The Demon Does Not Speak

By the firelight, Tales climbed the stone stairs in the storeroom, guarded warily by Clay and Josh.

An indescribably strange stench filled the air, making Tales frown repeatedly.

Unbelievably, a few hours ago, he had entered Bone Prison under the escort of the Calamity Sword, and several hours later, he was still being forced to leave with them under the watchful eyes of the Calamity Sword.

It was a peculiar kind of beginning and ending, with everything coming full circle.

Severely wounded, Sakrael staggered along just ahead of Tales on the left, supported by Cannon and Bri. The guard around him was even more excessive than the one around Tales—hooded Ricky personally walked beside them without taking a single step away.

Not far behind the Prince, Talding and Kuaishang had been tied up again. They endured the wary gazes of those around them with deeply gloomy expressions.

Little Barney and Belleti, who had once wounded Ricky, had probably been deemed "dangerous individuals." The two had been separated from the others, their hands bound behind their backs and weapons held against them as they were watched separately.

Thinking of this, weak and exhausted, Tales could not help letting out a sigh.

After Sakrael had collapsed from weakness, they had no choice but to face reality and surrender—not only because of the strange and bizarre nature of Ricky, but also because, after several fierce battles and the sensory torment of the Alchemy Ball, every member of the Royal Guard was already spent and unable to fight head-on.

The secret stone stairs in the storeroom brought them up to another platform. Through the torches held by the Calamity Sword around the perimeter, Tales vaguely saw more than a dozen figures waiting for them ahead in the passage.

The instant he saw them clearly,