The Heavenly Demon Can’t Live A Normal Life [EN]: Chapter 303

People thought Hoffman was all about money. They said he would do anything to get rich. In their minds, he looked just like his reputation: fat, with a big belly, and messy stubble on his many chins, like a greedy pig.

But the real Hoffman was not like that at all.

A neat, middle-aged man, wearing round glasses, looked at Roman Dmitry.

“Dmitry’s recent actions have really surprised me. Even Valhalla, the land of warriors, avoids fighting Chronos directly. But Dmitry beat Chronos and got money for the war. And then there was the Swordsmanship Show. Golden Bank doesn’t like to go against what everyone else is doing. But now, we think Dmitry might be the next big thing.”

He took a sip of tea.

Golden Bank thinks fast.

They saw the continent changing quickly. After many meetings, they decided something.

“Dmitry will become as strong as Chronos and Valhalla. Roman Dmitry is very capable, and he will do great things. If Golden Bank supports him, things will be easier for everyone. That’s why I came to see Dmitry. Golden Bank wants to work with Dmitry. If Dmitry agrees to think about working with us, we will help with his money problems.”

It was a confident statement.

Golden Bank meant money.

People said their vaults were full of gold, like a huge ocean. Over many years, they had become incredibly rich.

This offer was very tempting.

Moreover, Dmitry had been spending a lot of money recently due to the continuous wars, the Redford Kingdom, and the war reparations, so even Dmitry, who was called a tycoon, had no choice but to have tight pockets.

The timing was right.

At a time when Dmitry needed money, Golden Bank highly valued Dmitry.

Hoffman added.

“Golden Bank doesn’t want much from Dmitry. Just knowing that Dmitry might include Golden Bank in his plans for the future is enough for us to lend him ‘1 million gold’ with no interest. Isn’t that amazing? It’s more money than even weak countries can dream of, and we are offering it just to be friendly.”

It was an attractive condition.

Clearly advantageous to Dmitry.

The moment he showed a smile and shook hands, Dmitry could secure 1 million gold in spare funds.

But Roman Dmitry reacted in a way Hoffman didn’t expect.

“So, you mean you’re going to walk a tightrope between Chronos and Dmitry?”

The room suddenly felt cold.

Hoffman’s face became stiff, but Roman Dmitry kept talking, not stopping at all.

“Golden Bank has been friends with the Chronos Empire for a long time. It’s more than just business; you clearly tried to help Chronos during the Redford Kingdom problem. Hoffman, as the boss of Golden Bank, that plan must have been yours. If Redford Kingdom had failed to pay back Golden Bank and fallen apart, would you be here today, offering to work with Dmitry?”

It was a sensitive issue.

When the riots broke out in the Redford Kingdom, the cause of the riots was the Chronos Empire and Golden Bank.

That plan.

It was inhumane.

The Chronos Empire killed the Redford King’s children and forced the King to live a dissolute life, holding the life of the last remaining prince as collateral.

The King indulged in alcohol and women, plunging the Redford Kingdom into ruin with gambling debts.

Golden Bank fueled the Chronos Empire’s plan.

By lending a large sum of money without anything to secure as collateral, they pushed the Redford Kingdom hard from behind.

If.

If it weren’t for Roman Dmitry’s help, the Redford Kingdom would have perished, and the Kingdom Alliance would have collapsed.

Chronos and Golden Bank.

They were in the same boat.

At that pointed remark, Hoffman expressed his chilly feelings with a laugh.

“If the Redford plan worked, I wouldn’t have come to see Dmitry, that’s true. If the Kingdom Alliance fell, Chronos Empire would have become strong again. But that didn’t happen, which is a shame. I didn’t set up this meeting to talk about old problems, but about the future with Roman Dmitry. The Redford thing is over. What matters now is that we are here together, and we can help each other.”

He didn’t hide his mistakes.

He was sure of himself.

Golden Bank was strong enough to make people forget its bad history.

“Let’s think about the future. No matter what happened before, you can get 1 million gold just by saying you’ll work with Golden Bank. We are not kids, right? We are too old to stay angry for years just because we had a fight. We believe we can have a good partnership.”

It wasn’t a clumsy persuasion.

Clear compensation and a practical relationship.

Hoffman, living as the head of Golden Bank, knew too well how to handle those in power.

But Roman Dmitry was a different kind of person.

More than just money, one thing really bothered Roman Dmitry.

“No. We cannot have a good partnership. I want to destroy the Chronos Empire. And your Golden Bank will never stop being friends with Chronos. You don’t really want a future with Dmitry. You just want to be safe, no matter if Chronos or Dmitry wins, with that ‘1 million gold safety net.’ Hoffman, for Dmitry, anyone who works with our enemies cannot be trusted at all.”

“Don’t be so extreme! Look at history! The rulers of this continent have always worked with Golden Bank. Golden Bank is neutral, it helps decide who becomes king. You could get so much just by saying a few nice things! Why make things bad like this?”

“I don’t care about your relationships.”

Roman Dmitry showed a fierce momentum.

Allies and enemies.

There was a clear standard at the boundary between the two.

From the moment Golden Bank actively helped the Chronos Empire, the fact that the Redford Kingdom, which was accepted as an ally, had an irreversible relationship with Golden Bank.

It defined Dmitry’s direction.

