The Demon Realm, the Land of Purgatory.
After an entire night of turbulent flight, the Inspectorate guard corps astride Demon Realm wyverns finally reached their destination at midnight—
Purgatory Corridor Academy.
It ranked among the foremost academies in the Demon Realm, and the Land of Purgatory where it resided was also home to the Demon Realm Ninefold Prison, a name that struck terror into the heart of every demon.
Past the outer checkpoints of the academy lay a zone prohibited to outside magical beasts.
The demon corps' wyverns circled in the sky before setting down smoothly on an expanse of open ground.
The demon officers leapt down from their mounts one after another. After inspecting the perimeter and confirming there was no danger, a figure finally stepped down the ladder lowered from a wyvern, moving at an unhurried pace.
His gait was composed, bearing an aura of nobility as though he were the sovereign of the dead of night.
Before him stretched an avenue laid like a bridge with dark-gray stone bricks, resembling a guiding python that led straight to the entrance of Purgatory Corridor Academy.
Starlight in the night sky intertwined with the purgatorial crimson glow, their mingling hues lending a touch of surreal mystique to the dark surroundings.
Led by the guard corps officers, they proceeded along the avenue. The scorching air wafting up from the Land of Purgatory made the atmosphere feel stiflingly heavy. In the distance, the academy's colossal main gates slowly creaked open, as if offering a warm welcome to the Blood Clan envoy.
The Blood Clan envoy made no effort to conceal his distinctive mana fluctuations. His crimson eyes seemed to harbor a profound and mysterious authority known as truth as he walked leisurely along the avenue, his elegant noble attire dark and exquisite, his demeanor aloof and solemn.
As they advanced, the officer trailing right behind the envoy—tasked with assisting the Blood Clan's inspection—saw that their meeting with the school authorities drew near and finally gathered the courage to confirm the Blood Clan's stance.
He lowered his voice and asked, "Baron Sanchez, should we seize the military initiative first?"
Before departure, the higher-ups in the Security Department had instructed them not to worry about interference from the school, prioritizing the satisfaction of the Blood Clan above all else.
Of course, orders from above were flexible; whether to enforce them depended on the envoy's attitude.
"There is no need. However, if I find humans and the school attempts to brush it off or refuses to admit guilt, you may handle them however you see fit," Baron Sanchez, the Blood Clan envoy, answered simply.
"Understood."
The officer behind him caught Sanchez's meaning and answered with certainty.
Sanchez gave a slight nod with a faint smile.
While the demon race currently yielded to the Blood Clan, being overly aggressive would make the Blood Clan appear unreasonable and might give the demons an excuse to turn the tables.
As long as he exposed the humans hiding in the academy, with irrefutable evidence in hand, the demons would have no room to argue.
If the school authorities dared to resist then, they would only dig themselves deeper, and the Blood Clan had plenty of ways to leverage that against the Demon King to extract greater benefits.
The reason Baron Sanchez was so confident was that neither the Demon Realm Inspectorate, the Department of Education, nor Purgatory Academy knew just how unerringly his authority could detect humans.
Even though he was only Tier 5.
Yet he possessed a unique innate authority—
[True Pupils of Blood], which could bypass all disguises and perceive the most fundamental state of any target's soul.
Once a target entered Sanchez's range of perception, both magical and physical disguises became meaningless.
Even if the Empire's modification surgeries could alter a human into a convincing demon, the soul remained immutable. As distinct species, demons and humans were fundamentally different from birth.
Before Sanchez, any wishful attempt at deception would look utterly foolish. Not even the academy's senior leadership—not even the headmaster—could fool him.
...
Baron Sanchez and the accompanying officers advanced along the bridge for some time.
At the end of the stone-brick avenue, they saw the waiting delegation from Demon Academy.
A welcoming delegation composed of all the senior executives of the academy stood ready to receive this distinguished guest.
The academy leaders stood together in solemn gravity, yet a lack of enthusiasm was plainly visible in their eyes.
Though the ceremony seemed superficial and somewhat reluctant, they nevertheless went through all the motions to keep up appearances.
A single Blood Clan envoy might be trivial, but behind him stood the Blood Clan that ruled the entire Southern Continent. Even the demon race had no desire to make enemies of that immortal race gifted with terrifying authorities.
"Lord Envoy of the Blood Clan, Baron Sanchez, welcome to Purgatory Corridor Academy."
Demon Academy's Acting Headmaster, who had come to greet the Blood Clan envoy, looked toward him with a beaming smile, her posture elegant as she bowed slightly. Standing behind her were the Vice Headmaster and the rest of the senior leadership.
Baron Sanchez's crimson pupils gleamed as if alive, locking onto the acting headmaster to peer through the surface into her soul and origin. His gaze swept over the other academy executives as well, subjecting them to his scrutiny.
Even though it was improbable that humans could infiltrate the faculty of Demon Academy—much less climb into senior management—caution demanded an inspection nonetheless.
Soon, his pupils returned to normal.
The result: no issues.
None of these Demon Academy instructors had any problems.
Although this headmaster was extraordinarily weak, there was no doubt she was a genuine superior demon, noble and mysterious.
"Is Baron Sanchez suspecting that I am a human in disguise?"
Wearing a crimson gown, the Acting Headmaster raised a hand to brush her long gray hair, directing a meaningful question toward the Blood Clan envoy.
Baron Sanchez stared at the female demon questioning him, momentarily dazed.
Merely hearing her gentle voice stirred ripples in his heart, as though this bright-eyed, gray-haired demon before him were the very incarnation of charm and beauty.
Sanchez quickly suppressed his Blood Clan authority and averted his gaze.
"Not at all. Your Excellency is undoubtedly from a prominent Demon Realm lineage, an esteemed superior demon."
Baron Sanchez bowed slightly and said, "Caution is required for my duties. If I have caused any offense, pray forgive me."
"..."
The gray-haired demon smiled without answering, her eyes rippling like the surface of a wind-swept lake. The curve of her lips shifted slightly, taking on a subtle hint of sly triumph.
She was not Lanqi.
Rather, she was the Poet of Great Love—connected in mind and heart with Lanqi, staging a double act with him while he sat in the Headmaster's Office, stepping out to receive the Blood Clan envoy in his stead!
Chapter 74