Volume 1 Chapter 517

Chapter 517: War? Can a War Disturb My Cooking Lessons?

Lolth was not someone who couldn’t discern priorities.

However, after some consideration, since the City Master of Silver Citadel had merely "detained" those mercenaries, and with Yi and Qiong present, there shouldn’t be any major issues for the time being.

And this head chef of the City Master’s residence in Silver Citadel of South Sotua, possessing no extraordinary powers, was wanted, and regardless of his fate, held crucial clues…

Lolth felt he was in dire need of assistance!

What a kind-hearted and benevolent succubus she was!

Lolth couldn’t possibly turn a blind eye to someone in such peril.

As for whether he would impart secret recipes to his savior post-rescue… that would be too mundane!

With these thoughts, Lolth swiftly commenced her search across the city.

Her magic instantly expanded, enveloping the entire town.

Although the wanted notice lacked a detailed description of his appearance, it did feature a vague magical imprint.

Lolth could roughly identify his features.

He was a slightly portly, middle-aged man with a mustache, who indeed looked like a skilled chef.

Kanor hadn’t "fabricated" anything.

This chef genuinely possessed these skills and had fled from the City Master’s residence a few days prior.

The reason for his escape was an accusation of attempting to poison the City Master—traces of a highly dangerous level seven Magic Potion were detected in a dish.

Why would an ordinary individual have access to a level seven Magic Potion…? That is highly questionable.

If there was anything suspicious, it might be that an innocent and culinarily talented eight-year-old girl had visited the kitchen that day and conversed with the chef for a while.

What malicious intent could Kanor possibly harbor?

Moreover… there are numerous eight-year-old girls, so it might not have anything to do with Kanor!

In summary, since this chef truly existed within Silver Citadel, Lolth quickly utilized her extensive and precise Magic Perception to locate his hiding spot.

Inside an inn, the poor chef was trembling and hiding in fear.

If it weren’t for the ongoing war in Silver Citadel and the covert assistance of some Demon Warlocks, he would have been discovered long ago.

After all, he was just an ordinary middle-aged man with nothing but culinary skills.

Lolth didn’t ponder much longer and activated her space magic to appear in his hotel room.

"Hey—Chef."

She lifted the poor man from the corner.

"Don’t be afraid; I’m here to save you!"

As Lolth spoke, the chef glanced at her and then screamed.

"Ah—!"

He pointed at Lolth’s Abyssal Demon horns and emitted a shrill scream akin to a young girl who had stubbed her toe.

Then…

He passed out.

Just as that scream echoed, it nearly ruptured Lolth’s eardrums…

Lolth’s overt and all-encompassing Magic Perception, coupled with the faint magical disturbance from the teleportation, triggered an immediate chain reaction in the Silver Citadel, which was then in a state of war.

The first to respond, naturally, was Kanor.

Feeling that fleeting familiar magic, a familiar smile graced her face.

"Oh dear… Master Lolth arrived even earlier than I anticipated."

Upon realizing Lolth’s presence in the city, the eight-year-old girl’s face finally displayed a spark of joy befitting her age.

It was akin to a child who had prepared dinner early, eagerly awaiting their father’s return from a late shift.

"Negotiating and soothing emotions, Master Lolth will need about twenty minutes."

"I mastered the entire culinary arts from him in half an hour… Master Lolth likely only needs fifteen minutes."

"Then, Master Lolth will probably spend ten minutes securing his safety… Hmm, totaling forty-five minutes."

Kanor silently calculated.

"Forty-five minutes—that’s sufficient!"

"Since Master Lolth’s actions were the optimal response for me, directly activating the city’s Magic Perception, it eliminated the need to flush out all the spies in South Sotua and compelled the Silver Citadel City Master to act immediately."

With this thought, she rose and reattached the infernal "binding" to Lalea.

However, this "binding" did not in the least constrain Lalea’s power.

It merely seemed to freeze Lalea’s magical energy fluctuations—in reality, it could even be considered a disguise.

"Sister Lalea… are you prepared to head to the front lines? Do you recall the plan?"

Kanor inquired, and Lalea responded with a smile.

"Hmm, how could I possibly forget something so thrilling?"

As Kanor had anticipated, the Silver Citadel’s guards burst in the next moment.

