Zhang Qiang had wrapped up a negotiation in just a few words, and completely eased the tension.
Alvin admired him and clasped his hands in salute, then turned his attention to Baal. What he really cared about was that Night Dragon...
Baal sensed Alvin's gaze. He lowered his head, gathering his thoughts before saying, "I don't know if all the information I have is accurate. I'll just tell you what I know and what I suspect..."
Alvin nodded as if that went without saying. "Of course. Tell me everything you know, and I'll verify it!"
Baal fell silent for a moment, then said, "After I was 'resurrected,' I traveled around Earth for a while. I went to many places, hoping to find a way back to Hell.
"In Rome, I met some beings like me. They thought I was one of them, too.
"Only later did I discover they were actually Satan's offspring. They weren't the denizens of Hell I'd imagined at all..."
Baal paused, then sank into his memories and murmured, "The Night Dragons—a group of guardians who are half human and half stone statue. They were formed from the spirits of fallen Vanir.
"Every day, they prayed to the heavens, using their pure spirits to reach across a million miles and contact Vanaheim, hoping for guidance.
"They were enemies of Satan..."
Baal paused again. Alvin was listening, caught up in the story. Baal shook his head with a hint of derision and said, "They believed they were protecting humanity. They prayed devoutly and even helped Earth's churches fight Demons, making people believe that 'God' really existed!
"But they never imagined that Satan actually came from Vanaheim. He was sent to Hell to compete with Mephisto for the throne of Hell.
"The portals between Hell and Earth may be