Seeking a favorable situation through compromise with the enemy was different from the way Roman Dmitry aimed to reach the ‘apex.’

Overpower with force.

Trample.

The stronger the opponent, the more no one will be able to raise objections when he reaches the apex.

For Dmitry, compromise is only possible when taking unilateral gains to the point where the word compromise is embarrassing.

“Golden Bank. I never liked you.”

Right away, Hoffman couldn’t speak.

His face turned red, like it was about to burst, and he jumped up and yelled.

“Remember this day! Golden Bank will never forget this!”

He turned around.

Just as he was about to leave, a cold voice stopped him.

“Stop.”

Roman Dmitry.

Dimitri’s eyes were fixed on Hoffman, like chips of ice. A dangerous fire burned behind them. He spoke, his voice low and steady, but each word felt like a sharp blade.

“You are mistaken, Hoffman. Do you truly believe you can threaten me and still walk out of here alive?”

Hoffman felt a jolt of fear, cold and sharp in his chest. *Murderous intent.* The phrase echoed in his mind. Dimitri’s words hung in the air, heavy with threat. Hoffman’s confidence began to crumble. His eyes flickered, betraying his sudden panic.

“…Are you saying you’re going to kill me? Roman Dimitri, I mean, Roman Dimitri. I am the head of Golden Bank. Do you have any idea what will happen if you kill me? It’s not just ending one man’s life; Golden Bank will use all its funds to destroy you. Our wealth is more than gold and jewels. It’s about the relationships connected to that wealth, and those relationships can threaten your survival.”

This threat was serious. Dimitri understood the power of Golden Bank’s connections.

Golden Bank was involved in everything that needed money, not just loans.

What would happen if Golden Bank’s business partners cut ties with Dimitri?

Even if Dimitri had good iron, the buyers would disappear.

Without money, even a tycoon like Dimitri couldn’t survive the collapse of his business.

Roman Dimitri crossed his legs and smirked at Hoffman.

“Why do you think I created the Kingdom Alliance?”

“…What do you mean?” Hoffman asked.

“By declaring war on the Chronos Empire, I formed the Kingdom Alliance to oppose them. It wasn’t just to help weaker nations. It was to prepare for Golden Bank’s schemes. Even if my business collapses because of you, the Kingdom Alliance will help me recover. We’ll face difficulties at first, but once we fill the void you create, Golden Bank’s power won’t be the same as before.”

Roman Dimitri planned carefully. He always considered the effects of his decisions.

“Hoffman, I’ll ask you again. Why should I spare you?”

Hoffman stammered, “…Th-that’s…”

Dimitri was angry. Hoffman knew that if he misspoke, Dimitri would kill him, just like the rumors said.

The Demon of the Battlefield. That was Roman Dimitri’s reputation. Just as Hoffman was known for his greed, Dimitri’s murderous intent was real.

“…I misspoke,” Hoffman said, lowering his head. He had no choice.

Hoffman, who had always been powerful, wasn’t ready for a situation where Golden Bank couldn’t protect him.

Roman Dimitri spoke, “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll sell your life for 1 million gold. If Golden Bank wants to save you, they can pay me 1 million gold right now. What do you say? It’s the only ‘deal’ that will stop me from killing you.”

“1 million gold! That’s crazy!” Hoffman exclaimed.

“Whether it’s crazy or not is my decision. The life of the head of Golden Bank is worth more than ordinary standards, don’t you think?” Dimitri replied.

Hoffman was furious, but he gritted his teeth when he met Dimitri’s gaze.

He had misjudged Dimitri from the start.

Dimitri was a dangerous place. From the moment Hoffman stepped in, he had no chance to win.

In the end, Hoffman said, “…I accept the deal.”

Hoffman hurried away, defeated. Dimitri watched him go, a small smile playing on his lips.

The deal was risky. It would create a difficult relationship with Golden Bank, but Roman Dimitri didn’t care.

If killing Hoffman had any benefits, Dimitri wouldn’t have let him live.

‘Golden Bank is like a parasite that clings to power. Working with them will only rot me from the inside,’ Dimitri thought.

Future business must avoid Golden Bank. Even if they try to interfere, Dimitri must create his own system.

That’s why the Kingdom Alliance was important. Even if they lost trading partners like Chronos and the Valhalla Empire, the remaining kingdoms could fill some of the void.

Of course, a perfect replacement was impossible.

But from the moment he decided on war, he knew that some things had to be given up.

‘Golden Bank’s promise is more important than Hoffman’s life. Hoffman will pay the 1 million gold out of pride. They must have already prepared that money for a deal with us. The 1 million gold can be used to fight Golden Bank’s sabotage. When all the money is gone, Dimitri and the Kingdom Alliance will be able to live without Golden Bank and the Empire.’

He changed everything.

Now, with the ceasefire with Chronos, he had a good chance to create a new world with Dimitri at the center.

Step by step, he built the foundation.

Swordsmanship presentation. Golden Bank. Kingdom Alliance. Every choice was connected, bringing him closer to his goal.

A few hours later, a servant announced another visitor.

“Young Master, Prince Edwin Hector has requested an audience with you.”

Edwin Hector. An unexpected guest. Dimitri had last met him at the Kingdom Alliance meeting. He sought out Roman Dimitri with a determined expression.

“Could you tell me about the Upper Dantian?” Edwin asked directly.