Finally, at Xue Nu's earnest plea, Shutendoji agreed to return to Nihon with Xue Nu to consolidate the demon tribes there, but they would need to provide Mo Chuan with the specific plans of the Nihon side from this negotiation.
After all, the other side was able to involve the Cross Alliance and the Extreme Sun Empire, so they must have paid a considerable price.
In Shutendoji's words, "I'll go and consolidate the demon tribes for you, and shouldn't you, as the Demon King, give me a concubine position?"
After releasing Xue Nu and the frightened Chiko from the [Endless Abyss], Mo Chuan and Abe Haruko returned to Mo Chuan's room. Along the way, Abe Haruko kept looking at Mo Chuan as if he were a monster.
"What's wrong? You're making me feel creeped out…" Mo Chuan couldn't help but look at Abe Haruko and ask.
"Are you seventh-tier now?"
"??? No, I'm only fifth-tier?" Mo Chuan said as he released his spiritual energy. Abe Haruko felt it slightly, then frowned her beautiful brows – it was indeed a fifth-tier spiritual energy concentration.
"But how did you master your domain expansion?" Abe Haruko asked in confusion. "Although I'm not a human esper, I know that you at least have to reach the sixth-tier or above to master the initial stage of a domain. And you can clearly use the domain just now with ease."
Mo Chuan was also bewildered. Abe Haruko circled Mo Chuan for a while before giving up observing him helplessly, then grabbed a wine gourd and took a swig.
A moment later, Chiko delivered a document and ran off without a word.
There was no help for it; people of Nihon were naturally fearful of demons, just like mice feared cats, and sheep feared wolves. Sun Shiwan feared Zhang Babai.
Mo Chuan and Abe Haruko exchanged a glance and opened the document in their hands.
The document was written in very elegant Nihon script. Abe Haruko began to translate for Mo Chuan:
"Prince Hongde's reputation was tarnished by the water tank scandal, coupled with Prince Hongde's previous indiscretions. Emperor decided to cultivate Prince Hongde's two younger brothers as his successors."
"This caused dissatisfaction among Prince Hongde's maternal lineage, the Mitsui Group, one of the Four Major Zaibatsu. With the help of his uncles, Hongde obtained the opportunity to handle this negotiation and sent his cousin, Chiko, to assist. Furthermore, by leveraging missionary rights and industrial product absorption, they managed to win over certain countries that harbored long-standing dissatisfaction with Dragon Country, led by the Cross Alliance and the Extreme Sun Empire, to speak on their behalf… Why were these countries dissatisfied with Dragon Country?"
"The Cross Alliance is a religious alliance whose fundamental purpose is missionary work. Dragon Country already has its own religious groups (Buddhism and Taoism), so how could they allow them to proselytize again? The Extreme Sun Empire, bordering Dragon Country's southwestern frontier, frequently experienced border conflicts. The remaining small countries were either subordinates of the Cross Alliance or had conflicts of interest with Dragon Country."
Abe Haruko nodded as if she understood, then continued reading, "And they also contacted some people in Dragon Country… attempting to cause chaos?!"
Mo Chuan's face darkened. He glanced at the time, estimating that the group was probably on a break. So, Mo Chuan directly activated the communication brooch of Qing Lian Zi and asked, "Sister Lian, are there any problems at the scene right now?"
"No… What's wrong? Why are you asking?"
"It's like this… I received news that the Nihon side, to increase their bargaining chips, might contact people on this side to cause chaos at the scene, so you must strengthen your defenses…"
"Alright, alright, it's under control." Qing Lian Zi sounded nonchalant. Then there was the sound of footsteps. After the surrounding environment clearly quieted down, Qing Lian Zi asked in a serious tone, "Where did you get this news? Is it reliable?"
"I mean, the people from the Nihon delegation told me. Do you believe me…?" Mo Chuan squeezed his eyebrows and said, "I overheard it near the room of that noblewoman named Chiko."
"…" Qing Lian Zi was silent for a moment before saying, "You keep Chiko stable for now, don't let her leave the courtyard for the time being. I'll have people sweep the scene and get back to you."
Mo Chuan ended the call, put down the phone, and began to ponder a plan.
…
That evening, several Nihon ministers raised small wine cups and toasted Hongde太子, flattering him.
"Your Highness, your negotiation skills are exceptional! Those Shina officials were infuriated, hahahaha—"
"Indeed, Your Highness is wise, Your Highness is wise!"
Amidst the sycophantic praise, Prince Hongde gradually became proud and began to drink wine cup after cup.
After several rounds of toasting and drinking, Prince Hongde became somewhat drunk. He shook his head and spoke to Chiko, who had been eating vegetables by the wine table, "Cousin Chiko, didn't you say you prepared a gift for your elder brother? I want to see it."
Upon hearing this, Chiko quietly put down her chopsticks and clapped her hands.
A woman in a kimono respectfully carried a carved lacquer box into the room and placed it in the center of the table.
As everyone's attention was focused on the lacquer box, no one noticed Chiko's trembling hand slowly pressing the remote control hidden in her palm.
Everyone opened the box and was immediately hit by a blast of white gas. Before Prince Hongde could say anything, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
…
"Hiss… Where am I…" Prince Hongde mumbled, shaking his head groggy from the alcohol, and climbed up from the pale ground using his hands and feet.
"Hello, Prince, I want to make a deal with you."
This voice, which seemed to emanate from the depths of hell, startled Prince Hongde into half-sobriety. He trembled as he looked around the surroundings, but he trembled even more.
Is this hell? Why is it so cold and dark?
"Prince, ignoring what others say is not polite. You don't want me to teach you another etiquette lesson, do you?"
Driven by a strong survival instinct, Prince Hongde slowly turned around and saw his cousin and…
The demon sitting on the stone chair.
Crimson eyes, worn armor, dense demonic aura… this must be a demon!
Wait, why is Chiko standing next to the demon?
As if sensing Prince Hongde's thoughts, Chiko cleared her throat and said, "Prince Hongde, allow me to introduce the newly appointed Demon King."
"Demon King?" Prince Hongde's pupils contracted, almost wetting himself.
He knew that Dragon Country had a new Demon King, but he didn't expect to meet him so soon. He originally thought this new Demon King would trouble Dragon Country for a while.
Now, it seemed Chiko had surrendered to him, and he himself would not be far behind.
"My Lord Demon King… I will give you anything you want, as long as you let me live…"
"Oh… Don't be nervous, Prince. I told you, I just want to make a deal with you… As far as I know, you seem to be having some trouble with succession, and I can help you solve these problems…"
"What…?"
"Hahaha… Prince, if Nihon is a prison, then I am its warden; there is no place I cannot go, and no place I cannot tread again."