Chapter 257 The Destruction of the Companion Student, The Best Food, The Storm is Coming...
The royal carriage arrived earlier than the time mentioned yesterday.
Ray put a crystal necklace on Tata, along with the floral fabric ball he had specifically requested.
The little monster happily boarded the carriage.
Unexpectedly, the dragon lord that Lai had met in the reception room yesterday also came with the carriage.
Tata politely called out "Uncle Dragon" and greeted him.
"The items have been handed over to His Majesty, and he said he will handle them."
"Okay, thank you."
"You are welcome."
The two of them only said these three sentences.
Lai was about to say a few more polite words, but before he could speak, the man had already left with Tata.
Ray turned and told Edmund what had happened, then quietly awaited the final outcome.
After that, the capital city remained peaceful for quite some time.
Tata makes it a point to go to the Royal Court every day, just like going to work.
Later, through Tata, Ray learned that Willard could regain his human form for two hours each day. During those two hours, he would deal with the backlog of things.
Once the time is up, it can only remain in the baby dragon form.
The consequence of forcibly reverting to a child form is that, after becoming a baby dragon, its intelligence also deteriorates, and its personality becomes much more childish.
The three dragons will teach him dragon magic and culture during this time.
Tata, as Willard's only follower, learned a lot by observing others.
Of course, not the dragon magic. Dragon magic needs to be used in conjunction with dragon language.
Tata thought the Dragon language was too complicated and that she didn't want to learn it and couldn't learn it anyway.
Actually, this is quite good. Tata got a free teacher (who is also a dragon), and Willard in his young dragon form got a well-behaved little playmate to pass the time (so he doesn't have to breathe fire everywhere).
The friendship between the two children grew stronger over time.
Ray's life continued peacefully until four uninvited guests arrived at Victor's estate.
"Lai, the hot pot made in the Beast Tale is the most delicious food on the continent, but the Dragon Lord doesn't believe it and says he wants to come and verify it for himself."
"..."
The small villa was crammed with three giant dragons in human form and Willard in the form of a young dragon.
Cher knew, of course, that the current king was a half-dragon with half-dragon blood.
So when three imposing adults and a baby dragon appeared at the door, Cher knew what was going on.
He sent his three children to the gatehouse where the Vincents lived, while he and Kama stayed behind to await the adults' instructions.
"Awooo, awooo awooo."
Little Fatty Dragon sat in the main seat of the living room.
"Lai, the dragon lord says he wants to eat hot pot."
"Okay, but we need some time to prepare the ingredients."
"Awooo!"
He said hurry up.
Tata looked apologetic; he seemed to have caused Lai a lot of trouble.
"good."
The three dragon lords who accompanied them seemed to be offering them a meal. Lei didn't know if the meat stored in the manor's ice room was enough for so many people.
"Butler Cher, go and buy fifty pounds of beef. Leave the kitchen to me and Karma."
"OK."
"Tata, you play with the adults for a while, and I'll wash some strawberries for you later."
Okay.
Lai and Kama went to the kitchen to wash vegetables, cut meat, and prepare a copper pot and charcoal. Tata accompanied them, while the three dragon lords, having nothing to do, wandered around the manor at their leisure.
The animals in the manor were so frightened that they didn't dare to move.
Three copper pots, three different soup bases.
Lei rummaged through the pendant's storage space and found dried wood ear mushrooms and some previously made glass noodles. She wanted to make the dishes as varied as possible.
Of course, the main attraction was the thinly sliced meat. Lai cut a lot, just in case it ran out.
He thought that a creature with such a massive body as a dragon must have a huge need for food.
"First do it like this, then do it like this!"
Tata had Ray demonstrate how to make the dipping sauce and how to eat the cooked meat rolls and vegetables.
Lai's skill in preparing hot pot broth has become increasingly refined, and today he's gone all out to entertain our distinguished guests. The entire living room is filled with the aroma of hot pot broth and cooked beef slices.
The three dragons didn't stand on ceremony at all. They each took a bowl and chopsticks, tasted the meat slices in each copper pot, chose their favorite, and sat down to eat.
Willard, who doesn't have the claws of a dragon, is inconvenient.
