DKIE CH34: The Speech

The diary as a vessel, the greedy souls as nutrients, and the method of sacrifice as a channel—perhaps this legend of the continent had never truly perished.

An ordinary person would never dare to think in this direction. After all, it had been far too long since the era of Alex.

But the Demon King was almost certain.

“Iliad…”

A frail figure appeared in his mind.

He had never paid much attention to his only child since learning that he couldn’t sense elemental power.

In his youth, Iliad had voluntarily given up the fiefdom under the crown prince’s jurisdiction. His only request was for low-level demon servants to collect various books for him.

Times had changed. The child who had been abandoned now had the strength to challenge Alec to a duel.

The only explanation was the diary.

He must have obtained “Alex’s Diary” and made a deal with it.

But this hypothesis had a major flaw.

The mage who had self-destructed earlier had a cold and gloomy aura, a common trait among those who had sold their souls. But when he had contact with Iliad in the Holy City, Iliad did not have the same aura.

A terrifying calculation gradually emerged in the Demon King’s unfathomable blood-red eyes.

Did this mean the opportunity the child had received was far broader than just a single diary?

With a mind set on confirming something, he immediately set off to return to the Demon Realm.

The Demon King’s spatial travel speed was superb. In less than half a day, he reached the border of the Demon Realm.

Below, a drunken merchant, surrounded by guards, was cursing loudly:
“Iliad is definitely doing this to get revenge on the continent! At the very end, the protagonist has already made a deal with a demon by offering his soul, and he deliberately stops it there!”

If he weren’t in a hurry to deliver goods to the frontier, he would have hired some thugs to throw rotten eggs at the other’s residence.

Soul, deal.

Due to his earlier speculation, the Demon King suddenly became somewhat interested.

Perhaps he should go see that movie.

…

The Dark City had been in a state of irritability recently.

Hate lasts longer than love.

A beautiful story can bring a moment of warmth, but a story with a poisonous ending is guaranteed to be remembered even ten years later.

For the demon race, experiencing “crematorium literature” for the first time, and having it stop right at the point where the “crematorium” was about to be lit, they wished they could pry open the author’s skull.

There was also an even more awkward matter.

Like in human city-states, statues of the Demon King could be seen everywhere in demon cities. However, recently they didn’t dare to look at them too closely. One look and they couldn’t help but put themselves in his shoes.

A long-forgotten fact was once again whispered about.

“Actually, the Dark City has always been inherited by the Demon King’s heir. It was only after Iliad gave it up that it fell into the hands of the Grand… Grand Highness.”

The title “Grand Highness” felt a bit scorching to say.

He didn’t seem so “grand.”

More like a “second.”

He should be the Second Highness.

No one had found it strange before, because the Demon Realm had no place for a useless person who just sat in his position. But ever since Luka and Alec stood on the same dueling ground, that premise had been overturned.

After the release of “The Real and Fake Young Masters,” the sealed-away past entered the audience’s minds in a despicable way.

The perpetrator of it all was currently expressing his opinion on the diary.

“No wonder the continent has always had legends of you!”

What dying a thousand years ago but your prestige still remains, what not daring to mention your full name even to this day.

Every few years, there were people queuing up to make deals. How could it not form a long-standing legend?

Quill was unmoved, retorting, “They fear my illustrious reputation.”

Luka: “Hehe.”

“…”

After satisfying his curiosity, Luka took a deep breath and temporarily stopped thinking about the diary.

He had a pile of his own matters to deal with and had to solve the immediate predicament first.

Now that Alec had freed his hands, and with the curses flying outside, “We need to leave the Dark City quickly.”

Anyway, his infamous fame had been established. He just had to prepare for the upcoming speeches step by step.

“Tayas Island, Tireburg, Keli Sentry Tower…” A large map was spread out on the table, and a slender, fair fingertip was tracing a path through several key points.

“This is a bit difficult.”

The dragon clan had once brought him videos of other crown princes’ speeches. Beneath the flowery words, the essence was a distribution of benefits and promises to their subjects.

During this, he had to avoid the areas where the other crown princes had more say to prevent assassinations.

Quill was leaning against the edge of the bed at this time. His wide sleeve covered the half of his demon claw. When there were no outsiders, he couldn’t be bothered to disguise this arm.

“The other crown princes have armies, wealth, and the support of related interest groups. What can you offer?”

Luka remained silent.

Quill suddenly showed a strange, cruel smile. “Why not distribute the diaries to them?”

