Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest-Chapter 309: A Stranger in His Own City

After leaving the palace, Adam shrouded himself and Mimir’s head in an illusion. Hidden from view, he passed by the police officer-filled plaza and emerged on the main street.

Worried citizens gathered before a barricade, whispering about how rare it was for a crime to occur, much less one as heinous as knocking down two officers.

A soft smile curved his lips as he watched humans, demons, and elves interact with each other without racial bias. Even more surprising, children held their parents’ hands, their mixed features an amusing sight warming his heart. After all, this was what he had worked for. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Ten minutes later, he stopped by the obelisk plaza and sat at a restaurant terrace facing the lush park at the construction base. The mix of colors, the serene atmosphere, the scents of nature, grilling lamb and sweet pastries made him nod but also sigh at the time lost.

"I wish I witnessed the city’s development..."

Before Mimir answered, a human waiter wiped his table with a clean cloth and nodded.

"Good day, dear customer. I couldn’t help but overhear you’re new to the city. Might I then suggest our speciality? I promise your taste buds will travel."

An intrigued frown creased his brows. Since when did they have a speciality?

"Alright."

As he nodded, the waiter produced a device from a leather holder strapped to his belt. With a tape of his finger, mana condensed to print the receipt before he respectfully handed it.

"That’ll be two gold coins, sir. You can pay after your meal."

"Two gold coins?" he muttered, rummaging through his memories.

How many kilos of wheat had he bought for that price? It seemed a little too high.

Still, he retrieved a raw, palm-sized mineral and placed it on the table.

"Bring me two drinks with the meal."

The man raised a brow before he picked up the ore. It was such a hassle to deal with country bumpkins. He understood they had little to no gold, but why didn’t he trade his ore before seating?

Adam followed him as he left, an amused smile tugging at his lips.

Meanwhile, Mimir frowned. "What do we do now, brother?"

"We enjoy a little, break a few teeth, then I’ll probably leave." Adam sighed. "The city is doing great, but I don’t feel at home."

"I admit your city is a peaceful lake in the middle of a violent desert, so don’t think too much about the time." Mimir’s eyes sparkled, intrigued by how mortals built such a city even in their leader’s absence.

"It’s not the reason. Those I struggled with and the ones I loved aren’t here anymore. Mimi told me they joined her realm years ago." Adam shook his head and fell silent.

Without his generals, he just felt the realm lost its radiance. Even more so without Luna...

A long silence followed until the waiter dashed to his table. Carrying a heavy pouch and sweat glistening on his brows, he bowed with the utmost deference.

"H-Here is your change, my lord."

He tapped on his device and placed the pouch on the table, the noise of clinking coins filling the terrace.

Adam frowned. "How did you find out?"

"What? I mean, you must be a city lord or a high-ranking noble if you have such valuable ores." The waiter sized his elegant clothes. "Now that I look closely, your attire is quite regal, too. I recognise Laura’s fine embroidery." He leaned closer, whispering. "I’ll keep it a secret if you don’t want people to find it out."

Adam shrugged and studied the device. "Tell me about this thing. What powers it?"

"That?" The waiter raised a brow, shocked about the elementary question. "The royal academy developed it, hmm, five or six years ago?"

He opened the device’s back and showed two murky crystals. "I’m no expert, but these are called soul shards. The city began producing them after an enormous underground construction project."

He chuckled. "The noise and vibrations were atrocious, but it was worth it. We use them for lighting, kitchen fires, and many new devices."

Adam’s eyes brightened. ’So they built the academy and Necropolis Nexus.’

Eager to discover how they taught people, he tapped on the table and asked, "Where is the academy, and who leads it?"

The waiter pointed west. "There used to be a goblin town about ten kilometers west. They repurposed it since it was in the middle of a clearing and right behind the fields. As for the leader, mhh. I think an influential succubus named Luna supervised it and taught medicine for six months. The city’s chief engineer, Gork, took her place ever since she left."

"Luna..." Adam’s chest tightened, and his lips twisted. He had told her so many times about the importance of ridding the citizens of their prejudices through education. Knowing she had done it herself... He closed his eyes and massaged them, hiding the emotions about to spill.

Before the silence could linger for long, a voice cut through the restaurant and the noise of wheels rolling against the smooth pavement echoed.

"Louis, you bastard! Do I pay you to chat with customers instead of serving them?" A man wearing a white chef’s attire grumbled as he pushed a tray filled with two bell-covered plates.

The waiter, Louis, shuddered as he saw his boss, lost about what to do. Strangely, he felt a warm, comforting palm meet his back before he could think of an excuse.

"Get me my drinks." Adam placed the heavy pouch in his hands and winked. "Keep the change."

Then, he placed his head on his backhands and smirked at the boss. "Louis praised you as one of the city’s finest chefs so much that he lost track of time. So, why don’t you do me the honor of introducing those dishes in person?"

The chef’s brows shot up in surprise as he watched Louis’ conflicted face as he rushed behind the bar. Then, he frowned at Adam’s common demonic face before his gaze lingered on the clothes, and the corner of his lips curled. A big shot!