Su Ming paid no attention to Satanah's surprise; he casually smoothed the wrinkles on the bed and stood up, walking over to Hel. She was still the same, with pale skin, a tight leather suit of black and green, a complex crown on her head, and the scent of Death Spore Flower on her.
"Tell me, why are you so proactively involved in this matter."
"I'm more suitable to deal with Dracula as one of the Dead. I can help you, on the condition that the Secret Guest returns Tyr's soul to me." Hel crossed her arms and raised her chin.
"Missing the Court Minister is tiring? Indeed, Fenrir can't help you manage a kingdom." Su Ming smiled; Tyr was still detained at Hell Border, which was outside the terms of negotiation they had with Hel.
It seemed Hel couldn't take it anymore after a few days. She used to be a hands-off Shopkeeper, but now she had to handle all sorts of annoying matters herself, bringing her pain.
"Don't change the subject; just say whether or not you'll agree. Beating around the bush will only make me look down on you."
Hel realized that she had been at a disadvantage initially, only noticing the favorable terms and neglecting Tyr's issue, falling into the trap.
"Then you can leave; I'm not interested in you." Su Ming spread his hands, dryly adding that if a Princess syndrome relapsed, she should find Odin instead of him.
If Hel couldn't get Tyr back, she definitely would support a new follower, rendering Tyr useless. But Su Ming resolutely refused to indulge her, thinking Earth wasn't Midgard anymore.
Hel immediately began using magic to prepare to leave, but Satanah grabbed her, her eyes shifting.
"Don't rush off; if I make an offer and you stay to help me, would that be okay?"
"Oh?" Hel became interested, as relationships among female Demon Lords were relatively softer; their invasion desires weren't very strong, mostly staying home: "What can you offer for trade now?"
"Hehehe, I can help you carve out a piece of territory from my father's Hell, expanding your Netherworld, how about it?"
Indeed, the size of each Hell differs, but generally, demons don't need such large spaces for residence because the dimensional area is nearly endless.
However, if there's a need for casting spells or leveraging Hell to pay costs, a larger territory can provide more power, as it pertains to energy capacity.
Hel was tempted but wouldn't easily trust Satanah.
"What's your plan?"
Satanah coquettishly flicked her hair, like a snake, pressing herself against Hel, rubbing her face against hers.
"After this matter, I'll reclaim my territory, which will give me capital, and then I'll contact Demon. We three will dispatch troops simultaneously, buying off Mephisto and Satanis and others to stay neutral... Marduk won't be a match for us, only surrendering by ceding territory."
"Clap clap clap..." Su Ming started clapping, a pleased expression on his face: "A good plan, Marduk will surely be proud to have children who excel like you."
Satanah cutely rolled her eyes at him, yet couldn't hide the smile on her lips; demons are such beings, daring to raise children while being prepared for their rebellion.
For demons, family, friendship, and love are all illusions; only power is eternal. They only pursue primal urges, following their desires.
Additionally, note that the cooperation premise is Satanah reclaiming her Hell. If this condition isn't met, everything will be in vain.
To reclaim her Hell, the Secret Guest's help is necessary, and the Secret Guest only listens to Deathstroke; Hel can't avoid Su Ming.
It's a tempting pancake laid out in front, seemingly within reach with a bit of effort.
Hel paced back and forth in the room, clutching her sharp chin with black nails, pondering—sometimes glancing at Satanah, then Su Ming.
Momentarily, she nodded.
"It's a deal."
So, the two Hell Lords summoned Setorak as the contract witness; the Deep Red Cosmic Tyrant wouldn't divulge such small affairs he deemed beneath him.
"You wait for us downstairs; we'll change clothes and head out." Satanah threw an alluring glance.
Su Ming stood up and left, passing through two fragrant scents: "Hurry up, don't bother with makeup."
"We're not ordinary women; we don't need it, or are you planning to stay and watch us change?" Satanah suggestively licked her lips, while Hel's hollow gaze was cast over.
Su Ming paid no heed to them, heading straight out.
Seeing Su Ming leave, Hel began casting her spell, transforming her equipment and headwear according to the earthly attire provided by Satanah.
Meanwhile, Satanah stripped naked, humming a tune while changing into convenient clothes, her massive chest jiggling enough for Hel to frown.
"What do you think of Deathstroke?" Hel lowered her head, clearly seeing her own feet.
Satanah sprayed perfume all over herself like showering, satisfied with the scent of her arms, still smiling: "What I think isn't important, but as long as I want to operate on Earth, I'll inevitably have dealings with him."
