Chapter 452: Overt Scheme

"I have to say, this sounds an awful lot like you want us to be the bait," Ron said, conflicted. "Your Highness Gracia, there’s no benefit in this for us."

"Of course there’s a benefit. Are you planning to develop your power only *after* we’ve completely eliminated that Dragon Lich? Nothing will wait that long for you—not other mortals, not the forces of nature," Gracia said, her words carrying a hidden meaning. "Zugmoi most likely can’t outwit it. It may be in a sorry state now, but it’ll probably shake off its pursuers soon and turn its attention back to you."

"And you are the centerpiece of an overt scheme: you’re the ’food’ most likely to help it take that final step. Once it devours you, it will no longer have to endure this agonizing situation. Therefore, it will inevitably continue to bet on you, ensuring no mishaps befall you before you’re fully ’ripe’."

"It has to take this gamble. It’s betting that it can ascend to godhood before other beings find it, thereby gaining greater power and certain special privileges."

"Undeniably, you’ll be in extreme danger during this game. But until that moment, you are quite safe. In fact, all the players—whether it’s someone like myself or the lich itself—will make things convenient for you."

"The only dangerous part for you is that single moment. Before it and after it, you will reap massive rewards."

The devil’s words were laced with temptation, but she quickly switched to playing hard to get. "Of course, if you, Ron, think that Priest of Heim has a point, there’s nothing I can do. My power as a Devil Duke isn’t even unlimited in the Nine Prisons, let alone the Material Plane. It’s not like I can lock you and everyone in your domain here. If you insist on leaving, I can only stand by and watch. I can’t do a thing."

She looked extremely displeased. "I don’t like this. Not one bit. That’s why I kept trying to make you sign a contract with me. Then I could control you and reap greater rewards. But I suppose that’s impossible now."

"But don’t celebrate too soon. After all, I’m just one of many players in this wager. If you disappoint me, there’s not much I can do. But if you disappoint... other entities? The demons of the Abyss, for example?"

"They don’t care much for formalities like contracts, and they don’t play clean. Even with a Caster like that protecting you, you can’t ever be truly safe. Don’t you agree?"

Ron fell silent. ’She isn’t just playing mind games; what she’s saying is the truth.’ As one of the focal points of this whole affair, Ron could hazard a guess as to which powers were involved. They had now formed an alliance of sorts, and if he didn’t do as they asked, all sorts of problems were sure to follow. ’And while this is extremely dangerous for us, its necessity is also self-evident.’

’This isn’t just an overt scheme against the Black Dragon Lich; it’s one aimed at us, too. If we want to secure our position, we have to eliminate that Dragon Lich first. Compared to it, all other dangers are trivial.’

"I have one more question," Ron said, looking at Gracia. "If the lich is in so much danger, why is there a wager centered around it that spans centuries? Isn’t that just exposing it?"

"It *is* exposing itself, but what does that matter?" Gracia smiled. "Neither the Hells nor the Abyss are monolithic, to say nothing of Heaven Mountain. Yes, I know people are looking for it, but is that any reason for *me* to expose it? Besides, I’ve never been certain I could catch it anyway."

"As long as the prize it offers is tempting enough, I can just look the other way. It’s that simple."

"Then why did you suddenly decide to act?"

"Because I saw chaos," Gracia said, baring her pearly-white teeth. "And order is the best weapon for seizing the spoils from the midst of chaos."

"Besides, the lich wrote me a check it couldn’t cash. Before, my only hope was to win it over to my side to make it pay up. Now... I’m preparing to collect the debt myself. It won’t be easy, but I already have a few plans."

"There’s another benefit to this," she said, draining the red wine in her glass in one distinctly unladylike gulp. "My father seems quite confident in the hurdles he’s set. This is my chance to challenge him."

Gracia made no secret of her ambitions toward the Lord of Nine Hells. It wasn’t much of a secret anyway. She hopped down from her seat, sizing up Ron and the others. "Well, I’ve said all I need to say. I have other business to attend to. Are you going to get back on your own? Or would you like me to send you on your way?"

Exhausted from the string of recent battles, Ron and the others weren’t about to pass up a chance to hitch a ride. At least for the moment, she bore them no ill will, and it wasn’t worth her while to pull any stunts here. Ron readily accepted Gracia’s offer. After some brief preparations, flames flared up around them and then vanished, and the group found themselves back in their familiar domain.

The Old Banyan Tree towered over the landscape, a massive dragon’s skeleton fused with it in a gruesome tableau. From here, they could see Kobold Canyon and, further in the distance, the high tower in New Green Swamp Town where Aiksuuri resided.

"Mm, the location is perfect," Gracia nodded, satisfied, before her figure vanished in an instant. "I won’t get any closer to your little domain. The plan is in its final stage. Any mishap could risk unforeseen changes."

"Looks like we’re walking the rest of the way," Ron said, glancing at the massive dragon skeleton and shaking his head. "But before that, we have one more thing to do."

His gaze shifted to the two captives they had brought back, the bound figures of Ming Datiss and Saran. He certainly wasn’t going to forget about these two. Now that the immediate crisis was over, it was time to tie up loose ends.

"No! You can’t kill me, Ron!" Ming Datiss shrieked in panic. He saw a ball of Gray Mist rise in Ron’s hand, and a soul-deep tremor filled him with terror. "My master... *it* won’t let this go!"

"Shut up, Ming Datiss. At least try to die like a man this time," Saran Laine said, his expression far more composed. He looked at Ron, making no attempt to hide the hatred in his gaze. "Ron, I have to admit, you’ve defeated me once again. I never would have thought it possible."

"I’m not going to beg for my life. I’m a dead man already. Besides, if you had fallen into my hands, I wouldn’t have spared you. But at least hear me out."

"What is it?" Ron’s hand, wreathed in Gray Mist, fell without hesitation upon Ming Datiss’s head. The unfortunate man’s part-dragon, part-human body rapidly shriveled. As a vague, shadowy figure dissipated from the corpse, Ron was certain there was no longer any possibility of him being resurrected.

"About the Gemstones for the Amethyst Slate... you’re still missing one, aren’t you? I doubt even Lady Jilannis knows where it is." Saran watched Ron’s palm hover just a few centimeters from his own head, and he flinched, pulling his neck in slightly.

Saying you’re not afraid is one thing, but actually not being afraid is another matter entirely.

"Go on." Ron lowered his palm a little. ’Those Gemstones are just icing on the cake for me at this point. Missing one won’t have a major impact on the situation.’

"That Gemstone... I traded it to a family in Cloud Port in exchange for their support," Saran said, slowly closing his eyes as he awaited his inevitable end. "If they haven’t sold it again, it should still be in their possession."

"You could choose to spare me. I can help you—"

Before Saran could finish, Ron’s palm had already descended, the Gray Mist carrying his body and soul to the Death Realm. Ron looked down at the corpse collapsing before him once more and snorted softly.

"I don’t need that kind of help. As for Cloud Port, I know a few people there."