Witch, Fireball and the Evil God of Steam-Chapter 677 - 70: Imperial Capital Lord

"The territory of the 'Red Eyes' is not difficult to find."

After leaving the Demon Hunter's village, Ethan and Ave headed north along the path outside the village. Then, as Van Fleet had warned, they were surrounded by a horde of ghouls—real ghouls, crawling on the ground, their skin festering, many of them missing their jaws. They were so densely packed that at first glance, there appeared to be dozens of them crowded together.

Considering the principle behind ghoul transformation, Ethan found it hard to imagine where they all came from.

The low growls blocked their path. At the sight of the densely packed dark creatures, a strange light flashed in Ave's eyes, "Lie down."

She issued a cold command to the many ghouls.

Previously, Van Fleet mentioned the "Red Eyes" had the ability to command ghouls, and now, at least in appearance, she counted as one of the "Red Eyes."

At Ave's command, the previously restless ghouls suddenly quieted down. Moments later, they lowered their heads and obediently lay on the ground, no longer intending to attack the two.

"Fresh blood."

Voices of scrutiny emerged from the ghoul swarm. A man and a woman in lavish attire stepped over the ghoul horde, revealing their figures from the mist. They had blood-red eyes like Ave, "Not bad, you have talent, far better than others."

They scrutinized Ave up and down and then laid their eyes on Ethan, "Newcomer, why did you bring a human to our territory? Didn't the people in the village warn you about the consequences?"

The woman in the dress licked her lips, "He looks really delicious."

Ave was about to say something when Ethan immediately stepped forward, "I don't like the term 'human.'"

"Oh? It seems the human you brought has quite a temper, Demon Hunter, God of Truth Believer?"

The woman casually examined her red nails, like a graceful hunter.

She had seen countless presumptuous individuals, but the mist was their barrier. No matter the status and power these intruders held outside, once they arrived here, they would all become ordinary people. For those who couldn't let go of their arrogance and conceit, their end was to become food for ghouls.

The same conversation had played out countless times. She could even imagine what Ethan was about to say next.

It was nothing more than an attempt to intimidate them with the status he achieved outside, threatening them to show a path to leave here.

Ethan narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "Please call me an asymptomatic carrier."

"...Asymptomatic carrier?"

The unexpected answer left the two red-eyed ghouls genuinely surprised, even Ave was stunned, staring at Ethan.

She initially planned to strongly request Ethan to accompany her, but never expected that Ethan could handle ghouls.

Clearly, the two ghouls were fooled, "What does asymptomatic carrier mean?"

"How much do you know about the ghoul virus? How dare you assume I haven't been infected?"

Ethan spoke assertively, and Ave saw the powerful aura around him as that of a true God of Truth Believer. At this moment, he seemed to have truth in his grasp.

"Your eyes haven't turned red."

"Nor are you crawling on the ground."

The two spoke hesitantly.

No matter how they looked at him, Ethan appeared no different from normal humans, even his scent was alluring, more tempting than any human they had ever encountered, the kind of scent that, lingering for long, made one want to pounce and feast.

"Listen closely, according to the latest medical report, 2.7% of patients in the Empire don't exhibit symptoms after being infected by the ghoul virus. They become carriers of the ghoul virus."

Carrier of the ghoul virus?!

The two red-eyed ghouls were utterly dumbfounded, yet Ethan's confidence while speaking didn't seem fake, compelling them to believe.

"You probably think that retaining thought after being infected by the ghoul virus makes you superior, right?"

Ethan's sneer at that moment resembled a ruthless mockery of the ignorant, uttered by someone who has mastered truth. Though it was merely verbal interaction, in the eyes of the two red-eyed ghouls, he was a formidable presence, only experienced similarly with "Mother."

"Think carefully, in your current state, what would happen if you walked the streets of Dark Furnace City?"

This soul-stirring question plunged the two red-eyed vampires into silence.

Ethan said, "You would still be seen as monsters, and without this layer of mist protection, High-tier Demon Hunters would soon track you down, as would the Imperial Knight Order. How could you stand against the Empire's regular army with your power?"

"So what?"

"If they come here, they'll still become fodder for the ghouls!"

The red-eyed vampire retorted unwillingly, although they understood Ethan was right, his belittlement still enraged them.

"And I am different. I can freely move in and out of any Empire town, pass through any checkpoint set by the Imperial Knight Order. I don't need to bite and scratch others to spread infection. All I need to do is walk into a busy local restaurant and eat a meal using their utensils. A few days later, there will be many ghouls infected by me in the city!"

