"Hey, I can't just ignore that remark," the irreverent master addressed his unreliable apprentice. "Ever heard of casing the joint? You're about to start school; at the very least, I've got to check the place out."

Pepe retorted on the spot to Murphy's PR spiel, "Last time you sent me out alone, our target wound up dead."

"Let's be precise here; not dead, at least not completely," Murphy replied with a pallid defense. "It's all part of the plan."

Before the others could react, Murphy had already activated the teleportation circle behind him. "Work hard everyone, I'll be back in no time~"

With a familiar flash, the hit-and-run Demon Lord had disappeared without a trace.

Those remaining in the reception room also set off to their own tasks; Lambert retreated to his room to pack, Byron traveled via the underground magic circle to the demon domain to inform all creatures great and small, leaving the girl and the golden-haired dog to stare each other down in the now-quiet room.

"Miss Pepe, may I still read the books?" the dog asked politely, seated neatly in a chair.

"Lay low for a bit~ Wait till the master forgets about this," Pepe answered with a sly grin.

"Thank you, Miss Pepe, you are so kind, so benevolent, like night-blooming jasmine under the moonlight... woof~"

"...Well, I'm beginning to question the wisdom of letting you read those books..."

---

Teleporting away from his base, Murphy didn't head directly to the capital but appeared inside a trade guild in another district of the City of Gath. After undergoing significant renovations, the bustling trade center had delegated trading rights to every hawker and vendor, making it a hive of daily activity.

On the second floor of the guild, in a nondescript room, was Murphy's personal waypoint. Although it was all within the same city, Murphy subscribed to the mantra of sitting over standing, teleporting over walking, and had transformed this unassuming little room into a sort of mini-safe house.

Pushing open the door, Murphy took a quick look around; the second-floor corridor was empty, in sharp contrast to the hustle and bustle resounding from below, confirming he'd come to the right place.

Mr. Alaric, the man in charge of the Viscounty's overt fiscal power, was catnapping at his desk as a knock sound. Lifting his head and rubbing his eyes, he casually bid, "Come in."

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Seeing the youth enter, Alaric's face lit up with a mix of shock and delight. Aware of Murphy's cunning nature, Alaric knew a visit from him signaled something significant, a likely boon.

Swallowing the yawn that threatened to break free, Alaric greeted with a smile, "Good to see you, Mr. Murphy. To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Pleasure, you say?" Murphy gazed at the ceiling, pondering briefly before responding with a grin, "It is indeed a matter of joy, hence why I've come expressly to inform you."

"Oh?" Alaric's eyebrows rose in a knowing arch, "Please, Mr. Murphy, take a seat. Let's discuss this at leisure."

"No need for a sit-down, I’ve other errands to run. I'm here to let you know that 'Plan Number One' is ready to launch."

The merchant's face couldn’t hide his shock, "Is that true?"

"True indeed, personally approved by Lord Toras. But there's just one thing he wanted me to stress to you," Murphy paused, eyeing Alaric.

Swallowing hard, Alaric straightened up, "Please, Mr. Murphy, do tell."

"Lord Toras insists on a steady, measured approach to the plan, keep your expansion to one-fifth of the proposed pace—meaning, you can open only one new outlet per month. You’re to ensure each new location is stable before progressing to the next."

"Of course, of course!" Alaric waved his hands excitedly, one a month meant a dozen a year, and over three to five years that would be...

"I'll pass on your commitment to Lord Toras," the jolly businessman said, bowing deeply.

Satisfied with the response, Murphy mused briefly before adding, "There's just a small detail worth noting: we need to capitalize on our brand effect."

"Brand... effect..." These seemingly disjointed words merged together in Murphy's hands. Alaric tasted the phrasing, "You mean... our own... style?"

"Precisely!" Murphy snapped his fingers, "From the decor to service attitude, or even our pricing policy, strive for uniformity. Implant our image of fairness and integrity into every heart and mind, unnoticed. Do you grasp my drift?"

Alaric replied with enthusiasm, "I do, thank you for the reminder, Mr. Murphy, this was indeed an oversight in my plan."

"Thwack!" A thin tome bound in vellum hit the solid oak table beside Alaric, "That's good to hear. I’ve noted down the important points in the updated plan."

With sprightly steps, Murphy headed for the door, "I hope to see your enterprises in every city of the kingdom one day."

"Thank you for your blessing," the merchant bowed deeply as his guest departed.

---

Pleased to see his human collaborator was doing well, Murphy left the director’s office smiling, heading back to his little room. "If things expand rapidly, who knows what interesting outcomes we might see..."

For Murphy, maintaining a tight grip on human intelligence was always a priority. Once he realized Alaric's men weren't exactly reliable, he quickly had Wirt establish a ghostly spy network.

Indeed, as mid-tier entities, ghosts were natural-born spymasters. Invisible and intangible to ordinary folks, ghosts could pass through human bodies without notice, sending shivers down spines without raising suspicion - making them perfect for penetrating virtually all human institutions to fetch a wealth of information.

Yet, there was one exception—the church. Mid-tier ghosts struggled to enter bona fide churches, and if a surveillance target conspired within hallowed halls, those adorable specters dared not risk a bishop's purifying wrath for a bit of eavesdropping.

With Murphy infiltrating royal lands, he stumbled upon a hidden mechanic: an empire-wide field weakening demons, with its epicenter at the grand Cathedral of Holy Light in the capital. The closer to the royal seat, the more impaired the demons became, necessitating some human elements in Murphy's intelligence web.