Chapter 1 Dawn

At daybreak, the Demon Realm's royal palace was already brilliantly lit, with intertwining lights and shadows.

Countless palace servants and guards bustled about, making final preparations for the impending visit of the vampire special envoy, Count Sergio.

The gates of the royal palace stood open, the vast front square paved with steps, the floating lights seeming to welcome the distinguished guest from the southern vampire clan.

The construction history of the Nicalis Royal Palace front square can be traced back thousands of years, back when Nicalis Island and Lise Island had not yet separated and were surrounded by the breath of purgatory. Only after seawater extinguished the lava and caused crustal changes did this place gradually become the chosen site for a prosperous new capital.

With the application of demonic magic and the unremitting efforts of artisans, the naturally undulating terrain not only supported the entire front square and the palace at its peak but also showcased the unique architectural art and structural style of the demons.

After countless years of change and multiple expansions, today's Nicalis Royal Palace front square has become the center of the Demon Realm's politics, culture, and power.

Many Demon Realm reporters and dignitaries waited in the square, and the surrounding streets teemed with demonic figures, eager to see if the vampire detective would stir up a storm of blood and gore in the Demon King's city of Nicalis today.

"Your Highness, I know you have some old grudges with the vampires, but please be mindful of your position."

In the center of the royal palace front square, Fallen Lord Calyelara stood beside Hyperion, reminding her in a gentle voice.

"...Understood."

Hyperion wore a silver crown symbolizing royal power, her light blue, crystalline skirt like the brightest star in the night sky. Her face was cold and beautiful as she responded with certainty.

In the corner of her eye, Hyperion could see that Fallen Lord was closing her eyes, adopting an attitude of indifference. In Hyperion's view, Fallen Lord's face still resembled Tata's, making it impossible for Hyperion to dislike her.

Being able to show others the appearance of their favorite woman was simply too cunning.

After spending some time with Fallen Lord, Hyperion understood that this ninth-order Great Demon seemed polite but was actually a smiling tiger who would not tolerate others questioning her.

Fallen Lord was indeed protecting her, but this was completely different from the care that Tata and the Ice Witch showed her.

To Fallen Lord, she was just a priceless and fragile doll.

However, the grudges Fallen Lord was referring to must have been, in this shadow world setting, the incident sixteen years ago when she was almost killed by vampires in the Lichtenstein Castle on the border of the Honing Empire.

As the eclipse-like sky descended, the spectacle in front of the Demon Realm's royal palace reached its peak.

The alternating of the sun and moon in the sky formed a strange and spectacular sight, and accompanied by a eclipsed sun, the sky turned a deep, profound purple.

Just as all the demons' eyes were focused on Princess Hyperion on the palace steps, a black mana-powered vehicle drove in from the distant road, its exterior decorated with blood-red patterns, even custom-made for vampire dignitaries.

It stopped in the square, causing a low murmur.

Today was the princess's first public appearance, and she would fully demonstrate her ability to handle Demon Realm affairs.

Whether she was simply Fallen Lord's puppet or a young princess with the blood of the Demon King and a deep, calculating mind depended on how she would confront the vampire detective, Count Sergio, today.

The dark magic device slowly opened, and a man dressed in the attire of a Honing Empire nobleman stepped out onto the platform.

His appearance immediately attracted everyone's attention.

This tall man with a straight posture, black hair, and red eyes was obviously the vampire special envoy, Count Sergio.

Behind the Count, the accompanying Demon Realm soldiers followed in neat formation.

He looked at the sky and walked quickly, not wanting to waste any time.

"Princess Hyperion, on behalf of the vampires, I thank you for your hospitality."

Count Sergio stepped onto the steps, came before the princess, and gave a simple bow.

"Welcome to Your Excellency Sergio."

Hyperion wore an elegant smile on her face, but her eyes were not without scrutiny of this visitor.

Hyperion was annoyed at the sight of vampires.

The reason her father, Duke Micah, disappeared was because of the vampires, and the last time Tata was injured in South Wantina Territory, vampires were behind it.

She could actually say she hated the vampires to death.

Yet at this moment, she still had to pretend to be a dignified Demon princess, cater to the vampire envoy, and smile at him.

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

Hyperion asked politely.

Her Ice Witch teacher had taught her that as a secret agent, she must remain calm and composed at all times. At this moment, she needed to play the role of a graceful and proper princess, as calm as the Ice Witch, and not be swayed by her inner emotions.

Of course, she was indeed a princess and didn't need to pretend.

"Your Highness only needs to provide convenience when I seek help and assist in my investigation. Please do not interfere with anything else."

Count Sergio smiled subtly, his voice deep and magnetic.