"Lord Fuen, the plan has changed… The City Master has ordered us to the front lines immediately…"

They glanced at Lalea, and Kanor gave a slight, dignified nod.

"I understand, tell Gregory… I will manage the anomalies in the city… Indeed, spies have infiltrated, so he must act swiftly; his demons will also arrive shortly."

"As for this princess, you may… proceed as you see fit."

Upon hearing this, the lead guard’s face lit up with joy.

"Yes, the City Master has also given such instructions."

They quickly surrounded the visibly irritated Lalea and departed.

Soon, Gregory escorted Lalea away from the scene.

There was no time to wait for rumors to spread or for the South Sotua military to lower their guard.

The enemy actually intended to decapitate him!

The recent Magic Perception had left Gregory feeling somewhat unsettled.

"It must be resolved quickly."

With this thought, upon seeing Lalea, he immediately took her and his trusted companions, heading towards the exit of the city.

However, what Gregory did not know was…

Throughout South Sotua, aside from the spies whose limbs had been broken by Lolth, the remaining groups that had infiltrated and received orders to secretly create chaos and gather information were also in a state of panic.

"Damn… Where did Silver Citadel find such a formidable presence?"

"That sensation just now has definitely exposed us all!"

"We must accelerate our plan!"

Under the unseen pressure created by Lolth’s sudden perception, the professionally trained spies quickly decided to create chaos, complete their mission early, and secure a chance to escape.

Suddenly, within Silver Citadel, massive waves of magic erupted from the deserted alleys, sewers, and hidden houses, along with numerous powerful spells causing severe environmental damage.

In the barracks where soldiers were resting or on duty, hidden Superoperators suddenly burst in, attacking the lower-ranked guards!

In no time, the entire Silver Citadel was plunged into chaos.

Simultaneously, huge explosions, which even baffled many of the spies, occurred, exacerbating the chaos within Silver Citadel.

Flames soared, and clouds of dust filled the air.

After the successive attacks, the guards and mercenaries allied with Silver Citadel quickly realized what was happening.

After all, the secret spy agency of South Sotua is notoriously famous!

"There are spies! They’ve infiltrated!"

"Eliminate them!"

"We must report to the City Master!"

"But… the City Master has left the city!"

"Then report to the highest-ranking officer available… Anyway, head to the City Master’s residence, quickly!"

Amidst the cries for battle, Demon Warlocks also joined the fray, balancing the chaos in the city.

A few minutes later, as the entire Silver Citadel nearly turned into a battlefield, the three legions outside, which had planned to escalate their attack and launch a full assault amidst the chaos…

Chaos also erupted in their camp.

"Your princess is in my hands—if you want her spared, let your commander come out and face death!"

Gregory’s voice echoed over the army outside the city, and soon, with another furious roar, a Legend High Level battle broke out.

The entire Silver Citadel fell into chaos due to Lolth’s city-wide alert to find a chef.

Inside the City Master’s residence, Kanor stood by the window, observing the scenes of flames rising both inside and outside the city, her lips slightly pursed.

The room door opened, and the guarding soldiers brought urgent reports from all around the city, kneeling at the table alongside the Demon Warlock who emerged from the shadows.

"My lord… The spies from South Sotua have caused great chaos in the city! Please, lend your support!"

"Lord Fuen, we can still control the situation for now. Should we focus on capturing live prisoners, prioritize eliminating the enemy, or maintain stability?"

Compared to the anxious soldiers, the Demon Warlock appeared even more loyal.

Kanor listened to their conversation, a slight smile appearing on her face.

"Support? Control the situation? Maintain stability?"

"Don’t you find these terms somewhat… irritating for a demon?"

She stood with her back to the expansive window, her silhouette illuminated by the towering flames and the violent collision of magical forces.

"Don’t control the situation; let them wreak havoc in the city."

"Don’t end the chaos; pursue them relentlessly, leaving them no escape."

"Go and unlock the dungeon, release those mercenaries onto the streets—without hesitation, they are loyal to me."

"In the current scenario, it’s not yet a situation that would challenge her…"

Kanor glanced out the window once more.

"The Chancellor and King of South Sotua… they haven’t arrived yet."

"There’s no need for the Holy Domain to intervene; it truly doesn’t constitute a ‘necessary condition.’"

As Kanor spoke, both the seasoned captain of the guards and the most frenzied leader among the Demon Warlocks were left somewhat bewildered.

