My Beautiful Duchess Wife

The man's booming voice startled Lin Peng. He then burst into laughter: "Arthur, I'm not here to attack any Ross City. I'm here as a guest. You've seen it yourself; how could our few soldiers possibly be a match for you? So, I'm just a guest!"

He kept chuckling as he spoke.

On the city wall, Fario shrugged. "Your friend is quite interesting. Heh, last time when I raided that Gree, this guy said something I really liked!" Arthur scratched the back of his head, seemingly a little embarrassed. After Fario nodded to a colonel-level captain beside him, the city gate slowly opened.

Corant, who had been inside the carriage, had already gotten out, but simply didn't want the Fire Demons to see him. Of course, once he was out of Ironblood Fortress's sight, he could come out.

At this moment, he was riding a wildebeest, looking completely dazed.

He truly hadn't expected Lin Peng's relationship with these people to be this good. Just a single sentence had gotten them to open the city gates. If they attacked now, they'd definitely catch them completely off guard.

Thinking of this, he immediately shook his head, dismissing the thought. This relationship was, of course, related to Lin Peng's character. If he were to do this, then whether or not he pledged allegiance to him would become a choice.

Lin Peng laughed loudly, then led the main force into Ross City. He gave Arthur, who had just come down from the city wall, a bear hug and said, "I didn't expect to see you so soon. Hehe, this time, I won't say anything. That bastard Gree wanted to frame my boss, so I took a gamble with him."

"Took a gamble?" Fario's cool voice rang out as he appeared beside the two. Perhaps only Medusa knew exactly when he appeared.

"Well, I took a gamble. I saw that the chaos was quelled quickly, but I don't want to help the people of the Red Demon Territory quell the chaos. Hehe... But what I didn't expect was that the place I came to attack was actually the place you were stationed!" Lin Peng said, secretly feeling fortunate.

If they happen to encounter someone who doesn't give Arthur any face, it could really put them in an awkward position. They can't win a fight, and they can't just stay and camp outside the city.

"So you're going into the city like this now? Aren't you afraid we'll turn around and bite you?" Fario chuckled somewhat ruefully and said strangely.

The gaze directed at Medusa seemed exceptionally intense. Of course, it wasn't lustful. Perhaps fighting spirit was a more plausible explanation.

Lin Peng smiled and shook his head: "Actually, I already had a plan on the way. Aren't you, Punishment City, short of food? Hehe, perfect timing, my Darkmoon City can provide it for you. And... it won't be as expensive as in the Crimson Demon Territory. Then, this time you go directly to Steyr City to hunt down Gree. This gives me an opportunity to take advantage of the situation. Hehe, after reporting this to my superiors, once I bring my boss, Duke Shia, back, what do you say... how about we attack Ironblood Fortress from the inside out?"

Hearing this plan surprised Fario somewhat. Then, after thinking about it, he looked at Lin Peng with a shocked expression.

Arthur wasn't stupid, of course; he understood Lin Peng's plan after listening for a moment. They all looked at this seemingly generous man with strange expressions.

He simply couldn't understand how he came up with such a vicious plan. At the same time, what frustrated him even more was that he actually managed to come up with it.

"Hehe, don't look at me like that. As for strategy, how should I put it? From the very beginning, I've been His Excellency the Duke's advisor, so I'm somewhat adept at this." Lin Peng smiled somewhat sheepishly. In war, there's no such thing as being despicable. As long as you can truly win, that's victory.

And isn't history often dictated by the victors?

Fario nodded, glanced at Arthur, and then asked with a hint of coldness, "You, you should be from the Dark Empire, right? Even if you're being ostracized, you shouldn't be helping us, should you? Why? Give me a reason, at least give me a reason to believe you?"

Arthur looked at Lin Peng with the same expression. At this moment, it seemed that if Lin Peng said the wrong thing, he might be killed on the spot.

