? When I first came here, I was captured and became the experiment subject of Master Aldas. If I didn’t come out with something novel that touched the master, I would be dead by now. Demon-fighting chess and others are the things I obtained in another world’s very special territory, and this is also my secret. Miss, the so-called humans in the Demon Realm may be far more powerful than me, but they shouldn’t belong to the territory where our kind of people are located. It’s not surprising that they don’t know these things that only circulate in a certain territory. It’s like I don’t understand the power in the territory of powerhouses like you… Actually, what I want the most now is to return to the human world to get back all the things that belong to me from a person.”
“It turns out that you came to the Demon Realm after being framed,” Iciz said in a slightly surprised tone, “Then battle ball and all others…”
“Unlike the demon-fighting chess and Peg’s Solitaire that I copied over, what I brought to some people like Master Xingxing was just a broader vision expansion or key inspiration. The battle ball was a research outcome by Master Xingxing and Aguile. I fell into a deep sleep because of someone’s plot at that time. If it wasn’t because Athena found the Fountain of Resurrection, I might still be lying in bed like a walking dead.” Chen Rui calmly pointed out the “facts” that he was in crisis and sleeping for months when he had just arrived at the Demon Realm.
Iciz had researched him, so she naturally knew this. She thought about it and nodded slightly, “If Aguile can create the rule of battle ball, can we assume that he is also somehow involved in the production process of the water system and battle ball? Perhaps he even has extraordinary talents in mechanics?”
“Only he knows it, but a lot of what we talked about just now are the secrets of the Dark Moon. I accidentally divulged some today. Miss, please give me a chance to survive.” Chen Rui looked a little nervous. He was secretly more suspicious of Iciz’s identity. It seems that her reasoning is directed toward a certain mechanic master… or even a genius mechanicmaster. Fortunately, I have the mysterious identity of Aguile as a scapegoat to shift her focus to the leader of the Cloak Gang. I almost showed my flaws in just a few questions. A terrifying wisdom coupled with the true strength of the peak stage of Demon Overlord, the identity of this Iciz… Chen Rui’s heart was beating uncontrollably. The faintly familiar feeling in his mind seemed to grow stronger.
Could it be that many new things in the Dark Moon attracted her attention, that’s why she came here to observe and learn?
Fortunately, he was at the moment when his appearance was tense. Even if Iciz detected his accelerated heartbeat, he wouldn’t show any flaws.
Iciz’s voice was a little friendlier, “Sir is too worried. With sir’s talent, even in my Dark Shadow Empire, it is enough to become a really important talent. If you have this intention, I can recommend sir to Her Majesty Empress.”
Perhaps it was a psychological effect, but even this “solicitation” gave Chen Rui a familiar feeling.
Whether Iciz is “she” or not, I can’t agree to it now. Athena, Kia, Shea, and my friends are in the Dark Moon, and the situation I have worked so hard to manage, so I can’t leave.
She is the empress of an empire. She has more helplessness, worries, and restrictions than the lord Shea. Moreover, she has her own great ambitions.
Unless I have the power to ignore all of this one day, then only I can appear in front of her with my true appearance and identity in order to give myself and her the right to choose. In a sense, the difficulty of this task is S grade.
Before that, I better stay in the Dark Moon to help Shea manage this thriving estate.
Chen Rui looked surprised, “It is not easy for the Dark Moon to have the present situation. I have no plans to leave here for the time being. Chen Rui appreciates the kindness of Ms. Iciz.”
This answer did not surprise Iciz. She nodded and said, “Sir Chen Rui’s morals are admirable. This is a magic badge that is a special token of my Asmodeus Royal Family. If there is any unexpected change in the Dark Moon in the future, sir can look for me. The door of the Dark Shadow Empire is open for sir at any time.”
“Then I would like to thank you first.” Chen Rui knew that it would be unkind to refuse, so he kept the badge immediately. In order to divert Iciz’s attention from “Aguile”, he immediately resorted to a trump card, ” I don’t know if Ms. Iciz has ever heard of the name Bloodfall?”
