261-265

Chapter 261: The Guest

"Are you an agent from BSI?"

Outside the small town of Bandera.

The commander in charge of the operation couldn't hide his surprise as he looked at the peculiar appearance of Agent Phil.

He had already been informed that this mission involved the BSI, a special division tasked with investigating supernatural cases.

However, the agent standing before him looked far too unusual.

If not for his cooperative demeanor from the beginning, he might have been shot on sight by the soldiers.

"I wasn’t always like this," Phil said, swallowing nervously as he glanced at the array of guns and cannons pointed at him. He touched his large, bovine nose and added in a muffled voice, "It’s because of a curse. That’s why I look like this now."

"In fact, it’s not just me. All the deformed animals you’ll encounter in the town are actually cursed residents. Their curses are far worse than mine. They’ve lost their human consciousness and act purely on instinct."

Under normal circumstances, the commander wouldn’t take talk of curses seriously.

But with a BSI agent standing in front of him, complete with a cow’s nose and hooves, he couldn’t help but believe.

"Agent, can you guarantee that this curse won’t affect my soldiers? I mean, if they enter the town, will they also end up like you—transformed by this so-called curse?"

The commander glanced toward the small town ahead and posed the question to Agent Phil.

As a soldier, it was his duty to follow orders. But even a seasoned commander couldn’t help but feel apprehensive about dealing with an unknown curse.

After all, Phil’s appearance had already unsettled many of his troops.

"Probably not," Phil said after a moment of thought. He shook his head.

"The residents who became deformed—myself included—only changed after visiting the circus and watching a performance. The townsfolk who haven’t been to the circus are still normal."

The commander looked slightly relieved after hearing this.

Even so, he didn’t fully trust everything Phil said.

After all, when it comes to curses, no one can guarantee absolute safety until they experience it firsthand.

After a brief hesitation, he made his decision.

"Deploy the tactical team. Their first priority is to make contact and rescue the unaffected townsfolk!"

He decided to send in a squad to test whether the curse truly posed no threat to them.

---

At the Circus

"If you have any tricks left up your sleeve, now would be the time to use them," Agent Zhou said, turning to Spike as Barnum’s words dripped with menace.

The situation had reached a critical point.

"In fact, my 'trick' is lying right over there."

Spike shrugged and pointed to the crumpled form of Siren Head.

"So, your plan is already out of commission?"

Agent Zhou followed Spike’s gesture to the battered figure on the ground, a flicker of frustration crossing his face.

He had thought Spike’s confidence meant he had a surefire way to deal with the circus ringleader. Instead, it seemed they had walked straight into a trap.

If not for Barnum’s clear hostility toward Spike, Zhou might have suspected this was all a ploy to lure him and Amanda here.

"Wait. I’ll hold them off. You two escape," Amanda said, pulling out her gun without hesitation.

But instead of relief, Zhou’s expression turned puzzled.

Amanda’s reaction didn’t align with her seasoned background as a veteran investigator of supernatural cases.

This reckless behavior was more fitting for a rookie agent.

Zhou glanced at Spike, seeking an explanation.

Spike nodded subtly, confirming that something was indeed off about Amanda’s current state.

Unfortunately, there was no time to delve into the issue.

Barnum raised his cane before them, his malicious grin widening.

Bang! Bang!

Amanda pulled the trigger, hitting Barnum several times.

"Impressive aim. But unfortunately..."

Barnum glanced at the bullet holes in his body, his expression unchanged. "Killing me with bullets won’t work," he said smugly, locking eyes with Amanda.

The bearded lady had once warned Amanda: Barnum’s heart was hidden within the circus. Unless his heart was destroyed, he couldn’t be killed by any means—not even bullets.

"Now that you’ve made your move, it’s my turn," Barnum said. "I hope you like the new forms I’ve picked for you. Not that it matters—there are no refunds."

He tapped his cane against the ground a few times and stood back, eagerly awaiting their grotesque transformations.

"I knew it, Spike..."

Yet, nothing happened.

---

A tall figure in a red suit appeared before Spike and the others.

