Chapter 249 : Collapse
The wooden door wasn't locked, so Lonis could enter directly.
But when she walked into the meeting room, the girl was completely stunned.
She had originally thought everyone should be seriously discussing the war situation... Even if it was a somewhat serious topic, everyone participating in the meeting should be happy.
After all, the war was won, right?
They had caught Candel, and Princess Sethilu was gradually recovering.
But the result was—
A deathly silence like a morgue.
Elucia was frozen in place, her eyes full of unexpected shock.
This was the first time Lonis had seen Elucia show such an expression... Usually, no matter what happened, no matter what unexpected events occurred, this black-haired girl was at least smiling wickedly.
Dean Cuibia's eyes were tightly closed, her motionless state seeming to have entered some kind of petrified condition again.
Princess Sethilu covered her chest, drenched in sweat. Her eyes also seemed full of shock, as if she couldn't believe everything before her.
As for General Guyanis and Nalonaté? They also gripped their chairs tightly, both looking tense and on high alert.
...
...
What was wrong with everyone? What major event had happened?
Lonis wanted to speak up and ask, but she also knew her timing seemed inappropriate.
If she spoke rashly, she might break this fragile balance, so...
...
"Lonis, come out with me."
"Huh?"
At the critical moment, Senior Yicheng stood up and came directly to Lonis.
"Don't speak here. Let's go outside."
"Mm..."
Seeing even Senior Yicheng show such a grave expression, Lonis knew this must be very serious.
But since she didn't know what had happened, she could only follow Senior Yicheng back to the Time Shuttle... Seeing that familiar scenery, Senior Yicheng finally breathed a long sigh of relief and said:
"Lonis, don't provoke Elucia. Something major has happened."
"Wh-what happened?"
"The demons have invaded."
"What?!"
"And it's not a small-scale probing attack, but a large-scale full assault. Just now, the Bright Ember Kingdom's outer strongholds have been breached, and many warriors' lives are unknown."
"!"
Hearing Yicheng say this, Lonis was completely stunned.
Wasn't the war already won? Candel had also been captured by everyone. Logically, the demons shouldn't have the power to organize such a large-scale offensive, right?
Could it be...
"Senior Yicheng, could the Vampire Queen Candel be fake? Isn't she the Demon Leader?"
"No, she's undoubtedly real, and I came back to confirm this."
"!"
"Come with me to the dungeon. Right now, only we can help Princess Elucia."
...
...
Pushing open the door, a face-reddening scene appeared before them.
It was clear that Candel had endured considerable torture from Elucia... Her entire body was covered with bright red ointment, her black stockings had become tattered, looking like they'd been kneaded several times.
Hearing someone approach, she instinctively shrank back and said fearfully:
"D-Demon Lord! Please, please don't bully me. I really don't dare resist you anymore. Please spare me."
The red-haired little loli with tear stains—where was the arrogance from their first meeting?
She was like a prisoner who had been tortured for a long time, instinctively shrinking at the slightest disturbance.
...
"Candel, I need to ask you some questions."
Yicheng walked to the red-haired little loli without hesitation.
She removed her eyepatch, those pitch-black eyes staring directly at Candel, as if trying to capture every anomaly.
"You... you're not the Demon Lord. What do you want to do?"
"I'm not the Demon Lord, but I'm asking on behalf of the Demon Lord. You must answer everything truthfully, understand?"
Yicheng's gaze seemed to carry a kind of magic, making the little loli instinctively nod:
"I-I understand."
"If the demons launched a general offensive now, what do you think would be the reason?"
"G-general offensive...?"
"Yes, not just one or two demon squads attacking, but the entire demon army mobilizing, attacking desperately as if they don't care about their lives."
"Ah, if that's the case, it must be Mivira! It must be that guy who did such a thing."
As if remembering something, Candel shouted excitedly.
"Mivira?"
"Mm, she was the original leader of the western wasteland demons. Because she lost to me seven years ago, she had to pass the position of Vampire King to me."
"Then her prestige among the demons shouldn't be high, right?"
"That's right. Demons all worship the strong, and Mivira is completely outdated... But if she burned down my treasured blood storage..."
"Blood storage—what is that?"
"Mm..."
When questioned, although Candel hesitated somewhat, fearing the bullying she might receive, she said: "Actually, we western wasteland demons have always suffered from food problems."
"What?"
"Powerful demons seized most of the food, leaving weak demons with almost nothing to eat. This kept the demons in constant conflict, with many contradictions between races, and they frequently invaded humans. To ensure food stability, I prepared a blood storage for storing food."
"..."
"I would evaluate each demon race's contributions and distribute food sufficient to fill their stomachs but not wasteful. This way, all demons would obey my commands and willingly be driven by me."
...
They say seeing is believing. In rumors, both demons and humans said Candel was a barbaric queen with only brute strength.
But in reality, Candel was more intelligent than imagined... After all, anyone who could reach that position was definitely not ordinary.
...
"So now, has the blood storage been destroyed?"
"Yes... If the blood storage is destroyed, then all demons will have nothing to eat. They should lose combat ability after a week. But before that, they might desperately invade human territory to plunder food."
"I understand, Miss Candel."
...
...
Those familiar with military strategy might know the story of "burning boats and breaking cauldrons."
Because they had completely no retreat, those demons would attack like madmen. To survive, they would do anything.
Listening to Candel's account, Lonis vaguely guessed the enemy's scheme.
Perhaps making Candel fail was part of the Trickster Demon Lord's plan from the beginning.
After all, although this vampire girl wanted revenge, she was also Prince Ruowei Palace's daughter.
If everyone communicated more, reconciled, they might have had a chance to become true collaborators, allowing demons and humans to develop together.
But now this was the worst possible outcome.
That demon called Mivira must have taken advantage of Candel's absence, secretly destroyed the blood storage, then framed humans, making all demons go mad and invade humanity.
This way—
Elucia's strategy...
Had instead been completely calculated by the opponent.