The ladies were ecstatic when Paul came back, and he was showered with hugs and kisses as soon as they saw him.
Naturally, they also asked why he was summoned before the emperor and if Natalie still needed to go.
First of all, he congratulated them all on reaching the next stages in their cultivation before he proceeded to tell them everything, from the imperial order to heal a young master of the Yuki clan to the healing of his aunt just a few minutes ago.
All the ladies were shocked that so many things happened in the span of only a few days.
They were also happy that in a few days, they would have the chance to meet with their friends again and have some fun for a day or two.
Not that they were complaining, since this seclusion had massive effects on their cultivation.
Seeing their enthusiasm at this news, Paul decided to take a break from the seclusion for the week and get everything ready ahead of time, especially since he wanted to prepare something special for the ladies again, and as of now, he had only heard about the way to prepare it.
The ladies had no problem with that and also started preparing to receive guests, which meant a shopping trip.
As usual, their group garnered a lot of attention, but this time it was mainly due to their significant increase in cultivation levels over a short period.
It also didn't hurt that the ladies were becoming increasingly beautiful, and of course, Elaina's presence was a magnet for attention, since elves were so rarely seen among humans.
On the other hand, no one dared to try anything, considering that the weakest of the whole group was at the beginning of the sorcerer stage, which was quite a high cultivation level for most people.
As they were shopping, the ladies were surprised at some things that Paul bought.
It was not surprising that he got four barrels of good wine, considering that men loved to have a drink, but it surprised them when he also bought a few barrels of milk, a lot of sugar, and he even managed to find a man from earth who sold a homemade vodka.
-Why do you need all that?
Irine asked, knowing by now that some unexpected items usually lead to something new or something from their world being introduced.
-It's a bit of an experiment, and if it works, then I think you will all like the results.
Paul smiled, not wanting to spoil the surprise if it worked or give them hopes in case it failed.
The ladies accepted this explanation and decided to simply wait and see what he was trying to make this time.
Using this opportunity, they also replenished their kitchen supplies, and Irine restocked on materials since she was running quite low, after fulfilling all the orders she got before their seclusion.
Additionally, she was almost certain that there might be a few more people visiting this time, so it was a good idea to have more swimsuits for both men and women at hand, just in case.
Since it was their first outing in over a month, they decided to eat at their favorite restaurant.
Which was the same one they had eaten a few times before, and even though it was not as fancy as some high-end restaurants, the food was great, the service was perfect, and what's more important, the portions were generous.
Ever since they learned that it was unlikely for any of them to gain any excess weight, thanks to the cultivation and all the training they were doing, the ladies stopped holding back on food and ate whatever and whenever they wanted.
-Lord Marshal, welcome back.
The girl in front of the restaurant greeted him and bowed slightly to them.
-Is our usual room free?
Paul asked.
In the past, he would not even do that, but ever since they started to dine there, the restaurant has experienced an increase in the number of customers.
-Yes, it is free. Should we prepare some tea?
The girl asked politely.
She was happy to see them again, especially since Paul usually left generous tips for everyone.
-Yes, please.
Paul smiled, seeing the attentiveness of the young lady before him.
Soon they were seated in their usual private room, which was the biggest one in the whole building, and sipping tea while waiting for the small feast they had just ordered.
Just as the waitresses were bringing in their meals, the whole building shook, and a loud bang was heard from the kitchen area.
The servant girls lost their balance, and most of the food ended up on the floor, while the whole restaurant started filling up with smoke.
-Everyone, there was an accident. Please evacuate immediately.
The owner's voice came from the stairs.
-What's going on?
Paul asked the man while they were leaving.
-I think that some charcoal dust got into the fire and caused an explosion and a fire.
Some of the kitchen staff got injured and burned, but we managed to get them all out.
The owner explained apologetically.
Paul simply nodded and went to the kitchen area, only to find some servants using buckets to pour water on the spreading flames.
Without hesitation, he conjured some water balls and launched them at the flames, stopping their spread.
It took him a while, but his water balls, combined with the buckets of water, put down the flames.
-Thank you, lord Marshal.
The owner said as soon as Paul left the building.
-Don't mention it. Where are the injured?
They were all taken to see the healer.
Luckily, they only got some light injuries and burns, so they should be alright.
The owner said.
-That's good.
Paul nodded, then turned to his ladies.
-Well, it seems that we need to find another place for dinner today.
-Lord Marshal, I recommend a dancing flames restaurant if you seek something similar to my restaurant.
It's not far, their food is also tasty, and their prices are fair.
The restaurant owner said.
-Why do you recommend a rival restaurant?
Natalie asked, a bit surprised, since this was strange to her.
-Young lady, my restaurant is out of business for at least a few days, and Dancing Flames restaurant belongs to a friend of mine, so I see nothing wrong in helping a friend, and since you were regular customers in my restaurant, I'll not recommend anything less than my restaurant could offer.
The man explained.
-Thank you, we shall check it out.
Paul said, smiling slightly.
The man didn't exaggerate when he said that the restaurant of his friend wasn't far.
Within a few minutes, they were greeted by the owner, who turned out to be a woman around thirty, judging from what they saw, but she was also a cultivator, so her looks could be misleading.
The menu had a different assortment of dishes to choose from, so everyone ordered things they decided to try out.
Just as they were told, the food was delicious, and the portions were generous.
Additionally, the service was excellent, and the prices were fair.
After the satisfying meal, Paul and his ladies left, leaving a generous tip and compliments to the chef.