DEMONIC-ANGEL

The Zekt Guild, after agreeing to Vermillion's demands, invited him and his team to their headquarters. The building stood tall and grand, radiating luxury from its polished stone walls and golden accents.

As soon as they arrived, they were greeted with warm smiles, bowing attendants, and an abundance of female hostesses to cater to their needs.

The hostesses led them into a quiet and well-decorated room, filled with plush chairs and a long table laden with steaming tea, fruits, and an assortment of delicious dishes.

Vermillion, Jenessa, and Kaelan didn't hold back and began eating right away. While savoring the food, they couldn't help but notice the overly cheerful atmosphere and constant compliments from the hostesses.

"They're really going all out to make us happy," Kaelan whispered, smirking.

"Yeah, it's an act," Jenessa muttered. "But I don't mind free food and attention."

Vermillion grinned, a piece of fruit in his hand. "Even if it's fake, it feels pretty good, right?"

Just as they were settling into their surroundings, the doors opened, and two people entered. One was a woman with brown hair dressed in an elegant gown, her every move exuding confidence. The other was a middle-aged man with a thick beard and sharp eyes, dressed in formal attire.

At their entrance, all the hostesses immediately left the room, leaving only the five of them behind for a private discussion.

The two newcomers sat on a sofa across from Vermillion, Jenessa, and Kaelan.

The woman leaned forward slightly, her sultry voice filling the room. "Ahem, ahem… So, I assume you're the leader?"

Vermillion chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Haha! Of course, I am!"

Jenessa sighed loudly, resting her chin on her hand. "Unfortunately."

"Yeah very unfortunately, " Kaelan added.

The man beside the woman cleared his throat. "Let's not waste time. Here are your ten thousand gold coins as an advance payment. The rest will be given after you provide the information."

He took out a small spatial pouch and placed it on the table. "If you have any doubts, feel free to count it."

Vermillion's eyes lit up, and with a wide grin, he snatched the pouch immediately. "Oh no, no doubts here. I trust you kind people completely!"

Vermillion rubbed his hands together, looking like he was about to share the greatest secret of all time. A sly grin spread across his face.

"Alright then, no need to drag this out any longer," he said. "The golden apples we have? We got them from none other than… Merchant Queen Liorra."

The room froze.

"....."

A heavy silence filled the air, almost as if the very walls of the room were holding their breath.

"Liorra?!" The bearded man finally broke the silence, leaning forward, his voice sharp and eager. "How did she get something like that? And why would she give it to you?"

But Vermillion didn't budge. With a shrug, he replied, "That's not my problem. My job was just to tell you where they came from, and I've done that."

He stood up, brushing his hands together as if the conversation was over. Jenessa and Kaelan followed suit, and without another word, the three of them left the room.

The two heads of the Zekt Guild remained seated, speechless. They didn't stop Vermillion or argue further. Deep down, they already believed the information was true.

After all, why would Vermillion lie? If Merchant Queen Liorra was indeed in Gwarga Kingdom, they could confirm this quickly enough.

---

At her merchant base, Liorra paced back and forth, her usually calm demeanor replaced with a mix of worry and frustration.

"For the past few days, government officials and the Zekt Guild higher-ups have been coming one after another, asking about the golden apples," she thought, biting her lip.

She was troubled, to say the least. Not only had she never owned a single golden apple, but she hadn't even seen one in person.

Yet, somehow, everyone believed she was the source. When she first heard that Vermillion, the man originally found with the golden apples, had claimed he got them from her, she was shocked and confused.

If it had been anyone else, they might have immediately denied it. But Liorra was no ordinary person. She was smart— smart enough to make rash decisions.

"This definitely has something to do with Vermillion," she thought, her brows furrowed. "It's like he's trying to send me a message."

Instead of outright denying the claims, she played it safe, telling everyone she needed time to investigate the matter.

Days had passed since then. She had sent multiple messengers to contact Vermillion, but he refused to meet with anyone. His only condition was that she come to him in person.

"It seems like I have no choice but to meet him myself," she muttered, letting out a tired sigh.

------------

Liorra stepped out of her elegant carriage, her face a mixture of frustration and determination. She stared at the massive mansion before her, its grandeur and extravagance almost mocking her mood.

"A mansion? Really?" she muttered under her breath.

Of course, it wasn't surprising. With all the money Vermillion and his group had made recently, buying a mansion like this was inevitable. Even though they hadn't received the other half of the payment from the Zekt Guild yet, they had more than enough gold to live lavishly for three generations.

