Water Moon City

"Sir, please spare my life! Kermon is willing to serve you with all his might."

The bandit leader immediately dropped to his knees and begged for mercy, without the slightest hesitation.

Dignity was worthless when weighed against life, especially for someone who had chosen to become a bandit. Whatever dignity he might once have had had been thrown away years ago.

At the same time, Kermon glimpsed a chance of survival in Pusiluo's teasing words.

Years of experience as a bandit had taught him to recognize at once that this sir had just killed so many people yet hadn't killed him immediately. The man probably wanted to ask him something.

If so, he had to seize the opportunity and show the right attitude. Otherwise, he would surely die a horrible death.

With luck, he might even be able to serve this sir by bringing him tea and water, changing his circumstances for the better.

"This is no fun. They're all too weak. Come with me. My lord wants me to take you back."

Seeing Kermon like that, Pusiluo pursed his lips and spoke without interest.

"My lord?"

Kermon froze. Wasn't this sir a Highgod? And he had to call someone else "my lord"? What kind of great figure was aboard this Metal Lifeform?

Had he left home without checking the almanac today? How had he managed to offend such a terrifying powerhouse?

"Yes, my lord."

Though he didn't know the details, Kermon was sensible enough not to ask. He obediently followed Pusiluo back.

At a time like this, as someone who knew the basics of reading people's expressions, he understood that he had to answer more and ask less.

When he entered the Metal Lifeform, Kermon froze. Down below, they had only sensed one Midgod, and they hadn't expected Pusiluo to come down.

But now that he looked around, he realized there were four people here whose auras he couldn't sense. In other words, they were Highgods. He really must have been tired of living.

Especially since the sir who had just addressed someone else as "my lord" was clearly an exceptionally powerful Highgod.

"My lord, I've brought him back!"

Pusiluo returned with Kermon and immediately spoke up.

"Mm. Thanks for the effort."

Huosi nodded and gestured faintly, then looked at Kermon.

Pusiluo cupped his hands and returned to his place. As for Kermon, he knew he wasn't qualified to sit, so he stood where he was and waited for his fate to be decided.

"Don't be nervous. We just want to ask you a few things. As long as you answer properly, we won't make things difficult for you."

After a brief silence, the kindhearted Leilin was the one to speak.

"I wouldn't dare, my lord. Just tell me what you need. If I can do it, I will."

Kermon quickly lowered his head and replied respectfully.

As for not being nervous? Give me a break. You just killed all my men. How could I not be nervous?

Of course, Kermon didn't dare say any of that. He could only think it to himself.

"This is our first time in Hell. We'd like you to tell us about everything around here. Mm, start with yourself."

Leilin took out a cup of coffee, took a sip, and spoke amiably.

"What? Four Highgods? And it's their first time in Hell? Did they come from another Divine Plane? My god, they must be among the strongest of the strong!"

Kermon's mind went blank for a second. He didn't know how much it cost to travel between planes, but he had heard that only powerful Seven-Star Fiends might travel to other planes.

Though his mind raced, Kermon didn't dare dawdle, and he quickly answered:

"Yes, my lord. My name is Kermon. I came from the Bika Material Plane, and I've been in Hell for over a million years."

Kermon gathered his thoughts and began to explain his origins, then continued:

"When I first arrived, I had a companion. He looked around curiously and exclaimed at how beautiful everything was. The people in green clothes immediately scolded us and told us to shut up."

"My companion got into a fight with them, and they killed him. I was so scared I didn't dare say a word."

"Then we waited off to the side. Once they had gathered a group of people, they took us away in a Metal Lifeform and dumped us in this region, giving each of us an Inkstone."

"I learned later that they were the Chief Sovereign's army from the Bifu Continent, and that Inkstones were the currency of Hell. I took my Inkstone and joined the Bloodwar Tribe. I worked there for tens of thousands of years and saved up a few hundred Inkstones."

"Then our good fortune came to an end. Another tribe wiped ours out, and I could only flee with a few friends and make a living by robbing people."

"Oh? Inkstones. Is this what they look like?"

Leilin took out the Inkstones he had gotten from the spatial ring earlier.

"Yes, my lord. Those are Inkstones!"

Kermon paused, then cautiously spoke:

"My lords, could it be that you came from a Material Plane and this is your first time in Hell?"

For a moment, Kermon had been confused, because the way this sir looked at the Inkstones was completely unfamiliar.

That surprised Kermon. Other planes didn't have Inkstones, but they had similar currencies, such as Nether Stones in the Underworld and Heavenly Crystals in the Celestial Realm.

