No one knows if all the cities in the Demon Realm are like this, but in New Moon City, including the royal palace, most of the buildings appear old and dilapidated. There are few shops and stalls doing business, and along the way, many of the demons seen are fierce and ugly, yet most are dressed in shabby clothes. The entire city is filled with an atmosphere of decay and desolation.

The appearance of the demons made Raymond Brooks tremble with fear. If his human identity were exposed, even if he wasn’t eaten, his life would surely be in grave danger.

“Hey! You there, straighten your back, don’t squeeze your legs together so tightly, relax your shoulders!” Linda Adams’s voice interrupted Raymond Brooks’s thoughts. “And you call yourself a man? Any random child from the Wells family is better than you!”

Actually, Raymond Brooks wanted to say he was still a virgin, not a man in the truest sense, but at this moment his posture was indeed a bit odd—he was sprawled frog-like on the back of the triceratops, clutching the broad shell tightly with both hands, terrified that if he slipped, he’d be trampled into a pancake by the giant beast.

“Sorry, it’s my first time riding something this big.” Raymond Brooks had been wondering why this world didn’t have things like stirrups or saddles, thinking he could invent them and take the credit, but then he saw that Alice and the others’ triceratops were all fully equipped with saddles and tack—turns out it was just a matter of different treatment.

“Even if it’s your first time, you don’t have to squeeze so tight! Loosen your legs a bit!” Linda Adams scolded loudly and carelessly.

The little loli, whether she truly understood or not, kindly advised, “Linda Adams, don’t be so harsh. It’s his first time, of course he’s going to hold on tight.”

This nearly made Raymond Brooks fall off the triceratops. Along the way, quite a few demons noticed his odd behavior and pointed at him, but fortunately Raymond Brooks was wearing a cloak, so his human identity wasn’t exposed for now. Only a few demons with particularly sensitive noses looked suspicious, but with the little princess and Anna Morgan present, no one dared approach.

When they reached the city gate, the four triceratops were stopped.

“Princess Alice, where are you headed?” The one who stopped them was a male demon in armor, tall and strong, with crimson skin and two huge curved horns on his head. His features were deeply set, and he exuded a fierce aura. Judging by his appearance, he was a great demon.

“So it’s Sheriff General Allen. You’re actually out on patrol yourself today.” Alice smiled slightly. “We’re just heading to Blue Wave Lake.”

General Allen frowned and said, “There’s been a bit of trouble at Blue Wave Lake lately. I’m worried something might be wrong with the sleeping poison dragon there. I’ve already sent scouts to investigate. Princess Alice, it would be best to wait until it’s confirmed safe before you go there for fun.”

“That poison dragon has been asleep for thousands of years, and it’s still bound by the strongest Light and Dark Chains of the White Night Emperor, so there’s absolutely no problem.” Alice pointed at Raymond Brooks. “Besides, I’m not going there for fun this time… This is the new apprentice taken in by Master Albert Harris. The master asked me to take him to Blue Wave Lake to gather some herbs.”

Of the two major branches of alchemy, if artificers inspire “reverence,” then potion masters inspire “awe.” People are more afraid of their poisons and negative potions, often overlooking their healing and enhancing effects.

The keywords for a master potion maker are usually mysterious, terrifying, and not to be provoked. Albert Harris is a prime example—his laboratory often echoes with the shrill screams of test subjects, and even the palace guards dare not approach. It’s a mystery how the princess could allow such a dangerous person to be housed in the palace’s outer courtyard.

Such a mysterious and terrifying potion master actually took on an apprentice. Allen was very curious about who this apprentice was, so he took a closer look, and his gaze suddenly sharpened. At this moment, Alice happened to have Raymond Brooks remove his cloak.

“That’s the human we caught last time!” a soldier behind Allen cried out in alarm. Instantly, all sorts of hostile gazes focused on him. Raymond Brooks forced himself to appear calm, but cold sweat was already trickling down his forehead.

Allen had recognized Raymond Brooks’s identity even before the soldiers did. He remembered that when he reported to the princess, Master Albert Harris happened to be present and personally requested to take this human as a test subject. Now, this prisoner—or rather, this slave—had somehow become the master’s apprentice?

Alice nonchalantly introduced Raymond Brooks to Allen: “This human is called Raymond Brooks. Because he has great talent in potion-making, Master Albert Harris has made an exception and accepted him as a formal apprentice. From now on, he’s considered one of us in New Moon City.”

Anna Morgan impatiently added, “That’s what the master himself said today in front of me and Princess Alice. If you still have doubts, why not go ask Master Albert Harris directly!”

“Anna Morgan, I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant, I…”

General Allen’s attitude toward Anna Morgan was a bit strange. Before he could finish, Anna Morgan coldly interrupted him: “Allen, your questioning should be over by now. Don’t waste our time gathering herbs!”

Anna Morgan’s blunt attitude left Allen feeling helpless. He said to Alice, “Little princess, just in case, let me assign a squad of soldiers to protect you.”

Alice smiled sweetly and asked, “Are you worried that Anna Morgan can’t protect me?”