Chapter 326: The Demon King
Chapter 326: The Demon King
"The boss is done for."
At the hideout, the group of black-robed figures exchanged bewildered glances, each seeing only confusion in the eyes of the others.
The situation was entirely unlike what they had imagined.
Initially, their task had seemed simple: capture an ordinary La-Huang student from the Duel Academy. But then Night Shadow had appeared and been instantly defeated, dying in a laughably pathetic manner.
Next, they were supposed to capture a rookie from the Red Dormitory as a hostage, but then their boss had taken action and met the same fate, perishing at the hands of the supposed "hostage."
What was going on at the Duel Academy this year?
Were these two students they had encountered considered top-notch in the underground circles? Were they representative of the middle-tier and bottom-tier students at the academy?
Perhaps it was time for them to call it quits and get some sleep.
"This can't go on any longer," someone said gravely. "This is the highest-priority task given to us by the organization. If we continue to make no progress, we can't just sit here and do nothing. We must take action, or we'll face the consequences when the organization holds us accountable."
The speaker didn't continue, and another stretch of silence ensued.
"I've been praying that those two don't find their way here," someone else muttered.
". . ."
Once again, they exchanged looks, each seeing the profound helplessness reflected in their teammates' faces.
They were outmatched.
It wasn't that they were incompetent, but their opponents this time were simply too formidable. They had expected ordinary students, yet even their boss had fallen.
"Well, since it's someone specifically requested by headquarters, it's not surprising if they're a bit special," the man known as Black Flame remarked after a moment's thought.
"By the way, has there been any response from headquarters after our last contact?" someone asked, feeling that without reinforcements from the higher-ups, their situation was becoming untenable.
"They said someone was on their way, but I don't know if they've arrived yet," a black-robed figure beside him replied hesitantly.
"It's also possible that experts from headquarters have already arrived in this Duel City," another added.
However, their branch knew very little about the higher-ups in the organization and had no authority to pry further. They were completely unaware of the identities of their superiors and wouldn't be able to recognize them even if they passed each other in the streets of this city.
Perhaps the bigwigs from headquarters had already quietly arrived and were lurking nearby.
"But they haven't contacted us," someone pointed out, puzzled.
"Maybe they have their own agenda and don't need our assistance," Black Flame speculated. "Perhaps headquarters wants us to carry out our mission openly to distract our opponents, making it easier for their experts to operate in the shadows."
Before he could finish, he suddenly paused, as a crucial term had occurred to him and many of his companions—
—cannon fodder.
Perhaps, from the very beginning, this had been an impossible mission. The target assigned to them by headquarters was an unbeatable foe.
Their futile struggles, their desperate schemes, and their eventual demise at the hands of the man in yellow—this might have been their unavoidable fate all along.
"Tch, we have no choice. There's one last resort," Black Flame said in a low voice.
Everyone turned to him, their attention focused on his next words.
"You still have a trick up your sleeve?"
"Yes, a rather risky move."
Black Flame glanced around at his companions and lowered his voice further.
"That man from the underground of this city... if he's willing to help."
The faces of the group paled slightly.
"You mean..."
The speaker instinctively lowered his voice as if afraid of being overheard.
". . . the Demon King of the Dark Star Club?"
"Indeed," Black Flame nodded. "The Dark Star Club is the fastest-growing dark organization in this region in recent years, and its founder, the Demon King, is a key reason for their success.
Black Flame waved his hand dismissively. "It's all about the benefits. There are no permanent friends or enemies. We're in a dire situation; the boss has failed, and headquarters has no intention of providing support. Seeking external aid is our only option."
"Is that our only choice?"
Dark Star Club.
The colorful lights were like a dazzling rainbow, flashing like shooting stars. The lights danced on the walls and flowed across the floor, creating a bewitching and dreamlike atmosphere.
Pale-skinned dancers moved sensually to the pulsating music, their skin appearing porcelain under the soft lights, almost reflecting a subtle glow. Their graceful curves were like meticulously crafted sculptures, and their skirts fluttered with their fluid movements, revealing smooth, elegant lines that seemed to come to life under the lights, like a flowing painting.
Well, of course, the gentlemen in attendance probably didn't understand nine out of ten dance moves, and all they saw were long legs and... well, let's leave it at that.
"...You want me to take care of your enemies?"
The man with the codename 'Demon King' was half-submerged in a sofa, surrounded by women, as he furrowed his brow in thought.
"Your organization is powerful and boasts countless experts. When did it come to relying on me to take the lead?"
The two black-robed figures in front of him exchanged glances, their faces showing their dilemma.
"Well, you might not be aware of this, but although we have many experts, our influence spans the globe. We simply can't spare the manpower at this moment."
The Demon King let out a cold laugh. "So, the higher-ups think you're useless and sent you to be cannon fodder?"
The duo: "..."
Ouch, their secret was laid bare.
"Cough, but if you lend us a hand, we will definitely remember this favor. And rest assured, there will be a handsome reward."
"Hmph, no need for such formalities. I'm a brother who's already semi-retired and lacking nothing." The Demon King chuckled.
The two black-robed figures wore identical expressions of helplessness.
They had heard of this Demon King. In his earlier years, he had made a fortune in the underground world with his exceptional card skills. Later, he decided to quit and tried his hand at legitimate businesses, intending to invest his previous earnings wisely.
However, not only did he fail to turn a profit, but he also managed to squander all his savings and accumulate a mountain of debt within just six months.
Left with no choice, the Demon King, who had intended to stay out of the underground world, was forced to return. He dusted off his old deck and sent his creditors to the depths of darkness.
It seemed that he just wasn't cut out for legitimate business; the underground world was where he truly belonged.
After settling his debts, he opened the Dark Star Club. Although he re-entered the underground world as a duelist, he rarely got his hands dirty and was mostly semi-retired.
"Hmm, but you say this target is a young genius?" The Demon King narrowed his eyes.
One of the black-robed figures nodded vigorously. "Yes, he's a new student at Duel Academy, but his strength is absurdly high."
"And you say he's quite the looker?"
"A real heartthrob with soft, delicate features—right up your alley!"
"Hehe, interesting."
The Demon King's eyes narrowed in a mischievous smile, and he was instantly intrigued.
"In that case, I suppose I should pay this young man a visit."
(To be continued...)
(End of Chapter)
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