Chapter 10

8:00 PM.

The palace was brightly lit.

This was one of the few buildings that hadn't been damaged during the turmoil, standing tall on the ruins currently undergoing reconstruction. The curtains were drawn across the floor-to-ceiling windows on the upper and lower floors, and warm lights shone from within, illuminating the dark night and the hearts of the people.

Through the windows one could see that most of the guests had already arrived.

The extraordinary people took off their combat uniforms, dressed in casual clothes and masks, and walked together in groups of three or four to chat. Waiters shuttled among the crowd, refilling champagne for the guests.

On the long table in the distance where you can serve yourself, exquisite food is piled high on plates, emitting an appetite-stimulating aroma.

Looking at this place, one would never imagine the devastation suffered outside just a day earlier. As if bidding farewell to the past and welcoming a fresh start, everyone's faces were filled with relaxed, joyful smiles.

Lu Mi, who had successfully sneaked in, slowly moved among the crowd and picked up a piece of dessert from the tray of a passing waiter.

As soon as he put it in his mouth, his eyes couldn't help but light up.

As expected of a royal chef, this dish was sweet but not greasy, smooth and delicious. It was the taste of money that he, a poor man, could not imagine!

"Would you like to try it?"

While eating, he moved his lips and lowered his eyes to look at the shadow under his feet.

At this time, Lu Mi was wearing an owl mask that covered his face, and he was easily drowned out by the many extraordinary people who were wearing strange masks and looked exaggerated and weird as if they were participating in Halloween.

The only thing that would attract anyone's attention was the feathers on his mask that were so black and shiny, and so pure that they didn't look like they came from an animal.

In fact, the origin of this mask is a bit complicated - Lu Mi had an idea at that time and asked (plucked) feathers from the devil, but then realized that he didn't know how to do handicrafts, so he went to find a mask shop.

When the shop owner saw the material of the feathers, he was immediately amazed. He took the remaining feathers as a reward for helping Lu Mi customize the mask he wanted, and told Lu Mi to be sure to send more in the future.

Thinking of the mask shop owner's reluctant expression at the time, Lu Mi could only think guiltily that it was a good thing that the owner didn't know the origin of these feathers, otherwise he would be scared to death. After obtaining the mask, Lu Mi decisively found an excuse to escape in a hurry.

As the provider of these feathers, Lu Mi originally thought that Aronfoss would be unhappy at first.

After all, wings are more than just a part of a demon's body; they are its prized weapon. Like the teeth and claws of a wild beast, they are a line of death for the ignorant.

Who knows——

"Ah, if I can be of any use to you, please feel free to use me."

The Demon Butler spoke politely, his calm composure surging with dark excitement and enthusiasm.

"Have you decided which position you want to use?"

He slowly spread his wings, opening his vulnerable body like prey, revealing his heart to the hunter and extending an invitation.

Lu Mi tentatively reached out his hand toward the outermost circle of feathers.

The devil smiled slightly at this, and then, like a bird about to have its feathers clipped, he revealed a bit of real and fake uneasiness and forbearance at just the right moment.

"It's very sensitive there, please be gentle...ah, if it's you, it's okay to be a little rough."

Lu Mi was saying “???” the whole time, he was just plucking a hair!

He's clearly a big demon who can trample other monsters under his feet in the abyss, but why does something seem wrong when it comes to him!

…

This sentiment of fanaticism hidden in repression has continued to this day.

After Lu Mi picked up the dessert and started asking questions, the shadow under his feet suddenly twisted, and then a scene appeared that would make ordinary people scream on the spot.

Suddenly, two white round holes appeared in the eye sockets of the shadow under the young man's feet, and the mouth turned into a white sickle shape and opened - as if a monster was hiding in the shadow.

And in fact, it is true.

For a demon born from shadows, living in someone's shadow is a simple matter. But if this someone is Lu Mi, then the meaning to the demon is completely different.

Aronfoss did not refuse Lu Mi's feeding.

The discarded dessert was swallowed by the shadow on the ground. During the entire lively party, no one noticed this strange scene.

After finishing the meal, the demon exclaimed with the sincerity of an opera singer, "It's delicious."

However, in reality, the devil's taste buds are different from those of humans, and desserts are more like a ball of dried straw stuffed in his mouth.

It was dry and dull, but the fragrance of the sun left behind by the young man's fingertips made him happy.

At this time, the music of the party began to play, and the light dance music floated under the colorful glass chandeliers.

The attendees at this party were primarily Transcendents from frontline combat units, and generally, men were the majority. Perhaps taking this into consideration, the king had arranged a group of female dance partners early on, so they wouldn't be embarrassed by being partnerless and could fully enjoy the party.

As the melodious music played, dancers in gorgeous costumes appeared and walked into the crowd.

