Rest Pavilion, Body Processing Room.
Boom.
The scorching flames died down.
The two corpses on the metal table had already been reduced to charred remains. All that was left was to tap them lightly with a hammer, gather the ashes into urns, and the job would be done.
Clap, clap.
Cael and Guang Xi stepped into the room, applauding as they handed a chilled drink to the special employee.
"Your efficiency is insane. You are way more convenient than a crematorium. Seriously, nice work."
A regular crematorium needed at least thirty minutes to process a single body.
But this Dragon Fiend, capable of breathing intense flames, needed only two minutes to reduce a body completely to ash.
Thud.
Dragon inserted the straw and took a sip.
The moment the drink touched her tongue, her brows tightened.
"Pah."
She spat it out and handed it back with a dissatisfied look. "Lemonade is bad. Want cold blood..."
"I didn't bring any." Cael shrugged.
He glanced at the silver haired woman beside him, her ponytail tied neatly, her height shortly beneath his.
"Guang Xi, this is what you meant by her being able to control her blood cravings?"
Guang Xi casually pulled out a frozen blood popsicle, solid as a rock.
"She has been burning corpses for you all day. That alone covers at least a month of your quota. It is normal for her to want blood when she is tired."
She handed it over and gently rubbed Dragon's head.
"Eat slowly."
Dragon smiled, simple and harmless.
"Love Guang Xi..."
Crunch, crunch.
She devoured the popsicle in two bites, chewing even the wooden stick without hesitation.
"It's getting late. I'm taking the girls out. We will be back another time."
"Not staying for dinner?"
Cael walked over to the table and used his vibration ability, turning the remains into fine ash.
"No need." Guang Xi shook her head. "I have many women, and you have quite a few too. If we sit down together, no one will relax."
Cael let out a quiet chuckle as he collected the ashes into urns.
"Fair enough."
"Don't forget about the matter," Guang Xi added, adjusting Dragon's hair.
"Yeah, I remember."
Guang Xi and her four fiends, Pingtsi, Cosmo, Dragon, and Weaving Brew, had arrived at the Rest Pavilion about ten days ago.
If not for their calm attitude, Cael and Asa would have already taken them out, mistaking them for Fire Devil threats.
Guang Xi had been direct from the start.
She offered Cael a generous deal.
In exchange, he would change his nationality and move.
Cael did not feel strongly about it.
He was not tied to any country.
Patriotism meant nothing to him.
Wherever life was easier, that was where he would stay.
Besides, people in power were the same everywhere.
The higher ups simply wanted to make use of him.
Still, Cael did not refuse.
As a transaction, the offer was tempting.
If it meant a more comfortable life, going there was not a bad option.
He had some attachment to that place as well.
Even so, he was not about to agree too quickly.
Rushing into it would only lower his value.
Better to take his time and let them wait.
At the moment, the shop was short on manpower.
So he let Guang Xi and her group stay and help out, showing just enough goodwill while keeping the upper hand.
Guang Xi stepped into the courtyard with Dragon and called out.
"Time to wrap up."
Cosmo and Tsugihagi, who had been cleaning, responded immediately.
Guang Xi looked around.
"Where is Pingtsi?"
Cosmo tilted her head. "Halloween..."
Tsugihagi silently pointed toward the kitchen.
Inside the kitchen.
Asa frowned, pinching her nose tightly.
Pingtsi stood in front of her, one hand on her hip, grinning mischievously.
With chopsticks, she held up a piece of something that looked like a root.
"Try it. You might like it."
"That smell is awful. What even is this?"
Pingtsi giggled.
"You are not wrong."
"The scientific name is Houttuynia cordata. We just call it fish mint."
"This one was freshly dug from the mountains. Not that processed one you find outside."
"Whether it is good or not, you have to taste it yourself."
"Come on, just one bite."
Asa sighed, clearly regretting stepping into the kitchen.
"I can't eat fish at all. The texture reminds me of something rotten, and this smells just as bad…"
Pingtsi's eyes flickered with mischief.
Prejudice was a wall she intended to break.
As the self proclaimed ambassador of fish mint, she refused to let ignorance win.
She set the chopsticks down and glanced at Asa's stomach.
Her tone turned serious.
"Asa, did you know this has high nutritional value?"
"It contains vitamins C, B1, B2, and minerals like calcium and potassium. It is actually good for the baby."
Asa blinked.
"Really?"
"Of course. You doubt an Insight Fiend?"
Asa hesitated, then exhaled.
"Fine. I will eat it."
She picked up a portion and put it in her mouth.
Crunch.
She chewed.
"…This taste…"
"Well?" Pingtsi leaned forward eagerly.
Asa's expression slowly changed.
Her brows relaxed as she reached for another bite.
"It is crunchy… kind of herbal."
"And… not exactly fishy. With garlic and chili, it actually tastes…"
"…pretty good."
"Nice!"
Pingtsi gave a thumbs up, her ponytail bouncing with excitement.
"Even though you are a devil, you have potential."
"The god of fish mint smiles upon you."
Satisfied with her success, she skipped out.
She jumped onto Guang Xi's back like a decoration.
"Sorry, Lady Guang Xi. I was introducing Asa to the cuisine. Lost track of time."
"It's fine."
"Also, can we switch hotels tonight? The bed yesterday was too soft. I felt like I was sinking."
"Alright."
Pingtsi grinned.
"I really want to have a fiend baby with you someday."
Guang Xi paused.
"…That is not possible. No matter how you think about it."
The five of them left the Rest Pavilion together.
Half an hour later.
A taxi pulled up in front of the funeral home.
"We are here, Rest Pavilion."
"Th… thank you."
The door opened.
Kobeni Higashiyama stepped out, dressed in a rented formal suit, clutching a thick stack of resumes as she stood nervously at the entrance.