Baal Returns

He gave the hammer handle a twist, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.

He Chenguan's face, He Chenguan's presence, He Chenguan's level of power—even this cheap hammer bought for a few dozen bucks carried it all.

Third rank, Summoner... Hmm, no!

Beidou's expression turned odd. What did it mean that He Chenguan was a third-rank Summoner who could summon beasts, had defense comparable to a sixth-rank Reinforcement-type, and could hard-control a seventh-rank Psychic-type?

The facts were right in front of him. That was how the Rule of All Appearances worked: whatever others believed him to be, he became. Conversely, whatever they didn't believe, he couldn't use.

In other words, all of this was what people believed.

Beidou looked back toward the train carriage. Guan Jinyue's sword intent still lingered in the air. She was dealing with the remnants of the illusion, her movements clean and decisive, each strike carrying clear purpose.

There were less than five seconds left before the illusion collapsed.

Beidou walked out, gripping the iron hammer.

The illusion shattered at the fourth second.

Guan Jinyue's sword stopped midair. Her silver hair slid over her shoulders, her black eyes fixed on the empty space where the illusion had vanished.

"Illusion?"

Then she heard footsteps.

Guan Jinyue turned around. She saw He Chenguan walking out from the direction of the wall. The hammer was slung over his shoulder, the mask still the same mask, his gait still the same gait.

"When did you move positions?"

Beidou spoke in He Chenguan's voice, his tone carrying that careless edge left behind by Chen Guan.

"Guess."

Guan Jinyue's gaze swept over him. Her brow furrowed slightly.

"You've got illusions too."

"Kept one hidden."

"Reinforcement-type ability users shouldn't have illusion abilities."

Guan Jinyue didn't attack immediately. Her black eyes fixed on the person before her.

This person... was so strange.

Beidou could feel her gaze travel from the top of his head to his feet, then stop at his chest.

Specifically, on the inner pocket where the iron box was hidden.

Guan Jinyue raised her hand. Sword light condensed between her fingers. In the night, a silvery-white line extended from her palm.

Beidou's body reacted. A protective layer from the Royalguard flickered on the surface of his skin, exactly like Chen Guan's response pattern.

Then he sensed something wrong.

Inside this clone, there was an extremely subtle fluctuation that was heating up.

Beidou had lived for countless years. He had seen more ability users and non-human beings than everyone in this port combined. But this fluctuation triggered an alarm deep in his consciousness.

This wasn't human power.

When Beidou used the Rule of All Appearances to replicate He Chenguan, he had also replicated all the traces Chen Guan had left on this identity—including things Chen Guan himself might not have realized at the time.

Like the remnants of a demon god's aura.

Guan Jinyue sensed it instantly. Her hand, mid-motion, froze.

"Baal."

The young woman leaned forward slightly. She knew the mischief demon had already gone beyond just lurking in the shadows.

Beidou watched the black smoke rising on the empty ground. The light in his eyes faded.

It was actually Him.

Even for an ageless human like Beidou, contact with beings like Baal was rare. Their few encounters had only happened because of Baal's contractor.

They weren't close—just figures at the world's peak, bound to cross paths occasionally.

"Heh heh heh, long time no see. What do you go by now?"

The demon's voice arrived before its presence.

Beidou's pupils contracted.

It really was Him.

"Beidou."

Beidou replied in He Chenguan's voice.

"Beidou?" The black smoke wavered, as if shaking its head. "You went back to that broken organization after all. Speaking of which, I'm curious who's leading it now."

"Does it matter?"

Baal laughed. "It matters. I'm very curious who has that much charm. You gave up godhood back then just to follow your leader. So your new leader shouldn't be much worse than Him, right?"

Beidou didn't answer Baal's question. His choices didn't need Baal's evaluation.

He had never regretted abandoning godhood. That godhood back then was a scam.

But he didn't need to explain that to an empty-shell demon before him.

Baal stopped laughing, but that lazy air about Him didn't dissipate. He circled Beidou half a turn, the edges of the black smoke brushing past He Chenguan's mask before pulling back.

"You left a mark on my clone."

Beidou had already realized why Baal had come.

Baal's black smoke rippled, as if nodding.

"Yeah, a mark suddenly appeared. Lord Bael couldn't help but notice. Just didn't expect it to be you."

Baal had noticed earlier that the marks left by Chen Guan and Guan Jinyue overlapped in position, but He only glanced at it and didn't pay much attention—two kids, let them do whatever they wanted. Lord Bael had more interesting things to do.

But then He suddenly realized that during their fight, an extra mark had appeared out of nowhere. That made it impossible for Baal to ignore it.

It wasn't until He saw Beidou that Baal relaxed and pieced together most of what had happened.

It was that annoying ability again. At least nobody had stolen the account.

Still, since they'd met, He might as well help out once. Baal had lost count of how many times He'd lent aid to Chen Guan.

Baal silently opened a team voice chat with Guan Jinyue.

"So you're not here for me."

Beidou made a quick judgment.

"Of course not. You're not qualified for that yet."

Baal said it as if it were obvious. He had already understood the whole situation.

Well, looks like dumping Guan Jinyue off with the Wraith race back then was the right move.

Look at her now—living such a full life.

"Little Jinyue, you're a bit quiet today."

Guan Jinyue gripped her sword, her black eyes fixed on the mass of black smoke and then on Beidou standing not far away. She said nothing.

"What, run into a tough nut and can't crack it?"

Baal's tone carried a hint of mockery.

"He carries your aura."

"Who is he?"

Guan Jinyue finally spoke. Her voice was cold and clear. This was the script she and Baal had coordinated.

"He is who he is. A temp worker who'd sell his life for ninety thousand bucks, isn't that right?"

Baal laughed again.

"So, are we still fighting or not?"

Beidou spoke up. His tone was impatient.

"My time is valuable, Miss."

"If you really wanted this thing, you should've said so sooner."

"Name your price."

Guan Jinyue's brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

This turn of events was something she had never anticipated.

Moments ago, he was fighting to the death. Now suddenly he's being reasonable.

Beidou... Guan Jinyue pondered the name. From Baal's attitude earlier, the two of them probably weren't in a contractor relationship.

Especially since Baal had mentioned godhood.

The man before her had once walked the path of godhood?

Guan Jinyue felt a bit dazed. Had she just been fighting a god?

Seeing Guan Jinyue lost in thought, Beidou continued speaking. "This is my job. A ninety-thousand-buck job. If you want to cut me off, at least you should cover my losses."

"And you need to add mental damages and hazard pay."