Chapter 407: Chapter 401: The Absurd Red Dragon

Bell was still reviewing the Purgatory Contract, his fingers slowly moving over the contract, examining the terms word by word.

He was afraid, too, afraid that a lifetime of heroism might be destroyed in an instant.

“Um… I want to ask a question.” Leon, feeling bored, asked, “Can you use a pseudonym when signing the Purgatory Contract, and would using a pseudonym render the contract invalid?”

He had signed contracts before; to some extent, he was still a Giant Dragon Sect Master with a Contract Master under his command. It wasn’t that all those messy and cumbersome contracts were handled by Tassie and Cecilia, and he just had to sign and stamp them, which caused him not to understand many things now.

“Quiet.” Bell said without looking up, “Don’t disturb me.”

“I was just asking casually. You can tell me whenever you’re free.” Leon truly didn’t intend to disturb Bell, nor could he, since he was purely curious about which was his true name, the one he had before crossing worlds as a corporate slave or the one he used as the Red Dragon afterward.

Bell took a deep breath and, without waiting to finish reading the Purgatory Contract, responded to Leon, “The Purgatory Contract binds the soul… If you are willing to sign the contract, even marking an X in the signature space will suffice. Conversely, if you resist signing the contract, writing your true name will be invalid, just like someone else holding your hand to sign the Purgatory Contract.”

Leon nodded.

Leon had many questions, but it was inappropriate to disturb Bell.

Bell checked the Purgatory Contract three times, making sure there were no issues. Despite still feeling uneasy, he eventually signed the contract, leaving behind a burning signature.

“You just said signing with an X would suffice… I marked an X.” Leon placed an X on the Purgatory Contract, feeling a tremble in his heart and a shiver from the depths of his soul.

“Pleased to make the deal.” As he saw Leon’s signature, Bell quickly rolled up the Purgatory Contract, “I’ll be holding onto this Purgatory Contract.”

Leon had no objections to this.

Asmodis and the other Great Devils ruled over all nine levels of Hell, but they were not the true rulers of the Nine Prisons. The real ruler of the Nine Prisons was the extremely complex set of rules that symbolized all devils, requiring self-restraint from everyone, including Asmodis.

Bell naturally included the Purgatory Contract, because as a devil, he could not violate the contract, whereas Leon could tear apart the contract by taking it away from Bell.

It’s not unheard of for foolish devils to keep Purgatory Contracts in their Treasure Vaults, leading to adventurers stealing not only the Purgatory Contract but also treasures like the Hill Giant’s Power Iron Gloves and High-level Life Talisman, including carrying off the bodies.

“Now that the contract is sealed, may I know your name, Red Dragon, sir?” Bell inquired.

“I am who I am, just a Red Dragon. A name is merely a label without any meaning,” Leon replied, with a meaningful smile, not wanting to reveal his identity in Aphnas.

“If the honorable Red Dragon doesn’t wish to tell, that’s fine… as you please.” Bell gracefully shrugged, “When do you plan to start, honorable Red Dragon? Two hundred years may be long for mortals, but for us, it’s just a snap of the fingers.”

“I’m quite impatient; let’s start now. The sooner we’re done, the sooner I can return home. It’s been so long; I really miss home,” Leon declared, “Summon the guide. I’m unfamiliar with Aphnas and need someone to show me the way.”

Bell raised his hand and snapped his fingers, finally freeing the Hunting Demon from the Immobilization Spell.

Bell whispered a few instructions, and the Hunting Demon stood expressionlessly by Leon’s side.

Leon, shorter than the Hunting Demon, could only pat its sturdy arm, saying, “Serve me well, and I can generously forgive your past actions.”

“I’ll try.” Zaren grumbled.

As they left the Forging Factory, Zaren drove a large Devil’s Vehicle.

Leon rode the Devil’s Vehicle he had snatched from the Hedgehog Demon, twisting the throttle hard, letting the vehicle roar deafeningly, kicking up a storm of ash on the desolate Aphnas plains, giving a sense of a wild west gunslinger vibe, asking, “Are we heading to Zarriel’s Basalt Castle now?”

