Inside C?u D?ng’s mansion, chaos has taken over.

  On the second floor, Anh ?ào was in complete panic, locked away in her room. Horrifying hallucinations plagued her mind — her body appeared to melt away, skin dripping like wax from a burning candle, pooling onto the floor in dark, blood-colored puddles. Next to her, Anh Tú stood helplessly, trying in vain to calm his wife down. But even he was haunted — by the dark figure he had seen the night before in the vanity mirror.

  Down in the kitchen, M? Linh shrieked and clutched her head, having just knocked over a bowl of herbal chicken stew. Her eyes locked onto a grotesque hallucination: a live monitor lizard, mouth agape, revealing razor-sharp teeth as it began to speak in a bone-chilling voice. Anh Th? tried to soothe her mother, while the maid, Dì T?, scrambled to clean up the mess.

  In the living room, the tension was thick.

  C?u D?ng, forcing composure, gestured for the guests to sit.

  – “Please… have a seat. I don’t know what’s happening to my wife and daughter. I’m truly worried.”

  Mr. Quy nodded solemnly.

  – “I think Mrs. Linh and ?ào should be taken to the hospital for a full checkup. This isn’t normal.”

  C?u D?ng let out a heavy sigh and nodded in agreement.

  Mr. Quy continued:

  – “Earlier, I inquired about Trang’s whereabouts. Could you give me her address? I’ll have someone from my team check in on her.”

  Mrs. Lan’s face softened as she recalled Trang’s story. An orphan girl, surviving alone, struggling since childhood.

  – “Poor thing... She’s the same age as my daughter but has lived a hard life. No parents, no support. She's had to fend for herself in a cramped rented room. Not even a man to protect or care for her.”

  Hearing this, Tu?n turned his gaze away, silently. He knew Trang had quietly liked him for a long time. But the disparity in their social standing, and his focus on career, meant he could never reciprocate. He simply chose silence as his answer.

  C?u D?ng, upon hearing Mrs. Lan’s words, appeared touched:

  – “Yes, she’s had a rough life. I’m her uncle, but with a wife and three daughters of my own, there’s not much I can do. I drop by sometimes to give her a little money to help out.”

  – “There’s an old man named Nhan who lives at the end of her alley — he’s a scrap collector, in his seventies. He treats Trang like his own daughter. Every time I visit, I see him helping her with her small street stall.”

  Deep pulled out his phone.

  – “Please read the address. I’ll save it now.”

  As the address was recorded, My — Mr. Quy’s daughter — suddenly stiffened. A chilling, mocking female voice echoed in her mind, each word like ice slicing through her thoughts:

  – “Maggots… breeding in the pores of your skin… Thousands… tens of thousands… all about to hatch… ha ha ha…”

  My gasped. A cold wind whispered down the back of her neck, making her shiver. She turned to scan the living room. Her eyes landed on a painting of a young woman hanging beside the large TV. In the flickering light

  The girl in the painting… winked.

  My shot to her feet, face pale, and screamed:

  – “You… are you trying to scare me? I’m still beautiful, I’m not afraid of you! If you’re so bold, come out here and face me!”

  Tu?n jumped up and grabbed her arm:

  – “Who are you talking to?”

  My trembled, pointing at the painting:

  – “It’s her! The girl in the painting—she spoke to me! She said… larvae were crawling out of my skin…”

  Deep blinked, disbelieving:

  – “She keeps saying the paintings are laughing at her, threatening her. She’s shouting and cursing nonstop. It’s like she’s scaring herself more than anything else.”

  Mrs. Lan clung to Mr. Quy’s arm, her voice quivering:

  – “Our daughter… her hallucinations are getting worse. I’m terrified. My poor baby…”

  C?u D?ng stood still, as if frozen.

  – “Just like my wife and daughter… I don’t know how to bring them back to who they once were.”

  As the situation grew increasingly chaotic, Ti?n spoke up first:

  – “This isn’t right... We need to get all three of them to the hospital. The longer we wait, the more dangerous it becomes.”

  Hearing this, My suddenly clutched her head and screamed:

  – “I’m not going to the hospital! I don’t want to go! Don’t make me!!”