This is the confidence gained from mastering modern medicine!

Ethan's authoritative gaze swept over the two red-eyed ghouls who were now completely cowering in front of him. "Do you still think I'm just an 'ordinary human'?"

Ave witnessed Ethan's serious nonsense once again. Last time, with the same expression and tone, he persuaded Mr. Marshall, the banker of the Imperial Reserve, to drink a large glass of disgusting blocker.

"Take me to your village. Your methods and means of infecting people are too outdated. Let me show you what more advanced techniques are!"

Even the look of disdain was perfectly executed, exactly like the disdainful gaze of nobles from the Imperial Capital towards outsiders, so sharp that Ave almost wanted to jump up and knock him on the back of his head.

Ethan succeeded once more.

Not just the two red-eyed vampires, but all the ordinary ghouls present were greatly shocked by Ethan's words. Though they had lost the ability to think and should not have understood human language, in the powerful aura of Ethan, they were like young adventurers coming from a border city to the big city, unable to raise their heads in front of the local noble offspring of the Imperial Capital.

They did not even dare to make eye contact with Ethan. When Ethan approached, they all lowered their heads, making way for him.

This scene made the two red-eyed ghouls even more certain of Ethan's identity, internally acknowledging him as a higher-tier ghoul—Ethan had not issued any instructions to the lower-tier ghouls; merely a contemptuous look made them retreat before him.

"What are you waiting for? Lead the way."

As he passed by the two, Ethan snorted coldly.

"Ah, oh, yes, this way, please."

The ghouls from the Imperial Capital were here for an inspection. The tone of the two red-eyed ghouls became gentle and humble. Though they now wore bright and elegant clothes, before turning into ghouls, they were just ordinary residents of Dark Furnace City, and Ethan's demeanor reminded them of their time as humans.

If an Imperial Noble came to Dark Furnace City for an inspection, they would have to walk with their heads down, not daring to make eye contact with them on the street.

Ave followed at the end of the crowd, helplessly rubbing her forehead.

Ethan always exceeded her expectations. The expression and tone he just used were far more arrogant than that of the most disdainful nobles of the Imperial Capital.

Along the way, Ethan understood why Van Fleet and the villagers could not reach the territory of the "red-eyed" ghouls. The path was occupied by a large number of ghouls, and any trespassing human would face an attack from dozens of ghouls simultaneously, making it no different from suicide with the route cut off.

The end of the mist was a desolate city, almost identical in scale and structure to Dark Furnace City. Only now, the streets were not filled with bustling pedestrians but low-growling lower-tier ghouls. The way to differentiate them was simple: they crawled on all fours like beasts on the ground, their skin festering from disease, their eyes completely missing, with the whole eye turned blood red.

Lacking the ability to think, they wandered aimlessly on the streets.

Until...

Ethan's arrival.

The whole city fell silent. Not a single low-tier ghoul made a sound. Ethan's lofty gaze made them realize that making strange noises on the street was an uncouth behavior, and such low-quality behavior would anger the noble from the Imperial Capital here for an inspection.

The two red-eyed ghouls were immensely shocked, taking the two to a resting place—where all newcomers would be settled.

Feeling uneasy in front of Ethan, the usual procedures still needed to be executed.

The red-eyed ghouls weighed their words carefully, trying to be as humble and tactful as possible, "We will inform Mother of your arrival. Mother welcomes every compatriot, and we will take you to meet her then, after which we will prepare a welcome ceremony for you..."

"Don't you mean something's wrong? What do you mean by taking us to meet her?"

The icy tone immediately dropped the room's atmosphere to freezing point, leaving the two red-eyed ghouls at a loss under Ethan's stern gaze.

"Here, here is Mother's territory, so..."

"That's not important."

Ethan waved his hand impatiently, interrupting the red-eyed ghouls, "Let her tidy up and come here to see me."

"Y-yes, I will convey your suggestion to Mother."

...

Ethan watched the two red-eyed ghouls scurry away and finally relaxed.

"Ave."

"Hmm?"

"How was my performance as a ghoul from the Imperial Capital?"

It was his first time mimicking an Imperial Capital's noble, and he was unsure. But judging from the reactions of the two red-eyed ghouls, he seemed to have passed. He now sought the evaluation of Ave, a true noble.

"Ethan."

Ave took a deep breath seriously, feeling that "acting spot on" barely described her current feelings. If she had to comment on something...

"My fists are getting hard."

She was serious.

If this had happened during the sensitive period a few months ago in the Imperial Capital, Ethan could have been portrayed as the antithesis of the old nobility and toppled by the people.