The man’s gaze swept across the circus, lingering momentarily on the injured Siren Head before turning back to Spike.

Shaking his head, he said, "Every time you come to my bar, it means trouble is brewing."

"You could just let things play out," Spike replied, finally allowing his composed demeanor to relax.

"After all, once I’m dead, you’d get what you want."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 262: Prototype

"I don't like polluted souls," Saigong said, turning his gaze away from Spike and the others behind him. He looked toward Barnum, his face twisting into an expression of disgust. "Especially liquor brewed from souls tainted with the power of a distortion curse. It leaves an unshakable stench of blood in the taste, ruining the flavor entirely."

"I’d rather not see the fine wine I’ve been eagerly anticipating ruined by something so inexplicable."

Hearing the anticipation in Saigong's tone, Spike raised an eyebrow but maintained his usual calm demeanor. He replied with a neutral tone, "Should I feel honored by that?"

Saigong’s yellow beast-like eyes glowed as his voice deepened, rough like grinding stone. Turning to the medium behind him, he issued a stern warning: "While I’m looking forward to the final product, if you keep inching dangerously closer, thinking this gives you leverage, I wouldn’t mind sampling that wine early."

"So, Spike, don’t push your luck."

"I understand."

Nodding as if he’d taken Saigong’s threat to heart, Spike wore an innocent expression and explained, "You know me—I wouldn’t recklessly put myself in danger without uncovering the truth first. What’s happening here is purely an accident."

"It better be."

With a cold snort, Saigong begrudgingly accepted Spike’s explanation.

Cracking his neck, Saigong turned his focus back to Barnum. Invisible power radiated from Saigong's body, and the circus seemed to sense the threat, responding with low growls of unease.

Sensing the tension transmitted by his circus, Barnum looked up at the strange man in a red suit standing before him. He bared his teeth and shouted sharply, "Who are you, and why are you meddling in my circus?"

"Me? I’m just an ordinary bar owner," Saigong replied flatly.

In contrast to his earlier cordial attitude with Amanda in the bar, Saigong’s demeanor toward Barnum was entirely different. His disdain for the circus owner was clear as he glanced at him with barely veiled contempt.

Barnum's face darkened at Saigong’s dismissive gaze. Clenching his teeth, he snarled, "Since you want to play the hero, I’ll grant your wish. Let’s see how smug you are when you’ve been turned into a freak!"

With his venomous words, Barnum began waving his cane wildly, and the entire circus responded with feral howls.

The curse of distortion spread through the circus, warping everything around it into grotesque chaos.

The *Lobster Man’s* deformed hands began spiraling into sharp, jagged spikes.

The *Two-Headed Sisters* grew another ugly face on their necks, emitting eerie, nonsensical wails.

The *Thumb General’s* small, hideous body started growing uncontrollably, his legs stretching like noodles. In mere moments, he towered over most of the circus members.

"I’m taller! I’m taller!"

Experiencing a perspective he’d never known before, the *Thumb General’s* grotesque face was a mix of joy and despair as he alternated between sobbing and laughing maniacally.

But his elation was short-lived. Under the curse's relentless distortion, his height kept growing without limit. Soon, he surpassed the tallest giant in the circus—and he was still stretching.

"Enough! Stop! This is too much!"

As his body elongated uncontrollably, everything he once had to look up to became small and distant. Fear replaced his initial excitement, and he screamed for the curse to end.

Yet the curse showed no signs of stopping.

*Crack!*

Before long, the *Thumb General’s* legs, resembling fragile chopsticks, could no longer support his massive height. With sickening cracks, both legs broke, and he plummeted to the ground, howling in pain.

The rest of the circus fared no better under Barnum’s curse of distortion.

Meanwhile, Saigong—Barnum's primary target—was naturally subjected to the brunt of the curse's effects.

Under the curse’s influence, Saigong’s human form began to waver. Looking down at his hands, he saw colorful feathers bursting through his skin, forcing their way out.

Lowering his gaze, he looked at Barnum again.

