https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-567-Cardinal-Lanchi-s-Midsummer-Night-Feast/12584875/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-569-Lanchi-Will-Always-Help-Sybree-Solve-Problems/12584877/
Chapter 568: My Neighbor, Mr. Lanchi
Chapter 568: My Neighbor, Mr. Lanchi
Following the first great war between the Blood Tribe and the Demon Tribe, the two factions signed the "North-South Treaty," ushering in an era of unprecedented economic prosperity for the demons. Demon industry flourished, spurring engineering advancements and the rise of consumerism.
In this age, many demons amassed vast wealth and attained high social status through investment and trade, rising to prominence overnight.
Take the sudden rise of Rocky McCassidy—while it may seem enigmatic to outsiders, it's not entirely unexpected in the demon world. After all, there could very well be another McCassidy-like figure emerging next year.
The reason this particular restaurant gained fame so swiftly was not only due to McCassidy's extraordinary connections to the deep-rooted demon veins of Necallis and his apparent friendships with numerous ministers, but also because of a unique, exclusive dish it offered—the Count Blood Pudding.
This dish was a brilliant red pudding, rumored to possess an addictive quality for demons.
In the demon world, chefs capable of infusing their dishes with magical effects held a status comparable to that of demon artisans.
And the Count Blood Pudding was said to permanently increase one's physical strength after consuming a certain amount.
Thus, it became a highly sought-after delicacy in this restaurant, with reservations nearly impossible to secure.
Many demons sought to replicate McCassidy's path to success, but to no avail.
"I've heard from a demon that he has killed countless of his own kind," a snippet of conversation drew Lysandra back to the present.
Lysandra felt a chill run down her spine as she realized the group of demons was discussing none other than the owner of this palatial restaurant, Rocky McCassidy.
She had been standing next to her old classmate, the blonde-haired noble lady, Tia, and now found herself amidst a group of demon men and women. With Tia's introduction, she had been duly introduced to the surrounding demon shadows.
Here, in the true noble circle of the royal capital, Necallis, Lysandra could only stammer that she was a descendant of the ancient great demon, Duke Pukely, masking the truth that she was merely a "tag-along" living next door rather than an esteemed, legitimate member of this exclusive club.
Unlike the timid Lysandra, a nearby demon noble leaned forward eagerly, keen on learning more about the restaurant's enigmatic owner.
"I doubt that's the case," Lady Tia interjected hesitantly. "He's more likely to have been a spy during the war."
As the cousin of General Thunder, she could discern the military bearing in many of the restaurant's staff. In her opinion, it was implausible that McCassidy had no connections to the demon army.
Earlier, she had circled the restaurant several times, questioning every familiar demon she encountered, yet she hadn't gleaned even a shred of information about McCassidy.
This ghost-like presence reminded her of the highly trained, professional spies her cousin had mentioned.
A demon gentleman nodded in agreement, took a breath, and then lowered his voice slightly:
"I've heard similar tales from other demons. Someone who knows him a bit claimed that he had just returned from the borderlands and bore the insignia of a beastman city-state family. Even after the war ended, he seemed to remain undercover in the human and blood tribe lands, amassing his fortune through trade and unconventional means."
He assured them confidently that his inside information was reliable.
"Oh, I don't think so," a young woman's rebuttal drew Lysandra's attention to another side of the group.
"How could he have been a spy during the war when he was studying at the Corridor of Purgatory Academy? Many demons have told me that Rocky McCassidy attended that brutal prestigious school."
As the young nobles began to lean towards believing her account, she added excitedly, "But I also believe that sometimes, you can catch a glimpse of it from the unguarded expressions of the restaurant's staff. I'd wager he's killed countless demons."
She narrowed her eyes, shivering with excitement at her own gossip.
Lysandra couldn't help but shudder as well.
As the conversation continued, all the demons present found themselves glancing around the opulent hall, trying to spot the elusive McCassidy among the golden splendor.
Yet, they found no clues to his identity.
He could be downstairs or upstairs, or perhaps he was one of the many demons they had already seen.
