"L-Lord Roland, long time no see."
With nowhere left to hide, Aixipu finally revealed himself, forcing an ugly smile.
The appearance of his figure meant that his spiritual essence had finally crossed over from his home in Hell, truly descending into the material world.
This was no longer a projection, but something akin to the avatars deities used to descend into the mortal world.
Roland watched him at leisure and clicked his tongue softly. "Looks like you've advanced too."
After all these years apart, Aixipu had actually risen from a third-rank Lizh Demon to the fourth rank.
Everyone was leveling up and growing stronger. What bright futures they all had.
"Compared to you, my lord, it hardly bears mentioning."
Aixipu plastered on a flattering smile, but inwardly he cursed.
Humans were a bunch of insane short-lived creatures. They changed beyond recognition in just ten or twenty years.
He had spent a full twenty years struggling to become a Middle Devil, yet look at Roland-he was already a Grand Mage.
The feeling was probably much like a human coming face-to-face with a three-year-old tiger.
He couldn't beat him. He really couldn't!
"By the way, may I ask what instructions you summoned me for, my lord?
If there is anything I can do for you, it would be my greatest honor."
He made no mention of his earlier attempt to hide, nor did he dare probe further with his words.
His approach was simple: show the right attitude and behave himself.
He knew that Roland was no longer the little mage of the past, who had needed his teacher's backing to deal with him.
The Roland of today could crush him with a single finger.
"There's no need to be nervous. I only called you here to catch up and ask about