Lyle returned to the Cup of Luxury because he left the academic gathering early and entrusted everything afterwards to Mr. Dark, so he was very eager to see how things had developed.

"What changes will Andrey see now? Ah, I’m too impatient. No matter how you think about it, it’s unlikely anything major could have changed in just one night," Lyle said lightly, mocking himself as he opened the door to the Cup of Luxury.

His smile froze at the corners of his mouth. There was a one-meter-deep pit in front of the door of the Cup of Luxury. Lyle turned his head to survey the surroundings, where holes riddled the floor and walls, looking like a place ravaged by rodents for decades, and not just any rodents, but exceptionally large ones.

"What happened here?" Nia grabbed Lyle, taking him to scale the wall. They covered some distance before finally encountering living... or rather, dead creatures. A few liches bearing the emblem of the Executive Committee were maneuvering earth and stone to fill the gaps, while Mr. Law looked on with evident displeasure.

"Senior brother, what happened to Andrey?" Lyle approached curiously.

Mr. Law glanced at Lyle. "Nothing much, just a lich infestation that’s all. The post-disaster restoration is underway now."

"Lich infestation? What’s that?"

"A disaster caused by specific liches affecting Andrey as a whole. They will all eventually be managed by the Salvation Association."

"So, has the aftermath of my Hungry Flesh been interrupted by this?" Who did this? Logically, shouldn’t my Hungry Flesh be the top priority project right now?

Mr. Law couldn’t contain his anger, "You little brat, this is the result of your experiment!"

"Ah?" It was clear that Lyle didn’t understand.

"I’m saying, all of this is the consequence of your Hungry Flesh. Your experimental outcomes have triggered a lich disaster! You reckless kid! The unbridled appetites you spurned have taken control of many liches, and they have caused great damage to the academy!" Mr. Law reprimanded loudly but soon moderated his voice, "However, it is not your fault. Research always entails losses. Compared to these troublesome damages, I would still prefer to congratulate you on your experimental achievements."

"Junior Brother Plague Doctor, your Hungry Flesh was very successful. In fact, the Dean is currently looking for you, he wants to meet with you soon. About your upcoming inclusion in the Salvation Association records."

"Alright, I’ll head to the Dean’s office now."

"No, the Dean is at the Executive Committee right now, you should go there and find him."

The Executive Committee? What was the Dean doing there? Did the Dean also break the law? With questions in mind, Lyle quickly left the place. Along the way, the destruction only seemed to increase, and it was clear that Lyle had overlooked the liches’ frenzy. In one night, they had almost dug an underground city beneath Andrey.

Lyle soon found the Dean, who was busy, standing in front of the Executive Committee’s grand entrance.

"Ha? The undead darkness! Ha? Why don’t you keep up your tough act!" The Dean, holding a five-meter long, enchanted shiny whip, lashed at the black mass hanging at the top of the Executive Committee’s building. "You son of a turtle! Is this how you supervise the Salvation Association? Conquering Andrey with your mushroom men under the Fungal Lord? Dammit, my castle was almost demolished by you!"

The creature bound within the spherical mass let out a roar.

"Old man, you’re finished! If it weren’t for my army being narrowly defeated by Raymond, I would have led my troops to flatten Andrey! I would have made you bow before my majesty. You would have been the first one I smacked!"

Lyle looked on, wordlessly, at the central black sphere, presumed to be Mr. Dark, and also noticed the Fungal Lord hanging beside him. He took a closer look at the others.

In front of the Executive Committee’s door, the members of the literary society hung in abundance.

Mr. Dark’s clamor once again infuriated the Dean, who went into a rage, flicking his whip horizontally and spinning a member of the literary society in the air like a top.

"Damn your literary society! I was truly cursed by the Siren’s Curse, to have agreed to the establishment of your accursed club. I should have Raymond sink your society now! A bunch of rascals!"

The spinning Mr. Dark continued to bellow, "Dark dark dark dark, undead undead undead undead!!!!"

Another lash, and the darkness spun even faster.

Feeling the interview might drag on without end, Lyle had no choice but to interrupt their "enthusiastic" exchange.

"Dean, are you looking for me?" Lyle asked.

The dean turned his head rapidly; a movement that could have snapped off his skull, his irritation was obvious. Upon seeing Lyle, the dean’s annoyance became palpable.

"Congratulations, Doctor Plague, your experiment has caused a disaster of Liches in Andrey," the dean said as he handed his whip to the Lich Executor standing by. "I don’t want to see them stop, not for three days."

"Come on, Doctor Plague, welcome to the Salvation Association," invited the dean.

He led Lyle back to his tower, to an office overflowing with treasure. The dean pointed to a treasure chest cast in gold. "Take a seat, the following will take quite some time." There were no chairs in the dean’s office, except for the gem-encrusted one he sat in. Nia had already wriggled out and was now swimming in a sea of gold and pearls; her fondness for shiny things had grown significantly after her recent promotion.

"Would you like some ’Flame Demon’s Kiss’?" teased the dean, tempting Nia with a few ruby-like candies in his hand.

"What is this?" Though she asked, Nia had already taken one into her hand.

"A popular candy among the Black Abyssal Demons, named for its taste, similar to that of a Flame Demon’s kiss," he explained.

Now knowing it was candy, Nia popped it straight into her mouth.

Lyle was also curious; a Lich’s office having candies seemed out of the ordinary, and he was intrigued by the candy itself.

"’Flame Demon’s Kiss’, must be delicious if it’s kept by you, Mr. Dean," he said, offering a compliment that was neither too big nor too small.

The dean laughed. "Devilishly spicy."

"..." Lyle watched as Nia’s cheeks puffed up, worried she might burst into tears at any moment.

But the resilience of the young Evil God was apparently strong.

Nia gazed back at Lyle, who was watching her intently; her head turned slightly and the crown on her head fell off.

"Is it good? Nia?"

Nia nodded, then shook her head. "Strange taste. But not bad!"

Then probably there’s no food you dislike. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Lyle turned his attention back to the dean, watching him toss his hat, which snapped onto a metal rod like a living creature, growling and snapping like a hunting dog.

"I used to not keep such interesting candies."

"But now, I sometimes reminisce about their flavors, especially those that go beyond my understanding. Each novelty brings me a sense of happiness," the dean mused.

"All thanks to your research on Hungry Flesh."

"Doctor Plague, you’ve changed Andrey."