Southern Rio Grande State.

Located at the southernmost point of the "Golden Palm Federation" East Coast, this is one of the Federation's most important agricultural and pastoral regions.

Soybeans, wheat, and corn account for about half of the nation's total production of the Golden Palm Federation, rice a quarter, wine three-quarters, and cattle and sheep inventories rank among the top three in various states, providing a vast majority of raw wool to the Federation's textile industry.

In recent years, their commerce and industry has flourished, represented by textile, mining, meat products, tanning, tobacco, metallurgy, machinery, and shipbuilding industries.

Although not directly under the jurisdiction of those six permanent members, its richness ranks among the top in the Federation's 27 states.

In a seaside estate away from the noisy factory zone, with beautiful surroundings.

Though it was daytime.

The book room, adorned with exquisite decor and thick wool carpets, yet locked the door, pulled tight the purple velvet curtains, and instead, lit an "electric lamp," still considered a novel item in ordinary households.

In the room, only two gentlemen of extraordinary demeanor sat on the sofa, savoring top-quality cigars borne of the estate, indulging in the dreamy curls of smoke.

Of course, when gentlemen enjoy top-quality cigars, a sweet wine is indispensable.

The fine liquor, distilled from sugarcane and aged in oak barrels, bears the charming vanilla flavor and has a smooth, gentle taste.

Residents along the "Golden Sea" coast love to pair it with cigars, influencing half of the New Continent's fashion.

Blowing out a mouthful of white smoke, the owner of the estate, the slightly older gentleman among the two, seemingly casually said:

"Congressman Grover, inviting you to the estate as a guest, I have good news to share. We've recently discovered a rich mine with a grade of 20 grams/ton, right within this state."

"Hahaha, congratulations, Mr. Bluer. Once this news is released, the stock price of the Rio Grande Mining Company is bound to soar.

Competing for the position of the state's richest man is not out of reach for you.

At that time, the 'Wealth Church' might even grant you the honorable title of Bishop, and the Extraordinary Power isn't entirely out of the question."

The clever gentleman called Congressman Grover raised the glass containing amber-colored wine and lightly clinked it with the estate owner.

The identities of these two gentlemen are both quite extraordinary; the estate's owner is a major mining capitalist, and the other is a state congressman elected in "Southern Rio Grande State," extremely influential within the state.

However, the major mining owner, Mr. Bluer, seemed troubled by something.

Casually flicking the ash from his cigarette, and lightly sighed:

"Hoho, the news is indeed good, but there's one problem that's truly troubling me.

For accompanying the gold mine is a gigantic lead mine, with a total reserve of approximately 40 million tons.

If a market isn't found, these things are essentially just rocks! The battery factory that Jimmit just started building can hardly consume so much lead ore."

At this moment, Congressman Grover finally understood the purpose of his wealthy host for inviting him, his eyes rolled, and he came up with an idea, vigorously clapping his hands.

"Hahaha, Mr. Bluer, congratulations, I happen to have good news to tell you too!

Yesterday, the parliament has passed the state government's application. We will be building new city water supply systems throughout the state, and using lead water pipes is simply the best."

Mr. Bluer was overjoyed listening:

"Hahaha, so thank you, Congressman Grover, for helping manage this matter!"

"On another day, when you host a banquet, I'll arrange for Speaker Adelaide and Governor Lev to attend, oh, and invite the most beautiful socialite, Lady Letitia, and this matter will be settled."

"To our mutual ventures, to charming wealth, cheers!"

"To the residents of Southern Rio Grande State, cheers!"

Apparently, this was the consequence of complete marketization.

The free market was placed above public interest, and the commonplace rent-seeking power among those in power was naturally exploited by capitalists.

As for the inevitable lead poisoning and other terrible consequences that citizens will face over a long period of time, it is not within their consideration.

Citizens must become accustomed to their plight!

Just at this moment, someone knocked on the study's door.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"What is it?"

As the owner of this place, Mr. Bluer slightly frowned; he had already instructed the estate's servants and bodyguards not to disturb him unless it was incredibly urgent.

Though the matter had concluded, the unexpected interruption was undeniably annoying.

Yet after three knocks, the visitor directly pushed open the door, the locked door seemed to not exist at all.

Squeak—!

The two of them had already noticed that outside the room, at some point, had turned into a dead silence.