Regardless, they're still not really close. Although Lin Peng did Arthur a few small favors when he was on the run, could this be part of some malicious plan by the Red Devil's territory?

Therefore, people become even more cautious, especially during times like these.

Lin Peng sighed and shook his head helplessly: "The Dark Empire now seems to be ruled by a prime minister. Moreover... with the struggle between the Minister of Military Affairs and the Minister of State, the Dark Empire seems to have lost its original foothold for the royal family. Duke Shia is a direct descendant of the former Dark Emperor. Why do you think I did this?"

"The Crimson Devil territory seems to belong to the Prime Minister's side?"

Fario hesitated for a moment, then finally asked.

Lin Peng nodded and smiled faintly: "What do you think? Otherwise, why would Gree be so hostile towards us?" In the end, the three of them smiled and walked towards the city.

Prelude to Chapter Sixty-Three

Unlike Lin Peng's side, Gree's side, despite having such a powerful army—five thousand high-level demons led by a Grand Demon King and a low-level Demon Emperor—was facing an exceptionally difficult situation compared to Lin Peng's.

The city of Ristell was attacked when it was still a hundred miles away. This sneak attack involved a true Demon Emperor-level expert.

If it weren't for the fact that a true mid-level Demon Emperor-level expert like the Troll Warlord had fought that blow head-on, Gree might be a corpse by now.

Night had fallen, and seeing that nearly a thousand people were missing, Gree and Kerry exchanged a helpless glance. However, Kerry had more ideas to share.

This time, Gree is the leader. If the losses are truly heavy, my responsibility won't be that great. Ideally, the battle would be even more intense. If they are completely wiped out, perhaps I'll be the leader next time.

Kerry's eyes gleamed with malice as he watched the troll general continue eating. He was out, he was out. But not only had he failed to gain command, he didn't even have a single bodyguard? Apparently, he had retrieved something from the vault before leaving.

And what about yourself?

Sometimes, Kerry really wondered if he was Jerry's biological son. After all, the difference in their treatment was just too great.

From a young age, he possessed exceptional talent. Now, he is the youngest Demon Emperor-level being in the Fire Demon Clan. He's only four years younger than Gree, yet he receives only this kind of treatment.

From a young age, his combat talent and learning ability far surpassed Gree's. However... what Kerry disliked was the treatment he received.

The demons, who had just recovered from cleaning up the corpses, slowly began to set up camp. The troll general, seemingly having eaten his fill, stood up, his massive frame bearing down on the camp.

With such a towering figure and Demon Emperor-level eyesight, the fact that he was ambushed in such an open area greatly displeased him. His blood-red eyes began to glow crimson.

Bloodlust... this skill can further enhance his abilities. After acquiring Bloodlust, he could even fight against a high-level Demon Emperor.

This, of course, is also why the attacking soldiers from Punishment City retreated.

The crimson moon began to slowly disappear, and it was unclear whether it had simply descended the mountain or hidden somewhere else. In any case, not a trace of it could be found.

At this moment, the white moon seemed exhausted, emitting a faint light. The entire earth seemed shrouded in darkness. Within the camp, a small flame slowly rose.

Meanwhile, in Steyr City, after five days, another peak-level Demon Emperor expert arrived, along with three guests.

Upon seeing the bruises on Kaches's face, Fario asked coldly with a grim expression, "How could this be?"

Kaches seemed hesitant to speak, as if he had suffered some major blow. That strange expression immediately reminded Lin Peng, who had come with Fario, of the troll warrior beside Gree.

That guy is definitely a Demon Emperor-level expert. And since he was sent out to protect Gree, then... he must be an extremely powerful individual.

Thinking about this, Lin Peng pondered for a moment and said, "The bloodlust and berserk state of the troll warriors are very powerful. If they were to go berserk and become bloodlustful at the Demon Emperor level, they might actually be able to rival peak-level Demon Emperor experts!"

