Tavern of the Spear: Desire for Pleasure

In Hell City, Cheng Yu was bound by chains and dragged along by several demons. He had tried to struggle before, but the chains seemed to have a life of their own, binding him tightly and rendering him completely immobile. Helpless, he could only let the demons pull him forward. Beside him, the three-headed hellhound calmly processed the documents in its hands, seemingly indifferent to Cheng Yu's arrival. "This guy's a real workaholic," Cheng Yu thought to himself, while curiously surveying his surroundings. Hell City hadn't changed much from his last visit; it remained eerie and terrifying, permeated with a nauseating smell of sulfur.

After walking for a while, Cheng Yu got really bored, so he spoke up to the three-headed hellhound beside him: "Hey, how long are you planning to keep me locked up? And how did you know I'd be there?"

One of the three-headed hellhound's heads turned around, while the other two remained buried in the documents. "Finding you was easy; it's just demonic magic. We've lived in Hell City for so long, how could we not sense the changes up there?"

“A long time ago, we noticed something strange happening in the dungeon, as if it had been magically virtualized. A peculiar energy emanates from the center of the dungeon, maintaining its shape. After a simple analysis, we quickly found the answer, or rather, we found it after meeting you.”

"As for how long he'll be locked up..." The man paused, a hint of mockery in his voice, "maybe it'll depend on how happy our boss is, right?"

Cheng Yu was startled. He hadn't expected the demons of Hell City to be so powerful; it seemed he had underestimated them. He didn't want to be imprisoned here, but for some reason, the demon chains suppressed his magic and soul, making escape impossible. He had to think of a way.

They continued forward until they reached a massive iron gate. The demons opened the gate and shoved Cheng Yu inside. It was a dark, damp cell, filled with the stench of decay. Cheng Yu was thrown onto the cold ground, the chains clanging crisply.

"Enjoy your prison life!" a demon sneered, then closed the iron gate.

Cheng Yu looked around; the cell was empty, except for some tattered straw piled in the corner. He sighed; it seemed he could only take it one step at a time. He sat cross-legged on the floor and began to think about an escape plan.

Just then, a voice came from deep within the cell: "Hey, newbie, what did you do wrong?"

Cheng Yu looked in the direction of the sound and saw a burly minotaur demon sitting on a haystack, watching him with great interest.

“Illegal business operations, disrupting order, and provoking the boss,” Cheng Yu replied irritably.

"Oh? Looks like you've got some nerve." The minotaur demon chuckled. "My name is Baal, what's yours?"

"Cheng Yu".

“Cheng Yu…” Barr repeated his name, “I’ve heard of you. You’re quite the celebrity in the dungeon.”

Cheng Yu gave a wry smile, never expecting that his "reputation" had spread to Hell City.

"How long have you been locked up here?" Cheng Yu asked.

“It’s been three years,” Baal replied calmly.

"Three years?!" Cheng Yu's eyes widened in surprise. "You've actually been here for three years?"

“Yes, it’s been three years.” Barr sighed. “I’ve gotten used to life here.”

Don't you want to go out?

“Of course I want to, but I also know I can’t get out.” Baal shook his head. “This place is heavily guarded, and my sins are too grave for me to be released.”

Cheng Yu fell silent. He knew Baal was right. Hell City was no joke; once you were locked in, it was very difficult to get out.

"So what are your plans?" Cheng Yu asked.

"What other plans could we have?" Baal chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Just waiting to die."

Looking at Baal's dejected appearance, Cheng Yu couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. He understood Baal's feelings; he too had experienced despair, but ultimately he chose to persevere.

"Don't give up hope," Cheng Yu encouraged. "There's always a way."

Baal looked up at Cheng Yu's hopeful eyes and burst out laughing. For a demon, the word "hope" was nothing short of blasphemy.

"You idiot, just give up and stay here. At least your soul wasn't directly devoured by the boss!"

Cheng Yu, too lazy to pay any more attention to the minotaur who seemed to have given up hope, found a corner to sit down and began to silently observe his surroundings. The demon prison's structure was peculiar; it wasn't built underground, but rather on flat ground at the very edge of the demon castle, and it was open-air. Although he was almost completely blocked from sunlight inside the prison, he could still faintly see the dim light emanating from the demon castle if he approached the cell door. Through the cell door, he could even see the demons coming and going outside, who seemed indifferent to the other demons in the prison, as if they didn't see them at all. After all, in the demon world, there was no such thing as kinship, let alone compassion.

Cheng Yu peered through the gates of hell, watching the demons come and go, and sighed inwardly. He hadn't expected to be back in the misty demon city so soon, and his situation was even worse than before, because he was now just a soul, while the minotaur demon at least had flesh and blood. But he didn't give up hope; he had to find a way to escape. He didn't want to stay here any longer.

