FS-novel Chapter 103: The Four Demon Generals—Those Five Heroes Can’t Possibly Be That Stupid!
Chapter 103: The Four Demon Generals—Those Five Heroes Can’t Possibly Be That Stupid!
Chapter 103: The Four Demon Generals—Those Five Heroes Can’t Possibly Be That Stupid!
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Veya returned to the Holy See just like that.
Strictly speaking, Lin Wei next stop should have been the Imperial Capital’s Magic Academy to begin his preparations. But before that, there were a few intelligence matters to settle—and that meant paying a visit to the ever-adorable Miss Afuduo.
“Afuduo!”
“Are you in, Afuduo?”
Life as a double agent had left her with a schedule in perpetual chaos.
What Lin Wei found was a catkin woman, still wrapped in her pajamas, yawning so widely it seemed her soul might escape with her breath.
Standing before her, Lin Wei could only sigh in resignation.
“Did you pull another all-nighter at your side job?”“Mmm… Morning, Mr. Lin Wei.”
Today, as always, Afuduo was the very picture of exhaustion, her voice tinged with a habitual sigh. Her pale green eyes, rimmed with fatigue, no longer bothered to hide their feline glimmer.
If one were to dispel the concealment magic swirling about her, they’d see her unmistakable demi-human features—cat ears and a tail.
This girl… Just put her in a maid outfit and she’d become the ultimate catgirl in an instant.
“Last night, I picked up a shift as a healer, mixing potions at the dungeon gates until well past midnight.”
Even as she spoke, Afuduo was fighting to stay awake, trying her best to rally her spirits.
She rubbed her face, attempting to summon some energy, completely oblivious to what Lin Wei was really thinking.
“You know, Mr. Lin Wei, starting yesterday, something strange happened—the supply of healing materials in the Imperial Capital suddenly dried up.”
“It’s not just the high-grade stuff; even ordinary potions are in short supply. Now, any adventurer who can throw together a potion from scraps is worth their weight in gold. Especially someone like me, with a bit of healing magic.”
“Opportunities like this to make real money don’t come around often! There’s no way I’d slack off now, not for anything!”
A shortage of both ingredients and finished potions?
Those damned nobles—they finally made their move.
Lin Wei’s expression darkened as he listened, the urge to wring a few necks rising once more.
That Duke Ous really is quick to act!
The night before last, the Imperial Capital was thrown into chaos—three factions clashed, and the Grandmaster of the Retribution Knights led a pursuit out of the city before dawn.
With everyone’s attention riveted by the spectacle, who would have expected someone to use the confusion to fish in troubled waters?
“So even after colluding with the Cult of the Evil God and launching simultaneous attacks on two fronts, they still found time to send a team to buy up all the medicinal supplies.”
“If I hadn’t sent that letter to the useless Pope at the critical moment to steady the situation, the Holy See might have been crushed beneath their scheming.”
But what’s done is done. Regret serves no purpose now. The nobles would get what was coming to them, but all in due time.
He pointed to the pen and paper on the table, gathering his thoughts before reminding her:
“Anyway, keep at it. I actually came by today because of something that happened in the capital these last couple of days.”
“I’ve got new intel for you.”
“Huh?”
Earning money was important, but intelligence—that was her true value.
Afuduo perked up instantly, snatching up pen and paper and sitting obediently across from him.
“What intel do you have, Mr. Lin Wei?”
“First, the night before last—there was a battle inside the Imperial Capital. According to reliable sources, the Cult of the Evil God secretly colluded with Duke Ous to launch a surprise attack on Sir Alfron, the Holy See’s Grand Commander.”
“All three parties unleashed power far beyond their usual limits during the fight. In the end, the Grand Commander of the Retribution Knights drove the cult priest out of the city.”
With just a few sentences, Lin Wei had overturned every rumor that had been circulating.
Even though Afuduo had braced herself for shocking news, this was on a completely different scale.
“A human duke colluding with the Cult of the Evil God?”