No doubt, Iciz’s attention became highly concentrated, and she asked, “Sir Chen Rui also heard about it?”
“Similar to the intentions of the 2 young ladies’ visit, Bloodfall is very interested in the Dark Moon. They even proposed a series of cooperation terms that are difficult to refuse. In the end, Princess Royal chose to cooperate with the Bloody Vine Flower Estate, which is actually cooperating with the Dark Shadow Empire. As Ms. Iciz saw, Princess Shea is a firm and persevering lady.” Only half of Chen Rui’s words were true. Actually, Azgalor had not met Shea yet.
Iciz nodded approvingly, “Princess Shea is indeed an admirable princess.”
Chen Rui looked worried, “However, since we choose your empire as our partner, Bloodfall, a dark force with vicious means, will never let us go. If possible, I hope that you can try to call upon your empire’s powerful strength to help the Dark Moon to give a definitive blow to Bloodfall. This will make our cooperation more stable and safe without any worries.”
Iciz shook her head, “The Dark Moon’s power is obvious to all. Even Lord Josh was defeated by your mysterious powerhouse. Naturally, there is no need for outsiders like me to intervene. This is not in line with the initial intention of non-interference in internal affairs in our cooperation.”
Obviously, Iciz saw through Chen Rui’s plan to start a fight between Dark Moon’s enemies in view of the interest, so she was unwilling to be used as a scapegoat. Chen Rui sighed, “If he is just an ordinary member, naturally we don’t need the power of your empire, but according to the latest intel, the one coming to the Dark Moon this time is one of the heads of Bloodfall. His name is Azgalor.
As soon as Iciz heard Azgalor’s name, a sharp qi faintly appeared in her eyes behind the veil. Chen Rui remembered that when he was in the Crystal Valley, Manu, who thought he was winning, once introduced the name of Azgalor in front of the empress. He immediately said, “The Dark Moon’s most powerful guest, Krobelus, has tested this person. She actually feels that she is not his opponent at all. I’m afraid that this person’s strength has reached the intermediate stage of the Demon Overlord or even higher. That is why we are desperately asking your empire for help. Otherwise, if Azgalor launches a deliberate sabotage or assassination, the consequences will be disastrous. No one in the Dark Moon can stop him.”
Iciz was silent for a moment, and she finally said, “I can ask Her Majesty to mobilize the powerhouse to help the Dark Moon solve this hidden danger. However, I have 1 condition. When I was strolling just now, I saw that the Dark Moon’s urban reconstruction and planning are quite organized. The future development prospects are very broad. This should be Sir Chen Rui’s contribution. The Bloody Vine Flower Estate is my hometown. The new lord has just taken charge, and there are many things to be done. I hope that sir will provide a set of overall plans according to the local conditions. This is in line with our spirit of mutually beneficial cooperation.”
Didn’t you talk about non-interference in each other’s internal affairs? Chen Rui smiled bitterly as he shrugged, “Miss really knows how to take advantage of the predicam… Uh, make use of the opportunity. I can’t seem to find a reason to reject.”
In fact, the so-called planning was actually just copying some of the existing urban facilities in his previous life.
Seeing Chen Rui subconsciously shrugging his shoulders, a strange expression flashed through Iciz’s eyes. She asked faintly, “Do you believe in coincidence?”
“Huh?” Chen Rui was puzzled for a while.
“It’s nothing. It’s just a small hypothesis,” Iciz took a deep look at him, then she changed the subject, “Back to the subject, I need all your intel of Azgalor.”
Chen Rui’s eyes lit up. In any case, the crisis of the Dark Moon was truly resolved.
‘Her’ disguise was truly amazing, even Chen Rui couldn’t see through it without the [True Analytical Eyes]. By the way, Azgalor really had no way to run this time…