Uh, it seems they forgot to bring a servant for Willard.
I want to eat it but I can't.
His Majesty the Dragon is furious, His Majesty the Dragon's rage is intense.
Just as Willard was about to vent his anger, a plate full of meat slices was suddenly placed in front of him.
"Can I use a fork?"
"Ray asked."
"Ouch."
Can.
He nodded, realizing that humans couldn't understand animal language.
Ray handed the fork to Willard and put a small apron, the kind Tata usually wore when he ate by himself, around his neck.
"Eat up, I'll get you more if you're still hungry."
"Ray! The beasts want them too!"
Tata was a little jealous when she saw Ray serve Willard the meat first.
"Don't worry, I'll serve you right away."
"The beast wants to eat the spicy part of the hot pot!"
"It's going to be spicier than usual today."
"I want it spicy!"
Lai had no choice but to use a slotted spoon to scoop out two pieces of meat from the bottom of the pot for a long time before finally finding them, and he gave them both to Tata.
Upon closer inspection, the meat in the three copper pots on the table had been completely eaten.
The dragons were indeed very powerful.
Lai then used serving chopsticks to put a lot of sliced meat into the three pots.
"hiss."
The little monster was already sticking out its tongue from the spiciness of the meat slices, but it just wouldn't admit defeat.
Lei popped a strawberry into his mouth, and the little monster felt a bit better.
Do you still eat spicy food?
Tata didn't say anything.
“I had Karma stew a leg of meat for you in the kitchen.”
Lei whispered in Tata's ear, and the little monster twitched its little ears.
"Ray is the best!"
"Awoooooo!"
I want to eat too.
Upon hearing this, the little monster froze on the spot. Its special beast leg was about to be stolen.
"His Majesty said he wants to eat too."
Before Tata could translate, others began to translate for her.
Lei gave an awkward laugh.
"good."
With three pots, four adults, and two babies, the food for this hot pot meal couldn't keep up with the speed at which everyone was eating.
Lai went to the basement and got some low-alcohol fruit wine for everyone to drink. This eased the awkwardness while waiting for the food to cook.
After we finished eating, it got dark.
Before leaving, Willard chatted with the two little ones, Tata and Tita, for quite a while.
Lei and the three dragons stood beside them, waiting for their rather long farewell.
They could all understand the conversation between the little monster and the dragon cub. Only Lai stood awkwardly to the side, doing nothing.
"His Majesty said that hot pot is indeed delicious. He tentatively agrees to classify it as one of the best foods."
The one speaking was the dragon lord whom Lei was more familiar with.
"Uh. Okay, thank you."
Ah! No need to thank me!
Ray awkwardly dug his toes into the ground.
"His Majesty said he wants to eat it again in the future, and it would be even better if he could eat it in the palace."
After he finished speaking, the other two glanced at him discreetly.
"I still have some hot pot base here, which can be taken back for His Majesty to cook."
"good."
His answer was straightforward.
Lai took out five small earthenware jars from the pendant space.
"If there are few people, put half a can at a time; if there are many people, put a whole can at once."
"OK."
The man took it and put it into his spatial ring.
Is there anything else?
The only female dragon, who had remained silent all along, asked.
"Uh, there are a few cans left."
Under everyone's gaze, Lai took out the last three cans. The other party readily accepted them and gave Lai a high-grade wood elemental stone.
"You're a wood element user, this will be useful to you."
"thank you."
Tata and Willard's raucous conversation finally ended, and the four dragons got into the car and left.
"Ray, Ray."
"What's wrong, Tata?"
Lai looked down at the little monster who smelled like hotpot.
Hot pot is delicious, but the fuzz on the tartar tends to stick to the food and leave a sticky taste.
"The Dragon Lord didn't say that."
Which sentence?
"It would be even better if we could eat it at the royal palace."
"..."
Tata means that the gentleman tricked him out of his last few cans of hot pot base by pretending to be a cub.
"Ray, Ray."
"Um?"
Why isn't Li saying anything?
"It's nothing, I just wanted to get rid of the smell on me."
"oh."
Whether it was Lai's imagination or not, the Privy Council's efficiency seemed to improve significantly after the hotpot meal.
New activity began to emerge in the capital.