“Pfft…” Having just taken a sip of flower tea, Luka almost choked.

He was still too kind to this world. The sin of releasing the movie could be written off.

From this perspective, Alex served the purpose of a spiritual comfort dog.

Luka couldn’t help but quickly pat the other’s head a couple of times.

“What are you doing?” Quill looked baffled.

Luka said guiltily, “Your hair was sticking up.”

If Quill knew he was comparing him to a canine, he would probably throw a huge fit.

Coughing lightly, Luka quickly changed the subject. “I have an appointment with the dragon clan in a bit. You’d better watch your image.”

Quill snorted at his words and unhurriedly created a skin-like covering for his hand bones.

Knock, knock, knock.

Almost at the same time, a knock came from the door.

Luka went to open it. It was Brolani and the Green Crystal Dragon. Grover was still comforting a few old friends whose minds had been blown by the movie, and another dragon had gone to wander around the black market.

Luka invited them to sit and first poured tea.

His movements weren’t exactly fluid, but the porcelain and his slender wrist created a pleasing sight together.

Seeing the map not yet put away on the table, Brolani intuitively realized that Luka’s talk of participating in the Hunt was more than just a boast.

The Green Crystal Dragon was even more direct, pointing out his intention bluntly: “You want our help, don’t you?”

Luka put down the teapot but mentioned something else first. “Once victory in the Hunt is achieved, the winner will become the biggest beneficiary of the Demon King’s pilgrimage resource distribution. After taking over, the fiefdom must pay an annual tribute of one million gold coins to the Demon King.”

Simply put, the Demon King didn’t have time to manage too much, so he passed it off to the crown princes and acted as a rent collector himself.

“Key areas like the Dark City and Krolia City will also face a change of ownership at that time.”

“Once I become the winner, I will expel some of the existing prince-vassals in these cities and, at the same time, give twenty percent of the annual profits to the dragon clan.”

The dragons were not short of money, but that didn’t mean they didn’t value income. No great clan would sit back and eat away its fortune.

Of course, Luka’s money was not given for free.

After a rough calculation, the Green Crystal Dragon dropped his previous nonchalance and looked at Brolani.

Brolani was the most cultured dragon in the clan, having read countless books. For the first time, he didn’t immediately respond to Luka’s words. He thought purely from a business perspective for two seconds and asked, “Are you willing to part with it?”

Luka nodded without the slightest hesitation.

Quill, who had been observing everything: …
How could he not be willing?

It wasn’t his benefits anyway, at least not right now.
For example, the Dark City still belonged to Alec, and the other fiefdoms were not even in the picture.

But look how seriously they were discussing it.
Quill stared straight at Luka.

Several great princes held the Demon King in check, so the Demon King adopted the scions of seven of these princes. Then, after Luka came of age, he was banished, an action to tell the entire demon realm that the future Demon King would be born from among these crown princes.

To support their own junior, even though they knew it was a conspiracy, these princes would still fight among themselves from time to time.

The Demon King was dangling the ethereal future throne in front of these princes, a promise to satisfy their hunger.

Luka was even more ruthless.
He was directly using the other crown princes’ benefits.

Cunning, formidable, roguish, and with a hint of… cuteness.
Quill seemed to see a young Demon King who was already beginning to show his prowess.

At about the same time, a smile flashed in Brolani’s naturally cold eyes. “What do you want to purchase with this twenty percent?”

Even the princes could not interfere with the will of the voters and meddle in the voting. This was a capital crime among the demon race. As an outside race, it was even more impossible for them to interfere.

“Let’s purchase the deterrent power of the dragon clan,” Luka said, slowly folding the map. His tone shifted. “Tomorrow, I will give my first speech at Keli Sentry Tower.”

The demons rooted there must have heard many rumors about him and would be very curious about him.

Brolani raised an eyebrow.
Keli Sentry Tower was barren, but the demon warriors there were very powerful.

And it was a very rebellious place. Their ancestors had twice launched assassination attempts on the Demon King.
Therefore, successive crown princes, when giving their speeches, would always skip this barbaric land.

Luka had collected a lot of information about Keli Sentry Tower these past two days and was now preparing to write his speech tailored to the situation. Afterward, he would have to slip out to purchase some supplies.

He looked at Brolani, asking if he had any other requests or questions.

There were none originally, but when Brolani looked at this still-childish face, he couldn’t help but press a large hand on his head. “Drink more beast milk, grow taller.”

