NOVPUBHe quickly regained his composure and began to speak,
"Or you might try Lasttrance Poson-style selections, a restaurant run by the renowned Poson Demon World chef Pascal Barrie. Known for its innovative Poson Demon World cuisine, especially the meticulous selection of ingredients and the creative interpretation of magic dishes, it has received extremely high ratings from many foreign customers."
"Of course, there’s also Lemeris Bar as an alternative option, the highest rated restaurant located inside the hotel of the same luxurious name, renowned throughout the South Continent for its classic decor and gourmet food. Patrons can indulge in delectable dishes while experiencing the opulence of a Poson Kingdom court."
He carefully listed the options.
"Alright, you make the arrangements."
Talia nodded in assent.
It had always been this way; she followed Lanci wherever he went.
This guy always knew his way around, and he had a knack for choosing restaurants. She didn’t have to worry about him not planning what they would eat for lunch that day.
More importantly, he really would take the time to plan out the lunch and dinner arrangements in advance, making it feel like he truly cared.
However,
even though it was the first time she had gone out with him like this, for a non-business purpose, why did it feel like they had already been on such a date before?
The two of them strolled along the cobblestone roads in the early morning, passing through street after street until the scenery opened up around them. The buildings and streets of Parriet, even the passersby, became mere backdrops in the narrative of their journey.
"By the way, although we’re here to investigate the grudge curse related to the great wizard Parlony, Sergeant Nigel might be a bit busy these next few days, and we may not be able to find him. In the meantime, we’ll have to start our investigation elsewhere," Lanci commented through mind-link to Talia beside him.
Unlike vacationing travelers like them, the executioner Nigel had a busy military job every day, with almost no personal time outside of his holidays.
"Did you contact him this morning?" Talia asked him in her mind.
"Yes, he said he has some things to discuss in person and asked us to find him in a couple of days," Lanci replied.
The two of them had now discovered that sometimes communicating through the mind was quite convenient, efficient, and private.
"Before then, executioner Nigel did mention to me that an incident involving a rampage by the Demon Race occurred in a location recently. It may hold some clues and could also be an accident-prone area," Lanci continued to share his thoughts.
The Petras Auction House, recommended by Countess Rosalinda the day before, had recently experienced an incident involving the berserk Curse Demon Clan.
Based on the intelligence provided by Countess Rosalinda, the current internal investigation of the Poseen Kingdom indicates that the "grudge of the great wizard Parlony" is a curse that is easier to forcibly contaminate slave contracts and employment contracts, while public citizen safety contracts are actually more difficult to corrupt.
And Petras sometimes trades not only precious items and materials but also some contracts up for auction, allowing the purchase of Demon World followers.
"Shall we take a detour to Petras Auction House today, to look at the materials and also to investigate, and then go for lunch?" Talia asked Lanci.
The weekly auction just happened to be in the morning.
Their schedule for the morning suddenly became clear.
Indeed, there was still a bit of official business. Doing it with Lanci made her feel more at ease.
Purely wandering for leisure, she would hardly know how to spend the time.
"No problem; visiting Petras Auction House in Huadu is a good choice lately. There are many festivals and events in the Poseen Kingdom this month, and the auction has become particularly lively," Lanci answered.
Many Shadow World Challengers and adventurers from the present world do not wish to sell their treasured materials to the Southern Continent Card Maker Association.
The reason for this is that some precious materials are so sought after by certain cardmakers that they are willing to pay a premium, but whether one will encounter such cardmakers requires both time and luck.
Although the Southern Continent Card Maker Association often purchases quickly at fair prices, the valuation of particularly rare materials is often very formulaic and does not offer a premium.
If one is not in a hurry for cash, consigning the goods with a business association or at an auction house might fetch a much higher price.
Therefore, some materials that Countess Rosalinda could not quickly allocate for them at the Southern Continent Card Maker Association had to be sought from other institutions.
"Why have you two stopped talking, meow? Please don’t use your private channel, okay, meow?"
Boss Cat noticed that the two had been making eye contact for quite some time but hadn’t spoken a word; it knew they were having a private chat again.
"We were discussing where to go this morning, and now we’ve decided to check out the Petras Auction House in Huadu."
Lanci explained as he stroked Boss Cat.
"Meow, you guys better not get too addicted to chatting like this."
Boss Cat looked at them both and advised.
It didn’t like feeling left out.
"How could we possibly?"
They both said to it.
"Meow."
Boss Cat was somewhat reassured; it still liked to hear their everyday banter.
Besides, if they got used to communicating with their minds, when they returned to Boss Cat Restaurant without realizing it, others might find them very strange, as if they were performing a mute play. It would be obvious that they were up to something intimate in public.
"Speaking of which, isn’t this auction house membership-based? Can we really go directly in today without an appointment? Meow?"
Boss Cat raised its head and asked.
"No problem, have you ever heard of the Petras Company from Hyperion?"
Lanci gently caressed Boss Cat.
"I’ve heard of it, meow. Isn’t that company quite famous? But mainly in the western hub areas, they only opened a branch in the capital of Poseen Kingdom in the eastern region."
Boss Cat thought for a moment and replied.
"Back then, at Hyperion and Frey’s second Shadow World encounter, the Sanctuary Evil Banquet, we met three friends from the Camberra Kingdom, including a leading Young Master of the Business Association whose relationship with the three of us was very good. Do you remember that Young Master’s company name?"
Lanci asked as he traced little circles on Boss Cat’s forehead.
At that time, besides the three divine ones, the Goddess of Destruction, the Destruction Branch’s direct soldiers, and the little Princess of South Crayney, the other three teammates were the Young Master of the Business Association from the Camberra Kingdom and his guardian siblings.
"...It does seem like it was called Petras, meow."
Boss Cat realized.
"His family holds a large share in the Petras Group. He told me when we said goodbye in the Shadow World that he would register us as members, and then we could go to any Petras Company branch us we liked."
Lanci explained.
"That’s quite nice."
Talia commented from the side.
She found that Lanci always had some connections. Not only in his hometown of Nanwantina, but wherever he went, he always managed to integrate quickly into the local environment and maintain good relations with the people there.
Possibly in the Northern Continent too, he had made a number of acquaintances, which could make traveling there with him more convenient in the future.
Of course, she was more familiar with the Northern Continent.
But over the years, some places might have completely changed, and some of the Old Demon World ruins had been occupied and turned into restricted areas by humans. Revisiting her homeland was not easy.
"Thinking of going to the Northern Continent?"
Lanci read Talia’s thoughts.
"I haven’t been home for a few years, actually kind of miss it,"
Talia nodded.
"Whenever you want to go back to the Northern Continent, just go and have a look. I’m quite familiar with the Protoss Empire on the South Bank now,"
Lanci said.
"I guessed as much, considering you managed to rescue Antanas and the others from Herram Prison, you must have some connections,"
Talia said nonchalantly.
But now, she had grown accustomed to and preferred the life in Ichrite.
As for the past of the Demon Race and the Demon World, let it dissipate.
For a long time to come, she had no intention of returning to her homeland.