Afuduo was genuinely shaken.
“Mr. Lin Wei, where did you get this intel? This is… this is terrifying!”
After all, the Imperial Capital was supposed to be the safest place in the human world—the heart of the empire, guarded more closely than anywhere else. And just beyond stood the Holy City, a bastion of faith.
Any evil daring to show itself here should have been wiped out immediately.
But now, not only had evil reared its head, it had even corrupted a duke from within?
This empire… it might really be doomed!
“Don’t worry about where it came from—just trust that it’s solid.”
Lin Wei brushed off her concern and continued.
“Second: On the day of that battle, the Magic Academy was also attacked by the Cult of the Evil God. The Holy See’s clergy managed to repel them, but the academy’s alchemists suffered heavy casualties, which may delay potion production.”
“From reliable sources, some cultists at the scene even said aloud that the attack was connected to the demon frontlines. They were seeking orders about whether to cooperate with the nobles to disrupt the Holy See’s potion supply—to aid the demons at the front.”
“If needed, provide intel that can help win the nobles’ trust—ideally, something about the agreement between Duke Ous and the Cult of the Evil God.”
Note: This noble is equal in rank to Duke Ous, and the two are bitter rivals.
That was the end of the letter.
After double-checking to ensure nothing was missing, Lin Wei gestured for Afuduo to put it away, then added offhandedly,
“With this, you should be able to earn even deeper trust as a double agent.”
“Though I wonder what kind of intel the demonfolk will share this time. They’re entangled with the Cult of the Evil God again, but… something about this doesn’t sit right with me.”
As he pondered, Lin Wei couldn’t help but recall the last time he’d received a reply.
Back then, he’d assumed the stolen supply incident was a three-way plot: the demonfolk colluding with the nobles, and a traitor within the Holy See tying it all together.
But the answer he got? The demonfolk weren’t involved at all.
If this new intel was accurate, then things were becoming tangled indeed.
After all, those so-called Four Demon Generals—those five legendary heroes—had once secretly joined forces with the Cult of the Evil God, orchestrating a grand spectacle and even trying to usurp him, urging him to lead the demonfolk in a bid for world domination.
But they weren’t fools. If the demonfolk were truly in league with the cult, they’d have jumped at the chance to seize the stolen supplies.
At the very least, there’s no way they’d let those resources slip into the border markets. Instead, they’d have bought them up—using gold, ore, or easily transported magic scrolls—and smuggled them into demon territory through secret channels.
That way, the demonfolk would get their supplies, and the nobles would profit handsomely.
Both sides would be sitting pretty, with bright futures ahead.
“Too bad I have no idea what’s really going on with the demonfolk right now.”
“All I can do is keep sending letters, probing bit by bit and piecing together the intel. It’s a long game—constant back-and-forth, testing each other’s limits and gathering information.”
Thinking this, Lin Wei let out a regretful sigh.
At the very least, if he could figure out why Duke Ous was colluding with the Cult of the Evil God, that would be something.
As a duke, Ous already stood at the pinnacle of imperial power.
Yet he was willing to risk everything—striking a deal with the cult, even going so far as to attack the Grand Commander of the Retribution Knights himself.
Could his aim really be as simple as regaining control of logistics and undermining the Holy See’s prestige?
Unless… Unless the entire empire, even the royal family, shared the same ambition.
“Well, that’s enough for today. I’ll stop by later to check if there’s a reply.”
Taking a deep breath and shelving his speculations, Lin Wei turned to Afuduo with a reminder.
He still needed to visit the Imperial Capital’s Magic Academy and check on the state of potion production.
After all, he’d already promised the Pope to help, so he had to keep things moving, step by step.
With the market’s supply of ingredients running dry, these nobles certainly had a knack for striking at just the right moment.
“Oh, and when you get a chance, swing by my place and tidy up my bed, would you?”
“Here’s the key. I’m heading out!”
With that, Lin Wei waved, leaving Afuduo behind as he strode off toward the academy.