If these lords had come from another Divine Plane, they shouldn't have been so unfamiliar with Inkstones.

At that moment, a very bold possibility occurred to Kermon.

These lords had actually been hidden away in a Material Plane for years, and this was the first time they had come to Hell as Highgods.

If that was true, it might be an opportunity for him. They were new here and would surely need someone who knew the ropes.

As long as he showed a little cleverness and resourcefulness, and explained everything he knew, there was a good chance the lords would take a liking to him and bring him into their service.

"Oh? What makes you think that?"

Leilin glanced at Huosi and, seeing that Huosi had no objection, asked.

"Well, anyone who's spent time in Hell knows what Inkstones are. I've also heard that although other planes don't have Inkstones, they have similar things. So, seeing your reactions, I wondered if you came from a Material Plane."

Kermon watched their expressions as he continued:

"As for this Metal Lifeform, I was fortunate enough to visit a city once and see the area where they sold Metal Lifeforms. I heard one of the lords there say that some exceptionally gifted people are good at studying fantastic creations, and had already built Metal Lifeforms in the Material Plane."

"You're more clever than you look, kid."

Leilin nodded slightly. They hadn't planned to keep it a secret anyway. Though it might sound unbelievable, it wasn't something they had to keep confidential.

Besides, Kermon couldn't possibly escape their control. If they didn't want him to, he wouldn't be able to tell a soul.

"My lord, I wouldn't dare."

Kermon immediately lowered his head, adopting a very respectful attitude. He knew that showing his worth in moderation might win him a better future.

But he absolutely couldn't overdo it, or he would only annoy them.

As long as he struck the right balance, there was a good chance he could rise to success overnight.

These lords were Highgods from a Material Plane. They might establish a faction of their own, like those tribes, and he might be able to secure a position.

A steward's position didn't require strength, just loyalty and management skills.

He had plenty of experience in that regard, and as for loyalty, a Supreme God oath would be enough.

At worst, even if the lords didn't intend to take him with them, they probably wouldn't make things difficult for him when they parted ways.

Maybe they would casually give him a couple of treasures and tell him to live well.

Ten years later, a massive city finally appeared before them.

"My lords, that's Water Moon City. They say its lord is a powerful Seven-Star Fiend."

Kermon stood respectfully behind them and spoke softly.

"So this is a city in Hell. I wonder if there are any formidable powerhouses here!"

Pusiluo spoke eagerly. He was extremely interested in powerful Seven-Star Fiends.

"Um, Lord Pusiluo, fighting is forbidden inside the city. It's a rule set by the Chief Sovereign."

Kermon hurried to speak, afraid this hot-tempered lord might do something he shouldn't.

"Tch, no fighting? Honestly."

Pusiluo grumbled in displeasure. In his view, the city lord, a Seven-Star Fiend, might have given him a satisfying fight.

But it turned out fighting was forbidden. What a bore.

"My lord, there's an Arena in the city where you can fight. A Highgod who wins a hundred battles can challenge the city lord."

Kermon continued, casting a meaningful glance at Pusiluo.

"I see. That works out perfectly, then. I'll just take some city lord's place."

Pusiluo immediately spoke with excitement, not taking the city lord seriously at all.

"This..."

Hearing Pusiluo's words, Kermon froze, unsure what to do for a moment.

Was Lord Pusiluo serious? The city lord was a Seven-Star Fiend. Why was he talking about him like he was nothing?

Over the years, Kermon had gradually explained the situation in Hell to everyone and gained a basic understanding of the lords.

But he knew next to nothing about their strength. As far as he understood, Lord Pusiluo, Lord Leilin, and Lord Adkins were all subordinates of Lord Huosi.

That meant Lord Huosi had to be an extremely powerful Highgod, probably a Five-Star or even Six-Star Fiend.

Lord Pusiluo and the others should be Four-Star Fiends, or at most Five-Star Fiends.

But now Lord Pusiluo was saying he wanted to become a city lord? What did he take Seven-Star Fiends for, cabbages?

Usually, when Lord Pusiluo, Lord Leilin, and Lord Adkins chatted, they were very casual with each other, as if their strengths were about the same.

Could all three of them really be Seven-Star Fiends? Then what about Lord Huosi? An Asura?

"Can you stop thinking about fighting all the time? We came here to make money." Adkins gave him a sharp rebuke.

Lord Huosi had emphasized that they had come to the Divine Plane not only to travel and fight, but also to gather resources so they could continue developing science.

"I know. Wouldn't doing business be easier if I took the city lord's position?" Pusiluo shot Leilin an annoyed look.