The Paladin in the Abyss

Phil's complexion changed, and then he put on an expression like a dead pig not fearing boiling water, "No refunds once services are provided, come on! Just punch me!"

"Are you sure? Maybe I should demonstrate the power of my punch first."

Lancelot raised his fist, thought for a moment, and then summoned up thirty percent of his True Qi, slamming it viciously into the nearby stone wall.

With an explosion-like bang, the wall was hit as if by a battering ram, creating a three-foot-wide depressed crater surrounded by a cobweb of cracks.

"Phil! Are you dead? If you're not, make a noise, or else I'm heading to your cellar!" A shrill female voice came from not too far away.

"I'm fine! And there's nothing in my cellar!" Phil quickly recovered from his daze and shouted back, then pushed the five Gold Coins back with a pained expression. "Erm, actually, the service wasn't provided this time, so refunds are supported."

"But I feel like my Dwarf companion was played for a fool and needs to vent."

"That's indeed a problem, and I did provide an answer to it," the avaricious Goblin said, his face turning red with the effort of holding back tears. "How about we treat that previous question as a free promotional gift, and you ask me a new one?"

"Hmm, sure. First question, what's the purpose of this area?"

"This is the service area for mercenaries," Phil said, timidly extending his palm.

"Be more specific." Lancelot took out a Gold Coin but didn't hurry to hand it over to the Goblin in front of him.

"Well, it caters to various needs of mercenaries, like renting a bed for the night, treating injuries and diseases, lifting curses, recharging magical equipment, and so on. You can also find information brokers and traders who buy war spoils. Of course, all these services come at a reasonable price."

"Good," Lancelot flicked the Gold Coin to Phil and continued, "Second question, what's the approximate price of property suitable for the Mortal Races to live in?"

"That, of course, depends on the location and size," Phil said eagerly, catching the Gold Coin. "My personal recommendation is the Southeast District, where Vampires congregate. Aside from the annoying rats, bats, and thick fog, Vampires have a very good reputation as neighbors. They only move about at night, don't care what you do in your own room, and never hunt near their lairs.

A three-story house there with a garden and crypt would cost about 5000 Gold Coins. It might be a bit pricey, but it's definitely worth the money."

Lancelot nodded in satisfaction and took out another Gold Coin to throw to Phil.

"Tell me about the specifics of purchasing property here in Twin Bridges Town."

"All land and buildings in Twin Bridges Town, whether formed naturally or constructed artificially, permanently belong to Lord Tijana of Twin Bridges Town," Phil said, gesturing a bow towards the direction of the castle. "Everyone is essentially a tenant of Lady Tijana, with each lease period lasting three years.

Subletting is prohibited, and once a tenant dies or falls behind on rent, the property is immediately repossessed. You just have to talk to Sonam about this, the lady outside with six arms and a friendly demeanor."

"It's said the Serpent Demon with six arms' favorite food is Goblins and ratmen," Kalalin casually added.

"Haha, no wonder she looks at me so affectionately every time I go to work," Phil let out an unpleasant snicker and quickly changed the subject: "Gentlemen, any other questions?"

"One last question," Lancelot placed a Gold Coin on the table, "Among those traders inside who recycle war trophies, is there anyone who has a preference for gemstones?"

"Everyone wouldn't turn down those shiny little rocks, as such high-value items are much more convenient than carrying around a big pile of Gold. However, the highest bidder, without a doubt, is that Red Dragon named Krivtar, a big fellow that you absolutely can't miss. Today you're in luck; it just happens to be around, but actually, it only comes by occasionally.

Besides that, there's also a Devilspawn named Catez who enjoys collecting any pretty jewelry to please his dear mother— the madam of the largest brothel in town. But you'd best not mention that brothel in front of him, 'The Undercellar of the Seven Heavens.'"

"The Undercellar of the Seven Heavens, hahaha," Bruto was tickled by the name.

"Demons are not devoid of a sense of humor," Kalalin said seriously, "it's just that often this humor is hard to distinguish from cruelty."

"You see, the money isn't that hard to earn," Lancelot lifted his finger off the coin and turned towards the depths of the corridor.

After traversing a not-so-lengthy corridor, the three of them entered into a bustling hall. It resembled a small marketplace with dozens of stalls, and figures that looked like mercenaries weaved through, occasionally stopping to converse softly with a stall owner.

Phil was right; that Red Dragon was indeed very conspicuous. It coiled at the entrance of a huge aperture on the wall, looking down at the crowd below with a contemptuous gaze.

Lancelot came here naturally wanting to sell some gemstones that were of no use to him to first take care of his lodging situation. He also quickly spotted the Devilspawn named Catez, who was absent-mindedly scanning the crowd.

Even though the Goblin had said that the Red Dragon's offer was highest, Lancelot had no intention of trading with someone he probably couldn't handle.

"Find a place with a better view and keep an eye on our surroundings,"

he whispered to Bruto and Kalalin before walking up to Catez's small stall alone, silently sizing up the Devilspawn.

Although uncommon, it was indeed possible for Fiends from the lower planes to reproduce with humanoids, and the most common of such couplings involved Succubi and Nightmares, who seduced mortals through lust. It was impossible for Fiends to conceive or cause conception by accident; they had various reasons for choosing to create offspring, love also being a possibility.

But their progeny were destined to be taboo. If one parent was merely an ordinary mortal, the offspring would mostly still be a pure-blooded Fiend, but if the mortal's strength surpassed that of the Fiend, the child might end up being a hybrid with the physical features of both parents, along with Antlers, tails, and bat wings.

This was how Devilspawn came to be.

The first generation of Devilspawn could almost never escape the evil nature that came with their bloodline, regardless of their upbringing.

However, after several generations, the Fiendish characteristics in the offspring started to diminish, the evil from their bloodline being restrained by reason and emotion, and they didn't necessarily take the path of evil, although the constant discrimination they faced often forced them to do so.

This Devilspawn in front of him was undoubtedly a first-generation; he had deep red skin, an exceptionally handsome face, and a well-proportioned, slender figure. Short sharp horns adorned his forehead, and giant demonic wings splayed from his back, while a thick tail rhythmically thumped the ground.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

He raised his eyes that seemed forever ablaze with anger and spoke in a condescending tone,

"What can I do for you?"