A Core Ship From The Start
Chapter 1475 - 996: Probing the Depths (This Damn Granblue Fantasy Game Won’t Even Start!)_2

Chapter 1475: Chapter 996: Probing the Depths (This Damn Granblue Fantasy Game Won’t Even Start!)_2

It seems in his eyes, even a powerful demon like Zorke is no more than roadside weeds, utterly insignificant.

So, the question arises: could someone with such an unyielding soul really be just an ordinary person?

"Oh, so that’s the issue? If you’d asked earlier, we could’ve settled this by now."

Under Liliath’s gaze, Duanmu Huai appeared quite composed.

"Alright, let me reintroduce myself then— I am Duanmu Huai, the Great Judge of the Tribunal... Hmm, I hope you’ll remember that."

"Tribunal..."

At hearing this term, Liliath’s expression became a little tense.

"You’re with the Church..."

"I can roughly guess what you’re thinking, but I must tell you, the Tribunal has absolutely nothing to do with the Church you’re imagining."

Duanmu Huai could easily deduce Liliath’s thoughts, as he had already learned from Renari’s shadow that this world currently had three factions: angels, fallen angels, and demons.

As for humans, they seemed more like a subsidiary power.

"The Tribunal’s duty is to protect humanity and eliminate any existence that dares threaten humanity in any way."

Duanmu Huai stared at Liliath and spoke.

"As I’ve said before, the Tribunal’s sole aim is to protect humanity. Consequently, whether it’s angels, fallen angels, demons, deities, or demon kings— if they dare to endanger humanity, the Tribunal will not hesitate to utterly annihilate them. That’s right, according to the Tribunal, humanity doesn’t need to sacrifice itself for any deity or demon. On the contrary, if a deity or demon dares harm humanity, we will eradicate them completely."

As he spoke, a chilling killing intent emanated from Duanmu Huai’s body once again. Feeling this icy aura, everyone’s hair stood on end— it felt as if they were standing at the edge of a bottomless abyss, where one misstep would plunge them into darkness forever.

"So, are we demons also targets for you to eliminate?"

Standing beside Liliath, Kiba Hiroto’s body tightened as he glared at Duanmu Huai and asked. Duanmu Huai glanced at him briefly.

"Hmm... How should I put it? The Tribunal’s criteria for determining humanity are a bit different from what you might expect."

"Different?"

"Exactly."

While speaking, Duanmu Huai reached into his chest pocket and pulled out a rose knot, displaying it to everyone.

"This is the Tribunal’s rose knot. Do you notice anything?"

"Why does it have a skull head on it?"

Naruse Mio stared at the rose knot in Duanmu Huai’s hands and immediately commented. Generally speaking, wouldn’t a rose knot typically feature a cross or an image of the Holy Mother? Adding a skull head made Naruse Mio feel like it resembled the edgy decorations some boys in her class wore.

"That’s correct."

Duanmu Huai fiddled with it and replied.

"This symbolizes the Tribunal’s standard of humanity. From our perspective, if the skull structure is human, then it’s considered human. Therefore, to the Tribunal, whether angels, fallen angels, or demons— as long as your skull matches that of a human, we regard you as subhumans."

"This is really..."

Hearing Duanmu Huai’s explanation, Liliath couldn’t help but feel amused and exasperated. After all, angels, fallen angels, and demons had always considered their species far nobler than humans. Yet, Duanmu Huai bluntly stated they could simply be categorized as subhumans...

It was clear that if certain radical factions heard Duanmu Huai’s words, they’d start a fight immediately. To them, this was akin to monkeys claiming humans were just hairless, mutated apes— an outright provocation.

Duanmu Huai, however, couldn’t care less. Would the Tribunal ever compromise on its human supremacy ethos?

Don’t like it? How about fists the size of casserole pots?

"So, you wouldn’t treat demons as inherently targetable threats like the Church does?"

"Frankly? We treat angels, fallen angels, and demons equally. As long as you don’t threaten humanity, there won’t be any problems."

Duanmu Huai left the latter part of his statement unsaid, trusting Liliath’s intelligence to grasp his implication.

"If that’s the case, then there’s no issue."

Liliath’s eyes gleamed with determination as she quickly made a decision.

"Which brings us to my requested reward—I hope you will join me."

"I’ve already said, I won’t undergo a rebirth as a demon."

Duanmu Huai once again rejected Liliath’s request, but this time, she merely shook her head.

"No, not a rebirth. A temporary contract."

"Temporary contract?"

"Precisely."

Looking at Duanmu Huai, Liliath nodded firmly.

"I can help Naruse adjust to her powers, teach her combat techniques, and some demon-related knowledge. But my condition is that the three of you join my faction and fight for me!"

She then began to explain the situation to Duanmu Huai and Naruse Mio.

The reason for her request was linked to the "Ranking Game."

The Ranking Game is a contest where noble demons command their subordinates in battle to determine superiority. Only mature demons are allowed to participate in official Ranking Games, so Liliath had yet to compete in one. However, she was soon approaching the stage where she could, and thus she intended to strengthen her "pieces" in preparation.

This was why she had repeatedly sought out Duanmu Huai— in her perspective, if Duanmu Huai joined her faction, she would become nearly unbeatable in the Ranking Game.

Typically, these "pieces" in the Ranking Game were rebirthed as demons through chess pieces. However, there were special cases where a temporary contract could be formed. This didn’t involve rebirth but instead granted a temporary enhancement as a chess piece during battle. Of course, such arrangements were rare among superior demons, as it was akin to hiring mercenaries. Noble demons generally preferred loyal subordinates over temporary hires.

It was similar to aristocrats preferring their own private troops over mercenary bands, even if mercenaries fought in the front lines. Thus, temporary contracts were seldom employed.

But since Duanmu Huai steadfastly refused to undergo rebirth as a demon, Liliath had no choice but to settle for this alternative.

"Hmm..."

Faced with Liliath’s proposal, Duanmu Huai pondered for a moment before turning to look at Naruse Mio and Banriya. Sensing Duanmu Huai’s gaze, Banriya said nothing, while Naruse Mio gritted her teeth, silently expressing her thoughts through her look and demeanor. From her expression and eyes, Duanmu Huai already had his answer.

"Alright."

Duanmu Huai withdrew his gaze and looked at Liliath.

"It’s settled then."