No one knew his true demon race, his age, or whether he was handsome or ordinary.
Even demons who were usually forthcoming with information found themselves whispering when discussing McCassidy, fueling the mystique surrounding this figure.
"Regardless, we should be able to catch a glimpse of McCassidy's true face at the royal ceremony in a week's time," one of the nobles finally said with a hint of regret.
Given McCassidy's extensive connections in Necallis, it was highly likely he would receive an invitation.
Many of the social elites gathered here would be in attendance, and it would be odd for McCassidy, their host, to be absent.
Perhaps that would be the first time Rocky McCassidy made a public appearance.
Until then, he might have just walked past them in this very palace, and they wouldn't have known it.
"That's assuming Mr. McCassidy wishes to attend," Tia said with a shrug. "For all we know, he might find the princess unworthy of his attention."
"Lysandra, what's the princess like? Can she captivate McCassidy?" She turned to Lysandra, her companion, and asked.
"Well, she's very beautiful..." Lysandra replied.
She understood Tia's implication. After all, the princess lacked rank and influence, and as a caged bird of sorts, her artistic qualities might be her only allure for men.
"But a demon like McCassidy has probably seen countless female demons. It's unlikely he'd go out of his way just to catch a glimpse of the princess, no matter how beautiful she may be," Lysandra added, reflecting on the silence that followed.
Only a great demon could take the princess away.
And McCassidy was clearly not a great demon.
The rest of the demons were mere spectators, gathering to witness a rare spectacle, at most catching a glimpse of the princess's current appearance.
"Indeed..." Lysandra nodded after some thought.
If McCassidy were the type to be enticed by the princess's beauty, it would only disappoint the curious demons who had built him up in their imaginations.
After standing and chatting on the second floor for about ten minutes, the first dinner was coming to a close.
Of course, there would be a second dinner after midnight.
Tia invited Lysandra to join her at a table in the open-air garden on the second floor, where they would be joined by the same group of young demons.
The moon rose higher in the sky, casting a silvery glow across the boundless night sky over the bay, as the soothing melody from a harp drifted through the air, blending harmoniously with the gentle summer breeze.
Out in the open, the vastness of McCassidy's estate became more apparent, and the sofas flanking the dining table offered a more relaxed seating arrangement. The alcohol in the outdoor air was less overpowering, allowing Lysandra to breathe more easily.
Even outdoors, the sounds of the musical opera being performed within the restaurant could be heard, and champagne fizzed in tall, slender glasses as servants brought them to each guest, the clinking of glasses filling the air.
The neighboring table was less lively, occupied only by a solitary demon with pure white horns and markings.
Further away, laughter echoed continuously.
"Tomorrow happens to be the day the royal family receives the Vampire envoy, Count Selcho. Make sure you don't sleep in and miss it."
The conversation reverberated across the spacious second-floor open-air plaza.
Any demon who could afford to dine at this restaurant was likely aware of the topic being discussed at those distant tables.
The early arrival of the Vampire envoy delegation to the Demon Realm was presumably due to the recent disappearance of a Vampire count in the vicinity of the Demon Realm.
The Vampires strongly suspected that a demon had violated the "North-South Treaty" and attacked the count.
And among the demons gathered in the Demon King's city of Necallis, there were certainly those with the power to subdue a Vampire count.
Now, the Vampire investigator, Count Selcho, was about to cast a spell in the royal capital of Necallis to search for clues related to the assailant.
No matter where the missing count was hidden or how many seals were placed upon him, as long as the culprit was a demon who had come into contact with Vampire blood recently, Count Selcho would be able to sense their presence.
"If a high-ranking and influential demon is found to be responsible for harming the Vampire count, it could spark a serious diplomatic crisis."
One of the demons at Lysandra's table sighed, voicing the concern that hung in the air.
Lysandra silently nodded in agreement, feeling insignificant in the face of such weighty matters.
In this situation, Count Selcho, the Vampire envoy, would officially be visiting the Demon King, the princess. Lord Fallen was merely a minister responsible for ensuring the princess's safety.
