Chapter 7

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Chapter 7: Indeed, One Person Above All

"I love money, money loves me, money comes from every direction…"

The Demon King hesitated for a long time but finally gathered his courage to ask the strange person in his office, "Lin, is this the new spell you’ve mastered?"

Lin Lin turned around, her expression as cold as deep winter snow, "Can you guess why I came to your office to go crazy?"

The Demon King thought seriously for a moment, imagined the possible consequences he might face, and decisively turned away, saying, "Then let’s pretend I never asked."

Lin Lin grabbed his hair, "Come back here!"

After working hard for the past few days, Lin Lin finally realized how poor Demon King Castle had become. That’s why when she offered to help with the accounts, the Demon King smiled sincerely and looked relieved.

That smile, which seemed to say "I can leave this mess to someone else," was absolutely brilliant!

First, there’s no doubt that Demon King Castle has been losing money for many years, with losses for two hundred consecutive years, turning into a carefully crafted failing business. Now, it only survives because of the wealth of its ancestors.

Second, besides gold, silver, and gems, the things the Demon King has collected over the years, though valuable, have no market; very few people want to buy them.

Third, Demon King Castle depends on its current funds to keep the city running, and in two months, everyone will be left with nothing.

Fourth, after the Dragon Race took away that golden basin and the gems, there is now only one month left before we face that reality.

Lin Lin shoved a thick stack of spreadsheets in front of the Demon King, "By next month, we won’t even be able to pay salaries."

"That day has finally come," the Demon King said while brushing his eyes, looking sad, "Then let’s share this money and go our separate ways."

What’s the difference between you and Zhu Bajie, who keeps complaining about returning to Gaolao Village?

You must take on the responsibilities that a Demon King should have!

"The most important thing right now is that we have no income," Lin Lin spun her pen several times at the knuckle and poked it hard into the Demon King’s arm, "Go make some money! Demon King!"

The Demon King thought seriously for a few seconds, "Should we go rob someone? To be honest, when we went to destroy the village before, we didn’t really pick up any money. It felt very embarrassing."

You destroyed their village, and you’re still worried about being embarrassed?

You can let the Dark Elf handle picking up money; he doesn’t care about being embarrassed and even enjoys it.

"If we send people out, there are many little soldiers, and it will cost a lot in wages," the Demon King rested his chin on his hand, "And now it is summer; many monster babies have just been born, and new parents are busy taking care of their little ones. Sending people out to work at this time would likely get them scolded for not having a wife."

It seems like you often get scolded.

Lin Lin didn’t know where to start with her complaints anymore.

"Let’s think outside the box," Lin Lin helped him think in another direction, "For example, we could trade with humans or Orcs? Sell some special products, or promote services?"

The Demon King began to think seriously.

Lin Lin looked around in boredom, glancing at the single bed for resting in the office, which was a pure black color that matched the castle’s theme but, for some reason, looked much nicer than her own.

Lin Lin pointed at the single bed and raised an eyebrow, showing that she wanted to try it out.

The Demon King waved his finger in the air, indicating that she could do as she pleased.

Lin Lin now turned the difficult problem back to the Demon King, feeling much more relaxed, and happily went to touch the single bed dressed in pure black bedding.

Lin Lin reached out and pressed her hand on the bed.

This! This felt as soft and rich as touching a swan’s wing!

Why is your mattress so soft! Are you the Princess and the Pea?

No wonder Auntie Ellie secretly calls you the Princess of the Castle Tower!

Lin Lin looked back at the Demon King in surprise, then continued to press her hand on the bed, "What material is this mattress made of?"

The Demon King looked up, somewhat confused, "It’s the same as the one you sleep on."

Lin Lin, "Nonsense! Mine is clearly very hard."

"Oh," the Demon King realized, "because I added a little softening spell, which I created when I had some free time. If you want, I can make one for you too."

Magic in this world is very rare, not even enough for serious matters, let alone for enjoyment. So, the people in the village are very afraid of the shrine maiden who has magical powers.