“…”

That night, under the cover of darkness, after making a series of preparations, Luka wrapped himself in a cloak and prepared to migrate.

The innkeeper saw him but did not stop him.
These past two days, too many furious viewers had been throwing vegetable leaves and fish bones through the windows. His place was almost becoming a garbage dump.

Wearing a skull mask and a cloak, Luka wrapped himself up tightly. As he passed the counter, he said softly, “The day after tomorrow, early in the morning, I will be giving a speech at Keli Sentry Tower. Sell this news to the papers as compensation.”

It was only after Luka had left that the innkeeper reacted.
Fearing that the news would leak out first, he immediately rushed to the newspaper office. When he came out, he was carrying a bag of gold coins.

The innkeeper who got the money was all smiles.
One vote wouldn’t hurt.
This year, he would leave his vote for Iliad.

A stream of light flashed across the distant sky. It was the dragon carrying Luka away.

————

The Demon Realm had a total of one thousand and one cities and seventy-two tribes. Among them, distinguished by combat power, there were a total of ninety-eight major cities.

Keli Sentry Tower was known for its barbarian culture. It was the only city with top-tier combat power but an extremely backward economy.

Because winning the votes in this place was very troublesome, successive crown princes preferred to spend more effort in the developed eastern Demon Realm.

Luka left the Dark City and arrived at Keli Sentry Tower just as the sun was rising.

The air between heaven and earth was very dry, and breathing it into his lungs carried a hint of a choking sensation.
He looked at the main gate straight ahead.

Compared to the Dark City, this place seemed to be still in the Stone Age. The architecture had no aesthetic appeal, like a series of square iron cages. Anyone living inside would feel suffocated.

The local demons often went out to take on high-commission assassination-type jobs, which was why Keli Sentry Tower was also known as the Blood Tower.

Luka said to Brolani and the others, “Wait a moment. I’ll send a soldier with a message first.”
He walked forward quickly, said a few words to a soldier, and soon, that soldier hurried towards a towering sentry tower in the distance.

On the sentry tower, there was an uninterrupted patrol of the army every day.
It was less about defending against other races and more about defending against their own kind.

Which respectable demon race could produce two prodigies in their ancestry who had assassinated the Demon King?
But the demon people of Keli Sentry Tower were a good fighting force in times of war and could not be completely wiped out.

The guard came to ask for instructions. “His Highness Iliad has sent a message. At eight o’clock tomorrow morning, he will be holding a Hunt competition speech in the square.”

The captain was unusually tall. His attitude was indifferent upon hearing the news. “Let him.”

He was able to enter the city safely thanks to the dragon’s might. But at most, this could only guarantee his safety. It wouldn’t make any bored demons willing to listen to his speech because of it.

How foolish must one be to think of coming to Keli Sentry Tower to canvass for votes.

In less than twenty-four hours, this statement was completely overturned.
Looking down from the sentry tower, there was a dense black mass in the distance. Even the wind blowing from afar seemed much noisier.

The captain: “…Go and see what’s going on.”

It was a mob of demons below. The guard was delayed for some time. By the time he returned, the mechanical clock had already ticked for half an hour.

“Report, they’re giving out Gugu bird eggs in the square!”

The captain thought he had misheard. His tone turned cold. “What did you say?”

“I asked. Anyone who goes to listen to the speech today can receive ten Gugu bird eggs for free.”

“?”

…

The square was a sea of demons.
Quill was doubting his entire existence. How could a group of warmongers come to listen to a speech just for a few eggs?

“Who can refuse the temptation of free eggs?” Luka looked at his audience, very satisfied.

Magic cultivation was not like immortal cultivation where one could abstain from food. Every mage needed to eat. Gugu bird eggs were very nutritious food. The price was not expensive, but it was not cheap either. For Keli Sentry Tower, which had an extremely underdeveloped economy, it was the perfect breakthrough point.

Especially those old demons who had already entered their twilight years. Of course, they wouldn’t miss the chance to get free eggs.

Quill still couldn’t understand.
Not just him, even the dragons couldn’t understand.

Very few crown princes had come here, but there had been some.
Once, a crown prince had tried to send a servant to negotiate, offering several silver coins to each demon citizen, which was more valuable than the Gugu eggs. But they were directly beaten out of the city gates.

“Could it be that Gugu eggs are some kind of universal currency?” Brolani began to seriously recall all the books he had ever read.

Below, it was a mess. Everyone was asking where to get the Gugu eggs, completely ignoring Luka himself.

