Back in Valthor, Lucifer and Seraphina had agreed to get some rest before preparing for their mission the next day. Following their plan, they checked into a good-looking inn and rented a room. As on their first night, they had to share the same bed. In the middle of the night, Nox arrived in the city. Sensing Lucifer's presence, he came tapping on the window with his talons.
The next day, Lucifer and Seraphina prepared for their expedition. Nox flew off to scout the area where the dragon kin were located and would return afterward. The main thing they needed for the trek was food, some potions and a detailed map of the nearby area as detailed as possible. Seraphina paid for everything, given that she had insisted she would provide whatever Lucifer required. To her, this was an insignificant expense. After all, her yearly royal stipend—a hefty 100 billion gold coins—meant a few thousand or even a few million coins wouldn't make a dent in her wealth.
After purchasing the essentials, they went to an inn to eat, as it was already past breakfast time. They booked a table and waited for their turn. A few minutes later, they were seated, and Lucifer ordered a large quantity of food, mainly meat. Magical beast meat, a specialty in almost every inn in this world, not only tasted far superior to ordinary meat but also boosted one's power. Lucifer ordered five Epic rank beasts: one tiger, one deer, and three wolves. Epic rank beasts were common enough, yet still considered a luxury for many. Above Epic rank, beasts were rare, challenging to hunt, and usually required a reservation a month in advance. Only the nobility typically dined on Beasts of Origin rank, while Mystic rank beasts were even rarer, let alone those in the Imperishable Realm. So, Lucifer made do with his Epic rank selection.
Additionally, he ordered an assortment of side dishes, mostly in large quantities—five kilograms, ten kilograms. Onlookers were shocked, not only by the extravagant price but also by Lucifer's appearance; he didn't look like a giant, orc, barbarian, or any other being typically associated with such an appetite. To them, he seemed to be a normal human—how could he eat so much?
Even Seraphina was surprised. "Why do you need so much? Can you even eat it?"
"Why would I eat so much? Are you mad?" Lucifer replied, giving her a puzzled look.
"Then why are you ordering so much if you're not even going to eat it?" she asked.
"It's for Nox. He'll be eating too. He'll be here in a few minutes—I sent him to scout, but he's close by," he explained.
"Oh, okay." Seraphina nodded as realization dawned on her. She remembered how large Nox had looked in the sky, so this amount of food made sense.
The waitress noted down the items, then informed them, "Sir, although we serve a lot of food daily, this is quite a large order to prepare all at once. You'll have to wait a bit—perhaps more than half an hour. Is that okay?"
Lucifer nodded. "Maybe you can bring some side dishes while we wait for the full order?"
"Sure," the waitress replied, and she headed toward the kitchen.
"Well, that was a lot of hassle," Seraphina remarked.
"It was nothing," Lucifer replied coolly.
They waited a few minutes before Lucifer received a telepathic message from Nox, who had arrived nearby. Simultaneously, another telepathic message came through, this time from Sedare. Her alluring voice chimed in his mind.
"Master, the seed is prepared. When do you need it?" Sedare asked.
Lucifer felt a bit of relief but also some concern. "Well, I'm near Twilight Vale. Where are you?"
"I'm in the Elven Empire," she replied.
"What the hell—what are you doing there?" he demanded.
"Master, Furios wanted a slight change of plans. He thought your original plan was too weak, so he's preparing for a war between the Elven Empire and Zafyre. I think it'll be very interesting," Sedare explained.
Lucifer's frustration mounted. "Sedare, this isn't what I wanted. I only needed you to instigate a small conflict that Seraphina could solve before the Trial of Ruler started, giving her a little edge in contribution. This is messed up! Why didn't you try to prevent this escalation? I thought you were the one to handle these things smoothly."
"Master, it was Furios who took it further. But, honestly, while it's a bit more than you planned, it aligns with your goals. In the chaos of war, anything can happen to anyone. This could be your chance for freedom," she replied with a hint of satisfaction.
Lucifer sighed, resigned. "Fine. Do whatever you want, but keep it within limits. Right now, help me out if you can. I don't care about the killings or anything else—I just want to get out of this arrangement with her as soon as possible." He resolved to find a way to control his subordinates more firmly once he was free from Seraphina's grasp.
Meanwhile, the waitress brought out some side dishes, and Lucifer and Seraphina began eating. The spread included fried meats, vegetable stew, and rice. Although Seraphina wasn't hostile toward him and couldn't physically harm him, he couldn't shake the eerie feeling he got whenever she gazed at him. It had only been three days, yet her presence unnerved him, and more than that, he detested the feeling of being enslaved. Since arriving in this world, Lucifer seemed to have adapted a little too easily to his new demonic form, a thought that sometimes sent a chill down his spine.
"As you wish, Master," Sedare responded telepathically, her voice laced with a wide, sadistic grin he could almost sense.
Nox soon arrived at the inn after shrinking to a more manageable size. Lucifer, who had been deep in thought while unknowingly finishing several plates of side dishes, motioned for Nox to come over. By now, more than thirty minutes had passed, and the waitress finally brought out the main feast: five roasted beast carcasses, stuffed with various vegetables, alongside a variety of side dishes. These included the internal organs of the beasts—hearts, livers, and more. There was also a dish labeled "Uncle Roger's fried rice," which Lucifer found amusing for reasons he couldn't quite place. Still, the rice was delicious, and the flavor of MSG was unmistakable.
Nox devoured most of the food, but surprisingly, Lucifer's appetite had been increasing over the last few days, and he managed to finish an entire beast roast on his own.