Lin Lin’s eyes lit up, "We can sell this! Mattresses with advanced magic! Improve sleep quality!"

The Demon King, "But I am the Demon King."

Lin Lin, "Isn’t that perfect? We can save on advertising costs, ‘Even the Demon King says it’s good.’"

–

The Demon King Castle’s success is certainly not the work of the Demon King alone; it requires everyone to work together.

The Demon King called his subordinates for an urgent meeting and reminded Lin Lin to be careful of those leaders she had never met.

Lin Lin, "I understand, it’s just the usual meeting."

"Yes, you are a precious human, so you must take good care of yourself; being strong will help you not be looked down upon." The Demon King, fearing that others might not see the demon mark on Lin Lin’s neck, tied up her long hair, which was originally loose. He was very skilled, easily creating a gentle updo.

Lin Lin smirked and reminded the long-haired princess, who rarely left the Demon King Castle, "There are humans everywhere; they are not that precious."

The demon’s fingers moved through their similar black hair, and Lin Lin suddenly remembered how she was treated in the human village, "When I went to the human village, I was called a ‘witch.’"

It was not a spy report; Lin Lin just briefly remembered that their hair color was the same.

Lin Lin raised her chin to look at the Demon King, seeing him smile casually.

"So you are not just any human; you are a precious human in the Demon King Castle." After finishing the hairstyle, the young man tucked away Lin Lin’s loose hair behind her ear. "All done, go have fun!"

The back of her neck felt empty, and Lin Lin reached out to touch the spot where the demon had left a mark.

The Demon King tilted his head, not understanding the meaning of her action.

Lin Lin looked up and asked, "With this mark, am I the same as Safir and the others? Am I also your subordinate?"

It even felt like being a subordinate who was above everyone else! No one else had a mark.

The young man broke into a smile; he usually smiled, but at that moment, his smile seemed a little wider.

"You are not quite like Safir," the Demon King said, reaching out, his cool fingertips touching Lin Lin’s neck.

It was just a light touch, but the mark that had been caressed by the demon felt hot in response.

"Safir is loyal to Demon Castle," the Demon King said, "Your soul is mine. Because I am the Demon King, you are loyal to Demon King Castle."

Lin Lin thought: Oh no! I really am above everyone else! I am like a high-ranking eunuch!

"Alright," Lin Lin always remembered the content of the contract, "I haven’t forgotten about the soul."

What is this story like an old romance where the heroine bravely works to pay off a huge debt?

The Demon King reached out and rubbed Lin Lin’s head, but Lin Lin firmly refused.

Unlike what Lin Lin imagined, there were not many strangers visiting Demon King Castle today.

To put it more plainly, she hadn’t seen a single stranger.

The true hardworking warrior, Dark Elf Felix, explained the situation to Lin Lin, "Some guys can’t go out during the day, some are on vacation, some can’t leave their territory, and some simply refuse to listen."

Lin Lin counted on her fingers, "Now that you mention it, there really aren’t many people who can come to the meeting, are there?"

The Dark Elf shrugged, not giving a clear answer.

Lin Lin clicked her tongue.

Unlike Lin Lin, who is free today, Felix is still busy with his work and did not linger in the hallway.

After the Dark Elf left, Lin Lin went to the window where he had just been standing, ready to open it.

Most of the windows in Demon King Castle are sealed shut, but Lin Lin changed a few to make them openable, to provide care for the fragile humans.

Standing in the spot where Felix had been, Lin Lin frowned slightly. She smelled a faint scent of rotting leaves, which was the only smell she had noticed when she was attacked in the dark hallway.

That was not a pleasant memory. Although Lin Lin was not directly harmed, it still left an unpleasant feeling.

Lin Lin looked up and saw the Fallen Angel Stone Statue standing beside her.

That day, she had curled up in the embrace of the Fallen Angel Stone Statue to escape the harm of dark creatures.

What a coincidence! Among all the demon statues, she had hidden beneath the one "angel." If she were a believer, she might think of herself as blessed by the gods.

Lin Lin thought for a moment, held the hand of the Fallen Angel’s staff tightly, and shook her head, saying, "Thank you."