  Tu?n rushed to hold her tightly, gently whispering:

  – “Okay, okay... You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. Just breathe. I’m here, everyone’s here with you…”

  Mr. Quy sighed, his voice heavy with uncertainty:

  – “If things don’t improve by tomorrow morning... then we’ll have no choice. To treat something, we have to first understand the cause.”

  C?u D?ng nodded in agreement:

  – “Same here. I already called Dr. Tùng and invited one of Master V?nh’s fellow shamans. We’ve tried everything — Western medicine, spiritual rituals — yet nothing is working.”

  Mrs. Lan’s voice trembled:

  – “Vú N?m... she said she saw King Satan in the mirror the other night. Then last night, she claimed it was the Serpent King. I… I don’t know what to believe anymore…”

  Deep narrowed his eyes, still skeptical:

  – “If what Vú N?m says is true... then no amount of doctors or shamans will be enough. But really? It sounds like something out of her wild imagination.”

  Tu?n, still holding My, said quietly:

  – “If this isn’t something supernatural, then how do you explain three women all developing psychological disorders at the same time?”

  Just then, Dì T? entered with a tray of tea, her hands visibly trembling. Deep noticed and asked:

  – “Dì T?, are you alright? Your hands are shaking. If you’re not feeling well, please rest. I can handle the tea.”

  Dì T? glanced around nervously, then lowered her voice as if afraid someone — or something — might overhear:

  – “Earlier I heard Madam Lan mention that Nanny N?m saw the Serpent King last night. I… I saw it too.”

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  C?u D?ng’s eyes widened:

  – “What did you see, Dì T?? Tell me everything.”

  Dì T?’s voice quivered as she replied:

  – “Last night, when Madam was screaming about seeing an eyeball in the water dispenser, I didn’t see anything strange myself. It was just regular water. But when I was taking the jug outside and passed the wardrobe mirror… I saw a shadow. A woman’s shadow, sitting there.”

  C?u D?ng stepped forward, stunned:

  – “You saw a woman’s shadow? Are you sure?”

  Dì T? nodded firmly:

  – “I was fully conscious — I know what I saw. The shadow was clearly a woman, with long hair. She had a pair of horns curving downward from her head… and in the middle, she wore a crown. I swear, every word I’m telling you is true.”

  Silence gripped the room. Everyone stared at Dì T? as if she had just recited a curse.

  Mr. Quy stood frozen, the color draining from his face:

  – “What are we supposed to do now? I honestly… I don’t know what to think anymore.”

  Ti?n tapped the armrest of his chair gently, then said with resolve:

  – “Let’s stick to the original plan. We’ll go meet Trang first. At the very least, we owe her an apology. The rest… we’ll handle step by step.”

  As soon as Ti?n finished speaking, C?u D?ng furrowed his brow, confused:

  – “Why is everyone going to her place to apologize? And apologize for what?”

  Mr. Quy looked him straight in the eye, his tone serious:

  – “We remembered… that night, during Anh ?ào’s wedding, when my daughter—My—pulled Trang’s hair and publicly humiliated her… That same night, she began having nightmares. And since then, the visions haven’t stopped tormenting her.”

  Mrs. Lan added, her voice tinged with guilt:

  – “So we want to go and apologize to the girl… Maybe, just maybe, the spirits will grant us forgiveness.”

  C?u D?ng turned pale, sweat forming on his temples. He recalled the female shadow that Dì T? had just described. Could it be... the very sister he and his wife betrayed twenty-five years ago? Still, he forced himself to appear calm, speaking in broken, stammered tones:

  – “Then... you all go. As for my wife and daughters… in this condition, I can’t leave them.”

  ---

  Meanwhile, at the Bình Chánh headquarters—a grand hall blending European and Asian architectural styles—everyone gathered around, watching intently as three enchanted mirrors rendered judgment: Velkhanis, Tranquil Moon Mirror (T?nh Nguy?t B?ch Kính), and the ominous Black Crystal.

  Erion arched an eyebrow, his voice cold as he observed the image of Anh ?ào, utterly consumed by terror in the visions shown through the Black Crystal:

  – “Even with his family suffering like that, he keeps a straight face... Impressive. But it also proves he’s a cold-blooded man — one who has committed many evils yet clings to life in cowardice.”

