Demon City Bank.
At the service counter for deposit and withdrawal transactions, an astonished shout suddenly echoed.
"How much?!"
The uniformed pig-man security guard glanced toward the counter, saw it was just an ugly human, snorted, and turned his face away.
Watching Luo Yan, whose mouth was so agape that it looked as though an egg could fit inside, the goblin lady behind the bank counter shyly stole a glance at him.
"Two million Kela... Sir, are you sure you want to withdraw all your money?"
Upon closer inspection, this customer was quite handsome.
Although humans couldn't compare to High-level Demons in Hell, as the saying goes, scarcity brings value.
And it's rumored that humans are longer than goblins in all respects, except for their noses and ears.
If he was willing to treat her to a meal, it wasn't out of the question for her to stoop a little…
"No need, just... withdraw ten thousand for now," Luo Yan steadied himself and quickly calmed down from his state of shock.
He had thought there would be at most a few thousand Kela in the account, since his living expenses amounted to only a couple thousand. He could never have imagined the balance would have seven figures!
Could it be that Priest Geoffrey mixed up the bank card number and password? Giving him the card meant for his private savings...
Although he knew the likelihood of such a thing happening was close to zero, Luo Yan couldn't help but worry.
Later, he'd take a detour to Elm Street in the west district to visit Priest Geoffrey.
If it was indeed a mistake, he had to return the money to that gentleman.
Ten thousand-Kela notes were counted and recounted by the goblin behind the counter, and finally stacked neatly onto a copper tray.
These notes, made from fire-resistant materials, are the largest denomination in Hell, said to survive unscathed even if rolled through lava.
Reflecting on it, Luo Yan, who had lived in Hell for eighteen years, was seeing such a large denomination for the first time, so much so that the notes felt hot to the touch.
"Sir, please make sure the amount is correct," the goblin behind the counter said with a high-pitched voice, while her hook-like index finger circled around her ears that were longer than her face.
Luo Yan unexpectedly discovered that these goblins actually showed quite a range of expressions; until then, he had always thought all they did was eat.
After all, he had only seen them in the canteen of the West Tower.
"Okay, thank you."
Without saying much more, he stuffed the money into his wallet and then left the bank, striding away under the astonished gazes that followed from behind the counter.
The goblin's green skin gradually flushed to the color of liver, not even the thickest foundation could hide it, and the affectionate gaze etched with a curse of fierce malice.
Ugly human things, such ill manners! Poor and pretentious, showing off! Disgusting! Shrimp head! ¥%¥#@!
…
In the west district of Demon City, Elm Street, all sorts of Demons walked about.
Some were as tall as giants, others as short as dwarfs, some had countless legs, and others had eyes that took up half of their faces... or they didn't look like mammals at all but were giant worms that could butterfly stroke through lava, seemingly harmless plant-eaters that were actually extremely dangerous carnivores.
Unlike the High-level Demons with their distinctive features.
As the multitude of lower-tier Demons in Hell, they belong to no specific race due to their mixed lineage and are generally referred to as "Demons".
This term mainly serves to distinguish them from High-level Demons.
In today's world, the concept of a Demon had become generalized; only old-timers like Principal Ai Wen, who had lived for a thousand years, enjoyed nitpicking over status.
The younger generation of Demons no longer cared about such things.
The Temple where Priest Geoffrey served was located right on this unusual street. As Luo Yan stepped into this area, he could instantly feel the gazes around him becoming piercingly acute.
In Hell, humans, aside from the clergy, were all too conspicuous... conspicuous enough that anyone was tempted to take a bite.
And this was one of the reasons why Luo Yan hardly ever "came home" after getting into the Demon King Academy.
Priest Geoffrey had just finished the evening prayers.
Seeing Luo Yan at the entrance of the Temple, he revealed a kind smile on his wrinkled face, as if he had seen his own grandson.
"I just got your letter; how did you get here so quickly?"
"I missed you."
Luo Yan chuckled, lifted the basket in his hand filled with Hell's specialty, fire pig fruit, and bread.
He had bought these gifts from a street vendor just before entering the street.
"You don't have to be so formal; the Temples in Demon City have never lacked food. Instead of spending that spare money, you might as well donate it to the children in remote areas," Priest Geoffrey spoke, while still warmly accepting the items from Luo Yan's hands. Then he proceeded to speak in a typically casual manner.
"You're here about the bank card, aren't you?"
"You always see right through me…" Seeing that the old man had figured it out, Luo Yan no longer hid the truth and admitted with a laugh.
Priest Geoffrey had a look of 'I knew it,' and made a light-hearted joke.
"The amount gave you a shock?"
"Yes... I was wondering when you became so rich."
Priest Geoffrey cast a glance at the indiscreet Luo Yan, handed the basket to a nun who had come forward, and instructed her to take it to the kitchen.
There was a lot of food.
Enough to serve as dinner for the orphans of the temple orphanage.
After seeing to this, he turned to Luo Yan, and with a serious tone, he said,
"I should have told you in the letter, that money was left to you by your father."
Luo Yan fell silent for a while, then nodded and replied,
"I know. But... how should I put it? The amount was a shock. Even if I wanted to thank him, I would need to know his name, wouldn't I?"
His feelings were uncertain.
The man who wouldn't even reveal his name hadn't appeared in his life for the past eighteen years. And now, suddenly, he had dropped a large sum of money in front of him...