Kaches seemed to have found a kindred spirit, nodding vigorously: "That guy is simply not someone a demon can handle. With that bloodlust and berserk state, his movements, strength, and speed have practically doubled. If I hadn't run fast, I might have been seriously injured! This freak, is he still a troll or not? He feels more like a war machine!"

Seeing Fario's furrowed brows, the young Angelina spoke up, "Don't underestimate the troll race. If they reach the Demon Emperor level, their ultimate berserk and demonic flame abilities will be even more terrifying. Their current bloodlust and madness are just basic abilities. However... there are still ways to deal with them!"

Most people wouldn't believe what the little girl said. However, Lin Peng then added, "Angelina, why didn't you tell me these things last time?"

In return, he received a glare from Angelina.

Suddenly, Kaches became somewhat serious. After exchanging a glance with Fario, they asked in unison, "What method can be used to suppress it?"

Bloodlust and Berserk are abilities that directly drive people mad, seemingly capable of mobilizing the power within one's blood and unlocking one's inherent potential.

Although Fario is a top-tier Demon Emperor, he is essentially a Demon Emperor focused on speed and agility. If he encounters a troll warrior with Bloodlust and Berserk activated, Bloodlust could easily pinpoint his location. If he were caught, the threat of death would be even greater.

Angelina smiled slightly, glanced at Lin Peng, and said, "The biggest limitation of Bloodlust is distance. Of course, if he adds Bloodlust himself, then... basically, he'll be a stalking, bloodthirsty beast. The biggest cost of Berserk is exhaustion. If it lasts too long, he'll definitely die from exhaustion. If it lasts a short time, he can recover with food. Of course, this uncle is a power-type Demon Emperor, no match for a troll general. So... let Uncle Fario lure him directly. Your bow and arrows have a range several times that of the troll. Just keep ambushing Gree; given his personality, he'll surely order that troll to chase you. Then, lure him into this uncle's ambush. About an hour later, he might die from exhaustion without even fighting. However, it's best not to let it last that long; after all, a troll wouldn't be so foolish as to chase you for so long. About ten minutes later, the troll's Bloodlust will show signs of temporarily losing its effect. At that time, we'll set up a magic circle, and he'll definitely die there!"

"A magic circle?" Fario was taken aback, somewhat confused by Angelina's words.

Angelina nodded her little head and continued, "Berserk mode, and Bloodlust. Especially Bloodlust, which is extremely sensitive to magic. So, after Bloodlust briefly loses its target, its sensitivity will decrease. I know a magic-suppressing array. After I set it up, do you think he'll still be able to use Bloodlust? That way, as long as this uncle can hold out for a while, you can definitely kill that troll, right?"

Catches, Fario, and Medusa all looked at Angelina with some strange expressions. Lin Peng, on the other hand, wore an expression of pride. Who wouldn't envy someone like that?

If someone else had such an all-powerful little sprite, they might even worship it.

Medusa chuckled inwardly, then nodded knowingly, "Lin Peng, don't get involved. Otherwise, with your Demon King level strength, you might not even be a match for that troll's punch." Fario and Kaches nodded repeatedly, seemingly agreeing. Since their companion had such a powerful little elf as a trump card, they both felt Lin Peng could be treated as an equal.

However, Lin Peng didn't think that way. After all, witnessing such a battle was, in any case, a valuable experience. Or rather, an extremely quick way to improve his own combat abilities.

……

As the crimson moon rose, Gree's team sprang into action once more. In the Demon Realm, perhaps an extremely powerful expert could suppress another expert, essentially guaranteeing victory.

Morale is crucial, and although there are only four thousand, many are Demon Kings or Great Demons, and several thousand are highly trained high-ranking demons capable of fighting together. It must be said, Gree is in a very good mood.

At least, the frustration from yesterday is almost gone.

Gri glanced at Kerry, who was also riding a wildebeest beside him, and at the troll general who had driven away the attacker. Gree sneered, as if he were already a lord.

"Kerry, even if you do better than me, so what? Right now... let's not talk about anything else, just in terms of equipment or manpower? In that respect, you are my opponent!"

