Living as a Demon Lord in the Dungeon

Upon hearing this, the entire council hall fell silent, a deathly stillness descending upon everyone.

The grey dwarves were completely unprepared, but the two dark elf sisters had already guessed something from Sean's questioning.

But when the truth is suddenly laid out before you, the feeling of despair and helplessness is still suffocating.

The old gray dwarf elder's hands were trembling; he shook his head and repeated it over and over again.

"Impossible, impossible, this is impossible! How could we, such insignificant people, possibly catch the eye of that great man?"

Those are the Four Heavenly Kings! Those are princes of the vampire clan!

He could wipe us out in an instant with a mere wave of his hand, leaving not a trace behind.

Why would he go to such lengths to harm us?

Impossible! This is impossible! This doesn't make sense!

Lord City Lord, I understand! You're lying to us, aren't you?

You're worried we'll seek revenge on our real enemies, so you fabricated this huge lie! You want to use such a powerful enemy to discourage us from our desire for revenge.

Right? That must be it! Yes, yes, that makes sense!

"Sir, please...please say something!"

Sean sighed softly, "I also wish this were a lie, after all, I've already taken down two of the vampire prince's most trusted henchmen."

These truths were found within the souls of those two people.

One of them was a young talent from the Rosenner family, a noble clan of vampires.

If you don't believe me, just look...

As he spoke, he pulled up his sleeve, revealing the blood-red bat mark on his arm.

Seeing the blood-red mark, the gray dwarves were already seven or eight parts convinced, but they still refused to admit it.

"But why?! What is this...?"

Sean interrupted the gray dwarf elder: "For the purpose of conscription."

"Recruiting? What does this have to do with recruitment?"

The gray dwarf elder was nearly driven mad: "Our gray dwarf race is known for its small population, and the dark elves are about the same."

"Are they trying to recruit us?"

"Don't get agitated..."

Sean placed a hand on the elder's shoulder, looked around, and then asked, "I ask you, what similarities do your two races have in common?"

The group exchanged bewildered glances. What did the gray dwarves and dark elves have in common? They couldn't quite put their finger on it for the moment!

It wasn't until Aisalia hesitantly spoke that she finally asked, "Does Master mean that both of our races are... corrupted demon races?"

"right."

Sean pointed and said, "This is what your two races have in common, and it's also the core reason why your two races were harmed."

The gray dwarf elder kept shaking his head: "I... I still don't understand."

Sean reached out and picked up four chairs from the conference table, placing them in front of everyone.

"As I think everyone knows, in the Demon King's army, the Four Heavenly Kings are ranked below the Demon King."

As you probably know, these Four Heavenly Kings actually represent the four major factions within the Demon King's army.

Undead! Dark creatures! Orcs! Primal demons!

The leader of the dark creatures is none other than Karen Dracula, a prince of the vampire clan.

You all retreated from the front lines and came to the rear for rest and recuperation.

I have no right to tell you how brutal the battle between the Crusaders and the Demon King's army was.

In such a high-intensity war, the loss of manpower is undoubtedly enormous.

As the war dragged on, the four powers, whose strengths were originally relatively evenly matched, gradually began to diverge.

The reason for this result is the ability to recruit soldiers.

Among the four major factions, the undead faction's ability to recruit soldiers is self-evident.

The more brutal the war, the more abundant the undead's military strength becomes.

Therefore, among the four major factions, the Necromancer faction has grown stronger and is now showing a trend of dominating the field.

Of the remaining three, the orc race has an exceptionally strong reproductive capacity.

They have a large population base as a backing, and although they are not as successful as the undead faction, they are less affected.

As for the original demon factions, needless to say, they have the entire Abyss as a reserve of troops, making them virtually inexhaustible.

The only limitation is that summoning demons to the mortal world requires a large amount of magic crystals and sacrifices.

But it doesn't matter, since the Demon King is the biggest backer of the original demon faction.

Half of the Demon King's army's resources were used to summon demons from the abyss.