Saigong stopped resisting the changes to his body, letting the curse consume him.

Then, he grinned, his voice resonating like a deep bellowing bull.

"If you’re so eager to change me into something else, I’ll grant your wish. Let me show you my true form."

As Saigong growled, his appearance underwent a dramatic transformation.

The curse twisted his body into grotesque shapes, but only for a few seconds. A darker, more overwhelming force erupted from within him, swallowing the curse entirely. Enveloped in this dark energy, Saigong’s body grew larger. Massive, spiraling bull horns emerged from his head, and a pair of griffon wings sprouted from his back, flapping fiercely and creating powerful gusts of wind.

"What’s going on?"

Agent Zhou raised his arm to shield himself from the oncoming wind and squinted at the transformed Saigong. He turned to Spike for answers.

"This is Saigong’s true form," Spike replied in the midst of the storm. "He’s ranked 61st among the 72 demons of Solomon—a demon with the body of a bull, griffon wings, and the ability to take human form. He can make water into wine, turn stone into gold, grant eloquence, and even enlighten fools. He’s incredibly powerful."

"And how did you find him?" Zhou asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

First Siren Head, then Barnum, and now the 61st demon of Solomon’s 72. Even as an agent of BSI, Zhou felt like today’s events were more extraordinary than anything he’d encountered before.

"As one of Solomon’s demons, Saigong exists in the mortal realm to form contracts. I needed power, so I sought him out, paid the price, and got what I wanted."

"Judging by the cost, it wasn’t cheap."

"It depends on how you see it. For me, as long as I can achieve my revenge, no price is too high."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 263: Coercion

*Moo!*

The circus trembled as it revealed its true form, the oppressive power of a demon god emanating throughout.

Letting out a guttural roar that echoed like a storm, Saigong lowered its gaze to Barnum. Its voice, a deep rumble, broke the tension:

"Now, are you satisfied with what you see?"

Feeling the crushing pressure radiating from Saigong, Barnum’s expression darkened under the shadow of his top hat.

As the circus master, most of Barnum’s power came from the curses bestowed by the circus itself. But the current situation vividly illustrated the stark difference in their strengths.

Even among the lower-ranked demons of Solomon’s seventy-two demon gods, a demon god was still a demon god.

From another perspective, only a truly powerful demon could even qualify to be chosen as one of the seventy-two.

Recognizing he was no match for Saigong, Barnum wasn’t foolish enough to rush to his death.

Known historically as a cunning figure, Barnum had a reputation for craftiness. Besides being a circus master, he had also served as a Connecticut state legislator and mayor of Bridgeport.

"Perhaps there’s been a misunderstanding between us?"

Forcing an awkward smile, Barnum looked at Saigong with a feigned pleasantness, trying to smooth over his sharp tone.

"Earlier, I acted too rashly, striking out without understanding the full situation."

Barnum clasped his hands together and offered an ingratiating grin, stealing a glance at the circus members behind him. Beneath his top hat, his eye twitched almost imperceptibly.

In his attempt to deal with Saigong, Barnum had indiscriminately used the power of distortion curses. The result was disastrous—Saigong remained unscathed, while his own circus had suffered heavy losses. It was a classic case of "losing the bride and the army."

Withdrawing his gaze, Barnum tapped his cane against the ground, reining in the rampant curses within the circus. As the power of the curses dissipated, the afflicted members began returning to their original forms.

Yet Barnum paid little heed to the members’ recovery. His full attention remained fixed on Saigong.

"If I’ve offended you, I sincerely apologize, sir."

"You’re even more shameless than I expected."

Even Saigong, a demon god, was momentarily taken aback by Barnum’s sudden change of tactics.

Just moments ago, Barnum had been ready to fight to the death. Now, he had surrendered without so much as a single blow.

"I am, after all, a businessman," Barnum replied with his signature ingratiating smile. "As the ringmaster of this circus, my only goal is to deliver ever more spectacular performances."

"Why have you come to the circus, demon god?"

Hearing Barnum’s question, Saigong glanced at Spike and the others behind him.

"The missing BSI agents."

