Chapter 101: The Demon's Map

Jean massaged his forehead, his lips twisting in frustration.

"I bought it from a senior mage a few years ago. The bastard made me fork two hundred gold, and in my naivety, I trusted him. Now? I'm stuck with a demonic item I can't show to anyone." His knuckles whitened and trembled. "I can't even throw it! No matter where I leave it, it always reappears in my shop.

I even burned it once, only for the thing to pop before me the next morning. But the worst part? I can't even sleep peacefully anymore since the city lord will behead me if he learns I have a demonic item!"

A mocking smirk spread on Adam's lips as low chuckles escaped his throat.

"Let me guess. You can only get rid of it by transferring its ownership to someone else through a transaction. Sounds really demon-like."

As Litia exploded into laughter at the irony, Jean nodded.

"Since you guessed so much, I might as well tell you about its third enchantment: it can veil its owner from any other demon's detection abilities. However, it only works on demonic beings and instead acts as a curse to humans..." His voice trailed off and cracked. "It's constantly attracting evil creatures to me! Please, buy it for fifty gold coins.

You can sell it to another adventurer to earn more without risks!"

A finger tapping on his cheek in fake hesitation, Adam tilted his head from side to side before he looked Jean dead in the eyes.

"Fifty you say? Mhh." His lips curled into a vicious smile. "I can't forget you tried to scam me, so add an enchanted metal, and you have a deal."

Jean scratched his head in confusion. He wouldn't lose much by adding it.

In fact, he would only lose a piece of metal ore and a bit of mana to process it. So why did he ask for that?

Still, he shook his head, unwilling to delve into details, and shoved the parchment into Adam's hand.

"Deal! Take that nightmarish map out of my sight!"

After paying the fool, Adam walked out of the shop, a bright smirk stretching his lips and his fingers playing with a shining piece of ore.

On the other hand, Litia couldn't help but laugh.

"What a naughty demon lord. You got the map for a quarter of its price and an enchanted metal for Muramasa to study." Searᴄh the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

He winked at her and planted his fists on his hips in pride.

"He's lucky I took pity on his situation, or I would have continued to lower the price." He shook his hand to change the subject. "Anyway, let's use the remaining fifty gold coins to hire a caravan's service. We'll relax at the inn right after."

Even if he wanted to check on the map, he'd do it after finishing his last task.

With so many beasts to transport and only a small cart, he had planned for this since the beginning and informed Marc about it. Therefore, they went to one of the many merchant buildings and negotiated for an armed convoy to bring his goods to the path south of his territory.

Then, he added a few cold coins and warned the merchant that a few specialists and youths would join the trip.

Finally, he added five gold coins for the man to depart the next morning.

With everything settled and twenty gold coins remaining to hire the specialists, their light steps and chuckles echoed as they returned to the inn.

Back in the dining room, they grinned at Laura and Lilia and raised their thumbs at the dozen individuals seated around a table filled with food and beverages of all kinds. Stay connected via m-v l|e'-NovelFire.net

He pulled a chair to sit with them and grabbed one of the wooden mugs. The sour scent of beer tickled his nose for a second before he took a sip. A burning sensation accompanied the rough liquid's taste as it flowed down his throat.

With a satisfied nod and enjoying the feeling despite the alcohol's low quality, he nodded at the sisters.

"We settled everything on our sides. A caravan will bring everyone to the territory in a week." He turned to the flushed-faced men and women, noticing their fidgeting fingers or proud expressions. "I welcome you to my territory in advance. Life is basic for now, but you'll enjoy the fresh air and peace."

He winked at them and chuckled.

"More seriously, I'll offer you habitations and workshops. You won't have to pay any taxes either. We don't have a monetary system implemented yet, but you won't lack anything until we develop it."

A blond woman raised her brow in intrigue. Seated by Laura, she placed her elbows on the table and let her chin rest on her hands.

"Oh? Won't you only take losses as the territory's leader if you do that?"

The other specialists' eyes sparkled with doubts as they nodded at her inquiries.

It just made no sense for a territory not to tax its citizens. Of course, those taxes should contribute to the city's maintenance and development. But they wouldn't mind if the lord took a part for himself since corruption ran rampant.

Yet, Adam still shook his head.

"My goal is for everyone to have peaceful and fulfilling lives. I won't add any burden to my citizens and earn my money by investing in the fields and excavating the mountain for now."

His lips curled into a broad smirk as he kept the last part for himself.

'And by plundering this realm before jumping to the next.'

Meanwhile, the woman's smile reached her eyes as she outstretched her hand above the table.

"I won't lose anything by trying." Her eyes slipped to Laura. "And without this troublemaker, the shop feels a little too empty nowadays anyway. So, count me in."

Soon, the other specialists joined her. A few asked more questions, to which he answered sincerely before everyone agreed to move. After all, Laura and Lilia had targeted close acquaintances and artisans harboring a deep dissatisfaction with the city.

Delighted by the fruitful trip, he offered them one gold coin each as their initial salary to motivate them.

After a hearty dinner, they separated, and he returned to his room for the night.

However, before sleeping, his hand reached for the map he had bought earlier. The parchment's rough texture met his fingers as he unfurled it.

"Time to test your effects. I hope that Jean didn't lie." He flipped a finger down to provoke Baal. "Because if it does, you can forget about spying on me, you bastard!"