  Trúc Di?n took a sip of tea, running his fingers gently across Tranquil Moon Mirror (T?nh Nguy?t B?ch Kính):

  – “If the family of that girl My sincerely apologizes, I may consider sparing them. After all, she merely insulted Trang — she hasn’t committed a true crime.”

  Satan, seated on a throne carved from ancient ironwood, his eyes glinting with a chilling sharpness, turned to Trang:

  – “As for My’s family… If they’re forgiven, so be it — they only insulted you. But the family of that man, D?ng…”

  He paused, his voice dropping to a thunderous tone:

  – “We cannot show mercy. They must be eliminated.”

  Din and Yin nodded in unison, their eyes sharp as blades:

  – “A blood debt… must be repaid in blood!”

  Trang’s gaze was like winter frost, her aura slicing through the soul. Watching as M? Linh and Anh ?ào writhed helplessly in their mental torment, she growled:

  – “They’ve lived comfortably for far too long—off the blood and lives of innocent people! I’ve let them enjoy peace for too long!!”

  Master V?nh looked to Trúc Di?n, his expression grim:

  – “Just like vermin hiding behind masks of virtue… Their polished words and well-rehearsed lies deceived even us.”

  All eyes turned toward the three mirrors of fate. They saw through the souls of the guilty—revealing karma, consequence, and divine retribution.

  The time had come to tear away those smiling masks… and expose the rot beneath.

  At that moment, H?ng Nhung stepped out from the main kitchen of the Bình Chánh compound, her voice soft and graceful:

  – “Everyone is cordially invited to enjoy wagyu beef Ph?, personally prepared by His Majesty’s royal head chef.”

  Satan smiled in satisfaction and gestured proudly to H?ng Nhung as he introduced her:

  – “This is H?ng Nhung, my future daughter-in-law — Celestial Maiden of the Northern Realm. Her temperament and virtue are perfectly suited to be the Crown Princess.”

  A wave of greetings filled the hall, the once-tense atmosphere suddenly lively and warm.

  The dining room was a masterful fusion of classic European royalty and Eastern elegance: Intricate wood furniture carved with dragons and phoenixes, golden-hued chandeliers casting a soft glow over the space. Bowls of steaming wagyu beef Ph?, a dish faithful to Vietnamese tradition, were brought to the table — complete with silky rice noodles, rich bone broth, tender beef slices, and fresh herbs like sawleaf, basil, and bean sprouts. Every detail was meticulously prepared.

  Erion’s little demon troops shouted in delight:

  – “Whoa! We get a portion too!”

  Satan laughed heartily, his gaze brimming with joy:

  – “Help yourselves. The royal family has already finished the first round — now it’s your turn.”

  The royal elder lady calmly dried her hands, lifting a glass of iced honey lemon tea with grace:

  – “Shall we move on to the grilled wagyu in black pepper sauce now?”

  Din chewed slowly, eyes lighting up with glee:

  – “Good food and juicy drama? This is peak entertainment.”

  One of the little demons slurped his broth and nodded:

  – “Delicious! I must try more Vietnamese cuisine!”

  Master V?nh smiled as he explained to the younger demons:

  – “Ph? is a traditional dish of Vietnam — it’s become a culinary icon, beloved not just locally but worldwide. Vietnamese cuisine is rich and diverse. Take your time to savor it.”

  Erion cocked his head and cast a sidelong glance at his troops, his expression a mix of teasing and threat:

  – “So what you’re saying is… I don’t let you enjoy good food?”

  One of the demons quickly blurted out:

  – “General, you always serve us the finest delicacies, but... when you’re angry, we’re too scared to eat…”

  Erion said nothing. He simply raised a finger—and from its tip, black flame began to form, coiling like a fiery serpent.

  The little demons turned pale, immediately lowering their heads and devouring their food in silence, their shoulders trembling as they tried not to make another sound.

  ---

  In stark contrast to the cheerful atmosphere at the compound, tension gripped C?u D?ng’s villa like a noose tightening.

