"What, what did you say?"
Rocky's words had stunned Liliya!
And a moment later, having regained her senses, she rushed to Rocky's front, "No! Rocky, you mustn't think like this, don't consider targeting the demons!"
Rocky had anticipated Liliya's reaction, so he just sighed helplessly and looked back at her with a question, "Other than targeting the demons, do we have any other choice?"
His counter-question was filled with helplessness but left Liliya speechless.
As Liliya had said earlier, Thunderhawk City was facing a significant crisis. Winter was approaching, and the city lacked the food reserves for the cold months. The Azure Commerce Guild had also chosen this time to hike up the trade prices, leaving Thunderhawk City unable to afford enough food.
How would they overcome this difficulty?
This was the dilemma that had troubled everyone for the past month. Liliya was worried, Aileen was anxious, but no one was as desperate as Rocky, for Thunderhawk City was his! He was the City Lord!
If something went wrong with the city, as the City Lord, wouldn't Rocky be doomed too? Therefore, he was actually the most anxious of all.
So while Rocky would spend each day in his laboratory tinkering with runes, at night, when everyone else in the city had fallen into a deep sleep, he would think about how to get Thunderhawk City through the winter, how to ensure the city's residents had food to eat.
Ultimately, he thought of a method: hunting demons!
After so long familiarizing himself with this world, Rocky knew very well that demons were not just everyone's enemies but also a resource!
Demons were valuable!
Ever since demons began to invade the land, people discovered that these creatures from the Different Dimension, despite being terrifying, were treasures all over!
Their skin, as hard as steel yet as flexible as cloth, was the perfect material for making soft armor.
The blood of demons was a prime magical ingredient, even capable of enhancing magic stones.
The most valuable part of a demon was the Demon Core, equivalent to the heart of a demon, containing energy far surpassing that of any magic stone, a very precious item that many were researching to uncover the secrets of the Demon Core and locate the demons' weakness.
In short, a demon's body was full of treasures. Therefore, whether it was the governments represented by the various Sky Cities or individuals aiming to make money, many were hunting demons all year round, and it had even led to the emergence of a new profession: Demon Hunter.
And the method Rocky thought of was to hunt demons.
If he could successfully kill a demon, he could easily earn close to ten thousand gold coins!
This price was not exaggerated at all, for although demons were everywhere, unless a formal military force was deployed for a large-scale hunt, killing a demon with an individual's power was very difficult, hence the high price.
This was why Rocky was heading Thunderhawk City towards Eternal City; it was the largest trade city in the skies. With demons in hand, once he reached Eternal City, he would not have to worry about being unable to sell them, nor fetching a high price.
At the same time, this was also why he had been relentlessly strengthening his Void Magic Armor day and night. To hunt demons, he would have to act personally, as only the Void Magic Armor could contend with demons. However, Rocky knew his abilities were too mediocre, and his Void Magic Armor too outdated; thus, it was essential to enhance it with runes to have a chance at success!
And now, having completed the enhancement of the Void Magic Armor, his next plan was to return to land, hunt demons, and then sell them. Thus, naturally, Thunderhawk City would overcome its crisis.
In Rocky's view, this was the only way to save Thunderhawk City!
"No! You absolutely cannot go!"
However, Liliya firmly disagreed with his idea.
"Rocky, last time you already witnessed how terrifying demons are, they are monstrous creatures that only an army can contend with, not something you can handle alone."
At this moment, Liliya showed an unprecedented level of agitation, because, in her view, Rocky's idea was simply suicidal! She could rely on Rocky, could support him unconditionally, but she would never watch him go to his death. This was Liliya's bottom line, so she firmly opposed Rocky's method.
"Liliya, this is the only way to save Thunderhawk City, I..."
"Even if this city is destroyed, I want you to live!"
Standing in front of Rocky, staring intently into his eyes, Liliya resolutely said!
Her words stunned Rocky, he looked at Liliya's eyes with some disbelief, seeing only determination in her eyes, which let Rocky know that Liliya wasn't deceiving him, she would rather see Thunderhawk City fall than let him get hurt...
So, Rocky smiled, smiled and placed his hands on Liliya's shoulders, then he said, "Thunderhawk City won't be destroyed, and I won't die."
"Because I didn't plan to hunt demons alone, so why are you in such a hurry."
"You don't need to lie to me!", Liliya glared at Rocky, dismissing his words, "Don't forget that I'm the Captain of the Guard in Thunderhawk City, none of the city's guards and skyships can help you in this matter, they are no match for demons."
"I didn't say I wanted their help."
Shaking his head at Liliya, Rocky became serious, "I want you to come with me, the two of us together, to hunt demons!"
"Me?"
Upon hearing this, Liliya was stunned, she stared blankly at Rocky for a long while before letting out a bitter smile, "Sorry... I cannot help you this time..."
"I... am too weak..."
Looking at Rocky, Liliya's voice was filled with bitterness, "Unless I reach the strength of a fifth-level warrior, I wouldn't even withstand a single blow from even the weakest demon, but I'm only a third level, this strength is not even enough to buy you some time in case of a demon encounter, I'm sorry..."
As she spoke these words, Liliya felt extremely distressed, she indeed wanted to help Rocky, but as she had said, even to face the weakest demon, one would need the strength of a fifth-level warrior!
This was experience that far too many had paid for with their lives, yet she was only third level.
"No, you can, and only you can."
However, just as she had finished speaking, Rocky shook his head and then smilingly reminded her, "Liliya, have you forgotten what I found at the research institute? It wasn't just research notes and a few magic stones I found, but also several pieces of rune equipment!"
"Those rune equipments are all personally crafted by Winsor! And as long as you wear the rune equipment, together, we can definitely hunt down the demons!"