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Lungmen’s Midnight Snack Fishballs, barbecue, roast goose, and those mysterious, pungent luosifen noodles.
Kai had to admit, the food here was a wonderfully novel experience.
The unfamiliar spices and entirely new ingredients left him incredibly satisfied, even if Hestia’s home cooking still held the absolute top spot in his heart for pure taste.
“Kai…” Swire stared at him in disbelief.
“How on earth are you eating so fast while still looking perfectly elegant and aristocratic?” “Huh?” Kai lowered his skewer of grilled meat, giving her a look of pure confusion.
“Never mind.
You really have zero self-awareness,” Swire sighed, waving a hand dismissively.
“But seeing how happily you’re eating, I’m guessing you’re quite satisfied with dinner.” “So, what’s your request?” Kai asked bluntly.
“I just wanted to ask how you managed to instantly deactivate those Originium bombs this morning.
That kind of technique would massively reduce casualties for the L.G.D.
If you’re willing to share it, we can definitely offer a reward that will satisfy you.” “Oh, that,” Kai replied smoothly.
“I’m sorry, but it’s not that I don’t want to teach it.
It’s a racial trait unique to my bloodline.” “I see.” Swire didn’t doubt him.
On the continent of Terra, Originium was the most inexplicable phenomenon, followed closely by its people.
Every race possessed unique characteristics, so Kai claiming it was a racial trait was a perfectly logical and acceptable explanation.
Still, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret.
If it had been a learnable Originium Arts, it could have saved so many L.G.D.
operators from mortal danger.
With that topic concluded, an awkward silence settled over the table.
Swire and Kai didn’t actually have much history together, nor did they know anything about each other’s interests.
As they ate, the conversation simply dried up.
Socializing was often like this.
When two strangers shared a meal and one wanted something from the other, the atmosphere was bound to be fantastic at first.
But once it became clear the goal couldn’t be achieved, the warmth naturally faded.
Even though there was still half a roast goose and a pile of barbecue left on the table, Kai felt he had overstayed his welcome.
He despised forcing a conversation.
“Officer Swire, I have to head out of the city tomorrow, so I shouldn’t stay out too late,” Kai said, breaking the silence.
“Ah.
Right.
Okay.” “I really enjoyed the meal.
I’m not quite sure how to thank you, so in accordance with the customs of my homeland, I’d like to give you a protective charm.” Kai snapped off a tiny fragment of his horn and handed it to her as payment for the meal.
Although Swire’s motives for treating him hadn’t been entirely pure, she had done it out of concern for the safety of her fellow officers.
That was a noble cause, which was why Kai was willing to part with a piece of his horn for her.
With that fragment on her person, even if an Originium bomb went off right in her face, she would walk away completely unscathed.
But as for teaching her how to deactivate the explosive payload?
He genuinely couldn’t help her there.
Swire accepted the small, obsidian-like fragment without much thought, casually tossing it into her designer bag.
By the time she looked up, intending to say something else to him, she realized his figure had already vanished from the bustling food street.
“Officer Swire, did your friend leave?” Uncle Don asked, wiping down a counter.
“Yeah, he just left.” “Sigh.
Officer Swire, that young man seemed like a really good catch.
Did you two have a falling out?” “We were only ever just normal friends to begin with.
Besides, he has business tomorrow, so he left early.” “Tsk, Officer Swire, I’ve been working on this street for a long time.
I haven’t mastered much in life, but I’ve got two skills: making fishballs and reading the room,” Uncle Don noted knowingly.
“He still had several fishballs left in his bowl.
I even saw him go next door to buy a few more skewers before he walked off.
The boy clearly just didn’t want to stick around anymore.” “Uncle Don, if you’re so good at reading the room, shouldn’t you pretend nothing happened?
Pointing out that I drove him away isn’t exactly a high-EQ move.” “Alright, alright, old men just talk too much.
I’ll keep my mouth shut.” ….
See!
See!
That’s exactly how it goes!
Parting on awkward terms is perfectly normal.
Whenever I used to go on blind dates, the guy would usually just run off halfway through the conversation.
This is exactly the same situation!
That’s a shame, really.
I didn’t think women like that actually existed.
I always assumed the ‘incredibly gorgeous but totally unwanted’ trope was just something you saw in short videos.
You little— Ahem.
Why don’t we change the subject?
Fine, Himeko sighed through the mental link.
Honestly, I’m a bit worried about Kai’s mental state right now.
Can his mindset actually keep up with gaining this much overwhelming power so suddenly?
And when this month ends, he returns home, and he loses it all—will he be able to handle that massive psychological drop?
[There is no need to worry,] the System replied calmly.
[Himeko, you shouldn’t assume we select hosts solely based on how handsome they are.
Our screening criteria are incredibly strict, and psychological resilience is our highest priority.] So you don’t just pick them based on their face?
[Ahem.
We do not deny that an attractive appearance might cause our screening algorithm to linger on a candidate slightly longer.
However, the core standards are never lowered.
Kai’s mental fortitude is exceptional.
The issues you are worried about will not occur.
Didn’t you spend all day observing him?
Kai certainly doesn’t act like someone whose mind has been warped by power.] True, but after watching him today, I did notice he’s become a lot bolder than before.
Especially when it comes to women.
[After all, dragons are naturally…
you know.
Immense vitality is often accompanied by an equally intense reproductive drive.
In fact, given his current biological template, Kai’s level of restraint is quite commendable.] As Himeko and the System bickered in his head, Kai walked all the way back to the hotel Rhodes Island was using as a base.
The hotel was located right near the slums anyway.
If Swire hadn’t driven toward the city center at the start of their date, they could have reached the food street in about five minutes.
“Kai, you’re back,” Amiya greeted him.
“Yeah.
I brought you guys some midnight snacks.
Did your operation go smoothly?
Speaking of which, where is Dr.
Kal’tsit?” Amiya and the others had already returned to the room.
They had moved incredibly fast.
Everyone had left the hotel at the same time, and Kai’s dinner with Swire had taken nearly two hours.
Yet, somehow, Amiya’s team had beaten him back.
“The operation went very smoothly,” Amiya smiled.
“Thanks to the help from Penguin Logistics.
They really know the lower districts inside and out.
Plus, there actually weren’t that many Reunion members hiding in Lungmen.
The most interesting part is that their two commanders both have a history with Dr.
Kal’tsit.
They’ve already been brought back to the landship for medical treatment, along with Reunion’s primary target, Miss Misha.” Although Amiya made it sound easy, the exhaustion and dust covering her and the Doctor made it obvious they had faced plenty of danger.
Furthermore, capturing Reunion commanders and bringing them back to Rhodes Island was definitely going to test Lungmen’s patience.
Still, it wasn’t a massive issue.
Right now, Rhodes Island was the only faction actively engaging Reunion.
Lungmen wouldn’t dare turn on them yet.
If they were going to sever ties, they would wait until the Reunion threat was completely dealt with.
As for whether Lungmen would just issue a slap-on-the-wrist statement afterward, or kick Rhodes Island while they were down—that all depended on Kai’s performance tomorrow.