Priest Geoffrey was quiet for a moment, his gaze drifting towards the chapel behind him.
"Your father... due to some reasons, can't acknowledge you and can only help you through me. I don't like that man, but I can tell that he loves you, and he's doing this for your own good,"
Luo Yan nodded.
"Alright, let's just leave it at that then."
Priest Geoffrey gently raised his eyebrows.
"I thought you would ask for his name?"
"What's the point of asking the same question over and over? You've refused to tell me all these years. Besides, I'm not the type to chase after someone who doesn't want to be bothered. If he thinks it's better this way then let it be," Luo Yan said with a resigned yet nonchalant smile, "After all, to me, you are my father."
A faint smile appeared on Priest Geoffrey's face, but he quickly resumed a stern expression and coughed.
"I'm glad you say that, but considering our ages... it would be more appropriate for you to call me grandfather."
"Sure thing, as long as you're happy," Luo Yan laughed.
Geoffrey nodded, his broad hand resting on Luo Yan's shoulder, his eyes showing a hint of nostalgia, as if remembering someone.
A long time passed before he slowly began to speak again.
"Your eyes resemble your mother's, black like obsidian... She caused me so much worry when she was your age. I always feared she'd get into trouble, to the point of losing sleep over it. And indeed, she didn't disappoint, creating a big mess eighteen years ago."
"A big mess?" Luo Yan blurted out before quickly realizing his indiscretion.
"Yes, that's you," Geoffrey said with a meaningful glance at Luo Yan, continuing in a calm voice, "And it's precisely because of your troublemaking mother and your indecisive father that I always worried I wouldn't raise you right... but you turned out to be beyond my expectations."
"Sometimes I even feel like you're not a child. You're more mature than your mother, more decisive than your father, and all of this was when you were still very young. Every time I think about this, I feel both proud and ashamed—"
"Please don't say that," Luo Yan gently coughed, interrupting the old man, "I'm already very grateful that you raised me to this age."
Geoffrey smiled and spoke kindly.
"Is that so? Thank you for your comforting words. What I really want to say is, although I may not have been the most competent godfather, I've always considered you my own child... Please forgive me that this is all the help I can offer, from now on, you'll have to walk the path alone."
In the face of that encouraging gaze, Luo Yan responded with a reassuring smile.
"Please don't say that, you've helped me a lot! As for the road ahead, I can handle it myself! Plus, I've already decided where I'm going next."
"Then go on, do what you want to do."
Priest Geoffrey lightly patted Luo Yan's shoulder, the pride and appreciation in his eyes shining like that of a true father.
"If one day you feel tired, just come back here and rest a while."
"I will always be here."
...
The light cascading down from the dome gradually merged with the edge of night.
At night, Demon City resembled a yawning dragon drifting to sleep, lit only by the random embers of street lamps and lava.
At Priest Geoffrey's invitation, Luo Yan shared a dinner with the rest of the temple orphanage after a long absence and disrupted the dormitory he lived in for sixteen years for one night.
It was a dormitory converted from an old chapel, with a spacious open area and over thirty beds where the orphans raised by the Temple lived.
The children were from various races, including cyclops, Enchanting Demons, centaurs, cat-people, and even slimes.
When bedtime approached, a group of wingless "Little Demons" surrounded him, blinking their countless curious eyes, chattering as if they had endless stories to tell.
That being said—
He always felt an inexplicable sense of déjà vu, as if something similar had happened not too long ago.
"Brother Luo Yan, I heard you're going to become the Demon King?!"
"Yay! I want to be the Demon King too!"
"I'll be your minion!"
"I'll be your bride!"
"Wrong! How can the Demon King have a bride!"
"Then I'll play the villager!"
"Eek— I got caught."
"Roar! Definitely need to lock you up! Discipline!"
"Alright, alright, quiet down, don't wake Priest Geoffrey with your noise," Luo Yan said.
Watching the rambunctious little devils grow more and more outrageous, Luo Yan hurriedly acted, shooing them off his bed.
He always felt that something was wrong with these kids' upbringing.
No, wait—
This was Hell.
By the standards of Hell, maybe this kind of education wasn't so incorrect?
Watching the Little Demons finally fall sound asleep, Luo Yan laid down in bed too.
He had planned to meditate before sleep and check the forum, but he was just so tired that he immediately fell asleep.
Meanwhile, in another world untouched by the light from the Purple Crystal Dome, the pent-up energy of closed-beta players had already led to them cursing the game operators over and over again on the forum.
Pig-Headed Knight: "...%￥@#&! What's the meaning of covering my face? (Angry)"
Can't Afford to Play: "Dog planners, come out and get hit! (Angry)"
Minotaur Warrior: "Enchanting Demon!!! Enchanting Demon!!! Swap out the NPC!!!"
Candied Hawthorn: "Damn it, it was bad enough when I could see but couldn't touch, now I can't even see!!!"
Roast Mutton Skewer: "So itchy! I feel like there are a million ants crawling all over me!"
Yiye Zhiqu: "Are you guys alright... (Sweat)"
In the small room of the bedroom, Zhao Jinyan was puzzled in front of the computer, to the extent that he didn't even notice when half of his ice pop fell to the ground.
Good gracious.
Withdrawal symptoms?
"This game..."
Is it really okay?