Chapter 70: The Demon-Slaying General

Just as Parker and the others were arguing, the door to the large tent was suddenly thrown open.

Parker, still fuming, turned his head toward the doorway and without thinking, shouted, "Who gave you permission to come in—"

But his voice trailed off as he caught sight of the shadows cast by those entering. The man at the forefront was a towering giant, nearly two meters tall, his entire body taut with muscle.

This giant looked to be in his early twenties. He wore a black naval uniform, a black tricorn hat perched over a white wig. A longsword hung at his waist, and his hand gripped a short pistol. Stepping inside, he swept his gaze over everyone in the tent.

That single glance brought silence to the entire gathering—everyone felt as if this man was looking at them as though they were already corpses.

Following the giant was a man of about twenty-five, though compared to the imposing figure before him, his presence was almost negligible.

Then came a squad of some twenty sailors, clad in black uniforms and armed with long rifles. They burst in and swiftly aimed their weapons at everyone present.

When all had settled, the man trailing the giant stepped forward. He carried a backpack and held a slender rapier, his eyes fixed on Parker from a distance.

“It’s been a long time, Mr. Parker. Let me introduce you—this is Lord Cecil Becket, commander of the Royal Navy fleet of Cecil, Mr. Cutler Becket, our Demon-Slaying General. He’s come to aid you in your quest to slay the demon.”

As soon as the man finished, the Demon-Slaying General stepped forward. “Lloyd, you may step aside.”

Lloyd bowed his head and withdrew to the side.

Cutler then surveyed everyone present. “You should consider yourselves fortunate. I was supposed to return to Cecil to hunt down a demon long concealed—at least sixty days before I could return. But Lloyd found me and told me about the demon troubling you here, so I’ve come, bearing goodwill to offer my help.

Therefore, you will obey my orders and fight alongside me. Furthermore, everything gained during this demon hunt belongs to me.”

Cutler then turned his head toward Lloyd, lowering his voice, “This time, there’s a city of gold involved, isn’t there?”

“According to them, yes—the demon is sealed within the City of Gold.”

“Excellent.” Cutler raised his voice again. “That City of Gold is mine as well. You—yes, you. You’re their leader, aren’t you? Tell me about the situation here.”

Parker, the man he addressed, turned ashen. He understood the value of the gold, and what could be accomplished with it. He raised his voice in protest, “Impossible! This is a matter for our tribe, I—”

Before Parker could finish, Cutler shot him in the forehead. Blood blossomed from the wound, and Parker collapsed.

Without a second glance, Cutler turned to the elder from the Incan civilization.

“You’re their leader, aren’t you? Explain the situation.”

Having witnessed Parker’s fate, the old man knew exactly how to respond. He bowed his head. “I am the chief here. We previously sent a band of brave warriors into the City of Gold, but the demon discovered them. We are still seeking more information about the demon.”

“Very good. Have you learned anything?” Cutler was pleased with the elder’s attitude.

“As things stand, the demon was sealed within the City of Gold by the great Feathered Serpent. A foreigner released the demon, only to be possessed by it. The demon has four arms and a serpent’s tail. Those killed by it become undead guardians at the demon’s side.”

Cutler was no fool; his ascent to such rank at a young age was not by luck alone. As he listened, he holstered his pistol, pulled out a black leather notebook no larger than his palm, and flipped through it rapidly.

Soon, he nodded with satisfaction. “Good. It is not one of the legendary demons. We can handle it. Open the path to the City of Gold—we’ll storm it directly.”

At this, the elder cried out, “My lord, that’s impossible! The gates to the City of Gold—”

“What’s wrong?” Cutler glared, as if a wrong answer would earn a bullet.

“The gates have been sealed for many years. If we try to dig them open, it will take at least three months.”

Cutler stroked his chin. “That is a problem. I can’t stay here forever. Is there no other way in? How did they get in and out?”

“They entered by the forest path, but the demon lies in ambush there; anyone entering would be attacked immediately. They exited by the Serpent’s Path, which is guarded by at least thirty giant serpents, each nearly a thousand years old.”

The elder explained both routes.

Cutler was no fool; he instantly sensed there was more behind the words. “So, do you have a better way?”

The elder nodded emphatically. “Yes. My original plan was to go through the Underworld. The Underworld is the safest route—at least, the demon cannot control it.”

“Are you daft? You just said those killed by the demon become undead bound to it, but now you say the demon cannot control the Underworld?”

“That’s because the Underworld belongs to the Feathered Serpent, who has suppressed countless demons there. Not even other deities can tamper with it.”

Cutler eyed the old man, sensing something was off. The Underworld route was fraught with problems, and he could not understand why the old man insisted on it.

But Cutler was by nature an adventurer, confident in his own strength. In his eyes, no one could outwit him.

“Fine. We’ll take the Underworld passage. But you will lead the way.”

The elder was overjoyed at Cutler’s agreement, barely sparing a glance for the other chiefs as he hurriedly began to outline his plan.

Cutler listened with apparent disinterest, but quickly committed the key details to memory. At last, he pointed at the old man.

“Are you kidding me? You keep saying you want to use the Feathered Serpent’s power to enter the Underworld, but everything you’ve said so far is about your Sun God Inti.”

“That’s perfectly normal. The Feathered Serpent also presides over the sun’s domain.” The old man smiled—a smile tinged with something unsettling.