NOVPUBAfter the first great war between the Blood Clan and the Demon Race, both sides signed the "North-South Pact." The Demon Race then experienced an unprecedented economic boom, with the magic industry rapidly developing and promoting the rise of engineering construction and consumerism.
In this era, many from the Demon Race amassed huge fortunes and lofty statuses through investment and trade, with becoming nouveau-riche or ascending to the heavens overnight being not impossible.
Just like the meteoric rise of Rocky McCarthy, it wasn’t so unpredictable for the Demon Race; rather, it was quite normal. Perhaps next year, there would emerge another Rocky McCarthy.
Of course, the reason why this restaurant became famous so quickly, besides Mr. McCarthy’s own profound demon veins in Naikarisu and his apparent good relations with many ministers, was a unique, limited-time dish—the Earl’s Blood Soup.
It was a bright red pudding said to have a magic power that could addict members of the Demon Race.
In the Demon World, chefs who could make food with added magic effects held a status no less than that of a Magic Artisan.
And the Earl’s Blood Soup, after being consumed in a certain quantity for the first time, could even permanently increase one’s physical attribute.
So, it gradually became a dish that was worth a thousand pieces of gold at this restaurant.
Many from the Demon Race wanted to replicate McCarthy’s success, but they couldn’t find any leads.
"A member of the Demon Race told me that he had killed quite a few of his own kind."
A burst of conversational sounds brought Lisandra back to reality. 𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙥𝒖𝒃.𝒄𝒐𝒎
Lisandra felt a chill because she knew that the Demons were discussing the owner of the palace restaurant, Rocky McCarthy.
She was already standing beside blonde noble Lady Tia, her old classmate, and soon after Lady Tia’s introduction, she completed the introductions with the surrounding demons.
This was the true Noble circle of the Royal Capital Naikarisu. Lisandra could only hesitantly say that she was a descendant of Duke Pukeli of the Great Demon Clan, covering up the fact that she actually "snuck in" from next door rather than being a bona fide distinguished member of this restaurant.
Different from the timid-hearted Lisandra, a noble from the Demon World leaned forward eagerly wanting to hear everything about the restaurant’s owner.
"I don’t think that’s the case,"
Lady Tia said hesitantly,
"He is more likely to have been a spy during the war."
As the cousin of Lord Raeming, a general from the Demon World, she could tell that many of the restaurant’s staff had military training. She didn’t believe that McCarthy had no connections with the Demon World’s army.
Earlier in the restaurant, she had made several rounds inquiring about McCarthy from the Demons she knew, but she got not a single clue about him.
This ghost-like presence only reminded her of the professional spies her cousin had talked about.
A gentleman of the Demon Race nodded in agreement, took a breath, and then lowered his tone by half:
"I’ve heard from the Demon Race about this; someone knows a bit about him. It seems he has just returned from the border, bearing the insignia of the Beastmen City-State Family. Even after the war ended, he seemed to have stayed undercover in human and Blood Clan territories, doing business and making a fortune by striking out on his own."
He assured everyone with conviction that his little piece of gossip was very accurate.
"Oh no, that’s not it."
A girl’s voice in objection drew Lisandra’s gaze to the other side,
"He couldn’t have been a war-time spy because during the war he was studying at the Purgatory Corridor Academy, that notorious school. I’ve heard from many in the Demon Race that Rocky McCarthy attended the Purgatory Corridor Academy."
Seeing the young nobles starting to believe her statement, she excitedly added,
"But I also believe sometimes you can tell from the unintentional expressions of the staff here. I bet he definitely has killed many demons."
She squinted her eyes, shivering just at her own gossip.
Lisandra couldn’t help but shiver as well.
As the conversation went on, all the Demons around couldn’t help but seek out the silhouette of Rocky McCarthy, the rumored owner of the restaurant, in their spare moments, amidst the glittering palace hall.
However, they still couldn’t find any clues about him.
He could be upstairs, he could be any Demon they had seen.
No one knew exactly what kind of Demon he was, whether young or old, striking or common.
Even those Demons who usually spoke about everything under the sun had to whisper when they mentioned McCarthy in the restaurant, convincing each other of the mystery surrounding this Demon.
"Regardless, at the royal ceremony held a week from now, we should be able to see Mr. McCarthy’s true face in the royal palace,"
a noble finally said with some regret.
Given McCarthy’s current connections in the Royal Capital Naikarisu, it was highly likely he would be invited.
Many socialites gathered here could attend, and it was unlikely that the host McCarthy would miss it.
Perhaps it would be the first public appearance of Rocky McCarthy.
Before that time, he might just be in this palace, having just passed by you, yet you wouldn’t have noticed at all.
"The premise is that Mr. McCarthy is willing to attend; perhaps for him, a mere princess is not worth the sight,"
Lady Tia spread her hands and said,
"Lisandra, how charming is the princess? Could she enchant McCarthy?"
She turned to her follower Lisandra and asked.
"Uh, she’s quite beautiful..."
Lisandra replied.