  Deep tapped his phone, his voice calm but eyes troubled:

  – “I’ll send Trang’s boarding house address to my assistant. He’ll check on her first.”

  He looked around at everyone:

  – “After that, we'll apologize in person. Sincerely, respectfully. If there’s even the faintest hope left to resolve this…”

  The room fell into heavy silence, broken only by anxious breaths and furrowed brows—each face shadowed by the weight of fear and regret.

  After receiving the address from Deep, his assistant — Tan — immediately jumped into his car and sped toward Bình Th?nh District. The midday sun beat down on the asphalt, and traffic was heavy. About 40 minutes later, following the directions given, Tan pulled up at the entrance of a wide alley.

  He stepped out and glanced around. Street vendors lined the sidewalk — snack carts, convenience stands, the sound of haggling, and the distinct aroma of fried street food filled the air.

  Tan approached a woman at a small shop.

  – “Excuse me, do you know a girl named Trang? She sells milk tea and rice paper salad.”

  The woman smiled warmly.

  – “Everyone around here knows Trang. She's sweet, hardworking, independent. Lives alone, but people here care a lot about her.”

  An older motorbike-taxi driver nearby chimed in:

  – “She lives in a small rental room in this alley. There's an old man named ?ng Nhan— picks up recyclables — he treats her like his own daughter. But... haven’t seen either of them lately.”

  Another vendor added from her soy milk stall:

  – “I heard she moved out. Couldn’t pay rent. You can check with the landlord, she lives in the first room. Just go straight in — you’ll see it.”

  Tan nodded his thanks, then walked along the pavement until he stopped before a rusty green iron gate. The paint had chipped off long ago—this was the boarding house Trang had lived in for five years. The small row of units bore the wear of time — peeling paint, sun-stained tin roofs, and cracked walls.

  As Tan looked around for Trang’s room, an elderly woman emerged from the first unit, hunched and leaning on a wooden cane.

  – “Looking to rent?” she asked.

  Tan respectfully replied.

  – “No, ma’am. I’m here looking for Miss Trang. I’m a relative — there’s something urgent I need to speak with her about.”

  The old woman sighed:

  – “She was behind on rent for months... left a few days ago. I asked my son and daughter-in-law to give her more time, but they wouldn’t budge. When she moved out, I let her go without paying the debt. Poor girl, broke my heart.”

  Tan continued:

  – “Do you happen to know ?ng Nhan — the man who collects recyclables? I heard he lived here too.”

  The old woman nodded slowly:

  – “He stayed in the room at the far end. No wife, no children. Just scraped by. Trang treated him like a father, and the neighbors here respected both of them. But he’s gone too. Probably moved back to his hometown to live out his final years.”

  Tan bowed his thanks, returned to his car, and immediately dialed Deep’s number.

  – “Sir, I just visited the place. Locals say Trang moved out — she was evicted for not paying rent, and no one knows where she went. As for ?ng Nhan, the landlord said he left for the countryside to retire. He’s over seventy.”

  On the other end, Deep frowned, suspicion rising in his voice:

  – “Come back to HQ. Thanks for the update. I’ve sent the transfer.”

  As Tan’s car pulled away from the alley, the elderly landlady returned to her room. Inside the modest unit, light filtered through a faded curtain. She sat calmly on a plastic stool, holding a black gemstone engraved with the sigil of the Royal Mafia of Satan.

  A soft female voice echoed:

  – “Report the situation to HQ.”

  The old woman's eyes shifted to a glowing amber hue. In a flash, her body transformed—gone was the frail elderly figure. In her place sat a stunning woman with smooth, radiant skin, flowing chestnut hair, and ruby-red lips: a high-ranking undercover agent.

  Her voice turned sharp and commanding:

  – “Reporting, my Lord. The assistant visited the location and questioned the neighbors. I had pre-coordinated with ‘residents’ to follow the exact cover story. He has left without suspicion.”

  Far away, at the Royal Command Hall in Bình Chánh, Satan sat, savoring grilled wagyu beef in black pepper sauce. He smirked slightly and spoke in a low, gravelly voice:

  – “Good. Continue surveillance. Every move they make must be reported immediately.”

  – “Yes, my Lord.”