At the moment they realized something was wrong, they both plunged to the wall, each grabbing a hunting rifle hung there, pointing the muzzle at the slowly opening door.

In the Age of Navigation, especially in the perilous New Continent, adult males without any military training or crisis awareness simply did not exist.

But when they saw clearly the appearance of the intruder, they involuntarily lowered the muzzles to the ground.

It was a perfect woman, wearing a wine-red dress and gold high heels.

Her golden hair shone bright like sunshine, her green eyes resembled clear emerald lakes, and her fair skin was akin to the finest porcelain.

Her aura seemed to satisfy all male fantasies, from an innocent girl, a gentle lady, to a strong elder sister...

Directly mesmerized by just one glance, they hopelessly fell in love with this stranger.

Finally, all the images and aura converged into a high and mighty Queen, even when looking down with a pointed chin, it seemed so natural to them.

Therefore, none of them noticed that the Silver Talisman from the Church was rapidly blackening, corroding, and turning into pitch-black remnants falling to the ground.

After a few breaths.

Just moments ago, they were discussing grand plans of wealth, deciding the fate of hundreds of thousands with a chat and a laugh, now they grovelled at the feet of this woman like humble bootlickers.

Even Congressman Grover, with the profession of a Democracy Fighter, had not the slightest power to resist.

"Ah! Your Majesty the Queen, please allow your servant Grover (Bluer) to offer you the highest respect."

They crawled forward, eager to kiss her shiny foot, only to be stepped on the head by the woman, forced instead to kiss the ground at her feet.

With a slightly disgusted expression, she stepped on them a few times, which only brought them faces full of enjoyment:

"Ha, the Material World is indeed a simple and pure place, full of talents and treasures! If it weren't for this layer of human disguise those two guys have, I'd have thought I was back in the Lower Realm again."

Casually placing a wooden box she carried onto the table, she took out an eyeball with an emerald pupil.

Admiring it like a jewel for a while, she slowly placed it into her red lips, sucking the blood-stained fingertips as if savoring it.

"Although not as sumptuous as my palace, it will suffice. The Spiritual Origin of the New Continent? It's really like having a pillow come right when you want to sleep."

The shadow on the ground behind her danced, suddenly occupying most of the wall.

It was a bizarre demon image.

With three heads in total—a bull's head, a human's head, and a ram's head, with a constantly writhing snake tail, the left hand leading a Black Dragon, and the other holding a flag-bearing spear.

This was one of the Supreme Four Pillars, the monarch ruling the North, Queen Asmodeus, also known as the "Dark Prince."

She could teach people mathematics, astronomy, geometry, and crafts; grant true wisdom, making one invincible; reveal the location of treasures; and among the strongest seven sins, she governed Desire!

In normal times.

Every Demon God is like Gou the Saint, putting on layer upon layer of vest. They once hid all over the Material World's corners, but now a huge bait in the New Continent is making them stir restlessly.

This "Lustful Demon God" among the Supreme Four Pillars is just one of them.

...

Just as Aiven initially guessed, as the pulsation beneath the New Continent's depths became more apparent, the North where the Galliot Duchy was located couldn't avoid being affected.

Moreover, with more Demon Gods converging here, their style grew more flamboyant and high-profile, gradually reaching the point of a pandemonium.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three streaks of flowing light pierced the night sky, one in the front and two at the back.

"Why are you chasing me? The men and women of Sand Town love me passionately and madly, all of their own will.

With just a tiny cost, they can attain supreme pleasure. Those guys may not only fail to thank you but hate you deeply!"

Aiven and the Kingfisher, who gave relentless chase from behind, were people with resolute willpower, completely ignoring the demon god's words.

"Oh, I get it. Why don't we take the sky as our blanket and the ground as our bed, let this sister help you experience the ultimate bliss of this world? Or... do you prefer me to personally demonstrate it to you? Hehe..."

The presence enveloped in a pink divine light in the front emitted a burst of wanton laughter while flying rapidly.

Sidi: The 12th Demon God among the 72 Pillar Demon Gods, whose Mythical Form is a head of a leopard and wings of an owl, but appears as an unparalleled beauty per the summoner's request, captivating all ages and genders alike.

He governs Desire and Passion, making men and women fall in love, regardless of the risk.

Although not as formidable as the "Lustful Demon God" among the Supreme Four Pillars, Sidi is equally extremely troublesome.