Meeting Saigong’s beastly yellow gaze, Amanda quickly answered.

"Oh, those guests," Barnum said, nodding before Saigong could react. He tilted his head, using his top hat to hide the flicker of malice in his eyes, and then resumed his servile tone.

"I encountered them by chance and invited them to the circus. According to our rules, they weren’t supposed to leave so easily. But since you’ve come in person, demon god, I’ll make an exception and let them go."

With those words, Barnum suppressed his visible reluctance and pointed his cane toward a group of horses in the distance.

*Neigh!*

Moments later, the horses began to shrink.

In no time, they transformed back into human shapes.

"Ugh, ptooey!"

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Disoriented, the BSI agents looked around in confusion. Slowly realizing their surroundings, they spit out clumps of hay and wobbled to their feet, unsteadily making their way out of the circus. Having been horses for so long, they struggled to adjust to walking on two legs.

Watching them leave, Barnum tightened his grip on his cane, stifling his frustration. Forcing a strained smile, he addressed Saigong once more:

"They’re all back to normal now. Are you satisfied, demon god?"

"And what about the townsfolk? They’ve also been affected by your curse."

Before Saigong could respond, Spike interjected.

"The townsfolk are circus guests," Barnum snapped. "They witnessed our performances and, as per the rules, became part of the circus under the curse. That’s how it works here."

Reversing the curse on the BSI agents had already cost Barnum dearly. But the townsfolk? They were non-negotiable. Unlike the agents, these residents had indeed participated in the circus performances.

Spike’s demand seemed to touch a nerve.

*Roar!*

The entire circus let out a deafening growl of rage.

Saigong cast a meaningful glance at Spike, clearly aware of the provocation. Spike’s intent to prolong the conflict was obvious.

Though he noticed Spike’s ploy, Saigong, as a demon god, wasn’t overly concerned. Letting out a low growl, he turned back to Barnum.

"Do as he says."

"If that’s your demand, then I’m sorry, demon god…"

Barnum lowered his head, using his top hat to obscure his grim expression. His tone shifted, becoming sharp and icy.

"I must refuse."

As Barnum’s words fell, the surrounding circus members grew visibly uneasy.

Elephants stomped nervously, and the circus itself trembled violently, roaring with a deafening fury.

Suddenly, the circus tents exploded outward, their remains enveloping Saigong in a flurry of vengeful energy.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 264: Effortless

*Roar!*

The circus erupted with ear-piercing howls, one after another. The massive tent of the circus was torn into the air, as if lifted by an invisible giant hand.

Encased within the circus tent, Saigon stood. Barnum’s face, far from showing any joy, grew even darker with worry.

After all, this time, the opponent wasn’t a creature like Sirenhead, who acted purely on instinct.

This was one of the legendary 72 Demon Gods, whose power was feared even in historical records.

Feeling the wave of anguish emanating from the circus, Barnum hurriedly waved his cane. Taking a deep breath, his already withered body shriveled further as he unleashed a powerful, corrupting curse upon Saigon within the circus tent.

*“...”*

As the curse unfolded, Barnum's gaunt frame stooped even more. He staggered on his feet, clutching his cane, but his sunken eyes under the wide-brimmed hat remained locked on the circus tent.

In truth, it wasn’t just Barnum. Every single pair of eyes was now focused on the circus.

“Are you certain it won’t break free?”

Glancing at the fallen Sirenhead, then at Saigon, shrouded in the tent, Agent Zhou couldn’t help but ask Spiker beside him.

“A Demon God is called so for a reason. Their power is beyond human comprehension,” Spiker replied calmly.

He ran a finger over the ring on his hand, glanced at Amanda, and displayed a thoughtful expression.

The moment Spiker’s voice faded, the tent containing Saigon suddenly went still.

Seeing this, a faint smile appeared on Barnum’s haggard face.

*Screech—*

Yet, before the smile could fully bloom, the circus tent was violently torn apart from within. A deafening roar of agony echoed through everyone’s ears as Saigon emerged, its form unmistakably demonic.