In fact, both sides knew their positions very well. The more this princess helped, the more likely it was to be a complete hindrance.

"I won't waste much time. Soon, I'll be able to solve the case."

Count Sergio confidently raised his index finger, pointed it at all the surrounding demons watching, and added.

His gesture was like telling the culprit, whoever you are hiding in Nicalis City, I'll catch you soon.

This aura made the atmosphere of the entire royal palace front square tense, and even the Demon residents under the magic screens broadcasting the scene couldn't help but look up at the vampire detective who was the center of attention.

"Then I wish Your Excellency all the best."

Hyperion nodded and placed her hands in front of her, maintaining a waiting posture.

As a detective with a 100% success rate in solving cases, Hyperion believed that he wouldn't need too long to successfully find the culprit in Nicalis.

Once Detective Sergio completed his reasoning and found all the evidence, it would fast-forward to the trial stage.

These were unavoidable.

But Hyperion had worked overnight to prepare multiple countermeasures.

She had ways to create obstacles for Sergio at every step. When the time came, Fallen Lord's subordinates would naturally go all out to destroy evidence. All she needed to do was publicly stall Sergio, anticipate his actions and what he wanted, and play the game with him, not letting him solve the case in minutes.

And if all else failed, Lanchie had taught her how to deal with the prosecution's offensive when she was about to lose.

Slamming the table hard was the right thing to do.

The judge would rule that the defendant was too emotional and needed a recess to take her out to adjust her state.

At that time, since it was on the Demon Realm's home ground, the room for maneuver would be even greater.

In the artful atmosphere of the royal palace front square, the reception ceremony continued solemnly. The ancient Demon Realm sculptures and magnificent flower beds on both sides, every flower a unique Demon Realm species, exuded a psychedelic fragrance in the dim light of the eclipse.

On the stone steps, the guards stood in formation, wearing silver-black armor and holding demonic weapons, the armor engraved with majestic and solemn demon patterns.

At the top of the steps, Princess Hyperion and a group of Demon nobles finally finished exchanging pleasantries with the vampire special envoy, Count Sergio.

"May I begin my investigation, Princess Hyperion?"

Count Sergio asked.

If he used vampire abilities rashly in the royal capital of Nicalis without the Demon Realm's permission, it might trigger the suppression of the city's defense barrier.

"Of course."

Hyperion glanced sideways at Fallen Lord and answered the vampire special envoy, Count Sergio.

"Please cooperate fully with my investigation after I find the culprit. Otherwise, if I can't report reasonably to the progenitors in the Honing Empire, it will be quite troublesome."

Count Sergio gazed at Hyperion.

"Naturally."

Hyperion agreed.

"Mm."

Count Sergio was very satisfied.

If they caught a high-ranking Demon Realm culprit and the evidence was solid, their vampire clan could force the Demon Realm to compromise further in the new peace talks.

His mission was not only to catch the culprit and try to weaken the Demon Realm's voice at the negotiating table but also to make the demons see the royal family's attitude of being dogs for the vampires.

This little princess was undoubtedly an amateur in terms of wit.

Too naive.

Count Sergio could easily see it.

She might be naturally intelligent, but she had too little experience and had not been tempered by life and death.

No matter how excessive the demands he made later, he would force the princess to agree, conducting a step-by-step trial.

It didn't matter how long it took to catch the culprit. He would let the princess delay if she wanted to. Everything was under his control. The key was that in the process, he would erode the princess's dignity and make her understand the Demon Realm's current position relative to the vampires.

Count Sergio whispered a vampire text incantation and activated his ability, [Blood Coordinates].

In the damp morning mist of the royal palace front square, vampire detective Sergio's gaze quietly traveled through the shadows, his blood-red eyes flickering with a faint light under the dim sky.

This Demon King's city, the gathering place of Demon Realm dignitaries, the lair filled with demonic magic, every trace of magic was clearly visible.

Soon, soon he would find where the culprit was.

Whoever had a red light on their head was the culprit.

With the answer in hand, what followed was just an indisputable process of accusation.

As the incantation ended, a trace of red magic leaked from his gaze, floating like mist, his eyes also shrouded in a layer of scarlet.

""

Count Sergio seemed to have a buzzing sound in his brain and froze in place.

In an instant, he saw that most of the Demon Realm dignitaries in the entire Demon King's city were emitting a strange red light!

And he didn't know why, but those demons with red lights on their heads were subconsciously swallowing their saliva when they looked at him.

That light, like the color of solidified blood, was both bright and chilling, and an unprecedented sense of fear welled up in Sergio's heart.

Just how much of Count Gregory's blood had been spilled to produce this color!

(End of this chapter)