"So you're going to seduce him? I don't think you succeeded." Hel turned her clothes into a black women's suit and skirt: "He's not into that at all."
"How do you know it won't work unless you try? Besides, he didn't show any opposition, right?" Satanah put on a red dress and then took out a thick mink coat from the cabinet.
"I've tried it; he wasn't moved at all." Hel transformed and removed her crown, tying up her hair: "He's human and only likes humans."
"You? Seduction?" Satanah covered her mouth with one hand and pointed at Hel with the other, shaking her head: "You should learn how to smile first, but I think considering how to kill him might be easier."
............
Leaving the warmth of indoors, the four returned to the snow-covered street. Palham kept a distance from the two women; he hated devils, but he couldn't help it—he was already intertwined with them for life.
Mordo was left at the Elixir of Immortality, as he rarely relaxed, and Su Ming extended his time by twenty-four hours.
Of course, he paid Satanah for it. Customers and prostitutes should keep accounts clear and not talk about feelings.
Owing a favor of a few thousand US Dollars to Satanah isn't good; today she let her girls accompany Deathstroke's followers for free, but next time, won't Deathstroke have to do something for her in return?
It's obvious it would be a loss; Su Ming isn't The Ancient One and doesn't have superb magical skills, so if he wants to protect Earth, he must use the Lords of Hell to balance each other out and divide them through transactions.
Nobody wants to tarnish their reputation for fairness over a trivial matter.
So even though Mordo seemed happy, and his excited shouts could be heard from outside the shop, Su Ming was resolute not to owe any favors.
The snow beneath his feet creaked, and the wind gradually picked up as scattered snowflakes began to fall. He watched Satanah, who was laughing and chatting while supporting Hel:
"Do you know where there are vampires in the city? Blood Eater Faction."
Satanah shook her head, putting on a furry hat and tidying her long hair: "No idea, even if there are, they wouldn't dare appear before me."
"Then your shop's name 'Elixir of Immortality' is false advertising." Su Ming walked beside, with Satanah in the middle, separated by Hel.
"It's not only vampire blood that's immortal; my Demon's Blood is the same." Satanah replied naturally: "Humans think vampires are alluring and noble, which is good for business. If I really brought dozens of succubi, they'd be scared."
"Actually, from their origin, vampires are just failures of black magic experiments, incomparable to us demons." Hel interjected coldly.
Su Ming shook his head helplessly; she's always there. When it comes to Asgard, she becomes part of the Aesir Race. When it's demons, she considers herself a demon.
Does she have any sense of self-awareness? Despite being a Lord of Hell, you're not a demon; you're a living corpse.
Satanah seemed oblivious and leaned her head on Hel's shoulder, swaying like she was hanging on her, Hel being taller made Satanah look like an ornament.
"Right, the Blood Race is clearly a lowly race, yet humans think they're more noble than demons. Truly ignorant."
"Regardless of race, life is noble because of the path it follows." Su Ming held a different view; this world only values power, not origin.
"Ssss..." Hel let out a laugh squeezed from the corner of her mouth: "Do you think you're Odin? That sounds like something he'd say."
Satanah hooked his arm like a little girl out with parents: "You're now walking with a prostitute, a corpse, and have a devil riding a horse behind you—none of it screams nobility."
"But this is my path." Su Ming let her hold his arm, lighting a cigarette with the other: "Let's talk business; I need to find the Blood Race, and fast."
Hel brushed Satanah's hand away and stuffed her into Su Ming's arms: "I'll handle it; just lock down the active dead in the city?"
"Excluding corpses dragged around by stray animals, find all the skeletons, zombies, and vampires for questioning," Su Ming answered Hel's question.
"How to interrogate skeletons? They don't even have tongues." Satanah flirted as she teased.
"Palham, do you speak skeleton?" Su Ming turned to ask the Evil Spirit Knight trailing behind.
"I speak English, sir—there's no skeleton language." The Evil Spirit Knight took a swig from his flask, securing his coat for warmth.
"Alright, it seems Hel will still have to handle communication with skeletons."
Su Ming shrugged, and Satanah laughed wildly. Asking the Evil Spirit Knight about skeleton language was quite a good joke, even Hel secretly rolled her eyes.
She didn't waste words and walked to the sewer entrance on the roadside, crouching down to look inside the small grating.
Not sure what she was confirming, but soon she removed her gloves and placed her pale hand on the road.
Massive amounts of black mist rose from her, flowing like liquid into the sewer. Her lips kept moving, chanting something.