“No.” Zaren curtly replied.

“You didn’t used to say so little.” Leon laughed; killing a Hunting Demon was easy, but slowly toying with one was much more fun.

The two rode alongside the Nether River for half a day, where they came upon a massive dock spanning the river. A pair of enormous iron-docked arms extended from each side of the river, reaching inward. The docking arms were equipped with heavy clamps, chains, and fences to secure large ships moored within.

“What’s this place?” Leon curiously asked while looking at the enormous dock.

“This is Stegia Pier,” Zaren said, “where our lord maintains and repairs her Flying Fortress.”

Leon nodded and asked no more, then the Transformed Ancient Black Dragon flew towards Stegia Pier, unleashing a torrent of Strong Acid Breath.

Zaren certainly wouldn’t participate in the assault, watching from afar. Not only was he assigned by Bell to guide Leon, but he was also Bell’s eyes and ears, astonished to see the half-red dragon transform into a colossal Black Dragon… Reporting such absurd intelligence to Lord Bell would definitely earn him a beating, but it was true.

Leon didn’t care what Zaren thought; he was joyfully destroying Stegia Pier, first using strong acid to corrode the steel, then pushing with force to topple the dock.

Stegia Pier naturally had a manager, but a Horned Demon, even an elite one, was nothing before the Ancient Black Dragon. Even the Pit Fiend found it challenging and only dared command his subordinates to attack, watching from afar himself since being demoted for poor management was better than being squashed by the Ancient Black Dragon.

Leon didn’t expend much effort to destroy Stegia Pier, found Zaren, and asked, “Alright, take me to the next place.”

“You, are you really a Red Dragon or a Black Dragon?” Zaren stammered.

“Knowing too much won’t do you any good,” Leon sinisterly smiled.

Zaren immediately clamped his mouth shut.

The Nether River was the gateway for demons to invade the Nine Prisons. The devils were vigilant, watching the riverbank intently.

Watchtowers were set up along the River’s edge to ensure that any invading demon army in Aphnas would be detected at the earliest.

Each watchtower was within the line of sight of two adjacent ones, so that if demons poured out from the river to invade, the troops from adjoining towers could arrive to assist immediately.

Leon’s next target was a watchtower by the Nether River, appearing like an open-topped bastion built from black basalt, garrisoned by an Anzu Demon as Commander, along with a jumble of devils.

Different versions of the Anzu Demon varied in Challenge Levels. The Anzu Demon Leon faced was stronger than an Ice Demon, making it challenging for him to fight even after transforming into an Ancient Black Dragon, while nearby garrison forces from adjoining watchtowers came to assist, making the battle rather tough.

“The Black Dragon can’t handle that many Anzu Demons, let alone the Horned Demons, Succubi, and Bone Demons participating in the siege. He’s bound to lose.” Zaren, hiding invisibly nearby, judged, then saw the Ancient Black Dragon transform into an Ancient Blue Dragon… Only in cartoons could one’s eyeballs pop out.

Leon pushed on, destroying three watchtowers in one go, and said, “I’m a bit tired, let’s rest for today.”

“And Zarriel’s Flying Fortress should be arriving soon,” Leon wasn’t reckless, “I don’t want to face her just yet. She’s quite formidable.”

Zaren didn’t know what to say.

Meanwhile, Bell received Zaren’s report, an absurd report that described the Red Dragon transforming into an Ancient Black Dragon, then an Ancient Blue Dragon, and within a day, demolishing Stegia Pier plus three watchtowers, making his expression twist.

He wondered what kind of monster he had signed the Purgatory Contract with, worrying that his counterpart might go too far, fearing for the first time the speed of his deal partner’s work efficiency.

He wasn’t ready yet.

He had agreed to open up the Forging Factory for the Red Dragon to use, promised to prepare the forge, Quenching Tank, cooling pool, and other facilities and tools, and now immediately had to start preparing.

“Don’t make it too big.”

“Make sure it’s not too big.”

Bell could only pray silently now.