Chapter 45: Loki

Lin City Main Hall, City Lord’s study.

Aurora held her forehead, her elbows propped up on the desk.

Her eyes were fixed on the envelope on the tabletop, and her small mouth was pressed into a thin line.

Lockes stood beside her, his expression grim and silent, yet a hint of anger seemed to flicker between his brows.

“Should we present this news to the Demon King?”

The speaker was a bearded middle-aged man. He had a kind face, and the look he gave Aurora was filled with worry, as if he did not want her to bear this pressure any longer.

“I was the one who asked the Demon King for the resources to build this city-state. I cannot bring her any more trouble,” Aurora said.

“We absolutely cannot drag the Demon Race into this territorial dispute.”

A series of hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway.

“Sorry I’m late, everyone.”

Qiaolin pushed the door open and entered.

This was his first time at the Lin City Main Hall, and he had only managed to find the room with a servant’s guidance.

“Eh? Master Qiaolin, why are you…”

Aurora looked surprised. She did not remember asking Qiaolin to come.

Seeing the confused looks everyone was giving him, Qiaolin blinked, unsure of what was happening.

“Why are you all looking at me like that? Didn’t you say something major happened?”

“It is indeed a very important matter, but I don’t think I…”

“Is this the envoy dispatched by the Demon King? Lady Aurora, why don’t we tell him the details? Since he is a confidant of the Demon King, perhaps he can help us obtain support from the Demon King’s Castle,” the middle-aged man suggested.

“What happened?”

Qiaolin looked at Aurora. She sighed and handed him the envelope from the desk.

“See for yourself.”

Qiaolin opened the envelope and read the information inside.

“I see. They’re using the excuse of missing slaves from their army to search the city? What a convenient reason for an invasion.”

“If they enter the city-state, the Black Fang Legion will take over the entire city. That must never happen,” Lockes said.

“What a bunch of loathsome people. What exactly are they trying to do?”

Aurora clenched her fists. She had originally thought that a temporary concession would prevent them from finding an opening, but she hadn’t expected them to be so persistent.

“They are likely trying to counter the Kingdom of Nolan’s retaliation. The fact that their army could travel all the way south from the northern forest means that most of the Celtic Forest has fallen into the hands of the Black Fang Legion. However, the Empire will certainly not let this go, so they need a stronghold now to consolidate their advantage,” Qiaolin analyzed.

“All of this is a lie from the Black Fang Legion. Master Qiaolin, I hope you can communicate with the Demon King now and have her expel these shameless bastards!” Lockes said to Qiaolin.

“What do you think, Lady Aurora? This city is under the protection of the Demon Race, so it should rightfully receive support from the Demon King’s Castle. I will explain the situation to the Demon King.”

Aurora shook her head.

“No. From the beginning, the military support from the Demon King’s Castle for Lin City consisted only of Lockes and Loki. That was the contract the Demon King and I agreed upon. I cannot shamelessly ask the Demon King to clean up our mess again.”

Aurora grit her teeth, her eyes filled with conflict.

“But I cannot be irresponsible toward the residents of Lin City either.”

“Then just make things clear to those guys!”

At that moment, a clear and bright voice rang out from the doorway.

As if intentionally trying to draw attention, Lockes glanced at the newcomer and let out a cold snort.

“I wondered when you were going to show up. Loki, you’ve certainly been living comfortably these past few days!”

“Didn’t I rush over as soon as I heard Lin City was in peril?”

A black-haired girl leaned against the doorframe and smiled.

This was the first time Qiaolin had seen the person Lockes called Loki.

She wore a deep purple mage dress that revealed her long, shapely legs.

They were encased in black stockings that were as thin as a cicada’s wing, shimmering with a cold, matte finish.

Long, jet-black hair flowed from her hood, resting naturally against her chest.

She lowered her head slightly, and Qiaolin’s gaze was suddenly captured by the dark purple light in her eyes.

The two made eye contact for a brief moment before Qiaolin looked away.

“Are you the Demon King’s confidant? How come I’ve never seen you before?”

Loki studied Qiaolin closely and smiled.

“Since I am also a trusted subordinate of the Demon King, in a sense, the two of us are colleagues.”

“Hey, is there something wrong with you? Loki, why are you bringing up irrelevant nonsense at a time like this?”

Lockes glared at her. Loki shrugged, appearing unbothered.

“Loki, do you have any suggestions?”

Aurora asked.

“Haven’t you noticed why the Black Fang Legion is being so indirect instead of just forcibly taking over Lin City? They are still wary of the Demon Race. You don’t need to panic. No one wants to resolve things with force unless it is absolutely necessary.”

“So, you mean I should go to them and talk?”

Loki smiled and nodded.

Lockes immediately grew anxious at the suggestion.

“Nonsense! You want Aurora to go to their territory? She is the City Lord of Lin City. If they play dirty and detain her, wouldn’t Lin City be handed over on a silver platter?”

“Don’t be silly. Aren’t you Lady Aurora’s personal guard? With a Five-Crown Peak powerhouse like you protecting her at all times, how could they possibly have the chance to detain her?”

Lockes froze for a moment. He had clearly only been thinking about the consequences and hadn’t considered that he could protect Aurora himself.

“If…”

“If you’re still worried…”

Loki gave Qiaolin a meaningful look and said, “Then let Master Qiaolin go as well. Then, naturally, I can follow along.”

“Huh? I have to go too? Wait, why would you follow just because I’m going?”

“Hehe, it’s a long story. In short, the Demon King has already appointed me as your personal guard, responsible for your safety. From now on, I will protect you and never leave your side.”

As soon as she said this, surprised expressions appeared on everyone’s faces.

Even Qiaolin thought he had misheard.

‘How could Gabriela possibly assign someone I don’t know to follow me and say they’re protecting me?’ he thought. ‘Besides, I don’t need protection from anyone else.’

“Furthermore…”

“Your strength only seems to be at 5 Crown,” Qiaolin remarked, looking at Loki skeptically.

“That’s right. I am the Witch of Mirrors, Five-Crown Peak, peerless in beauty and unmatched in the world.”

After saying this, she spread her hands like a dancer who had just finished a performance, waiting for the audience to applaud.

*Clap, clap, clap!*

The sound of Qiaolin’s clapping echoed in the room.

Lockes, on the other hand, covered his face in embarrassment. Working with this woman was a total disaster.

“You’re quite the sensible man. I like you~”

Loki leaned in close to Qiaolin, a playful look on her face.

Her slender finger flirtatiously tilted his chin up, but he gently brushed it away.

“Even as a personal guard, you need to keep your distance.”