Demons thronged the streets, and Cheng Yu carefully observed each one, hoping to spot a familiar figure. It was a demon he'd met on his first visit to Demon City, with whom he'd even made a deal. Cheng Yu thought that perhaps the demon, driven by self-interest, would lend him a hand. However, he waited a long time, but the familiar figure never appeared.

Time ticked by, the air in the cell grew increasingly stifling, and Cheng Yu's anxiety intensified. He began to doubt whether he could escape, whether he would have to spend the rest of his life in this dark and hopeless place. Just as he was about to despair, a figure appeared in his sight.

It was a short goblin demon, carrying a basket, sneaking towards the prison. Cheng Yu recognized him at a glance; he was one of the nameless henchmen of the demon he had traded with before, though Cheng Yu had gotten to know him out of curiosity! Overjoyed, he quickly stood up and walked towards the goblin demon.

“Hey! Smigor!” Cheng Yu shouted.

The goblin demon trembled with fear when he heard someone call his name, nearly dropping his basket. He looked around and finally spotted Cheng Yu standing at the cell door.

"Lord Cheng...Lord Chengyu?" Smigor's voice trembled. "You...what are you doing here?"

"It's a long story," Cheng Yu sighed helplessly, "I need your help now."

Smigor hesitated for a moment, then asked cautiously, "What...what do you need me to do?"

“I want you to pass on a message for me,” Cheng Yu said, “to contact Mrs. Krina in Hell City and tell her that I have important information to sell to her.”

Smigel's eyes lit up. Mrs. Klinner had made a deal with Cheng Yu before, and he had gained a lot of benefits from it. If Cheng Yu really had important information, perhaps he could really help.

“No problem, Lord Chengyu,” Smigor quickly agreed, “I will definitely deliver your message.”

"Then I'll leave it to you," Cheng Yu said gratefully. "I will definitely repay you properly after it's done."

Smigor left the cell with the basket, and Cheng Yu watched him go, a glimmer of hope igniting in his heart. He knew this might be his only chance to escape, and he had to seize it. He returned to his corner and sat down, patiently waiting for news from Smigor. Time ticked by, the cell eerily quiet, broken only by the relentless pounding of Cheng Yu's heart. He didn't know if Smigor had successfully contacted the black market dealer, or if the dealer would be interested in his information. He could only pray silently, hoping everything would go smoothly.

The cell reeked of decay. Baal shifted his heavy body, letting out a deep sigh. "You're such a naive fool," he grumbled. "Trusting a goblin? They're the most cunning and unreliable creatures. They'd sell their souls for a piece of rotten meat, let alone save you!" Baal glanced disdainfully at Cheng Yu. "Besides, you're locked up in this godforsaken place. Who would risk their life to rescue you? This is Demon Castle, not your backyard!"

Cheng Yu glanced at Baal with some surprise. This usually taciturn minotaur had suddenly become so agitated. He said with a hint of mockery, "Can I take this as you being concerned about me? How strange, a demon actually cares about others."

Baal snorted and turned his head away. "I just think it's utterly ridiculous that there are actually fools who believe that demons can save people."

Cheng Yu smiled helplessly. While Baal's words were harsh, they weren't entirely without merit. How could a demon save someone for no reason? There must be a substantial incentive behind it. And he happened to have that leverage. He believed Mrs. Krina would be interested in his information and willing to pay the price for it.

He ignored Baal and returned to his corner, his gaze fixed on the cell door. Baal, seeing this, grunted and fell silent. Silence returned to the cell, broken only by the occasional clanging of chains and the distant clamor of demons.

Time ticked by, the last rays of the setting sun streaming through the cell door, bathing the cell in a dim, yellowish light. Cheng Yu was filled with anxiety and anticipation. He didn't know if Smigor had already delivered the message, nor when Mrs. Klina would arrive. He could only wait silently, awaiting his fate.

Night fell, and the cell grew even colder and damper. Baal huddled in a corner, seemingly asleep. Cheng Yu, however, remained wide awake, not daring to let his guard down, afraid of missing even the slightest glimmer of hope. Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps approached, shattering the cell's tranquility. Cheng Yu's heart pounded; he sensed something was about to happen.

A figure appeared at the prison gate. In the dim light, Cheng Yu couldn't make out the person's features. The person paused for a moment, then said in a shrill voice, "Excuse me, which one of you is Mr. Cheng Yu?"

Cheng Yu suddenly stood up and shouted excitedly, "It is me! I am Cheng Yu!"

