Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

Shia looked at him strangely and gently touched the dwarf who was being trampled on the ground with her toe:

"How did you know I'm a 'long-eared' elf? I didn't reveal any physical characteristics."

Although the dwarf was subdued, he remained stubborn and snorted coldly:

"Do we even need to look at the elves' arrogant aura? You can smell their stench from miles away!"

Shia was taken aback at first, then flew into a rage, stomping her foot, "What nonsense are you spouting!"

She subconsciously raised her fair wrist and brought it to her nose to sniff carefully.

Under such focused, gentle sniffing, it seemed... there was indeed a faint...

The sweat smelled faintly, mixed with dust, because it hadn't been thoroughly washed off after the long journey.

Shia was terrified!

She washed herself thoroughly before she came!

Those toiletries that I bought at exorbitant prices and that were supposed to have a floral scent are almost gone!

How could it still have a smell?!

That unscrupulous bath product seller cheated me!

The thought that Lin Gui might smell my scent...

Shea was completely devastated!

To hide her guilt and panic, she stomped on the dwarf's foot even harder and shouted:

"There's no stench at all! It's just the delicate fragrance of a beautiful elven girl! Is your nose broken?!"

"Get your stinky feet off me! Stinky long ears!" The dwarf struggled and yelled angrily.

"Who are you calling stinky!"

"I'm talking to you!"

Lin Gui watched the two, one big and one small, arguing inexplicably over the "smell" issue, and helplessly rubbed his temples.

"Okay, Shia, let him go for now."

Shia reluctantly moved her foot and immediately slipped back to Lin Gui's side.

She even subconsciously kept a little distance from him.

They were afraid that the other person would actually smell the "non-existent" stench on them.

Lin Gui found her little actions somewhat amusing.

He roughly understood what Shia was struggling with.

Actually, that wasn't a scent unique to her.

Rather, it was the smell that permeated the entire seventh-floor refugee district.

The stench of rotting garbage, the fishy smell of untreated sewage, the sweat and body odor of crowded people, and... an atmosphere of despair and oppression mingled together.

The people who live here are like forgotten dust.

Most of them were civilians who fled from various destroyed city-states during the "Great Evacuation" ten years ago.

In the capital of Carter, they were not considered true citizens.

They have no security whatsoever, no right to build a house, no right to settle down, and no right to do business.

They huddled together like livestock in dilapidated tents or makeshift shacks.

They were engaged in the dirtiest, most tiring, and lowest-paid corvée labor.

Just to have a tiny chance to survive.

Anyone who kills a refugee will not be punished.

Their lives were worse than those of the pets kept by noblemen.

Lin Gui looked around at the dilapidated junkyard, which appeared even more run-down in the night, and sighed silently.

He was powerless to change any of it.

Even if he used the "Night Veil" to steal all the wealth of the upper nobility and distribute it to the refugees.

Even if he uses magic to help them rebuild their homes...

As long as that deeply entrenched system of exploitation exists, all of this will soon be swallowed up and destroyed once again.

He's still too weak.

In my mind, those fragments that often flashed back in my nightmares resurfaced.

Soaring flames, a rolling head, and a malicious sneer...

Lin Gui clenched his fist silently.

Give me some more time... some time to become stronger...

He composed himself.

He led the dwarf and Shia into a relatively intact shed inside the junkyard.

Lin Gui cut to the chase and asked the dwarf:

"Why are you following us in Gray Street?"

He considered many reasons:

They may have sensed the demonic energy that Shia unintentionally emitted and wanted to use it to inform on her for profit.

Perhaps sensing Shia's half-demon identity, she, being a fellow half-demon, wanted to get to know her.

Even the best possible outcome.

Just like when they approached Rogue, they took the initiative to make contact because of his half-demon identity, attempting to guide him to Avalon...

However, the dwarf gave the Forest Ghost a completely unexpected answer.

He looked up, his expression complex as he gazed at Lin Gui:

"Human boy, I've been following you to warn you: leave that demon. She'll get you killed!"

"Because of me???" Lin Gui asked in astonishment, pointing to himself, "You know me?"

When he went on a date with Shia, he did not deliberately cover his face, hoping to lower the guard of potential targets.