As long as the position of Demon King remains unchanged, the original demon faction need not worry about replenishing its forces.

The only problem with this dark faction is the availability of manpower.

The rarity of vampires is comparable to that of elves and dwarves. Other dark races, such as werewolves and ogres, are not much better off.

They really do have fewer and fewer people with each death, and their overall strength has declined drastically.

If we don't find a way to solve the manpower problem soon, the Dark Race might become a rare species after another two or three years of fighting.

The dwarf elder frowned upon hearing this: "Then, what good would killing us do them?"

"I'm not killing you, I'm studying you."

Sean revealed the cruel truth: "They lured you here, then had necromancers kill you, and then used your corpses to deduce the principles of demonic corruption."

If they could master the methods of demonic corruption, they could convert the prisoners of various races into their own troops in large numbers, thus solving the problem of manpower.

The necromancer didn't kill the rest of your people because the old and young gray dwarves weren't worth studying; it was better to use them to mine magic crystals.

As for you two, Aisalia, I think he saw Aisalia's talent in necromancy and wanted to take her as a disciple to help him study it together.

"I'm keeping you alive, Aisalia, to use you as leverage and make Isha obey him."

After Sean finished speaking, the entire conference room fell into dead silence.

Finally, the elder of the gray dwarfs couldn't help but cry out: "Just for this reason, just for this?"

Our clan had 278 members! Now only a few of us, the elderly, children, and widowed, are left!

Just for this? Just for this?

We...we are the Demon King's army, we have worked diligently and endured all kinds of hardships, all for this...

Aisalia suppressed the surging emotions in her heart and grabbed Sean's arm.

"But shouldn't demonic corruption be something demons excel at? If they want to gain this ability, why don't they go to the demons?"

And even if they successfully mastered this ability, those captured after being corrupted should still be considered part of the demons' camp!

Sean reached out and gently wiped away Aisalia's tears, saying helplessly, "The power of demonic corruption is something ordinary demons don't possess; it's the method of demon gods."

Moreover, the fallen demon race cannot actually be considered part of the demon faction.

True pure-blooded demons despise the fallen race.

Unless you complete the ascension ritual and are completely transformed into true demons.

The gray dwarf elder nodded slightly: "Yes, among our colleagues in the Demon King's army who sought our help to forge and repair weapons and equipment, the demons had the worst attitude!"

They didn't consider us part of the group at all.

To be honest, we should indeed be classified as belonging to the Dark Faction.

Sean looked at everyone: "So, that's the whole truth."

Aisalia pursed her lips, clutching Sean's clothes with both hands, her shoulders trembling as she sobbed.

"Master, I... I am so unwilling. Our people were cruelly killed because of this."

Their bodies were desecrated by that bastard...

We, we…”

"Our enemy is none other than the Four Heavenly Kings..."

An old gray dwarf, tears streaming down his face, said through gritted teeth, "What...what can we do?"

"Is there even a question? Of course, it's revenge!"

Upon hearing this, everyone looked up at Sean, who had just spoken.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Don't you want to?"

Sean raised his arm and tapped the crimson bat curse mark on it: "I'm already locked in a life-or-death struggle with them."

The gray dwarf elder lowered his head in remorse: "I'm sorry, Lord City Lord, we've implicated you!"

"No, no, no, you've probably made a mistake."

Sean shook his finger: "Although I saved you, you did not implicate me."

To tell you the truth, I'm actually on that bastards' kill list too.

Aisalia gasped, covering her mouth in shock. "How could this be? Master, why are they targeting you?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

Sean shrugged: "Actually, you are not the only two victims. Before you, four or five groups of people who returned home to recuperate had already been killed."

You are merely survivors.

So many tribes have met with misfortune within my territory. When the tax collectors arrive this time, they will use fabricated evidence to make me, the lord of the dungeon, the scapegoat.

Once I die, all the dirty deeds they did will be wiped clean.

You bastard, do you think I'm the Monkey King?!

