Chapter 70: Dragon Viewing Festival and the Banshee

After spending an hour in line, Luo De and the others finally entered the city.

They did not linger on the crowded streets but headed straight for the city hall.

After presenting the recommendation letter bearing the Argyle family crest, they were immediately ushered into the reception room.

Yet, things were far from going as smoothly as expected.

Forty minutes later.

Amid the reception clerk’s apologetic smile, Luo De and the others exited the city hall.

“I never imagined this dragon breeding ritual would be so grand here, even spawning a Dragon Viewing Festival.”

Luo De said helplessly.

Only then did he look around and notice the streets adorned with lanterns and decorations.

There were also countless dragon-themed merchandise items.

As night fell, a three-person-tall willow dragon rose in the square beside the city hall.

The surrounding tourists all gasped in awe.

“I’m truly sorry, Mr. Luo De. It was my oversight—I only just learned that the Jade Domain is closed during the Dragon Viewing Festival.”

Gema said apologetically.

“It’s fine. It’s only three days anyway, and they’ve even given us tickets to the Dragon Viewing Platform—take this chance to rest properly.”

Clearly, Isabella had already notified the city hall.

The moment they saw the letter, they assigned a dedicated staff member to receive and explain everything.

It seems the lord of Jade City and the Argyle family are on good terms.

“So dragons mate for three days straight! Big brother~ Look how impressive I am~”

Luo De tapped Tally on the head.

“It’s not ‘for three days at once’—it’s three consecutive days, because their conception rate is too low.”

Clearly, the succubus, lacking a uterus, didn’t fully understand.

She’d heard their conception method involved extracting eggs from human females and incubating them through special artifacts.

The three left the city hall.

Near the inn, they found a restaurant serving dwarf cuisine on a food street.

Dwarf cuisine is known for its heaviness and generous portions.

It centers on starchy foods like bread, paired with large amounts of meat broth and stews.

The meat, slow-braised until tender, combined with rosemary, garlic, and other spices, may look unremarkable, but the rich aroma that filled the nose made one’s mouth water.

Finally, the classic dwarf honey beer.

Undeniably, this was the most delicious meal Luo De had eaten during this journey.

Tally, who disliked meat, raved over the honey beer, drinking several barrels before getting drunk and refusing to leave Luo De’s arms.

He thought the night would end there, but after carrying her back to the room, she suddenly erupted.

Sitting on Luo De’s lap, reeking of alcohol, she thrashed wildly, her movements wild and lascivious.

The next morning.

Luo De brought down the succubus, still sluggish from her hangover.

“Master… my head hurts.”

“I never thought succubi could get hangovers.”

“It’s because alcohol is wonderful. Our resistance is good, but sometimes we deliberately let go of recreational drugs and drinks. I can’t take it anymore—I need to rest in the shadows.”

“We’re going to the Dragon Viewing Platform soon.”

Originally, after arriving in Jade City, Luo De would have parted ways with Gema.

But since they both had tickets, they’d agreed to go together.

“. Then wake me when we get there.”

With a whisper, she vanished into Luo De’s shadow.

The innkeeper at the front desk happened to see it.

He frowned and said: “Magic is prohibited here, guest.”

Jade City itself didn’t ban magic; some establishments might forbid it verbally, but that was all.

“Sorry.”

Luo De left the inn.

He quickly spotted Gema amid the bustling crowd.

After all, her magic puppet was still quite eye-catching.

At that moment, she stood before a rock cake breakfast shop, staring in shock at the gray rock cake in her hand.

A faint tooth mark marred its surface—clearly, she hadn’t been able to bite into it.

“Good morning, Gema.”

“No wonder it’s Jade City,” Luo De smiled. “Just on this street alone, there are over twenty kinds of food.”

Gema gave a wry smile and said:

“You might not believe me, but I just saw a dung beetle-man-run delicatessen beside the city library.”

“Hmm.”

The two followed the crowd, walking up the slope toward the Dragon Viewing Platform.

Along the way, they paused to look around.

Luo De bought Tally a hair ornament adorned with dragon horns and a dragon tail belt, planning to try it on tonight.

True half-dragons were certainly possible, but sometimes playing a false role had its own charm.

As they passed the third large domed casino,

Gema suddenly said:

“Earlier, I researched the Banshee in the city library.”

“Oh? What did you find?”

“Actually, seeing a Banshee doesn’t mean death—at least not for the one who sees her. Again, I apologize, Mr. Luo De. I was overly sensitive.”

Luo De waved it off, showing he didn’t mind.

“In a ten-year-old Green Forest Daily, I found many reports of Banshees involved in scams—they collaborated with professional con artists, crying near people’s homes, then letting the con artists arrive to ‘lift the curse’ and steal money.”

“Ah, this…”

Luo De’s expression turned strange.

How bizarre the culture of these intelligent races was.

First, dragons perform live erotic shows, then Banshees pull off clumsy scams.

This isn’t at all what I heard about on Earth.

“Actually, Banshees do possess a weak ability to foretell death. In the past, nobles often invited them to wail at funerals—perhaps the rumors originated from there.”

“Remarkable research spirit, Ms. Gema.”

Jade City had abundant entertainment facilities.

Casinos, circuses, dance halls were everywhere.

And even during daytime, some brothels openly operated.

Luo De had already seen several elves entering these establishments.

“There are so many elves in Jade City.”

“It’s the closest human city to the Verdant Court. Many young elves sneak over to play—you know, elven restraint is too repressive. We’ve arrived—the Dragon Viewing Platform.”

As they spoke,

the two reached the Dragon Viewing Platform. After staff stamped their tickets with a special alchemical seal, they entered officially.

It was a double-tiered platform jutting out from a hillside.

The ground was paved with translucent jade made by alchemical craftsmanship, held in place by magical vines and tree frameworks.

The first tier was packed with people; the second tier, clearly VIP seating, was divided into private booths, each screened off by partitions.

Their tickets granted access to the second-floor VIP area, but they found it too quiet and chose to go downstairs instead.

In the distance,

lay a hill beyond Jade City’s grasslands, beside a river.

Luo De happened to see a colossal metallic dragon, as large as a mountain, slowly rising to its feet.

“Whoa—”

As the dragon moved, the surrounding tourists all cried out in astonishment.

At that moment,

Luo De sharply turned his head.

He saw a human nearby pull a knife from his bag and glare menacingly at a blonde elf.

(End of Chapter)