The person took a few steps closer, and in the dim light, Cheng Yu finally saw her clearly. She was a short woman wearing a black cloak, and her face was covered by a silver mask, obscuring her true features.

“I am Ms. Klina’s agent,” the woman said. “She heard that you have important information and sent me to meet with you.”

Cheng Yu took a deep breath; he knew his chance had come.

"There's one more thing! Ms. Krina doesn't like being called 'Mrs.'"

"What time is it now? Why are you still worrying about such trivial things as how to address me?" Cheng Yu said anxiously. "Getting me out of here is the most important thing!"

The woman shook her head, her voice behind the mask devoid of any emotion. "I'm sorry, Mr. Cheng Yu. Ms. Krina's rule is cash on delivery. We can only let you out if you provide the information."

Cheng Yu felt like the sky was falling. How could he possibly know any important information about hell? He'd just made it up! His original plan was to go to Mrs. Krina first, then use another money-making opportunity to exchange for his freedom. He should have just said it was money-making information, not some important intelligence! Now it was too late.

Seeing that Cheng Yu remained silent, the female demon wasn't in a hurry and simply stood quietly at the cell door waiting. If he couldn't provide any information, she would turn around and leave; there was no need to waste time here. Seeing this, Baal couldn't help but sneer, "I knew it! You're hopeless! You seemed so confident before, I thought you had some real skills, but in the end, you're just a clever little devil."

Cheng Yu glared fiercely at Baer, ​​feeling extremely frustrated. He racked his brains, trying to figure out what to do. Was he really going to die here? Just when he was about to despair, a sudden inspiration struck him, and a bold idea surfaced in his mind.

“I do have the intelligence,” Cheng Yu said mysteriously, “but it’s too important to talk about here.”

The female demon raised her eyebrows slightly. "Oh? Where would you like to speak then?"

“I need to see Ms. Klina in person,” Cheng Yu said firmly. “Only in person can I tell her the information.”

The female demon hesitated for a moment; she hadn't expected Cheng Yu to make such a request. Ms. Krina's identity was highly secretive; she rarely met with others. But then she thought, if Cheng Yu truly possessed crucial intelligence, then the risk was worthwhile.

“I can pass on your request to Ms. Klina,” the female demon said, “but I cannot guarantee that she will agree.”

“I know,” Cheng Yu nodded. “Please make sure to tell her that this information will definitely shock Mrs. Klina, just like last time. She will definitely be interested.”

The female demon gave Cheng Yu a deep look, then turned and left the cell. Cheng Yu watched her retreating figure, his heart filled with unease. He didn't know if Ms. Krina would agree to see him, nor did he know if his plan would succeed. But he had no other choice but to gamble everything.

Barr watched Cheng Yu's actions with a mocking look in his eyes. "You think you can fool Krina like this? She's not so easily fooled!"

Cheng Yu ignored Baal's taunts. He closed his eyes and prayed silently. He knew that the next few days would be the most crucial moments of his life.

Three days later, the female demon appeared at the cell door again. This time, her tone was respectful, "Mr. Cheng Yu, Ms. Krina agrees to see you. Please come with me."

"Hey! I need a demon to tell me that none of this is real! What kind of plot is this? How could someone be rescued like this? Is this still Castlevania?"

Cheng Yu was overjoyed. He struggled to suppress his excitement and followed the female demon out of the cell. He knew his gamble had paid off.

They walked through a dark, damp corridor and came to a huge iron door. The female demon pushed the door open, and Cheng Yu went inside.

It was a spacious room, with a huge table in the center, behind which sat a tall woman. She wore a long black robe, and her face was still covered by the silver mask.

"Heh, isn't this our Mr. Sincerity? It's been a while, and you don't even want your body anymore?" the woman asked, her voice deep and magnetic.

“Madam, please stop teasing me,” Cheng Yu replied respectfully. “Mrs. Klina, it’s been a long time since we last met. Although we have no feelings for each other, you can’t say that you are my business partner.”

"I heard you had important information about Hell City, but then you changed the information. It seems you were lying to me before?" Ms. Krina's voice carried a hint of curiosity.

“Yes, as you know, businessmen who want to pursue higher profits have to learn to be cunning, and I think I’ve done a great job!” Cheng Yu nodded confidently. “Besides, the destruction of Hell doesn’t seem to be important to you, Madam. How could you put your heart into saving Hell City when you’re focused on making money?”

"Oh?" Ms. Krina asked with interest. "It seems you know me quite well. We've only known each other for a short time, yet you're so sure I'm this kind of demon. Aren't you afraid I'll add another charge to your name, like hijacking Hell City's economic lifeline?"