Chapter 143: “Lilia Happy Bathhouse” Grand Opening! Nobles Arrive in Tears to Offer Congratulations!

The news of Count Gelindun’s private warehouse being emptied spread through Demon City overnight.

That same night, a viscount in the western district woke from a nightmare.

He dreamed that Lilia had him pinned to the ground, her little leather boot pressing down on his face again and again as she demanded to know where his “Millennium Warm Jade” was hidden.

The viscount rolled off his bed in a cold sweat, kicked open his steward’s door before dawn, and shouted orders to pack up everything in the manor that could be described as “luxurious” and send it all to the construction site at Central Plaza.

“Tell Lady Lilia it’s… it’s a small token of my appreciation!”

Similar scenes played out in noble mansions across Demon City.

Just yesterday, the nobles had been ready to watch the show.

Now each one was more eager than the last.

Today, Duke Zhang sent a cartload of “Thermostatic Magic Stones” that could adjust temperature automatically.

Tomorrow, Marquis Li offered several boxes of “Elven Incense” that filled the air with floral scent.

Lilia’s “super bathhouse” project didn’t just avoid obstacles—it advanced at a breakneck pace.

She herself was over the moon, wearing a ridiculous alchemist hard hat every day as she strutted around the construction site.

“This piece of obsidian is laid crooked! Gromm, smash it! Meow!”

Boom!

Gromm the Skullcrusher said nothing.

One swing of his axe, and the priceless obsidian floor shattered into fragments.

Finance Minister Batuo, following behind, clutched his chest in pain.

His fat trembled, but he didn’t dare utter a single complaint.

Lilia planted her hands on her hips, standing on the rubble.

She felt like she was the ruler of this world.

Spending other people’s money to play around was even more satisfying than winning a war!

…

One month later, beside Demon City’s Central Plaza, a magnificent building rose from the ground.

Its entire structure was made of polished Abyssal Obsidian.

The dome was a single enormous piece of transparent Magic Crystal, overlooking all of Demon City.

“Lilia’s Happy Bathhouse” was open for business.

Every noble of any reputation in Demon City received an invitation with “friendly” wording.

No one dared not come.

At the bathhouse entrance, the nobles’ carriages formed a long line.

Well-dressed gentlemen and ladies stepped out one by one, their faces grim.

Lilia had specially changed into a red-and-white bathrobe today.

Its wide sleeves fluttered as she moved.

Her silver twin-tails swung back and forth, making her look lively and cute.

She stepped onto a temporary platform, cleared her throat, and her childish voice, amplified by Amplification Magic, reached the entire crowd.

“Everyone! Welcome to my Happy Bathhouse! Meow! To thank you all for this month’s generous ‘sponsorship,’ this Lady has decided to offer a grand opening special discount today! Meow!”

The nobles’ hearts skipped a beat.

A sense of foreboding washed over them.

Lilia held up one finger, grinning slyly.

“Today’s ticket price—originally 100,000 magic crystal coins per person!”

The crowd went dead silent.

Even breathing stopped.

All the nobles stared wide-eyed, doubting their own ears.

One hundred thousand?

Just to soak in a bath?

Might as well rob them!

Lilia was very pleased with their reaction and added, “But hey, since we’re all old friends, today’s friend price is only… 10,000 magic crystal coins per person! Meow!”

She clapped her hands together, her face full of “I’m losing out big time, you’re getting a bargain.”

“Wow! Isn’t that super cheap! Meow!”

Below the platform, Duke Varian’s face had turned from dark green to purple.

He felt the eyes of everyone around him land on him, subtly or not.

Again.

Why was he always the one to step forward? He closed his eyes, as if reliving the humiliation of that day’s auction—the moment he raised a single magic crystal coin to buy Draku.

Today, that humiliation multiplied ten thousand times.

He opened his eyes and squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth: “Fine.”

He pulled a bulging money pouch from his chest and walked each step with immense weight.

Finally, he reached the City Guard soldier in charge of collecting money.

“His Grace the Duke… one person.”

The soldier’s hands trembled as he took the payment.

Varian tossed the pouch into the collection box and walked inside without looking back, his silhouette desolate.

With the first came the second.

The nobles lined up, one by one, their faces ashen, throwing heavy pouches of magic crystal coins into the box.

The clinking sound was especially grating to their ears.

“Lady Lilia is truly… far-sighted.”

“Indeed, to be among the first to experience this is… my honor.”

They forced smiles uglier than tears and spoke hollow words.

Lilia’s ears itched.

The cat tail behind her swung uncontrollably left and right.

She loved watching these old fossils act like they wanted to kill her while having to grovel.

After the last noble also “bought a ticket” and entered, Lilia jumped down from the platform.

She crooked a finger at Lilith behind her and lowered her voice, her tone brimming with excitement.

“Sister Lilith, keep the money safe. This is my first pot of gold! Meow!”

“Yes, Miss.”

Lilith gave a slight bow.

Lilia was content.

She put her hands behind her back, hummed a tuneless song, and swaggered into her own happy paradise.

Inside the bathhouse, warm mist mixed with the scent of flowers.

The floor was made of warm jade, and the Magic Crystals on the walls emitted a soft glow.

The nobles cautiously soaked in pools with various effects.

Their bodies relaxed, but their minds remained tense.

Lilia ignored them entirely.

She passed through the great hall and entered an exclusive passageway leading directly to the top floor of the bathhouse.

This was her private domain.

The entire top floor held only one huge circular bath, filled with a sweet-smelling milky-white liquid—Moon Goddess’s Milk!

Using a legendary holy relic that could bring the dead back to life as bathwater!

“Mew—! Awesome!”

Lilia cheered, shed her bathrobe, and dove into the pool.

The warm liquid enveloped her body, every pore opening in comfort.

She floated spread-eagled on the surface.

Through the giant Magic Crystal skylight above, she could just see the majestic silhouette of Evernight Palace on the horizon.

Smugly, she held out a little hand toward that direction and made an arrogant “V” sign.

“Lucia! You pervert! See that! Meow! I used your money to build my happy home! You can only watch from up there! Mad? Na na na na boo boo—!”