Luka shook his head at Brolani and the others, signaling that there was no need for deterrence. For these rebellious ones, the more they were suppressed, the stronger their rebellious emotions would become.

Modified loudspeakers were fixed around the area. He stood on a temporary high platform and began his opening remarks in an unhurried manner:
“…At the Grand Assembly of Ten Thousand Courts, I have witnessed the progress of many races. The current Holy Demon Continent is experiencing an era of rapid development, and the Demon Realm also needs a series of new strategies…”

The noise grew louder and louder. They didn’t care at all what he was saying.
“When are they giving out the Gugu eggs?”
“Can we line up? I was here first.”

The newspaper reporters who had rushed here through the night were excitedly recording this scene, wishing it were even more chaotic so they would have something to report.

But to mess up on the very first speech, could this young and long-forgotten highness bear it?
But when he looked over, Luka did not show any awkwardness.

He continued his speech:
“If I win the Hunt, I will abolish the class system in the territories I govern, allowing mixed-bloods to also enjoy normal rights…”

His tone was calm, but the scene suddenly fell silent.
The demon race had always revered pure blood. The conflict between mixed-bloods and pure-bloods had a long history.

They almost instantly understood what Luka was getting at. The number of mixed-bloods was vast, and they also had the right to vote. He wanted to win over this group.

“Simply absurd,” on the high tower, the captain who was paying attention to the square’s movements showed a mocking look.
The other guards couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

If it were that easy to win them over, a crown prince would have done it long ago.
The fact was, even if he did, it would be useless. Most of those at the pinnacle of wealth and power were pure-blood demons. The interests of the mixed-bloods could not be guaranteed at all.

Making such an empty promise would only be treated as a joke.
As expected, even the newspaper reporters at the scene were a little speechless. And before him, a mixed-blood had already asked a sarcastic question: “Do you think we’re three-year-old children?”

His tone was seeping with a cold killing intent.
The atmosphere of the square, which had previously been like a marketplace, changed. The noisy demon mob instantly revealed a sharp killing intent.

Unjust treatment was one thing, but to be made a fool of by a snot-nosed kid was another.
Luka calmly continued, “I will establish safe zones…”

“Safe zones?” his speech was directly interrupted.
“How safe? As safe as you hiding under the wings of the dragon clan?”

The one who spoke was an old demon. The local demons had a kind of fearless madness. He had expected that the moment he spoke, a dragon would tear open his abdomen with a claw, but nothing happened.

The dragons were still in their original places. One wing unfurled from its back. Luka stood properly under its protection, looking over with a half-smile.

The old demon’s sarcastic expression suddenly froze. Gradually, he seemed to have thought of something unbelievable. The surrounding clamor also stopped, and they looked at Luka in shock.

“That’s right. I have hired the dragon clan as security consultants.” Luka’s smile vanished in an instant. He said coldly, “If any noble wants to cause trouble in the safe zone, I will only implement eight words: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

“Of course, from the bottom of my heart, I advocate for peace…”

“Keli Sentry Tower was born to love slaughter!”

Luka: “Then you are in luck.”

“?”

“I have seven crown prince opponents. The Demon King also had the intention to kill me at the Grand Assembly of Ten Thousand Courts. From now on, battle royales will be a common occurrence. My mother’s side also seems to dislike me quite a bit.”

Luka’s spirit soared. “I can let you fight against the whole world!”

“…”

“Choose me, and those who want peace will have peace.”
Those who want nuclear peace can also have nuclear peace.

“In terms of education, I will fully implement nine years of compulsory magic education within two years. Some demons from poor backgrounds can receive systematic magic training for free. Of course, if I make more money on the side, this timeline might be moved up.”

“For demons entering their twilight years, they can receive twenty Gugu bird eggs and thirty silver coins for free every month.”

“Retired soldiers will enjoy more subsidies.”

…

On the high tower, the captain took a fierce bite of a Gugu bird egg his subordinate had secretly claimed.

“Fuck.”

“He’s even got me tempted.”

__

Author’s Note:
Excerpt from Luka’s Diary:
Today is a good day. Everyone who comes to the diary can get free Gugu eggs.
Alex came empty-handed.
The dragon clan came with a vegetable basket.
The Saint remotely sent an empty box.
The crown princes came with real swords and guns.
The innkeeper came with his friends and relatives.
…
Luka, who had originally wanted to see how many people were in the diary: @#￥%&*