For these extraordinary people who have been working on the front lines of investigating anomalies all year round, the people they face most often are their peers and monsters. Even humans are relatively rare, let alone beautiful human women.

"Would you please dance with me?" A dancer came up to Lu Mi and made an invitation.

The other people in this small group immediately cast envious glances at Lu Mi, wishing they were the ones standing there.

What a lucky guy! They also want to be invited by the beautiful lady!

Lu Mi shook his head. "No, thank you."

Others couldn't believe it.

The dancer glanced at him with disappointment, but didn't insist. She nodded slightly, then turned and left, quickly finding another partner and joining the dance floor.

Surrounded by the remaining gazes, Lu Mi simply walked out of the banquet hall and came to the balcony on the second floor of the palace.

A curtain separated the bustle of the banquet hall from the balcony. Faint music and voices could be heard, blending into the night breeze.

The stars hang in the night sky, twinkling like diamonds inlaid in the sky.

Lu Mi leaned on the white stone railing of the balcony and looked down, just in time to see the small garden behind the palace. A few night lights stood on the gravel path, which meandered deep into the lush woods, with flowers and plants swaying in the wind along the roadside.

"Why did you refuse the invitation just now?"

On the balcony where no one else was, Aronfoss's voice slowly rang out.

Lu Mi answered honestly: "I can't dance."

I didn’t learn it in my previous life, and I have no chance to learn it in this life.

He just saw that everyone else got the hang of it quickly, and guessed that this must be a world-famous dance. If it was his turn to just stand there without knowing anything, wouldn't it be awkward for both of them?

The demon didn't speak again for a minute.

In the darkness, an imperceptible shadow quickly rushed out and hid in the corner of the banquet hall to watch.

Lu Mi was feeling strange when he suddenly heard Aronfoss, who had returned, say, "I know how to do it."

Lu Mi:……?

A dark and thick shadow slowly rose from the ground, forming a pitch-black human figure.

Then, the pitch-black figure twisted and changed.

When the darkness above faded away, what appeared in front of Lu Mi was a male human dancer in gorgeous clothes. The clothing style was exactly the same as those dancers in the banquet hall who had undergone gender reassignment.

However, the dancer was wearing an owl mask, so her face couldn't be seen clearly. The only part that was exposed was her perfect jaw, and her lips on her pale face were as red as blood.

Even more striking was the ominous scarlet eyes that revealed some inhuman and dangerous qualities.

"...You?" Lu Mi knew that transformation was an ability possessed by most high-level demons, but this was the first time he encountered Aronfoss doing so.

After all, most demons are proud of their inhuman features, which are often a symbol of their title and status. Few of them condescend to show a weak posture.

"Would you please do me a favor, sir?" The dancer put one hand behind her back and extended an invitation to him with the other.

Lu Mi was stunned, thought for a moment, and placed his hand on His palm.

What happened next was really strange—he was actually taught to dance by a demon at a banquet hosted by a human king. And this demon danced better than most people?

Two figures danced on the open-air balcony under the moon, with stars twinkling above their heads and the fragrance of flowers wafting through the air.

The two shadows sometimes overlap and sometimes separate.

For a moment, one of the shadows could be seen transforming into a huge pair of wings, completely enveloping the other one in its arms.

That was not a god protecting his believers, but an alien and his master, swearing allegiance.

Lu Mi turned in a circle in the air, listened carefully, and said, "It seems that the king has begun to give a speech of thanks..."

Amidst the faint music from the banquet hall, the king's aged yet solemn voice was added: "Please allow me to represent the Blue Steel Empire and greet all..."

The demon's scarlet eyes glanced at him, and the corners of his lips curled up, "You are not concentrating."

Lu Mi looked back calmly, "I've learned it."

"Yes." The demon lowered his head slightly and sighed devoutly, "You are an excellent student, always have been."

After another spinning side step, Lu Mi's sight swept across the garden below the balcony and suddenly caught sight of a figure.

The man was walking hurriedly into the depths of the garden, wearing an owl mask on his face.

Lu Mi subconsciously glanced at the time in the banquet hall.

20:45.

There are still fifteen minutes left, and the other party has already arrived.

Maybe he came early like him and simply waited at the transaction location?

Guessing this in his mind, Lu Mi felt that it would be okay to move the transaction forward a little, so he decided to go there now.

"Aaron, we should go."

He stopped dancing and gave instructions.

The demon immediately changed from the relaxed state when facing him and instantly got into work mode.

The dancer in the night transformed into a pure black shadow again, blending into the shadow of the young man, like a mysterious guardian, silently opening his watchful eyes behind the curtain of night.

The author has something to say:

Aaron: Please call me the best dance teacher in the world.

Fei Zhang·Watching Everything·The Collar Ornament with No Sense of Existence: Dare Not Speak.jpg