Yet, over the past few days, Kanor had established her authority through Gregory and her inherent identity as the ‘Hell Angel,’ teaching the two to ‘follow without question.’

"Yes, Lord Fuen!"

They responded in unison and departed from the City Master’s mansion.

Those perplexing commands were executed one after another under the banner of the City Master’s mansion.

The suddenly freed mercenaries took to the streets, and the Demon Warlocks and guards abruptly altered their stance towards the assault initiated by the South Sotua spy…

Everything seemed to pour more fuel onto the fire of this blazing city.

After accomplishing all this, Kanor finally exited the room within the City Master’s mansion.

She moved next door and pushed open the large door.

"What’s going on… Senior Sister Kanor?"

Upon seeing Kanor enter, Dorothy immediately rose to her feet and inquired.

After catching sight of Dorothy, Kanor’s gaze and demeanor softened slightly, shedding her previous mask of arrogance and aloofness.

"I’m sorry, Sister Dorothy."

As she uttered these words, she turned her gaze towards Ann and gave a slight nod.

"Let’s proceed, Sister Ann."

Upon hearing Kanor’s words, Ann let out a small sigh.

"I hope you truly understand what you’re doing…"

She said this while swinging the long box in her hand.

"Thud!"

The long box traced a graceful arc through the air, striking Dorothy precisely on the back of her head with just the right force, causing the young girl to collapse in astonishment.

A silvery liquid oozed from Kanor, cushioning Dorothy’s fall as she was gently laid on the floor.

Then, Kanor retrieved a bottle of a mysteriously pulsating, evidently extraordinary Magic Potion from her bosom and poured it into the unconscious Dorothy’s mouth.

After that, An lifted the girl who had taken the Magic Potion onto her shoulder, opened the window, leaped down from the City Master’s castle, and strode toward the chaotic Silver Citadel.

Having accomplished all this, Kanor discarded the empty bottle in her hand, turned around, and exited through the front door.

The "preparations" for the most crucial matter were now entirely complete.

As per her expectations, the scenario she desired would unfold shortly with absolute certainty.

Next, she needed to ensure that no one would interfere with the imminent events.

Moreover, she had to manage Master Lolth’s "assets," as Lolth might soon be too preoccupied to handle them herself.

At this moment, the only individual in the Silver Citadel who seemed unperturbed was Lolth.

She had already sensed a significant upheaval within the Silver Citadel.

Yet, to Lolth, this…

Was not sufficient to disrupt her pursuit of the nearly extinct top-tier culinary arts from the Otherworld.

Today, she felt she had successfully convinced the chef, who had regained consciousness from a coma, that she was a benevolent being… or more accurately, a benevolent succubus.

At least, that was Lolth’s conviction.

The chef did not faint again and eagerly demonstrated his lifelong culinary skills, tears of joy welling up in his eyes.

If this wasn’t trust, what was?

To avoid appearing insincere due to excessive nobility, Lolth also disclosed her intention for the chef to showcase his cooking and skills.

After all… sometimes, those who demand nothing can seem more intimidating.

To reassure the chef, Lolth had severed all connections between the room and the outside world before he awoke.

When the head chef of Silver Citadel gradually regained consciousness, he found himself in a serene room, with an abyss of darkness beyond the window.

The Abyssal Succubus, who had abruptly appeared earlier with a formidable presence, was seated in the center of the room, offering a gentle smile.

"Hello, I bear you no ill will; I am here to assist you."

"I guarantee your safety… however, I require you to briefly demonstrate the key aspects of preparing the ‘Sotua Grand Feast’."

Suddenly, a set of cooking utensils materialized out of thin air!

What else could the head chef say in response?

She claimed to have no malicious intent, and he had no choice but to believe her.

He didn’t trust Lolth; he simply came to a realization.

Logic dictated that even if he distrusted Lolth, there was no way to oppose her.

As the head chef of the City Master’s kitchen, while his culinary skills were exceptional, he was also astute in interpersonal dealings, so he grasped the situation clearly.

Though he couldn’t fathom why this succubus wished to learn cooking from him, since she requested that he cook for her…

He had no option but to employ all his culinary expertise.

In his view, this was likely a method of torment or perhaps an eccentric predilection of the Abyssal Demon.