Lord Fallen had also cleverly shifted the burden of this problem onto the princess, using her as a shield.
After all, if the true ruler, Lord Fallen, were to handle it directly, the issue would become even more complicated.
The noble demons seated at her table maintained a dignified posture, passionately discussing the significant events unfolding in the Demon Realm, and they treated Lysandra with a degree of warmth, acknowledging her presence among them.
At that moment, Lysandra began to feel a sense of elation.
She had already downed two large glasses of wine, and her vision was becoming blurred.
However, she worried about oversleeping and being late for the events of the following day.
Perhaps it was because of this late-night gathering that McCassidy, as a neighbor, had invited her as a form of compensation.
"If the princess handles the Vampire envoy's challenge well tomorrow, her prestige will surely soar. But if she fails to manage it properly, she will only confirm herself as a useless decoration."
The blonde noble lady, Tia, brought up the princess again, her tone carrying a hint of disdain.
"Everyone who understands the situation knows that most demons don't have high expectations of her. If she were truly worthy of her position, Lord Fallen wouldn't be pushing her forward like this, forcing her to face the Vampire envoy."
The other demons nodded in agreement.
Lysandra tightened her grip on her half-empty glass.
This was the third time she had heard such remarks.
While they spoke the truth, Lysandra sensed a strong undercurrent of hostility toward the princess from Tia.
In terms of noble blood, Tia couldn't compare to the princess.
"I think the princess is a very capable demon," Lysandra mumbled, her head hanging low as she emphasized each word. "Your cousin, Lord Thunder, can only win if the princess chooses him. Even though you say she's unworthy, the fact is that she does have the right to choose, and you don't have the right to choose for your cousin."
Perhaps emboldened by the alcohol, Lysandra decided to speak her mind, choosing not to go along with Tia's derisive attitude this time.
An awkward silence descended upon the group.
The demons sitting on the sofa nearby stared at Lysandra and Tia, taken aback by Lysandra's bold statement.
However, Tia maintained her composure, striving to uphold the dignity and calm associated with her noble status.
But the subtle influence of alcohol caused the emotions she had buried deep within to surface, and her eyes began to glisten with unshed tears.
Lysandra was taken aback by Tia's reaction.
The other demons present were well aware of the reason for Tia's distress.
She wanted her cousin, Lord Thunder, to lose because she had romantic feelings for him and didn't want him to be taken away by a stranger.
And Lysandra's words had struck a sensitive nerve.
"What can I do...?" Tia whispered, her tears sliding silently down her perfect face as her hand trembled slightly, causing the wine in her glass to ripple.
In that moment, despite her beauty, she exuded a fragile vulnerability that seemed painfully fragile in the quiet of the night.
She knew her family needed the princess, and she also knew that she desperately didn't want her cousin to win, but she couldn't express these sentiments to him, as it would only make her seem childish and a burden to her family and cousin.
"I-I didn't mean it like that... I didn't know you felt that way..." Lysandra stammered, at a loss for words.
She hadn't seen her old classmate, Tia, in many years and had no idea that Tia's resentment toward the princess stemmed from her romantic feelings for her cousin, Lord Thunder.
While Lysandra knew how to navigate interactions with the princess, who projected an image of outward fragility but possessed inner strength, she found herself at a loss when faced with Tia, whose outward strength masked a fragile interior. Everything she said seemed ill-timed and inappropriate.
Just as Lysandra was floundering, a calm and gentle voice sounded from behind them.
"Is there anything I can help with, ladies?"
It was the male demon from the neighboring table, the one with horns that resembled white jade and a faint glow.
Demons with light-based attributes were rare in the Demon Realm, and few could match his striking appearance, especially with those emerald green eyes.
Upon closer inspection, they noticed a small girl sleeping beside him, her head resting on his arm.
And so, he had remained still, not wanting to disturb her.
Now that the little girl had fallen asleep, he gently placed her on the sofa, allowing her to continue sleeping peacefully.
(End of Chapter)
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