The massive hole in the tent revealed Saigon’s imposing figure, sending Barnum into a panic. He stumbled back several steps, clutching his cane. Desperation etched deep into his skeletal face, his eyes darted around the circus before he turned to flee without hesitation.

*Boom!*

Despite Barnum’s apparent limp, his speed was astonishing once he began to flee. Hobbling with his cane, he quickly reached the exit of the circus within seconds.

Just as Barnum was about to escape, Saigon, with its lion-eagle wings spread wide, unleashed a gale.

In a flash, Saigon descended upon Barnum. Its razor-sharp claws snatched the circus master’s frail body, lifting him effortlessly. Saigon let out a guttural, gravelly roar, like stones grinding against each other.

“You thought such a petty trick could work on me?”

Gripped by Saigon’s tremendous strength, Barnum’s gaunt face turned a sickly purple.

“Spare... spare me, O Demon God... I’ll undo the curse... lift it from the townsfolk immediately...”

Choking and desperate, Barnum discarded any pretense of rules or dignity, pleading with Saigon for mercy.

After all, what use were rules if you were dead?

And if even the circus itself was powerless against a Demon God, what hope did a mere circus master have?

*“No need.”*

“By killing you, the curse will be lifted all the same!”

Unmoved by Barnum’s pleas, Saigon’s demonic face showed neither mercy nor hesitation.

With a squeeze of its claws, Barnum’s frail body was crushed into a bloody pulp.

Then, Saigon’s massive form began to shrink rapidly, reverting to its original form—a tall, suited man. Calmly, he pulled a blood-red handkerchief from his jacket pocket and wiped his hands clean.

The entire process was so effortless that it seemed as though Barnum was no more than an ant in Saigon’s hands.

*“...”*

Watching Saigon’s swift disposal of Barnum, even the usually stoic Agent Zhou couldn’t help but gasp. His face betrayed his shock.

Turning to Spiker, Zhou suddenly understood why he had been so composed amidst the chaos.

The power of a Demon God was indeed beyond human reckoning.

---

*“... They’ve all turned back?”*

At the edge of Bandera Town, the army commander frowned as he listened to a report from the special ops team.

“Report everything you see in full detail, soldier,” he ordered.

“Yes, sir!”

Inside Bandera Town, the special ops team, tasked with rescuing the townsfolk, responded through their communicator. Looking at a frightened mother and child huddled together, the soldier lowered his weapon slightly and reported, “During our latest search for survivors, we noticed something extraordinary. The townsfolk, once deformed by the curse, have reverted to their original forms.”

The team recalled clearly that not long ago, the mother and child before them were a monstrous bird with massive wings and a grotesque bleating goat-child. Yet, within seconds, the bird had transformed back into an ordinary woman, and the goat into a human child.

*“...”*

Back at the town’s outskirts, the commander’s expression shifted uncertainly as he processed the report.

He couldn’t determine whether the information was genuine or a trap to lure the army into the town.

Given the unprecedented nature of their enemy, even the seasoned commander found it difficult to maintain his usual composure.

But his doubts were soon dispelled.

As he conversed with the special ops team, the BSI agent standing nearby—once cursed with a bull’s head and hooves—gradually transformed back into his human form.

Seeing Agent Phil restored to his original state, the commander became convinced of the report’s authenticity.

“Notify the remaining troops to enter and maintain order!”

With confidence in the report, the commander issued his orders without hesitation.

At his command, the army stationed outside the town began to move, advancing en masse toward Bandera Town.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 265: Troubling Information

He wiped clean the hand that had just crushed Barnum.

Saigon glanced down at the pitch-black handkerchief in his hand, a fleeting expression of disdain flashing across his face.

Snap!

He casually snapped his fingers, and the handkerchief was instantly consumed by roaring flames, reduced to ashes.

After finishing, Saigon nodded and started walking toward where Spike and the others were.

---

“The leader is dead—we’re finally free!”

Inside the circus tent, everyone stared at Barnum, who had been crushed to death by Saigon’s hand.

For a moment, the entire circus fell silent.

