Detective Agency of the Bizarre-Chapter 1356 - 196: New Commission

Compared to the unpleasant experience not long ago, this time Lu Li was not stopped outside the town.

There weren’t even covetous gazes — the Old Flame Demon had told the town’s demons about what happened in the Volcano Nest.

The demons along the way could only clutch their rumbling stomachs or drooling mouths and hurriedly avoided Lu Li.

Walking along the main street to the endless Inner Sea, the magma gently lapped the lake shore like tides.

The magma near the sea swelled, revealing the gigantic flame head of the Old Flame Demon, as massive as a mansion of destruction and heat.

The Hell Demon Horde quivered and curled up under the aura of the Flame Demon, a low and aged sigh echoed like ripples across the lake’s surface: "Bearer of Chaos... Why have you come here?"

"I need a steed and a commission." There was no Dreamwalker, but Lu Li’s humanity was enough to shield him from the Flame Demon’s aura.

"Is that all?"

"That is all."

"You killed a Core Earth Demon for this..." The Old Flame Demon could hardly trust this statement.

"Is the Core Earth Demon your friend?" Lu Li asked.

"It had coveted my territory and power for a long time..."

"But you don’t seem pleased about it."

"Because you killed it, a more powerful and mysterious soul, the likes of which I have never seen... such a strange soul, and I can smell the curse on you... There’s the sound of the wind, as well as the demon’s stench."

Lu Li guessed there was another reason: the Core Earth Demon was the Old Flame Demon’s old foe, but now it had been slain by him.

"The sound of the wind comes from the curse of the Screaming Female Demon. As for the demon’s scent, I have mentioned before, a demon has marked me." Lu Li once again revealed the inverted pentagram branded on his wrist.

The Old Flame Demon fell silent; indeed, it had seen it just minutes ago but did not believe it, and the outcome was bizarre: the Core Earth Demon, its nemesis, died due to its own vigilance.

To Hell Creatures, Lu Li’s "friendly" gestures seemed more like threats.

After all, neither the Old Flame Demon nor the Core Earth Demon could kill each other.

"...Spirit, you may take one Hell Demon, hoping you will keep your word..." The Old Flame Demon chose to concede, no longer the fierce and chaotic Flame Demon of its prime that even faced down a Demon Monarch and Devil Monarch.

"I will." Lu Li accepted the goodwill released by the Old Flame Demon: "Are there any commissions in the town?"

The answer was no.

Within hundreds of miles, there was nothing in the town that could threaten the Old Flame Demon, aside from the Core Earth Demon.

And the soul standing before it.

Lu Li did not want to leave empty-handed; even though the Old Flame Demon agreed to give him a Hell Demon: "I helped Inner Sea Town solve the Core Earth Demon, how much reward are you willing to offer?"

The Old Flame Demon fell into a silence, the magma splashing against the lake shore: "...I can help you remove the curse of the female demon."

"Can you remove the demon’s mark?"

The remaining 23 days seemed sufficient for Lu Li to grow to an unimaginable extent, but if he could get rid of the mark without time constraints, Lu Li would have more confidence in facing off against that demon.

"I can’t do that..."

Lu Li was not surprised, taking out a silver box from his pocket: "What is this?"

The Light Core formed after the death of the Core Earth Demon lay quietly inside the silver box.

"The heart of the Core Earth Demon, place it in the depths of the lava, a new Core Earth Demon will be nurtured and born."

"A Core Demon Egg?"

"You can see it that way..."

"Are you interested in it?" Lu Li intended to sell it.

"The Flame Demon and Core Earth Demon are sworn enemies; we will never capitulate to each other."

For the Old Flame Demon, the Light Core of the Core Earth Demon had no use other than consumption: "You can take it to Abyss City for auction, where demons will go insane over it..."

Lu Li noted the Old Flame Demon’s suggestion, and next, it was time to select a Hell Demon.

The magma, under the control of the Lord of Flames, surged like waves, pushing the Hell Demon Horde huddled in the Obsidian Beast Fence to the lake shore.

"Please choose the Hell Demon you desire..."

This scene reminded Lu Li of some knight novels. When picking a foal, the protagonists always favored the solitary or uniquely characteristic foals.

"Which one is more obedient and faster?"

Lu Li sought the Old Flame Demon’s advice; he couldn’t perpetually release the Cursed Titles, so an obedient Hell Demon that wouldn’t attack its master was more crucial.

The magma thrust an alarmed adult Hell Demon upwards and brought it to the shallow waters before Lu Li. This Hell Demon sensed Lu Li’s aura but crouched shivering due to the presence of the Flame Demon.

"It is the fastest Hell Demon in the group." As for obedience, the magma-formed claws clutched the Hell Demon, moving it towards the head of the Old Flame Demon, "I will obliterate its consciousness, leaving only instincts."

Perhaps realizing its impending miserable fate, the Hell Demon struggled, letting out sorrowful howls, its cooling lava-like body leaking magma.

The Hell Demon Horde became agitated by their companion’s screams, huddling tightly together, and the howls of the Hell Demon grew more mournful and pitiful.

"Stop it."

As the Hell Demon was about to be tossed into the Old Flame Demon’s dripping lava-filled demonic maw, Lu Li stopped it.

"You don’t want it?" the Old Flame Demon paused.

"I do, but there’s no need to erase its consciousness."

Lu Li didn’t belong to the law of the jungle of Hell’s Law and could not accept it.

The wise Old Flame Demon guessed the reason.

"I can leave it with the Flame Demon brand, any attack on you will cause backlash."

"Thank you." Lu Li did not refuse again.

"You’re welcome..."

A deep response sounded with some peculiarity, the Old Flame Demon had forgotten when he last heard these words.

A phantom mark appeared, descending and merging into the Hell Demon’s head, and the magma sent the exhausted Hell Demon back to the shallow waters. It seemed to know its consciousness was spared due to this soul, and the Hell Demon obediently lay at Lu Li’s feet.

Having acquired a steed, Lu Li bid farewell to the Old Flame Demon and returned to the street with the weak and listless Hell Demon.

Lu Li didn’t hurry to leave, instead conversing with merchants or taverns from other towns, seeking commissions.

Unfortunately, most were apprehensive of Lu Li and unwilling to commission him, or their offers of dozens of soul rewards were not to Lu Li’s liking — after wandering the small town for a dozen minutes, only one demon was willing to hire Lu Li: escort it and its convoy to Abyss City, with a reward of 500 souls.

With 150 humanity, the 5 humanity offered seemed a little meager, especially considering it would take seven to eight days for the convoy to reach Abyss City—

But in fact, simply hunting down Weird Lairs was no more rewarding, even if hunting Advanced Demons — the Core Earth Demon only amounted to about 20 humanity.

The true accumulation of wealth lay in towns, in places where trade occurs.

Lu Li could join the caravan heading to Abyss City, taking commissions at towns along the way, clearing lairs, and needing time to acclimate his Hell Demon.

But if he encountered towns along the way that could not resist their greed, Lu Li would not mind taking over the town’s wealth and selling it to the caravan.

After all, towns like Rift Valley Town with demon lairs brought unimaginable humanity.