"It’s William, my brother-in-law, and Mister Lyle!" The young succubus’s breath carried a cheery tone, and Candy, upon seeing the two men, trotted over to greet them.

"Long time no see, Candy."

"Your sister has been worried about you, Candy."

Because he was embarrassed, the male succubus’s face turned red, and he walked over to the side of the tall, man who was as beautiful as a woman. "Don’t worry about me, brother-in-law, Yino brother has been with me all along, he’s a very clever person."

Perhaps because of similar experiences, Candy took a strong liking to the gentle and older Yino, which made their relationship become very close in a very short time, changing from being Gulelia’s little follower to Yino’s. This might be why the greater succubus wasn’t too fond of the always smiling boy.

Yino’s voice was just like his appearance, giving off a feeling of flowing water’s softness, along with the depth of a quiet pool.

"Could you introduce me to your two friends, Candy?"

The request in a mild voice made Candy’s smile even sweeter.

"Of course, Yino brother, this is Mister Lyle, and this is my brother-in-law, William."

The two attractive men, bearing charms of different ages, smiled at each other.

Lyle, who was watching on the side, even had the illusion that Yino seemed more like a succubus than himself.

Yino made light conversation with the two, and communicating with him was a rather comfortable affair.

This beautiful man was sharp-witted. Yino maintained a certain degree of caution in the conversation, but that subtle distance didn’t make people feel alienated or offended, and his elegant speech made people feel refreshed like a spring breeze. When he noticed some minor issues with Lyle’s etiquette, he only smiled and took a longer look at him.

"I once secretly observed some nobles and taught myself a bit," Yino explained about the noble etiquette he displayed. If that were true, then he surely had an exceptional talent for performing.

At least in Lyle’s view, Yino was much better than himself, even though he had lived in Naslan’s castle for quite a long time. Perhaps the daughters of Naslan didn’t mind Lyle’s etiquette issues.

The four of them then formed a group, ready to pass through the Sin District’s shops on their way back.

Candy and Yino walked at the back of the group. It was the time of the festival, and even the darkest alleys of the Sin District might have curious citizens from the City of Wandering. Lyle and William instinctively protected them, and indeed, Candy and Yino had reasons to be protected.

While in the Demon Race’s eyes, being skinny and frail could be equivalent to ugliness, it wasn’t just the Demon Race here. The tourists stopping to admire the sights could even cause traffic congestion, forcing Lyle to lead the group away from the main road and into a more secluded path to avoid the crowds.

The dark alleys of the Sin District, unlike the spire buildings of the Andrei district adorned with festive decorations, were the same as usual, the stacked-can-like illegal constructions creating a labyrinth of quiet paths where even the City of Wandering’s mystics could get lost.

There were routes only those who lived here long-term could know, and Candy was a demon who was born and raised here.

"After going forward twenty meters at that corner, we’ll reach it. It’s a hidden path that leads straight to the teleportation circle."

This quiet path was just wide enough for two people to walk side by side; thankfully, this oppressive feeling would only last until that corner.

The surrounding stone walls carried a gloomy oppression, making Lyle involuntarily take deep breaths. Amidst his breathing, he felt the air around him seemed to have become quite moist and even held a slight fishy smell.

"Nia."

The writhing shadow quietly slid along the ground and passed the corner first. After a dozen seconds, it quietly climbed up Lyle’s trouser leg.

"There’s an uncle over there, a dirty vendor uncle."

Since Nia hadn’t noticed anything strange, then perhaps the alleyways in the Sin District inherently carried that peculiar scent. Lyle put his suspicions to the back of his mind and followed the others as they moved forward.

Just as Nia had said, they came upon an open area after turning the corner, where a frail Little Dwarf Monster was squatting behind a square slab of stone—his stall—with some shiny, odd trinkets placed on top.

The strange vendor, in such a seldom-visited place, definitely wouldn’t have many customers.

The Inferior Demon with large pointy ears noticed the passing humans. He didn’t say anything but watched them with a weird sneer, not trying to sell his merchandise. Those filthy large eyes conveyed malice.

The grimy Inferior Demon was wrapped in an oily robe, and a fishy, grassy stench mixed with the smell around him. His fingers were slender and bony, and he tapped them lightly on the stone slab.

Lyle just wanted to pass quickly because the way that fellow was eyeing him made him feel like a fat sheep ready for slaughter.

"Candy?" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Yino’s call turned Lyle and William’s heads just when the young Succubus had been transfixed as if cursed, staring blankly at the object on the Inferior Demon’s stone slab.

"Are you okay, Candy?"

Yino’s call finally attracted Candy’s attention, and Candy lowered her head embarrassingly, apologizing for her lapse.

"Brother-in-law, that... that thing is a Magma Worm’s sharp tooth." Candy pointed at an object on the very edge of the stone slab, a triangular item coated with black soot.

"Do you really want that, Candy?" William scratched his head, having never heard of it—it might be a precious material.

"It’s quite rare, but not anything valuable. When Mom was a little girl, she gave one to my sister as a toy. I never imagined I’d see another here; only grown Magma Worms have teeth that big. But... but the Magma Worms are now nearly extinct because of the Demon Race."

It was an object laden with childhood memories, and Candy was likely touched by nostalgia, reminded of her deceased mother.

"Boss, how much for that dull tooth?" William had already approached the Inferior Demon to inquire about the price, determined to obtain it.

"Philby here doesn’t take money, Philby likes pretty treasures, Philby trades goods for goods," the Inferior Demon laughed gleefully, his round eyes gleaming as if he was scheming.

"Is this enough?" William pulled out a beautifully crafted Gold Coin from his pocket, which glimmered even in the dim alleyway.

It was Dolgette’s lucky Gold Coin, the magical coin of William’s family. Its most amazing feature was that if it left the hands of those with Dolgette blood, it would sneak back on its own. William planned to trade with the magical coin.

Put simply, he intended to swindle.

"Enough! Enough!" The Inferior Demon Philby let out a joyous laugh, clearly charmed by the coin as well, "But, Philby wants to play a game with you."

Philby approached and took out three identical, hollowed-out Demon Horns. He took the Magma Worm sharp tooth and completely covered it with a Demon Horn.

"You have to play a game with Philby. Philby will move them around, and you guess. If you guess right, the tooth is yours," Philby chuckled behind his hand and provocatively eyed William, "But if you guess wrong, the pretty coin goes to Philby, and the tooth remains Philby’s."

This unscrupulous Inferior Demon merchant also wanted to swindle.