Chapter 182 : This Is Attempted Murder

Fiona’s ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍finger slid down along the collar, finally stopping on a wrinkled report tightly clutched in Lucy’s hand.

“Then ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍help me calculate this account!”

Fiona ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍stuffed a thick stack of bills into Lucy’s arms, her tone instantly shifting from seductive to irritable.

“These ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍damn dwarf blacksmiths actually dared to add an extra zero to the reimbursement for horseshoes! I’ve calculated it three times and still can’t balance it!”

“And ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍this one—why did the dining expenses here exceed the budget by three hundred gold coins? What, did they eat dragon meat?!”

“Hurry ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍up and calculate! If you can’t figure it out, nobody’s eating today!”

Lucy hugged the pile of documents that nearly buried her and froze.

Huh?

They’re not eating people?

Just… doing accounting?

Looking at the succubus “big sisters” around her—who had looked like seductive demons just moments ago, but were now frowning and scratching their heads over numbers—

Lucy suddenly felt that this “hell”… seemed a bit improper?

“Um…”

Lucy carefully poked her head out from the pile of documents and asked tentatively.

“If I calculate it… can I get a share of the… leftover reimbursement funds to buy food?”

Fiona froze for a moment, then burst into laughter. She slapped Lucy’s frail shoulder hard, nearly knocking her apart.

“Smart girl!”

“As long as you can settle this pile of rotten accounts, big sis will take you out to eat and drink like a queen!”

Lucy’s eyes lit up instantly.

……

“Balanced! Finally balanced!”

Lucy threw down the pen in her hand and collapsed into the chair like a puddle of mud, feeling as if her soul had floated out through her mouth.

An entire day.

From eight in the morning to six in the evening, she had been like a tireless calculating machine. Amid the chattering noise of a group of succubi and the overwhelming smell of cheap perfume, she had forcefully straightened out the three-month-old mess of accounts in the Document Department.

“Really?!”

Fiona flashed to the desk in an instant. Those suffocating “assets” nearly smothered Lucy to death.

Fiona grabbed the ledger, her peach-blossom eyes wide as she scanned it up and down three times. Then she let out a scream loud enough to blow the roof off.

“Oh my god!”

Overwhelmed with excitement, Fiona hugged Lucy tightly and planted a hard kiss on her face, leaving behind a deep purplish-red lip mark.

“Little cutie! You’re a genius! From now on, you’re my Fiona’s sister from another mother!”

Lucy’s eyes rolled back from being squeezed. She weakly patted Fiona’s arms, trying to gasp for fresh air.

“Um… can you let go first… I’m about to suffocate…”

Fiona released her and waved her hand boldly. The earlier irritability had completely vanished, replaced by a kind of affectionate gaze—as if she were looking at her own money tree.

“No problem! Tonight, big sis is treating!”

With a grand wave of Fiona’s hand, the surrounding succubi—who had been staring blankly into mirrors—instantly swarmed over like sharks smelling blood, howling excitedly.

“Where are we eating? Where are we eating?”

“I heard a new ‘tavern’ opened on West Street—their special brew is amazing!”

“Let’s go, let’s go! Bring little Lucy along and let her have her first taste!”

Lucy shrank into the chair. Hearing the words “first taste,” she instinctively shivered.

But before she could refuse, she was lifted by seven or eight fragrant arms. Like being kidnapped by a group of female bandits, her feet left the ground as she was dragged out of the office.

Her weak protests were instantly drowned out by the succubi’s laughter.

Half an hour later.

In a private room of a tavern on West Street of the Demon Capital, marked with a skull sign.

Lucy huddled in the corner, staring at the “delicacies” covering the table. Her whole body trembled, and her stomach felt like a washing machine was spinning inside it.

This… was the so-called “first taste”?

This… was the “top-tier enjoyment” the succubus sisters talked about?

The main dish placed in the center was a whole chunk of dark red meat that was still faintly pulsing. It was drenched in thick green sauce, emitting a nauseatingly sweet, fishy smell.

That thing was alive, right? It was definitely alive, right?!

The “cold dish” beside it was a pile of eyeball-like objects soaked in purple liquid. As the table shook, those eyeballs would occasionally roll around, staring directly at Lucy.

“Come on, come on! Don’t be shy!”

Fiona was clearly already drunk. She held a skull-shaped goblet the size of a human head, filled with bubbling red liquid that looked like lava.

“Lucy! One sip of this will burn from your throat to your heels—it’s absolutely exhilarating!”

As she spoke, Fiona shoved the suspicious liquid toward Lucy’s mouth.

The pungent sulfur smell shot straight into her brain. Lucy felt like even her nose hairs were curling.

“I don’t drink… I have gout… I have a stomach ulcer… I’m still a child!”

Lucy leaned back desperately, shaking her head like a rattle drum.

“Tch, boring!”

Fiona didn’t insist. She tilted her head back and downed it in one gulp, then let out a fiery burp with sparks.

“If you won’t drink, then eat!”

Another succubus chimed in, stabbing a dripping eyeball with a fork and enthusiastically placing it onto Lucy’s plate.

“This is bursting eyeball—one bite and it’s full of juice, great for beauty and skincare!”

Lucy looked at the eyeball on her plate that was still staring back at her. Tears nearly fell.

This wasn’t eating—it was consuming biochemical weapons!

The boxed meal she got from the cafeteria at noon had been awful, but at least it was cooked. Why was everything here so… Lovecraftian?

Had the demon race not evolved a sense of taste?

“Why aren’t you eating? Not fresh enough?”

Seeing Lucy not move her fork, Fiona assumed she was shy. She directly grabbed the still-pulsing main dish with her hand and tore off a bloody strip of meat.

“Here, open wide, ah—”

Seeing the wriggling strip of meat only 0.01 centimeters away from her mouth, Lucy’s survival instinct finally exploded.

“Urgh—!”

She covered her mouth, gagging, then abruptly stood up.

“Um… I… I need to go to the washroom… my stomach feels a bit uncomfortable…”

Fiona froze for a moment, then smiled ambiguously. “Makes sense. A human’s small body can’t handle such nourishment. Go on, go on—just don’t fall into a pit.”

Lucy felt as if she had been pardoned. Grabbing her bag, she dashed out of the private room, faster than when she used to be chased by wild boars.

Rushing out of the tavern and breathing in the outside air filled with the smell of coal ash, Lucy felt like she had come back to life.

What kind of succubus group gathering was this?

This was clearly an assassination attempt!

She touched her stomach, which was already so hungry that her chest nearly stuck to her back, and let out a mournful cry.

“Grrr—”

Her stomach growled loudly, but in the noisy streets of the Demon Realm, no one paid any attention.

Dragging her heavy steps, Lucy drifted like a ghost back toward the Back Garden of the Palace of Eternal Night.