The dwarf sighed:

"In the entire refugee district, who doesn't know your reputation now?"

"An unknown mage from New Testament City, delivering a message to the common people across the perilous Withered Rift."

"In the post office for the commoners, your gentle aura, so different from that of the nobles, made us recognize you at a glance."

Lin Gui was taken aback, but then keenly grasped the key point:

How did you know I came from the "New Testament City"?

If the other party knew he came from Kalan, that would be an explanation.

But it's quite strange that he could accurately pinpoint the starting point as "New Testament City".

The city-states surrounding Karan are not limited to the New Testament alone.

For example, when Shia first came to Karan City, she came from the neighboring "Flower and Tree City".

The dwarf said with a strange expression:

"It was mentioned in the letters that came from Karan."

"The letter says that a mage from the 'New Testament' has gone to great lengths to deliver Karan's letter to the capital..."

"In the mouths of many displaced people who received the letter, you are like a divine messenger sent down to save those who are longing for you."

"They are grateful to you, and since they don't know your name, they gave you a name based on your appearance..."

He paused, looking at Lin Gui's still clearly visible black hair and black eyes in the darkness, and slowly said:

"They call you... 'Black-feathered Raven'."

"Ravens are among the few birds that stubbornly carry out messages even under a sky inhabited by demons."

"And black... is the color of your hair and eyes."

"Black hair and black eyes are extremely rare on the continent of Akara."

"The Black-feathered Raven?"

Xia nudged Lin Gui's side with her elbow, her tone slightly teasing.

"Lin Gui, you have a title now too~~"

Titles are both rare and common in the continent of Akara.

What makes them rare are those official titles that are recognized by the city-state alliance.

Normally, only those who break through to the Epic rank are personally granted this title by the Alliance Council based on their abilities, achievements, and fighting style.

For example, the most powerful beings recognized in the human world.

He thus earned renowned titles such as "Heavenly Punishment Sword Saint," "Silver Moon Mage God," and "Immovable Barrier."

"Common" refers to those unofficial titles.

It could be self-praise, praise from others, or it could be... stemming from the most basic gratitude and support of ordinary people.

Lin Gui still remembered that on his way to the magic city, he had encountered a bandit leader who blocked his path.

His underlings gave him the outrageous title of "King of Kings".

Not long afterward...

The band of mountain bandits was easily wiped out by a passing group of Gold-level adventurers, who then handed them over to the commissioner.

To be honest, Lin Gui quite liked that bandit leader with his peculiar way of thinking.

Unfortunately, the other party did not heed my advice and left the mountain stronghold that was destined to be destroyed in time.

"The Black-feathered Raven..."

Lin Gui silently recited the title bestowed upon him by the refugees.

I must say, he's quite handsome.

He composed himself, his gaze returning to the dwarf on the ground, and asked the most crucial question:

"Do you... know 'Rogge'?"

He stared intently into the dwarf's eyes.

They scrutinize every subtle reaction, trying to determine the truthfulness of the other party's words.

The dwarf was taken aback by the abrupt question, his crimson eyes filled with bewilderment:

"Rogue? Which Rogue? Are you talking about Rogue Bronzebeard, the famous blacksmith from Strongshield?"

Lin Gui stared intently at the other person, and after a few seconds, he let out a soft sigh.

Judging from the other person's genuinely bewildered reaction, he was indeed not the person he was looking for, the one who had guided Rog to Avalon.

Moreover, dwarves are known for their bluntness.

Aside from secrets concerning treasure and forging, they rarely stoop to lying about anything else.

In fact, when you see the obvious dwarf features of the other party.

Lin Gui's glimmer of hope had already cooled considerably.

A dwarf orchestrated a grand scheme to assassinate a prince and defect from the capital.

This joke sounds a bit like hell.

Lin Gui didn't say anything more and stepped forward to untie the ropes binding the dwarf.

He offered a brief apology and then prepared to leave with Shia.

"etc!"

The dwarf rubbed his numb wrists, hesitated for a moment, and then caught up.

He looked up at Lin Gui, his tone carrying a rare sincerity:

"Human boy, I think you're a good person, and I really have a suggestion for you."

"Whether you're attracted to her beauty or pity her plight, you'd better stay away from this 'demon'!"