So even if I can't save you, I'll still fight these bastards to the death!

I don't know what you guys are thinking, but I'm determined to get revenge.

Anyone who tries to kill me, I will definitely turn the tables and take their dog's life!

Some things simply cannot be left unresolved!

"Sir! Count me in!"

From the crowd, a small gray dwarf boy ran out. He stared wide-eyed, clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and knelt down in front of Sean with a thud.

"Please! My lord! If you're seeking revenge, please take me with you! I'll do anything!"

"Yes, Master is right! We can't let this go! We must avenge our people!"

Isa hugged Sean's arm and looked at Elsalia beside him.

"Sister! Say something!"

Aisalia took a deep breath and knelt before Sean, sobbing uncontrollably, "Master, please take us with you to avenge us!"

Seeing this, the gray dwarves also knelt down on one knee, expressing their attitude through their actions.

Sean stood before them with his hands behind his back: "Very well, then offer your loyalty."

And I promise you the cries of the enemy and the agony of their death.

The gray dwarf elder led the remaining members of his tribe and said, "We swear allegiance to you and from this day forward we will regard you as our savior!"

In the name of black iron and flames, by the furnace and the anvil!

Weapons are forged for you, armor is honed for you, and blood and spirit will forever burn for you!

Never betray, never stand apart!

Sean reached out and helped the gray dwarf elder up: "Very well, I accept your oath."

Revenge is a long and complex undertaking.

Our enemy is high-ranking and powerful; we hope you are mentally prepared for a protracted battle.

"Yes, my benefactor!"

Sean scratched his head: "You should continue to call him Lord City Lord. Using such a special title can easily arouse unnecessary suspicion from others."

There is still a lot of work to be done in the dungeon, and I hope you will do your best.

Remember, every bit of strength we gain paves the way for our ultimate revenge.

The gray dwarf elder clenched his fist and nodded heavily: "We understand, Lord City Lord."

"Alright, that's all for today."

Sean reached out and pushed open the door of the city lord's hall: "Go back and rest well."

Led by the elders, the gray dwarves left the hall in small groups.

After everyone had left, Elsalia and Isa could no longer hold back and threw themselves into Sean's arms, bursting into tears.

Sean didn't say anything, he just gently patted their backs.

After a while, the two gradually stopped crying.

Sean reached out and wiped away the tears on their cheeks. "You two should go and rest too. Don't worry, I'll take care of everything."

Aisalia pursed her lips and nodded, then pulled Isa, who was still crying, upstairs.

Sean sighed; he understood how everyone felt.

These grey dwarves fought alongside the dark elves on the front lines, surviving the enemy's attacks, only to be exterminated and murdered by their own people for such absurd reasons upon returning home, their bodies even being desecrated.

No one could accept this calmly.

Just then, cheers rang out from the direction of the city gate, indicating that Minos had led the main force back into the underground city.

Not long after, Minos, Carlos, and five ratman company commanders hurriedly arrived at the city lord's hall.

As soon as he entered, Carlos asked, "My lord, I heard from Minos that you killed a vampire nobleman?"

"yes."

Sean showed the curse mark on his arm: "He was a trusted subordinate of the vampire prince, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, and that necromancer was one too."

I'm now being targeted by the Four Heavenly Kings.

Are you scared?

Minos waved his hand dismissively, "What's there to be afraid of! Don't worry, sir, if he dares to come, I'll be the first to rush up and fight him!"

Carlos also looked up and said, "My lord, it's a bit too insulting of us to ask such a question! Since our minotaur tribe has followed you, we are your most loyal guards!"

Even if a vampire prince attacks, we won't let him touch a single hair on your head until we're all dead!

Sean nodded in satisfaction, then looked at the rat-men company commanders: "And you?"

"Oh dear, Lord, what a question you ask! We ratmen eat your food and drink your water! Our lives are yours!"

Forget about vampires and princes!

Minos is right. If he wants to get back at you, we'll fight him!