Why must the devil be Defeated?

Chapter 97: 096 Lets you have no achievements to compete for
 

“You… Is what you’re saying true?”

At this moment, regardless of Beren and Leon, Magre couldn’t help but speak out.

“Isn’t this something?” Shane seemed oblivious to the thoughts of Magre and the others, speaking carelessly without any guard, “Although Killian was one of the masterminds behind the large-scale assassination ten years ago, he was just one of them. I heard there was another mastermind with a higher Level at that time who killed even more than Killian did, and it seems he even planned this project himself. If he shows up to save Killian, bringing along other members of the Old Demon Clan Faction, then capturing them all in one net, this achievement…”

Even without Shane finishing, the others could understand.

It’s undeniable that if this was true, the accolades would be far greater than just capturing a Killian.

And if catching a Killian could lead to so many benefits, what would even greater accolades involve?

(Could I be granted nobility status?)

Leon’s heart was aflame.

(Would the Royal Family take notice and elevate my family’s rank along with me?)

Magre couldn’t help but get excited.

(Would it lead to more benefits for my father’s business, even perhaps an arranged marriage from the Royal Family, making Lord Leon and I husband and wife?)

Udilis’s mind began to wander as well.

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As for Beren, he was no exception.

(It was already a great discontent among the other Knight Captains, attendant lords, and the vassals of the Noble Families about me becoming the Knight Captain within the territory before reaching Level 70. They used this as an excuse more than once to cause trouble for me, preventing me from being recognized by most of the public outside Lamijion. If I could now garner such substantial accolades, they would have nothing left to say. I might even replace my older brother as the heir of the Mula Family, becoming the next Marquis Mula.)

Thinking of this, Beren couldn’t help but be moved.

Only Alis, at this time, raised an objection.

“Has President Riley agreed to this?” Alis frowned and spoke bluntly to Shane, “Are you sure you can succeed? Don’t end up causing harm to Lamijion instead!”

Alis’s words snapped everyone back to reality.

It wasn’t just Alis, even Vivian couldn’t help but interject.

“Beddo is a stronger Demon than Killian and even now, the one from Lamijion. Even if you can subdue Killian, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can subdue Beddo. If it fails, Lamijion will suffer severe consequences. The risk is too high.”

Not knowing Shane’s plan, Vivian tentatively reminded him, lest Shane was truly planning to proceed in such a manner.

“Rest assured, rest assured,” Shane nonchalantly responded, “There’s nothing that a Magic Tool cannot solve. If there is, then use two!”

This arrogant approach left everyone speechless.

But wasn’t that the truth?

Unlike during Killian’s time, this time, they had access to not just two, but mass-produced Magic Tools.

So, if they were willing to use a large number of such high-level Magic Tools without regard for losses, wouldn’t even a Demon of Level 90, much harder to handle than Level 77, end up disgraced?

This means… it could work!

Everyone immediately became restless.

“You’re called Shane, right?” Finally, Beren spoke up, addressing Shane, “You’ve really outdone yourself. Thus, this matter…”

This matter, let me support you in it.

Beren had intended to say just that.

From Beren’s perspective, since they could wait for the people from the Old Demon Clan Faction to fall right into their trap and capture them all at once, there was no need for secret missions; they could just prepare thoroughly here and resolve everything at once, thus earning more and greater merits.

But just at that moment, Shane changed his tone and interrupted Beren.

“Speaking of which, I haven’t thanked you all yet.” Shane said with what appeared to be great gratitude, “You all went to such lengths to ‘help me’ escort Killian to the Royal Capital; I really feel bad about it.”

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone, including Beren, was taken aback.

“Help you?”

Beren, Leon, Magre, Udilis, and Alis were all puzzled.

How could this be?

Everyone wondered as such.

But the next second, Shane’s words changed everyone’s expressions dramatically.

And it was unprecedented.

Because…

“Although I relied on the power of Magic Tools to ‘successfully subdue Killian,’ subduing such a heavyweight criminal and escorting him to the Royal Capital, I presume the Kingdom won’t be stingy with my reward, right? Just thinking about it makes me excited!”

Shane’s elated words made everyone’s hearts “thump” and they finally realized something was wrong.

That’s right!

It was Shane who subdued Killian, not them!

In other words, Shane was the real hero; they were just slightly involved!

It wasn’t that everyone had forgotten this, but typically, within a region, if someone achieved a great feat, unless it was an event that shocked the entire Kingdom and contributed greatly to the Kingdom—demanding recognition of the person who performed the feat—rewards were usually given according to a hierarchical system.

For instance, if a peasant accidentally discovered a relic of immense value that even the Kingdom couldn’t ignore, then he wouldn’t receive a direct reward from the Kingdom but rather a reward from the Noble of the region who learned of this discovery.

Then, this Noble would reward the peasant, and report this deed to the Lord of the region, who would see this as the Noble’s own achievement and reward the Noble accordingly, instead of directly rewarding the peasant.

Furthermore, this Lord would also report to the Kingdom, and the Kingdom would similarly treat it as the Lord’s accomplishment and reward the Lord.

This was the so-called hierarchical reward system.

After all, a peasant couldn’t possibly directly contact the Royal Family to report this, could he?

Thus, even in past lives, rewards were handed down layer by layer, and by the time they reached those directly involved, it wasn’t clear how many levels had been bypassed, and there was no guarantee that the reward’s original value was retained.

Such was the case with Shane’s achievement; as a Level 10 novice Adventurer, it was appropriate for the manager of Lamijion to reward him; he wasn’t qualified or connected enough to reach the Royal Family and receive a direct reward.

In light of this, Beren thought that he just needed to reward Shane afterward and then he could logically receive the direct reward from the Kingdom.

But now, the situation had changed.

Seeing the expressions on everyone’s faces, Shane’s smile grew even broader.

(You want to compete for merit?)

Let there be no merit to compete for!

That was Shane’s intention.