Perhaps Mephisto thought that he and Lake were players at the same gambling table, but in reality, that was merely Mephisto's wishful thinking. Lake was not only a player—he was also the dealer.
What did it mean to be the dealer?
When the situation turned unfavorable, the dealer always had the right to stand up and flip the table.
Mephisto might have thought that not signing the Soul Contract was a good thing for him. After all, in Mephisto's eyes, if he refused to sign and won, but Lake refused to pay up, then he would have every reason to fall out with Lake again. With several portions of the World Tree's underworld and the Chitauri Lord of Hell's source power in hand, he would dare to come knocking and take them himself if Lake refused to hand them over.
It had to be said that although Mephisto was rather rigid, he was capable of a few schemes.
But...
They were completely beneath notice.
Lake sighed and shook his head. After ordering Frank to continue putting down roots in the Chaos Underworld, guard the house, and train the soldiers in the reserve camp of the one hundred and eight Demon Stars, he left the Chaos Underworld directly.
The news that the desert town had been sealed off was actually unknown to everyone.
This was not merely a figurative "spatial blockade." It was a real spatial blockade. Fifty kilometers from the desert town, the barrier looked transparent, but whether they came from inside or outside, anyone who tried to pass through would crash straight into it.
The reason no one had discovered it after a full day and night was simple.
There were few people in the west.
And there were even fewer people in the desert towns of Texas.
It