~Western Continent - Jizhou Branch, Shadow Cottage~
Qingzhi reported in detail to the Patriarch, the Mystic Sound Demon Monarch, about the process of summoning the Otherworldly Demon Monarch (Raphael).
Of course, Qingzhi did not know this Demon Monarch's name, nor did he know that the other party was actually just a Sequence 8 Beyonder.
When the Mystic Sound Demon Monarch, whose divine consciousness was attached to the jade tablet, heard the Otherworldly Demon Monarch's method for maintaining his condition, he muttered to himself: "One's behavior and demeanor... should align with 'Blood'..."
Then, the Mystic Sound Demon Monarch seemed to have an epiphany: "I understand!"
Previously, he had been constantly suppressing his craving for blood and bodily fluids, believing that desire to be a cultivation heart demon that must be strictly controlled.
But the meaning of this Otherworldly Demon Monarch seemed to be that there was no need to constantly suppress this desire, instead, one should appropriately engage with blood.
Though he hadn't tried it yet, as a great cultivator at the middle stage of Void Refinement Realm (essentially a Sequence 2 existence), his powerful Spirituality had already sensed that this method would surely be effective...
When branch leader Qingzhi heard his Patriarch's words of sudden insight, he inwardly marveled: 'I didn't grasp the profundity because my realm is indeed insufficient. Only a cultivator who has reached the Void Refinement Realm can instantly comprehend such a method that appears simple yet is profoundly subtle...'
The consciousness attached to the jade tablet, asked further, "Where is the Otherworldly Demon Monarch now?"
Qingzhi respectfully answered, "The body subjected to Soul Seizure could not bear that Demon Monarch's divine consciousness for too long, so the connection has been severed. I've already had someone replenish qi into that body. When the time is right, we will summon that Demon Monarch again."
"Mmm," the Mystic Sound Demon Monarch hummed, then said, "When you summon him again, inquire if there are better cultivation methods for consuming Inner Cores in the other world."
Roughly three centuries ago, he had vaguely sensed that the Blood Sect's cultivation method likely had room for improvement.
The Mystic Sound Demon Monarch had gone into seclusion several times for this reason, but never found a direction for improvement.
Among other sects, Blood Sect members at the Void Refinement Realm are mostly mindless monsters. The Qi Sect found no value in their methods, thinking them utterly unreliable.
Perhaps the other world had better cultivation methods...
Qingzhi bowed respectfully, "As you command."
...
~Northern Continent, Backlund Bridge District~
The Mafia headquarters was located in a spacious shop on Calvin Street. There was no sign out front, only two black gloves hanging.
Audrey, with her face covered by the large fake beard, stepped down from the carriage and curiously examined the shop.
The shop had three rooms total; the outermost was the largest, with sofas and many tables and chairs, where many Mafia members were already smoking and chatting.
Upon seeing Raphael enter, they almost simultaneously stood up, some saying: "Boss!"
Others: "Chief!"
Then their gazes fell upon the large-bearded figure behind the boss. Strangely, they found this bearded face somewhat... striking.
A few among them seemed to understand something: 'No wonder the boss doesn't fancy prost¡tutes. He prefers this type...'
Raphael casually waved a hand and entered the inner room.
This room was arranged somewhat like a study, with two bookshelves... except they held weapons and firearms, along with cigarette cases, several bottles of wine, a skull, and other miscellaneous items, but not a single book in sight.
Additionally, there was a cat house in the room.
"Nyaa..." A yellow-orange tabby lazily emerged from it and meowed at him.
Raphael sat behind the desk, about to discuss the ransom with Audrey, when a subordinate suddenly entered to report, "Boss, Duke, the grain merchant, wants your assistance."
Actually, Duke had come by an hour ago. Learning Raphael hadn't arrived yet, he had been wandering outside. Only when he saw the gang leader enter from afar did he hurry to seek help.
Raphael nodded slightly and said to his subordinate, "Let him in."
Since they were pretending everything was normal, they naturally had to receive these petitioners as usual...
As he spoke, Raphael gestured to the tabby. The cat yawned, stretched, then trotted over and jumped onto his lap.
This self-proclaimed Godfather and transmigrator stroked the cat, listening to its purring, while a somewhat mischievous smile touched his lips.
Shortly after, a middle-aged man with a mustache on his upper lip, dressed in respectable formal wear and nervously clutching a bowler hat, appeared at the doorway.
He was somewhat tense, after all, this was a gang headquarters.
Raphael pointed to the seat across the desk, "Sit."
"Yes, yes, of course." The grain merchant named Duke quickly stepped forward and sat on the stool.
Carter stood with his arms crossed, coldly observing the middle-aged petitioner.
Audrey, on the other hand, was curious why a grain merchant would seek help from a gang leader. She observed quietly, wanting to see how Backlund's gangs operated...
Stroking the cat, Raphael spoke, "My subordinate mentioned you seek my help?"
"Yes, Mr. Collins," Duke said, gripping his hat. He took a deep breath to steady himself before continuing, "I always believed Loen was a nation with good credit, where people generally uphold contractual spirit. Disputes in business would also be resolved through fair and just competition. But all these wonderful expectations were shattered two months ago."
"...For the past few years, I've had a competitor named Holmes. As I said, I've always competed with him in a fair and just manner, but he has been using despicable tactics. Not long ago, a business partner named Logan suddenly approached me with a very enticing cooperation proposal. I invested 1,200 pounds at once! But soon after, my grain company encountered a major deal requiring a large sum of money. So I approached Logan, hoping to terminate that investment."
"It was then I learned that the earlier investment had been frozen for some absurd reason! This forced me to watch helplessly as that major deal was snatched away by Holmes." By this point, Duke had lost his initial nervousness, "Even the most foolish person could sense something was wrong with that investment. I had a friend investigate, and indeed discovered that Logan and Holmes had premeditated this. So, like every law-abiding Loen citizen, I sued Logan and Holmes. But the case was dismissed due to insufficient evidence..."
Audrey, who had been observing intently, furrowed her brows. This was the first time she encountered such a situation. The grain merchant's words contained lies, but she couldn't pinpoint exactly where the falsehood was.
Finally, Duke said, "I stood in the courtroom like a fool. When I came to my senses, I told my secretary: Only Mr. Collins can bring us justice..."