Chapter 1 An Unexpected Surprise

Vivian's words immediately put everyone on alert. The data terminal rapidly marked the spatial fluctuations it sensed in Hao Ren's vision. The latter readily took out his silver spear and sidearm from his dimensional pocket, aiming his long spear and short gun at the open space a hundred meters ahead.

In that open space, a mass of air suddenly twisted, rapidly transforming into a bright, oval-shaped mirror. Four people strode out from within.

Leading them was a stern-faced, gray-haired man with an eye patch. Beside him stood a dark-skinned, bald man with distinctly Indian features. Behind them were two women. One was dressed in a simple dress, with long brown hair and a tall figure. Faint traces of blue scales were slowly fading from her cheeks. The other had strikingly silver-white hair and a detached air—an acquaintance, Bai Huo!

Apart from the woman in the dress, the other three were dressed as demon hunters: black trench coats, belts hung with enchanted items, and large crossbows strapped to their backs. Clearly, this was a three-person demon hunter squad.

Seeing people already on the beach, the three demon hunters were also taken aback. The one-eyed man and the bald man immediately raised their crossbows, ready to attack. However, after realizing the numerical disparity, they didn't act rashly, but froze in place. Bai Huo, recognizing Hao Ren's group, slightly opened her mouth. Her cool expression twitched, but she quickly regained her composure. She made a cautious gesture alongside her mentor, signaling Hao Ren's side not to greet them hastily—though she'd reported the hunt for the Rage Spirit to her mentor after returning from Castle Andre, she hadn't detailed the encounter with the "Red Moon Countess." It was best not to appear familiar at this time.

This also proved that Bai Huo had kept her promise after leaving last time, not revealing too much to the demon hunter organization.

Hao Ren's side also reacted to Bai Huo's expression. Vivian immediately threw a bat, slapping it onto Lily's face to shut her up: that simpleton was about to jump up and say hello.

At that moment, the most nervous person on the scene was Nangong Sanba. This guy, who constantly pretended to be a veteran in the exorcist circle, was essentially caught red-handed by the real demon hunters. Cold sweat poured from his face in waves. He knew his career as a demon hunter was over, and he'd need to write his will in duplicate from now on…

Gun, who was studying the sea on the stone beach, immediately sensed the murderous aura after seeing the scene and its master(s)' reactions. It flattened itself on the ground, its tail standing straight up like an iron rod, its fur bristling on its ears and tail, and wailed pathetically: "Meow—"

The first war cry from Hao Ren's team came from a cat.

"This is a truly unexpected surprise," the one-eyed man said warily. Despite the seemingly unfavorable situation, his voice was loud and fearless. "I didn't expect to run into a group of prey here."

"Are you sure you're the hunters?" A large group of bats surrounded Vivian, crackling with electricity and spreading gusts of cold wind. Even the distant waves crashing against the reefs turned into large patches of snow. "What are demon hunters doing in this place?!"

Gun shivered from the cold, still arching its back: "Meow… meow… woof—"

A layer of light, like a shield, rose around the one-eyed man. The biting wind had no effect on him, but he quickly paused after seeing Vivian's appearance. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his brow. "Is that the Countess… Your Excellency?"

Lily, hearing this, was taken aback: "Why are the demon hunters suddenly so polite?"

Vivian frowned, recalling who the most famous one-eyed person in the demon hunter organization was. The corners of her mouth curled up. "Young people definitely wouldn't be polite to me. Only those old-timers would be courteous—because they still remember seniority, right, Hasso? What are you doing here, kid?"

Hao Ren was greatly surprised: "This is One-Eye Hasso?"

One-Eye Hasso, a famous elder among demon hunters, a monster who had lived since the age of myths, and one of the leaders who destroyed Mount Olympus. Hao Ren's biggest impression of him was that he almost killed Hesperides back then, the arrow stuck in the brain-damaged goddess's head for thousands of years.

A guy who sounded like he had a big name—yet still a "kid" in Vivian's mouth. Vivian herself knew that her seniority was a powerful weapon at this moment, so she directly used her old status to suppress him.

This girl didn't care about age problems at this time.

Hasso's expression quickly became strange, not embarrassed, but troubled. He didn't expect to be so unlucky today. Being teleported directly into an encirclement to save trouble was one thing, but the encirclement even included the world-renowned and difficult-to-deal-with Red Moon Countess! Even the most senior ancestors among the demon hunters would have to respectfully bow and call her "senior" before starting a fight. What terrible luck.

Vivian was right. The older the demon hunter, the more they valued seniority and qualifications, especially the old guys from the age of myths. This trait was something those impetuous young demon hunters couldn't understand.

The bald man beside Hasso took a half-step forward, the front of his crossbow glinting with silver light: "Greetings to you, ancient Countess. Master-level demon hunter Tutan, I accept your challenge."

Vivian crossed her arms, her voice icy: "Are today's demon hunter masters all such ignorant young people? You're qualified to 'accept' my challenge? As a junior, you're telling me you 'accept' a challenge?!"

Tutan was stunned. Hasso immediately raised his hand to stop him: "Don't move rashly."

Vivian nodded slightly: "Hmm, at least you know some manners."

Lily had never seen Vivian so imposing, and immediately tugged on Hao Ren's sleeve, whispering: "Why is the bat suddenly so arrogant?"

Vivian maintained her fierce posture, projecting an aura, while whispering behind her, using the bats' squeaking sounds as cover: "Brag while I can, maybe I won't have to fight later—I can't win in my current state!"

Hao Ren was speechless. So Vivian was forcibly suppressing the other side with her aura: with her current combat strength, she'd expose herself if she fought any slightly stronger demon hunter…

Of course, even if she was exposed, it wouldn't matter much. The three demon hunters in front of them were no match for Hao Ren's group, but Vivian thought it best not to fight—unless necessary, she was unwilling to confront a demon hunter of Hasso's level head-on, because "the Countess of the Red Moon being drawn out" and engaging in a direct battle with a demon hunter elder could easily be interpreted as a declaration of war, which would cause a lot of trouble.

When a person's reputation reaches a certain point, it's difficult for them to represent only themselves.

Hasso himself had obviously thought of this. He slightly lowered his crossbow, indicating that he wasn't eager to fight, and asked with a frown, "May I ask what Your Excellency is doing in this place?"

"Is that a siren beside you?" Vivian looked at the only one of the four who wasn't dressed as a demon hunter. The other party had revealed some siren characteristics earlier.

Hasso nodded slightly: "That's right."

Lily blurted out: "Are you going to Nazzaker too?"

"You're going too?" Bai Huo asked in surprise, also lowering her crossbow. "What are you doing there?"

"Investigating," Hao Ren answered cautiously, turning off the beam from the tip of his silver spear. "We suspect that Nazzaker has been contaminated by some kind of exogenous creature. What about you? In theory, demon hunters wouldn't attack sirens, so are you also investigating or helping?"

"If what you're saying is true, then we have the same goal," Hasso said in a deep voice, "but I don't quite believe…"

"You should know that I'm different from ordinary otherworldlings. I'm not a warmonger," Vivian suddenly raised her voice, interrupting Hasso. "Those who are with me are definitely not warmongers either. So maybe we don't need to fight today. I have a suggestion: how about both sides lay down their weapons?"

There was some surprise on Tutan's face. He tilted his head slightly to look at Hasso, who nodded after pondering for a moment: "Acceptable. But there's a condition: if you make any unusual moves while approaching Nazzaker, the hunt will begin."

"The same goes for you," Vivian smiled. "And I believe the hunters won't be you at that time."