Demon King: Hero, don’t run away!
Chapter 388: Catching a Turtle in a Jar

Chapter 388: Chapter 388: Catching a Turtle in a Jar

Crawling through the ventilation duct, Iyas looked at the blueprint in her hands.

From the layout of the ducts, theoretically, she could use them to reach many places, but most of the ducts were no thicker than twenty centimeters, which made it impossible for Iyas to move wherever she wanted at will.

Fortunately, she could make a rough guess as to which ventilation ducts could accommodate her movements by using the scale on the map, sparing her the need to confirm each one.

The good news was that the main ducts of the ventilation system were built around the second subterranean level, allowing Iyas to move freely within those ducts.

The bad news was that the ducts Iyas could move through formed a complete "closed loop," with only three exits available.

It seemed that the designer had also considered the possibility of slaves entering the ducts after an escape.

Once a slave ran into the ducts, people could first be sent to guard the three exits, and then have two others approach from both directions to catch and drag out any escaping slave.

Realizing this, Iyas immediately quickened her crawling pace towards the nearest exit, lest she be trapped and die in the ventilation duct.

Iyas kicked open the cover blocking the vent and jumped down onto the floor of the nearest room.

Unlike the dark slave storage room, the ceiling here was adorned with beautiful Magic Lamps that emitted a soft, yellow glow, and rows of desks faced a spacious podium, giving the room an orderly appearance.

However, this was no place for nurturing minds; beside the podium in this classroom were various torture devices, unabashedly displayed.

The Slave Auction House had no interest in one-on-one instruction for slaves; instead, they brought the slaves here to learn the necessary knowledge collectively, and then provided "education" to individual slaves as needed.

Occasionally, the auction house would also let other slaves watch the "education" of their fellows, to teach them the consequences of not learning well.

Seeing the specks of blood left on the torture devices, Iyas quickly realized the purpose of this room; her first reaction wasn’t fear or disgust but anger and revulsion.

"How outrageous... they really don’t see us as human!"

After her indignation subsided, Iyas quickly regained her composure; the pressing matter was to leave this place quickly.

After the recent events, even a fool would know this place was a trap.

If she couldn’t get out with Hake safely, then the rescue would be meaningless.

This was not a retreat but a strategic withdrawal.

That man must have been right about everything; it was her own fault for acting too late, resulting in her trace being discovered and allowing the auction house to prepare in advance.

As long as she could retreat successfully and then regroup with Yang Yu and the others, relying on his intellect, she was certain...

Certainly...

Iyas lowered her head, recalling everything that happened five days ago, and couldn’t help but raise her hand to touch her cheek.

She was no longer their partner; why should she rely on them in such circumstances?

Looking at her empty hand, the times she had spent with Yang Yu and the others flashed before her eyes, and a sense of sadness welled up from within.

She had personally cast all that aside.

"This is no time to think about that guy. It’s all his fault that the defenses here are so perfect, and Hake might have already been moved... It’s all that guy’s fault..."

It wasn’t Yang Yu’s fault, Iyas knew that.

But the more she knew it, the less she wanted to admit it.

In the end, she could only deceive herself, adding an air of legitimacy to her actions.

"Let’s hurry up and go! If we’re any slower, the pursuers will catch up."

Muttering to herself, Iyas hastened her steps, but before she could reach the door, it creaked open.

On the other side of the door appeared two figures.

One of them was wearing a mask adorned with feathers, standing tall in a wide-shouldered red outfit.

A silver-white decoration resembling the sun, but not entirely, was pinned to his chest—rather, it was a sun with a cross added on top.

This appearance was identical to the auctioneer Iyas remembered.

The faint fragrance of arnopis orchid drifted to her, and Iyas clenched her teeth, drew her bow, and aimed an arrow straight at the auctioneer’s chest.

At that moment, the other figure moved, his massive hand steadily catching Iyas’s arrow.

The man who caught Iyas’s arrow was well over two meters tall, with a knight helmet on his head, a meteor hammer in his right hand, and wearing a red and black garment that resembled prisoner’s attire, with bulging muscles that filled the fabric to bursting. With one forceful squeeze, he crushed the arrow in his left hand to dust.

Lifting his feathered mask, Hei Yao broke into a smile and clapped his hands,

"To think, in such a situation, you’d come up with a way to flee the ambush—truly impressive."

Upon seeing Hei Yao, Iyas’s emotions surged once more,

"Hake, where is my brother? Where have you hidden him!"

Spreading his hands in resignation, Hei Yao spoke with an utterly indifferent attitude: "Hide? Well, since you’ve walked right into the trap, I might as well tell you the truth—your brother was sold a while ago."

"What! Who bought him, and when was he sold! Speak up!"

Iyas’s aggressive demand was met with a redrawn bowstring.

But this threat was completely ineffective on Hei Yao; the reason he had answered her like that before was purely due to the fear that the ’duck that was ready to be cooked’ might fly away.

Now, with Iyas having nowhere to go and such a strong ally at his side, why not open his heart and taunt to his content?

"Miss Elf, please understand your current situation. Can you really talk to me like this?"

"Don’t play the fool with me, just tell me where my brother is, or I’ll put a hole in your head with an arrow!"

"Hehe, if you can do it, then try."

Hei Yao snorted in derision, and the man beside him took a step forward,

"There’s no need to waste words on merchandise. For such a rebellious one, leave the ’education’ to me. I’ll make her as docile and adorable as a kitten."

With a slight smile, Hei Yao stepped back, "I’ll leave it to you then, Teacher Lund, just don’t be too rough; absolutely do not hit the face, but feel free to handle the rest as you please."

"I’ve got it, leave it to me."

Called Lund, the large man took a step forward into the room, while Hei Yao slowly covered the door.

"Hey! Don’t go! Answer me, where exactly did you sell my brother!"

Iyas shouted, but Hei Yao still ignored her, continuing to close the door.

Just as the door was about to be completely shut, Lund briefly turned his head back to remind Hei Yao,

"Don’t forget to deal with those underground bounty hunters, I’ll take care of everything here; just give those people a bit of money to send them on their way."