But a few seconds later, the performers’ faces shifted to expressions of pure elation.

The Lobster Man looked at his deformed hands, trembling as he covered his face, his expression somewhere between laughter and tears.

The Two-Headed Sisters glanced at each other, their eyes welling up with tears.

The Thumb General lay on the ground, touching his scarred legs with a mix of disbelief and an uncontrollable rise in his voice.

Moo!

Even the circus elephant, Jumbaugh, seemed moved by the atmosphere and let out a resonant call.

“Is the leader truly dead?”

Falling from the battered body of the Siren Head, the Bearded Lady’s hair, like withered grass, shed instantly, revealing her gaunt, pale face.

Jenny Lind stepped forward to support her. Turning to look at the Swedish Nightingale’s delicate face, the Bearded Lady asked in a weak, almost inaudible voice, “Does this mean… we’re saved?”

“…”

Jenny Lind looked around at the ecstatic circus performers, her heart heavy with inexplicable unease. Though Barnum had been obliterated before everyone’s eyes, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had overlooked something crucial.

---

Walking through the celebrating crowd, Saigon’s lips curled slightly, seemingly influenced by the joy surrounding him.

However, as he passed the circus elephant, Jumbaugh, he abruptly stopped and turned to face it.

“That rotten stench emanating from you—I could smell it clearly from an entire town away.”

His pupils shifted to golden beast-like slits, and Saigon let out a guttural growl, rough as grinding stone. He extended his hand toward Jumbaugh.

Moo!

The next moment, the elephant let out a mournful cry. Its massive body began to shrink and distort until it transformed into a pulsating, jet-black heart, suspended in midair.

Gazing at the heart, Saigon’s golden eyes glimmered with cold cruelty.

He clenched his fist, and the heart, as if gripped by an invisible force, was crushed.

“No!”

With a chilling scream, the heart burst into fragments.

At the same time, the circus fell silent, devoid of all noise or movement.

Saigon opened his hand, letting the shattered heart dissolve into black ichor on the ground. He turned back, glancing at the stunned circus performers.

“Now, you’re truly free.”

His lips curled into a smirk as he delivered the line. Then his golden eyes returned to their normal state.

“You owe me one, Spike.”

Without waiting for a reply, Saigon turned to Spike and reminded him, “I don’t have much left to pay you with.”

Spike shrugged nonchalantly.

“I know, but that doesn’t mean others can’t pay the price for you.”

Saigon’s gaze swept over Spike’s companions and finally settled on Amanda.

“I don’t recall the contract including anyone else,” Spike said, stepping between Saigon and Amanda.

“What a shame, Spike,” Saigon replied, retracting his gaze. “I came all this way to save you, yet this is how you treat me?”

His tone shifted to mockery with a hint of menace. “Aren’t you afraid I might just take your soul right now?”

“If you want to execute the contract now, I won’t resist,” Spike said calmly, his fingers brushing the ring on his hand. “After all, we both signed the agreement.”

“…”

The air grew tense, and Agent Zhou, standing nearby, clenched his fists instinctively.

“Relax, Spike.”

After a moment of silence, Saigon’s dangerous expression softened into a smile.

“I’ve already told you—I hope you live a long life. The longer and more painful your life, the better the wine your soul will brew. I wouldn’t dare ruin that process too soon.”

“Phew.”

Agent Zhou exhaled in relief, though he didn’t fully understand Saigon’s cryptic words about wine. At least it seemed Saigon wasn’t planning to harm them immediately.

“I’ll do my best to live as long as possible,” Spike replied, nodding as if accepting Saigon’s twisted blessing.

“Since my work here is done, I’ll take my leave,” Saigon said, preparing to leave the town. “After all, there’s more than just your vintage waiting for me.”

Before departing, he turned to Spike one last time.

“As a token of my special attention, let me give you some bad news… You’ve noticed her condition, haven’t you? It’s worse than you think. If you don’t act quickly, it won’t be long before she’s gone. Maybe you won’t even get the chance to say goodbye…”

(End of Chapter)