Gree gave a smug snort. Although Kerry was walking ahead, he had already caught a glimpse of Gree's expression out of the corner of his eye.

He really did feel an urge to go crazy with anger. He also inwardly sneered, "I'm already carrying out Lin Peng's plan. Heh heh, it's probably already spread throughout Fire Radiance City! When your image in Father's eyes is tarnished, let's see how smug you can be then!"

Thinking this way, I felt incredibly relaxed and at ease.

The troll general, clad in soft armor and seemingly devoid of cunning, suddenly stopped in his tracks. After glancing around, he hesitated.

Gree was getting impatient. He patted the troll general's green arm with the magic longsword at his waist: "What's going on? Why did you suddenly stop moving!"

The troll warrior shook his head and glanced at the distant forest. "I don't know, I just have this uneasy feeling." If Angelina were here, she would definitely be annoyed.

To have such a premonition is practically a declaration of intent.

After taking a few steps, that honest yet ruthless voice spoke again: "Young Master, I always have a feeling that there is danger here!"

Kerry snorted and laughed, "What, it's not even night yet? Who knew trolls could be so cowardly! Hahaha..."

Hearing Kerry's mocking tone, Gree felt even more frustrated. Originally, it was the custom of the troll race that the person in charge was the leader. Or, in other words, the chieftain or commander.

But to Gree, this was extremely unpleasant. Now, provoked by Kerry's words, he angrily smacked the troll's lean arm: "Let's go! What danger could there be in broad daylight? Idiot!"

The troll warrior, of course, was also easily provoked. He snorted coldly at Kerry and silently continued on his way.

Chapter Sixty-Four: Draw Away

The crimson moon hung high overhead, its radiant light creating a sense of utter chaos. Under such a bright moon, Gree immediately ordered the troops to set up camp and rest. It was now roughly lunchtime.

Small stoves began to be built, and wisps of smoke rose from them. The camp could be seen from afar. This was because Gree wasn't much of a military strategist; such actions might be forgivable if he had a large force. However, with five thousand men, even if they were all elites, this was unnecessary.

After all, if there are many enemies, they can wear you down.

Kerry maintained his eerie smile, offering no warnings or concern. Gree, it seems, is truly only suited for intrigue and the like. When it comes to military operations, he's utterly incompetent.

This was a desolate land, with low mountains on both sides, resembling mere earthen slopes. Moreover, there wasn't a single tree to provide cover. This was precisely the place chosen by the troll warlord; after all, at his height, a single glance was enough to pinpoint the enemy's location with lightning speed.

However, this time, the troll warlord couldn't find a trace of the enemy at all.

Yet, the premonition in his heart grew stronger and stronger. An unprecedented sense of crisis made him hesitate even when eating. He seemed to have no appetite.

Gree frowned, glanced at the troll general with some annoyance, and then continued eating his food.

Another half-day's journey should take them to Steyr. Thinking about this, Gree became even more frustrated. He knew absolutely nothing about warfare, and had no combat experience whatsoever. Furthermore, facing such a towering city wall, he had no idea how to actually breach it.

But this proud man didn't want to ask his elder brother, who was still a lieutenant general in the empire. Perhaps it was a matter of pride, or perhaps a competition.

Just then, as everyone seemed to be absorbed in their own thoughts, a black light streaked across the sky and shot directly toward Gree.

Their speed was like the wind, and they carried a fierce, murderous aura. It seemed they could pierce through him in an instant. Among them, the one with the fastest speed and reaction time was undoubtedly the Troll Warlord.

His body suddenly sprang up, grabbing the black arrow before the black path could even react. A snapping sound rang out, the black light dissipated, and a tiny black arrow appeared in the giant hand of the troll warlord.

"Enemy attack?" Gree finally realized what was happening and shouted loudly. The soldiers who had just been eating hot food and drinking hot broth quickly formed square formations.