Chapter 919: Hostages
In truth, the actions of the Demon Arrival Organization were more like scammers in online games.
They'd say, "I can help you level up, but you need to pay some in-game currency."
Then after the payment, they'd vanish.
But in reality, unlike in a game, you'd not only lose your money—you'd lose your life too.
Some people might wonder:
With so many victims, didn't the authorities investigate?
Hmm…
About that—
They simply couldn't manage it.
Let's put it this way—
Every day, countless strong individuals arrive at the Ten Thousand Demon Abyss Continent.
These Professionals come because they can't find better ways to level up elsewhere, so they take the risk and come here.
As a result, border fortresses see traffic of tens of millions daily.
These Professionals target monsters that have been deeply corrupted and altered by demonic energy. Only by slaying these powerful mutated monsters can they earn massive EXP.
And naturally…
The higher the monster EXP, the more dangerous and powerful the monster.
Countless adventurers disappear every day.
Most of them die in the mouths of monsters.
With such massive traffic, it's simply impossible for the authorities to monitor effectively.
Many who vanish likely just fell in the wild to monsters.
It's so common, it doesn't raise suspicion.
Of course…
Some people did report the issue.
The authorities even issued warnings, advising adventurers not to easily trust or join so-called adventurer teams.
But it didn't help.
As the saying goes: "You can't talk sense into those courting death."
When you tried to stop them from joining, they'd accuse you of holding them back or being jealous!
So over time—
No one bothered anymore.
These victims suffered excruciating torment.
The Crimson Phoenix Demon Lord knew what "slow and steady" meant, alright.
He understood that if you killed a Professional hostage outright, they could only feed the fortress once.
That would be a waste of resources!
So he ordered his subordinates to perform a horrific act—
Flesh-stripping.
Literally.
Every day, they'd cut large chunks of meat from the hostages, or even strip off two-thirds of their flesh.
Have you seen butchers dismantle pigs?
That's right!
Just like that—hang the hostages like livestock, while Ten Thousand Demon Clan butchers grinned cruelly, torturing and slicing their flesh piece by piece.
Because of their high levels and strong attributes, Professionals had incredible vitality.
Even after losing half their flesh, they wouldn't die.
And to prevent them from self-destructing, the Demon Lord placed sealing spells on them.
So even if they wanted to self-destruct, they couldn't.
Thus…
Every day, they were hung up, sliced, tortured, and tossed back into cages to be healed by Ten Thousand Demon Clan healers—then the process repeated.
For these hostages, it was a fate worse than hell.
Unable to live.
Unable to die.
Even though they regretted everything—they couldn't change it.
And you know what…
This was exactly how the Crimson Phoenix Demon Lord kept Lemorris Fortress standing strong.
"These hostages should remember the names of the adventurer teams, right?"
Ling Zhan looked at the combat report and asked flatly.
The adjutant replied, "Yes, Instructor Ling. They definitely remember—claimed they'd remember even in death."
"The Demon Arrival remnants likely knew that once these hostages reached Lemorris Fortress, they'd never return alive—so they didn't bother hiding anything."
"According to the hostages' intel…"
"There are five adventurer teams suspected of collaborating with the Demon Arrival Organization in trafficking Professionals."
"These five teams are the most notorious and successful."
"Their names are Black Tide, Dark Moon, Divine Punishment, Impermanence, and Twilight."
"These teams are not only famous online but composed of powerhouses no lower than level 180."
"Some even include level-190 elites."
The adjutant recited the intel like reading from a list.
"Pass this intel to General Li Xuerou. Have her report to the Holy Assembly. Let them take action and finally clean up the Demon Arrival remnants."
Ling Zhan calmly ordered.
"Yes, sir!"
The adjutant nodded, then asked, "Instructor Ling, would you like to visit the hostages?"
Ling Zhan was going to say he couldn't be bothered.
But after a moment's thought, he stood and headed out.
The hostages had been temporarily relocated to a secured area.
As soon as he entered—
Clatter!!
The freed hostages were instantly startled, reacting like they were trapped in a nightmare, traumatized and terrified.
"Don't be afraid! This is Instructor Ling Zhan! He led the Demon-Slaying Legion to take Lemorris Fortress and slew the Crimson Phoenix Demon Lord!"
"You were only saved thanks to Instructor Ling!"
The adjutant shouted over the crowd.
Hearing those words, the hostages stirred.
Everyone looked at Ling Zhan with gratitude.
Ling Zhan ignored their grateful stares and instead fell into thought.
He only came to assess their mental state.
To see if any of them were still fit to fight against the Ten Thousand Demon Clan.
But after observing them all, he realized they had deep psychological trauma—terrified of the Ten Thousand Demon Clan.
Clearly—
They couldn't return to the battlefield.
The moment they faced those who once tortured them, they'd be paralyzed in fear.
"Send them all back."
"Make sure they cooperate with the authorities as witnesses to bring down the Demon Arrival Syndicate."
Ling Zhan instructed.
"Yes, sir!"
The adjutant nodded.
...…
...…
Moore Fortress.
When Li Xuerou received Ling Zhan's message—
She was frozen in shock for half a day in her office.
All the generals attending the meeting beside her stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief!
"What!?"
"Instructor Ling Zhan's Demon-Slaying Legion actually took Lemorris Fortress!?"