"She's not a half-demon, but a demon capable of using 'demonic energy'! A true demon!"

Lin Gui stopped and replied calmly:

"Don't worry, I know. She only recently awakened her demonic energy and became a demon for the first time. She doesn't have much experience, so please bear with her."

"Huh???" This left the dwarf completely bewildered, his mind nearly blank.

"First time being a demon??? What... what the hell is this?"

He suddenly realized what was happening, his bloodshot eyes widening in shock.

"You mean, this long-eared creature is a half-demon, and its demonic energy only recently awakened???"

Lin Gui nodded: "Yes, is there a problem?"

"Then you must have been deceived by her!" the dwarf said with absolute certainty.

"A half-demon could never awaken demonic energy! This extremely evil and pure power could never appear in a mixed-blood person with mixed bloodlines!"

He emphasized something, as if to stress something: "Unless..."

The words after "unless" were not uttered yet!

Shea and Lin Gui attacked almost simultaneously!

One person on each side instantly covered the dwarf's mouth.

After cautiously looking around to make sure no one was paying attention, [he/she] looked around again.

They grabbed his arm and dragged him back into the dilapidated shack without saying a word!

A half-demon awakens demonic energy because of the demonic bloodline within him.

There is a demon king who originated from the seventy-two pillars.

This crucial fact is known to very few people.

Lin Gui didn't know this before; it was Xia who secretly told him later.

Well, I didn't tell Elvia about that guy whose trust level is basically zero.

In fact, even Shia herself didn't know which of the seventy-two demon kings her father was.

They dragged the dwarf into the shed and pressed him into a chair.

Lin Gui was the first to lower his voice and question.

How did you find out about this? Who told you?

Unexpectedly.

The dwarves were neither angry nor frightened by the sudden attack from the Wood Ghost and Shea.

He struggled to pry open a hand covering his mouth and gasped for breath.

When his gaze fell on Shia again, the obvious hostility he had shown earlier had dissipated considerably.

Instead, he wore an extremely strange, inquisitive expression.

He stared at Shia, his voice muffled as it leaked from between his fingers:

"Hey...long-eared, which Demon King is the source of your Demon Serum?"

Xia was taken aback by his question, and then frowned.

"Why should I tell you? Could it be... you're also a descendant of some demon king?"

Upon hearing this, the dwarf fell silent.

His facial expression shifted constantly, and his fiery red eyes held a complex and unfathomable mix of emotions.

This sudden silence seemed to indirectly confirm some astonishing possibility.

The air inside the shed suddenly became somewhat stagnant.

To prove his identity, the dwarf broke free and extended his short, calloused hands covered in burn scars.

He took a deep breath, as if summoning some kind of power.

The next moment, a wisp of dark red energy, carrying an ominous aura, rose slowly from his palm like a faint flame.

Within the energy, tiny, dust-like particles of earth and stone could be faintly seen churning, conveying a sense of heaviness and rage.

Lin Gui frowned slightly.

The nature of this energy.

The same demonic energy that Shia used when she unleashed her power in the tomb.

In essence, there is not much difference between "rage" and "ominousness".

It just feels more substantial and solid.

Shea looked at the wisp of dark red energy in the dwarf's palm with a strange expression, then looked at him.

"Since you're also a demon who can use demonic energy... then why did you just warn Lin Gui to be careful?"

The dwarf glanced at Shia speechlessly and dispelled the magical energy in his hand:

"Of the countless demons, how many truly love peace and have no desire for destruction?"

"Even now, I'm not sure if you're in cahoots with those lunatics who want to 'liberate the demon god'!"

Seeing that the dwarf had taken the initiative to reveal his demonic energy, although he was still verbally abusive, his hostility had clearly diminished.

Shia was the first to release her hand from his mouth, letting out a disgruntled snort.

"Hmph, then you're not a bad demon!"

As for the other party's claim of being a descendant of the Demon King, Shia did not doubt it.

This pure and powerful force of demonic energy can only exist in two kinds of beings.

A mixed-blood descendant with direct bloodline of the Seventy-Two Demon Kings.

And, the pure-blooded demon race with horns on their heads and pure bloodlines.

The racial characteristics of the dwarf opposite were too prominent to be the latter.