Unlike most main plane humans Lolth had encountered, he wasn’t akin to the high-ranking members of the Holy Alliance or those noble-born young ladies; he didn’t idle away his days perusing picture books and storybooks, and his understanding of succubi was quite unconventional.

He traditionally accepted the Holy Alliance’s propaganda about Abyssal Demons, believing that any Abyssal Demon was irrational, insane, perilous, and took pleasure in tormenting others.

However, sometimes these messages do not make the common people hate the Abyssal Demons as the Holy Alliance and the leaders of various countries hoped, pushing them to resist the demon race with their lives.

They might even… out of fear, like this chef, willingly cooperate with the demon race’s plans.

After all, once they find out that the demon race does not immediately show those dangerous and crazy sides, they actually feel relieved and hope to maintain that side.

Despite his fear, this chef has some truly remarkable qualities.

As he becomes more absorbed in his cooking, he gradually feels less afraid.

Even though he still fears, worries, and mistrusts Lolth, and feels a lot of pressure, there is also a strange sense of peace and losing himself in his heart.

This results in everything happening in this small room feeling out of place and a bit unusual compared to the outside world.

Outside, the whole city is in ultimate chaos with fire and magic, as freed mercenaries and spies from South Sotua, guards of the Silver Citadel, and Demon Warlocks attack each other.

Kanor, walking in the city, found Yi and Qiong, and was talking with them about something.

Further away, in the sky, two Legend High Level, Gregory and a general from South Sotua, were fighting each other fiercely, while below, Gregory’s trusted followers were causing chaos among the three legions.

At the same time, inside the legion, at some point, Lalea had already broken free from her "captivity" and turned from a protected person into the one taking charge of the legion.

Under her command, the three legions became even more chaotic.

Meanwhile, the commotion at Silver Citadel finally caught the attention of nearby border towns and the officials of South Sotua, who had been hesitant before.

"They actually held off the royal institution… That kid Gregory wasn’t lying; the current official army is indeed strong on the outside but weak on the inside!"

Those who had climbed to the position of lord or City Master through tricks, schemes, and money deals, although they had some intelligence, did not change much in their greedy nature and foolish short-sightedness.

They didn’t even have Gregory’s courage to make deals with demons or to be the first to rise up.

All these guys could see was that Gregory was almost successful in a situation similar to their own territory…

So, in more towns, the seeds of turmoil were brewing.

This was something that some people realized in the palace of South Sotua as well.

Chancellor Duke Osmeda stood on the watchtower of the palace’s side hall and sighed.

"Well, it looks like I have to make a personal visit…"

"I need to act quickly."

Even though those guys might not be as strong as His Majesty’s army…

However, he and the king were still thinking of taking the opportunity to strike the Republic of Seychelles.

Since I have to go eventually, why not go now!

With this thought, Osmeda got ready to set off!

The entire South Sotua, and even the surrounding countries, are on the edge of war because the tension is rising.

The brief peace created by the demon race has quickly shattered again due to their recent silence.

In fact, over the past two years, the Holy Alliance has built up more conflicts while setting up defenses.

Failures caused by poor cooperation between frontline troops and small troubles in neighboring countries while providing support…

Foolish politicians, opportunists, and nobles always find a way to turn even the most serious situations into opportunities for profit and exchange.

This divine battle and the Ruins of Sand are like two small whirlpools, stirring up the already murky waters.

And these rising ripples…

In the center of this whirlpool, there is a stillness.

That is in the room where Lolth is.

The chef carefully explained the key points to Lolth using the ingredients and kitchen tools that appeared from nowhere.

"This dish of grilled beef slices is one of the three main courses at the South Sotua grand feast, so you must marinate the top-quality beef well and then completely dry it before grilling it directly."

"The challenge is that… to ensure each slice of beef is perfectly tender, you have to cut off the well-cooked outside part of the beef every few seconds… Again and again, this requires the highest skill from the chef in timing and knife work."

"There are no special secrets, only hard work and skills that are absolutely necessary."

He explained seriously, and Lolth listened carefully, nodding frequently.

Amid the chaos of war, the cooking class continued.

Soon…

Dishes were introduced into Lolth’s mind.

She nodded in satisfaction and looked at the chef from Silver Citadel.

"Thank you… Now it’s time for me to keep my promise."

Lolth took out a magical scroll and a full bag of silver and copper coins.

"Tear the scroll, and you can go anywhere you want!"