The Author's POV

Bang—!

Crashing against a tree was a black humanoid figure. The bark of the three flew everywhere, and the figure rolled back a couple of meters.

Coming to a stop, the demon raised his head and glared in my direction.

"Uakh! How…dare you!"

"Just answer a few questions if you don't want to die."

Walking up to the demon, I placed my foot on top of his head and applied some pressure. His head came into contact with the ground.

"Khhh."

Using every ounce of his strength to raise his head, the demon glared my way, but I ignored him and lowered my body to meet his eyes. Along the way, I removed my foot which was pressed against his face.

He was only a Baron-ranked demon. Therefore, I wasn't too worried about him running away.

"Hmmm."

Taking out a black frit from my pocket, I presented it to the demon in front of me.

"I'll give you this if you start speaking."

The demon's face changed instantly the moment I took out the core. He was giving me a look filled with greed.

I secretly smirked when I saw this.

Having killed as many demons as I did, it was inevitable for me to pick up a couple of devil fruits. Since I had no use for them, I could use them as a good bargaining chip.

"If you want this core, you better answer my questions properly."

"...How should I believe you?"

The demon's voice was rather calm, but I could tell that this was merely a pretense. It was very subtle but there was a tremble in his voice as he spoke.

'He's scared.'

"How should you believe me?…Mhh."

I frowned underneath my mask.

After a while, I just shrugged my shoulders.

"You don't really have a choice either way. I can just kill you with a single slap. If you don't answer my questions I'll just go to another demon. Someone will eventually speak, it's not like the questions I'm about to ask are a secret…"

I slowly raised my hand.

The demon flinched when he saw this.

"I will speak! I will speak!"

He repeatedly shouted.

There was clear fear in his eyes as he said those words.

'Good…'

Lowering my hand, I deeply gazed into the demon's eyes.

"Alright, I'll make this simple. Tell me what you know about Morian."

Although what my other self said usually ended up being correct, I still didn't trust him.

Before making any moves, I wanted to assess the situation for myself.

My next set of actions would be based on the demon's answers.

"Marion?"

"That's right, tell me anything you know about it. Especially about the arena."

The demon's face changed a bit as he hesitated to speak. I pressed my hand to his throat when I saw this.

"I don't have much time, make it quick."

"Khh…yes."

recount everything about the city. From its general layout, to who reigned supreme over there, and how heavily guarded it

and what were the most crowded areas. I didn't really pay too much

on infiltrating the city in the first place. All that interested me was the

the thought. That place is under the surveillance of two Dukes. You will never make it past the

"I see."

coincides with what he

me a bit. Turning my attention back

arena, what

"…the arena?"

face changed. It went from

My forehead creased.

anything,

themselves. Watching the other races fight and kill each other is the most

to have completely forgotten about his predicament as the excitement in his

isn't that much different from fights

words reminded me of televised fights back on earth. Their system

There's this new human that

"Did you say human?"

I cut in.

Could he be referring to

was thinking, the demon nodded his

he has left before he loses. I've personally bet on thirty. Even though his fights

"Mhhhh..."

a bit, I

human, what is his

his head. Pondering for a bit,

Some even say that he's close to Duke rank, but no one

"I see…"

nodded my head

'It's probably him.'

fact that he was human and his strength was similar to that of Amanda's father before he left was a good indication to me that

else you would like to

The demon asked.

to the demon, I thought for

caught a human, orc, or any other member of the race, what do they earn

"Eh?"

as soon as I posed the question, but all it took was a

still using the same as before. The one that used cores

rank difference, the demon was unable

they can give them to the arena and earn a cut from

"Oh?"

system they

fight and give them a cut of how

wasn't a bad

that each event made quite a bit of money for

"Ehm…"

out of my thoughts was the demon's voice. Lowering my

"What is it?"

a crude smile on his

told you

Click—!

clicking sound rang through the air and the demon's

"Y…y…"

turned around and left the area. Although the demon was unable to mutter his last words, I already knew what he was

'You lied...'

"Yes, I lied."

promised him

*

the area I was previously in, a figure appeared not too

"So, you satisfied?"

"I am."

gave a short

have been right, but I just had to make sure for myself. This

are you going to do

Raising my head to

as

"Good."

stop. Tapping on my bracelet, I took