440: The Choice of Slavery

Lin Ye stealthily approached the ruins of Bafang City.

With multiple clones working in unison, he had already gathered clear information about Bafang City.

"The Thirty-Seventh Demon God, Phoenix," Lin Ye murmured.

"The Demon God Phoenix possesses an immortal heart, has astonishing recovery abilities, and grows stronger the more it fights, while its enemies become increasingly weak under its fiery immolation. Once touched by that immortal flame, it clings like a maggot to bone, never letting go until death," Hu introduced.

"A direct confrontation would likely be hopeless. Even a single one of the Phoenix's legions could contend with me," Lin Ye said.

"But there's no need for a head-on clash, Hu. Who do you think Phoenix will send to refine the city core?" Lin Ye asked.

"He certainly won't go himself. After refining the city core, he'll need to mobilize the city's resources, and he'd be stretched too thin. Moreover, if he, the strongest, goes to refine the core, how would others handle it if a powerful enemy tried to break through? He'd still have to act, and once he acts, all his previous efforts would be in vain."

"So, I speculate he'll dispatch someone trustworthy. This person also needs a certain level of management ability and shouldn't be too weak in strength; otherwise, they'd be easily assassinated, and the refining process would be slow," Hu said.

"And the candidate is naturally very clear: his management team," Hu said with extreme confidence.

"Every Demon God has their own management team, which includes several chief stewards who manage all aspects of the Demon God's forces. I wonder who Phineus brought this time," Hu continued.

With Hu's few words, Lin Ye also understood who the ultimate target was.

"According to intelligence and the guidance of fate, there are three candidates. Shiba, Phineus's chief steward. As the chief, he has the authority to mobilize other stewards and can even deploy a portion of the legions."

"Sophia, Phineus's steward and lover. She's the type of capable internal helper, and Phineus absolutely trusts her implicitly. Although her abilities aren't on par with Shiba's, her trustworthiness is definitely at maximum, and this refining candidate doesn't require much ability."

"Benjamin, responsible for legion-related matters. The importance of the legions goes without saying, and he is also highly likely to be a candidate. The legion commanders listen to him most, and he will be very useful in the future for Bafang City's defense construction and security," Lin Ye analyzed the intelligence.

Based on information collected by Vega, his fate skill, Hu, and himself, he selected the three most probable candidates.

"However, it's not impossible that Phineus secretly brought others, but the probability of this situation is relatively low. From Vega's message, the other stewards remained in Hell," Lin Ye added.

"Indeed, these three are the most likely. If there's an opportunity, it's best to take all three down," Hu said.

"Take them all down? Hu, don't joke around. Taking down even one is difficult," Lin Ye said with a wry smile.

Taking them all down was a fantasy.

Let alone taking them all down, Lin Ye had no clue how to even take down one.

How crucial were each of those stewards?

How could Phoenix possibly put them in danger?

Each of them worked under the protection of the legions.

And even if he got close, they weren't pushovers themselves.

To reach the status of a steward, in addition to excellent management skills, their strength also had to be up to par.

The weakest of these stewards were all Demon God Six-Stars.

Although they couldn't defeat Lin Ye, they could hold him off and wait for reinforcements without a problem.

Coupled with life-saving items, they would be even harder to deal with.

"Don't be discouraged. At least you have a target now. If it were before, asking you to organize a team to directly confront Phoenix, wouldn't that be even harder?" Hu said.

Lin Ye felt comforted.

What Hu said was also true.

The difficulty had now dropped from despair-level to hell-level.

If he obtained some more crucial information, the difficulty might drop to hard-level.

"Let's start by enslaving their trusted subordinates, then gradually delve deeper and dismantle their defenses," Lin Ye decided on a plan.

Gradually eroding, layer by layer, he would eventually take down the Phoenix Legion.

.........

"Simback, it's your turn for fieldwork today."

"Damn it, it's my turn again," a demon cursed.

He wasn't wearing the standard armor common to Phineus's legion, but a tuxedo.

This Demon, Phineus, was very particular and pursued elegance. He didn't have many requirements for his legion, but he was strict with his management team.

Dress elegantly, speak artfully.

Can't speak? Then speak less.

Be concise, lest Phineus get angry.

Simback had been holding it in for a long time. What a pretentious act. I love cursing the most.

In private, he didn't hide his true nature.

"Simback, be careful. Don't let those wimps from the disciplinary team hear you," the demon reminded him.

"Alright," Simback said unwillingly.

This demon had a very good private relationship with him, so there was no problem, but it was wise to be careful of eavesdroppers.

Those disciplinary officers were the most annoying, always punishing people for such issues, wielding a feather duster as a scepter.

But a demon under the eaves must bow his head.

He straightened his tuxedo and led his team away very gentlemanly.

Fieldwork wasn't anything important, just transporting supplies.

A legion of about three thousand escorted Simback away.

"Good opportunity."

In the shadows, Lin Ye fixed his gaze on this unit.

That Simback also held some status, so his intelligence included information about him.

If Phineus's management team was divided into five levels.

At the very top was the Chief Steward, the second tier was the Steward, and the third tier was the Overseer.

Simback was one of the Overseers.

Each Steward had four or five Overseers assisting them, and Simback's superior was Phineus's lover, Sophia.

Taking down Simback would provide an opportunity to get to Sophia.

Then, letting Sophia proceed step by step and whisper sweet nothings into Phineus's ear, he might even gain the opportunity to control the city core.

This was much more cost-effective than obtaining the other two Overseers.

"Then let's start with you."

Lin Ye vanished into the darkness.

Simback, riding a demonic beast, sneezed.

"Who the hell is thinking about me? Couldn't be my beautiful boss, could it?" Simback thought to himself.

He only dared to fantasize about this in his mind. If anyone else heard it, Phineus would flay him alive.

Of course, Sophia's taste couldn't be that bad.

To choose an Overseer with no particular ability over the powerful, exceptionally handsome, infinitely elegant, and very gentlemanly Phineus?

Wouldn't that make people laugh their heads off?

Simback only thought about it in his mind.

However, this little interlude didn't cause any ripples in his heart.

What he was considering now was where to go during his vacation after the material handover was complete.

Going to the Battlefield of the Gods to earn extra money was impossible; Phineus wouldn't let his Overseers do such a thing, as it would unnecessarily leave a handle for others to grasp.

"Then I'll go to the Phoenix Paradise. I wonder how its construction is coming along now?"

He thought to himself.