Many of the businesses in which the Alcanis family was involved have been seized and shut down.
Since these were all joint ventures with other businesses, and a relative of one of the businesses had been arrested and imprisoned, everyone assumed they were just implicated and didn't think much of it.
However, they still curbed their business practices, simply closing down any overly conspicuous shops. They were all afraid that the Privy Council's sword would fall upon them.
The Duchess seemed to have received some inside information and secretly transferred a considerable amount of assets.
Her maternal family, the Torland family, has declined and is now struggling to survive thanks to the sickly old Torland.
The capital city is now in a time of fear and insecurity for everyone.
With the new king ascending the throne, she was determined to reshuffle the power structure of the capital. She had to prepare a backup plan for herself.
The turning point came late one summer night.
Gavin, the illegitimate son of the Duke of Arcanis, killed the heir of a minor nobleman at the Rose Mansion because of a prostitute named Ariel.
Everyone present witnessed this scene.
Worst of all, Gavin used magic out of control during his acts of violence.
Upon seeing that iconic black flame, people automatically associate him with the Arcanis family.
Since he committed the crime in a crowded place, Gavin was caught by patrolling knights before he could get very far.
The Privy Council issued an order for strict handling of the matter, and the Duchess was also held accountable.
A life for a life. No matter how much Mrs. Ida cried and pleaded, no one dared to help Gavin.
Even though she knelt before the Duchess, humbly admitting her mistakes and slapping herself repeatedly, she couldn't gain a shred of sympathy.
"You failed to manage your son properly, and as a result, the entire Duke's mansion was implicated."
If I were you, instead of abandoning my dignity and begging around, I'd rather try to bribe the prison guard so he can spend his final days with some dignity.
After saying these words, the Duchess turned and left, instructing the butler to drag Lady Ida out of the Duchess's residence.
A week later, Gavin was hanged.
After his accident, his wife made him sign divorce papers and returned to her parents' home with their daughter. A few months later, she married a minor nobleman in a remote area.
The incident of Gavin's impulsive crime is over, but the investigation into the Alcanis family is far from over.
Neil's application to inherit the title remained untouched on Willard's desk.
Ray realized that the Privy Council had begun to take action, so he had Tata intentionally or unintentionally leak some information about Neil to Willard.
They hoped to get some protection for Neil through Willard's side, so that Neil wouldn't be implicated.
Which of the powerful families that have risen to prominence in the capital city is without a bit of cunning?
Sensing the danger, they all severed ties with the Arcanis family, fearing that the fire, orchestrated by the Privy Council, would engulf them.
When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down.
The Torland family, which could provide the greatest assistance, has drifted away from the royal court and is on the verge of decline.
The Privy Council refused to let it go. Other powerful families took advantage of the situation, adding fuel to the fire of this disaster.
In addition, the Duke's finances had already become abnormal before his death.
Those branches of the family who relied on the Arcanis family for survival, seeing that the situation was not good, decided to make as much money as they could, so they falsified accounts, lined their own pockets, and then left with their families.
The once-great family was reduced to an empty shell within a month.
Ray and Edmund didn't actually do anything; they just added fuel to the fire at the right time...
No matter how unwilling she was, the Duchess had to admit that the Arcanis family was on its last legs.
She also needs to think carefully about her own future.
A defeat is a defeat.
Her heart had already died with the passing of her only child.
In her view, family honor and continuation were merely a fancy garment to cover up dirty deals.
As for that illegitimate child... perhaps he can be used in the end.
The sudden downpour disrupted the tranquility of the night.
Neil lay curled up under the bed in his bedroom, secretly practicing magic, and hadn't gone to sleep yet.
He wasn't afraid of thunderstorms; he just wasn't used to the overly soft mattress in the Duke's mansion.
He missed Lai a little, and he also missed the carefree life he once had in the small mountain village.
We were very poor back then. My brother would get up early to sell vegetables and would also try his best to cook delicious meals for him.
Every summer, he could catch a lot of river shrimp in the river, and then his brother would cook those shrimp into all sorts of delicious dishes that he had never eaten before.
"Brother, I want to go home..."
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Author's note: Humans are lucky to have animals as their pets!
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