Lin Lin: I am really a polite person.

It is drizzling outside. Lin Lin opened the window, and the warm air followed the rain into the hallway.

Lin Lin leaned on the windowsill with both hands, her palms getting a little muddy, but she didn’t mind and looked outside.

The view of Demon City is vast, showing distant mountains and rivers glowing red, along with the monsters protected by Demon King Castle.

Wow, it truly looks like hell.

Lin Lin remembered the lava and corrosive slime pools inside the castle.

No, this is hell.

–

The wonder of the world is that coincidences can happen at unexpected moments.

For example, the gentle rain that suddenly appears on a summer day, filled with mist, and the people Felix mentions who "cannot leave the territory."

An unexpected guest.

The rain makes hair and clothes sticky, and the underwater creatures pull these rainwater threads up to the surface to breathe.

Lin Lin first saw the pair of orca brothers from one end of the corridor to the other.

It’s somewhat funny; the orca’s humanoid form is so similar to that of real humans that Lin Lin was confused at first.

She stood not far away, looking curiously at the shadow of the person who suddenly appeared.

She instinctively regarded this place as her territory; those unfamiliar faces were the outsiders.

Before Lin Lin could approach, a young man standing in a dark corner of the corridor suddenly broke into a smile, revealing jagged teeth and obvious malice.

Like a grazing animal startled at the edge of a stream, Lin Lin straightened her back.

Something is wrong.

Run away quickly.

With her legs acting before her brain, Lin Lin turned and ran in the other direction down the hallway.

She had never tried this hard even during an 800-meter run.

Her heart raced, her muscles tensed, and even though it wasn’t a long distance, Lin Lin gasped for breath.

Like prey caught by a beast, hurried and cautious, Lin Lin bumped into something while trying to escape.

At both ends of the hallway stood a hunter.

Orcas hunt in groups to increase their chances of success, and they also have a strong interest in humans.

At that moment, Lin Lin did not know what animal the creature in front of her was related to.

When she bumped into someone, her heart beat faster, but she felt calm inside.

Lin Lin remembered the Demon King Imprint on her neck and recalled the Demon King’s advice to "be stronger."

Although she felt nervous, she still tried to push the young man standing in front of her away without showing any expression.

Of course, she could not push him away.

During the brief standoff, Lin Lin finally got a good look at the young man’s face.

He had black hair, a slim figure, and very prominent cheekbones and jawline, giving him a fierce appearance as if he wanted to escape from his pale skin.

Lin Lin took a step back.

"Miss," Lin Lin heard the young man behind her speak.

She turned around to see another face just like the first, but this one was smiling.

The young man’s eyes shimmered with a deep blue light, like the depths of the ocean.

"We mean no harm," the young man said.

He was still smiling, but Lin Lin felt a bit unhappy.

Compared to the Demon King and the Dragon race, and even to the Dark Elves, the two guys in front of her had a careless demeanor too similar to that of humans, like a pile of mud that had fallen into a greasy ditch.

Lin Lin did not fully trust them, but she did not want to ruin the act.

She continued to walk forward, muttering, "street thugs."

Lin Lin wanted to walk around the young man and leave.

The young man in front of her suddenly leaned down, one hand resting on her shoulder, and his other hand’s fingertip tapped lightly against his ear, which was close to hers.

His thin chin came close, and Lin Lin found herself easily held in place, unable to move.

"My brother asked what you said," said the young man behind her, "he has trouble hearing, so you need to speak closer."

It seems he not only has trouble hearing, but is also mute, so he needs his brother to speak for him.

Lin Lin’s stubborn nature kicked in; she raised her chin and leaned close to the young man’s pale ear.

The temperature of the human body is higher than that of the air, and the mouth is even warmer.

The orca has a body temperature similar to that of humans, but the young man, who is used to cold water, still felt the heat from the human woman’s words burning him; he tilted his ear slightly away from the warmth, and the sounds he heard fluctuated.

This time, he understood clearly.

"Good-for-nothing."