As she walked through the large gates and was guided inside, she couldn't help but scowl. The whole place reeked of unnecessary luxury, and she hated being dragged into this mess.

---

"So, may I ask," Liorra started, her voice sharp and cold, "why are you dragging me into this ridiculous mess?"

Her tone was enough to send shivers down anyone's spine, but Vermillion, sitting comfortably on a plush chair, seemed entirely unbothered.

"Ah, no need to look so upset," Vermillion said with an easy grin. "I was waiting for you to come so I could explain everything to you directly."

Liorra's glare didn't waver, but she crossed her arms, signaling for him to continue.

The room was unusually quiet. Jenessa and Kaelan weren't present, leaving Vermillion alone to face her wrath. But he didn't seem the least bit intimidated.

He leaned back in his chair, locking eyes with her. "Tell me, have you ever heard of Scarlett Nova?"

Liorra's expression shifted slightly. Her sharp eyes softened, and for a moment, curiosity flickered across her face.

"Scarlett Nova? The hero who saved the kingdom?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Vermillion rolled his eyes, letting out a loud sigh. "That's what everyone says. We heard all kinds of stories from the locals. But here's the thing: when she was out there saving kingdoms, we were stuck on a guild mission. We never got to witness any of that firsthand."

He paused for dramatic effect, then smirked. "But one thing I *do* know… she saved us too."

Liorra raised an eyebrow, her patience wearing thin. "Saved you? What are you talking about?"

Vermillion leaned forward, his grin widening. "A lot happened. We were in trouble—big trouble. Long story short, she saved our lives. We even stayed at her village for a while. Ate together, talked, shared stories... you know, all that bonding stuff."

Liorra frowned. "What does any of this have to do with me?" she snapped, clearly annoyed by his rambling.

"Ah, here's where it gets interesting," Vermillion said, rubbing his hands together. "When we were leaving her village, Scarlett handed us a box. Inside were twelve golden apples. She told us we were free to share them or talk about them with anyone. But…"

Liorra's eyes narrowed. "But what?"

Vermillion grinned mischievously. "There was a note in the box. It said, 'Although you are free to tell anyone about the apples, if someone asks where you got them, you should say they came from Liorra.'"

Liorra's mouth fell open slightly, her eyes wide with disbelief. "What?"

Vermillion shrugged, his expression casual. "I'm just following instructions. I didn't make this up. Scarlett herself wrote the note. I swear."

It did sound like a ridiculous lie, but Vermillion's tone was oddly sincere.

Of course, what he didn't mention was that Scarlett had also told them to immediately tell everyone about the apples. But Vermillion, ever the opportunist, saw a chance to make some quick gold. Instead of sharing the information freely, he demanded payment from anyone who wanted to know the truth.

"It's not like I didn't fulfill my promise," Vermillion thought to himself, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I just… delayed it a little. If anything, if I would have directly told everyone without resisting and for free of cost, What if they didn't believed us? In a way I actually helped Lady Scarlett Hehehe…"

"Scarlett Nova…" Liorra muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing as the name stirred a memory.

It clicked. "The two girls who saved me and my caravan from bandits… the taller one—her name was Scarlett Nova too," she recalled, her thoughts racing.

In an instant, her mind pieced it together. "What if they're the same person?" she thought, her brow furrowing.

If that were true, then Scarlett was indirectly summoning her. "She wants me to come to her village… and maybe she needs me as a middleman to sell her golden apples," Liorra deduced, her years of experience sharpening her thoughts.

Still, doubt lingered. "But what if I'm wrong?" she hesitated, uncertainty creeping in.

Then, with a deep breath, she clenched her fists. "No matter what, I need to find out. If she's a hero, she wouldn't harm someone like me. I'll take the risk."

Standing abruptly, she addressed Vermillion. "Alright, we're done here."

"Huh? Are you sure?" Vermillion asked, puzzled.

Liorra didn't bother to answer, striding out without a second glance.

Watching her leave, Vermillion scratched his head. "Wasn't she confused just a second ago? Did she figure something out?"

Whatever it was, it didn't matter to him anymore. He'd done his part and was ready to enjoy life without worry.

Meanwhile, Liorra's footsteps echoed through the mansion as she left, determination in her eyes. "I can't go unprepared. I'll need forces and backup plans for safety before stepping into the demon realm," she resolved.