Chapter 77 Lily's Priorities
"What did you decide?" Lucian asked in a confused tone.
"Hehehe~. It's a secret~!" Lily whispered with a finger over her lips.
Lucian shook his head and continued, "Anyways, about the Moon Grove Forest Secret Realm. Do you want to come with me?"
"Ehhh?" Lily's eyes widened as she continued, "But isn't that Big Brother Lucian's reward from Grandpa Max?"
She then continued with a shake of her head, "Lily doesn't want to take something she doesn't deserve."
"I don't mind. Also, I might need your help opening the Secret Realm," Lucian said as he stood up from his chair after placing the dirty plates in his Inventory. He then walked to the entrance, followed by Lily, who was confused.
"Is there really something Lily can do that Big Brother Lucian can't?" Lily asked with wide eyes.
After she witnessed Lucian indifferently dealing with Grandpa Max, who was even bigger than the stars, she felt like there was nothing he could not do. And then there was the fact he had revived a Soul. Even with her lack of knowledge, she had never heard a Mage could revive someone. It was simply heaven-defying.
Lucian stopped walking and shook his head as he said, "I'm not as omnipotent as you think."
He then added in a serious tone, "Anyway, I truly need your help to open the Moon Grove Forest Secret Realm."
"Okay, if Big Brother Lucian says so," Lily said with a bright smile. She was much more energetic after learning she could help Lucian.
"When are we leaving? Because Lily will need to prepare. Lily still has to pack delicious food and beautiful clothes, and inform Lily's family she will be back later." Lily suddenly said in a nervous tone.
'Is this her first time being away from her family?' Lucian raised an eyebrow.
'Most likely.' Lucian answered himself after remembering her naivety about the world.
She was like a greenhouse flower, or more specifically, a beautiful greenhouse lily.
'Hahaha.'
'... And why is informing her family last on the list?' Lucian was speechless by the little glutton.
After a mere moment of thinking, Lucian responded, "You don't have to bring any food. I'll cook for us."
"But doesn't that mean Lily has to pay if she wants to eat!?" Lily pouted with her hands on her hips and continued, "At this rate, Big Brother Lucian is going to make Lily broke!"
She then added, "If Lily has no money, Lily can't eat Big Brother Lucian's food. Then that would mean Lily would have to sell her treasures, and one day, Lily might even become homeless. Then what would happen to Lily? What would Lily say to her family?"
'... Why does she sound like a drug addict?' Lucian was speechless, yet, at the same time, very tempted to say that once the money she obtained from selling her house ran out, she could move in with him. After all, there were plenty of rooms on the second floor.
However, he kept that comment to himself.
Lucian shook his head and clarified, "Because I need your help in opening the Moon Grove Forest Secret Realm, from the moment we leave Thunderfall City until we return, your meals will be free of charge."
[Host, giving free food even to someone you like is unacceptable. The System will stop providing ingredients if you give her or anyone free food.] The System suddenly exclaimed.
[Don't think I've forgiven you for the mess you placed me in. If the World Spirit of Arcadia learns of the Titan Drunken Blood Monkey's existence, it will inform the Universe Spirit, then we'll both be screwed.] Lucian replied angrily.
If the System had not said anything, Lucian would not have said anything either. But the moment it did, he felt a surge of anger, causing him to retaliate.
The System remained silent, and after a few seconds, it replied tiredly, [Very well. But only this once will I allow someone other than the Host to eat free food.]
As for Lily, her beautiful pink eyes were as wide as saucers. She could not believe the words that just came out of Lucian's mouth. In her mind, she had always felt Lucian was a … tad bit greedy for money… even though his dishes justified such outrageous prices.
After a moment of being stunned, Lily jumped happily, "Yay! If Big Brother Lucian is going to feed Lily free food, Lily will not be polite. Lily will eat everything."
[I hope you have enough ingredients because this little glutton is going to eat everything.] Lucian said to the System, who did not mind since it had an unlimited source of ingredients at its disposal.
[The System will never run out of ingredients.] The System said.
Only then did Lucian reach out to open the door, but before he could twist the doorknob, the door opened.
"Did you two not hear me calling your names?" Fenwick asked with a frown after opening the door.
"Lily did not hear anything." Lily shook her head and asked Lucian, "Big Brother Lucian, did you hear Uncle Fen calling us?"
"No," Lucian shook his head, then said, "My restaurant has been inscribed with Silence Runic Symbols. Therefore, sound neither enters nor leaves my restaurant."
After hearing Lucian's words, Fenwick said, "No wonder we couldn't hear the shouts from the residents."
"Did something happen?" Lily asked Fenwick.
"You can see for yourself." Fenwick pointed outside while glancing at Lucian with a profound gaze.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Despite noticing Fenwick's gaze, Lucian remained unbothered as he calmly walked out of his restaurant with Lily, who had worn her black robe, black mask, and bamboo hat.
And as soon as they walked out of the restaurant, loud shouts from the residents entered their ears.
"HAHAHA! I've finally become a Blood Tempering Realm Mage!"
"I-I can't believe it! My lifespan increased by another dozen years! I don't have to leave my children behind!"
"Thank the Heavens for this gift!"
"Why is everyone shouting? Is there a celebration happening in the city?" Lily asked despite the words she heard from residents since their excited voices sounded like they were celebrating.
"The entire city's residents are in an uproar. From their words, everyone in the city has advanced by a Rank. Though, I'm unsure why and how that is even possible." Fenwick explained what he heard after exiting the restaurant.
Although Fenwick's explanation lacked any information, Lucian was able to put the pieces together with what he learned from the System Notifications and the System.
'When the Chef's skill rises, all will rise!' Lucian repeated the Quest name, now realizing what it meant by 'rise'. Because of his Sous Vide Filet Mignon, the residents of Thunderfall City became stronger.
'However, it is quite unbelievable…' Once again, Lucian was amazed that a plate of food could produce such results.
'Who knew dying would be better than living?' Lucian sighed.
"Uncle Fen, did you ask someone what caused their Mage Ranks to increase?" Lily asked after looking at the residents who were jumping for joy before continuing with a pout, "And why did our Mages Rank stay the same?"
"I was just about to ask someone after calling you both out," Fenwick said as he gazed at the residents in envy. Just to increase his Mage Rank, there was almost nothing that he would not give for it to happen.
"Lily will do it," Lily volunteered. She then skipped over to a kind and gentle-looking old man.
"Grandpa, can you tell Lily why our Mage Ranks increased?" She asked him.
To not make anyone suspicious, she acted as though her Mage Rank had increased as well
"Little lass?" The old man was confused by her attire, but still spoke, "You must have been one of the unlucky ones, who were in their houses when the red cloud shrouded our city." The old man sighed, feeling pity for her and others who did not see the remarkable phenomenon in the sky.
"Unlucky ones? Red cloud? Can you explain to Lily from the beginning?" Lily asked.
'Wasn't there a red cloud in Big Brother Lucian's kitchen?' Lily thought to herself, wondering if the two red clouds had anything to do with each other.
'It can't be…' She shook her head but felt that Lucian might be the reason why everyone's Mage Ranks increased.
'It must have been him who caused this.' Fenwick, who had followed Lily to the old man, also thought similarly. However, he was confident it had something to do with Lucian.
"Well, you see little lass, like any other day, I was leaving my house to buy groceries. But suddenly, the entire city turned blood red, and an overwhelming pressure descended, forcing everyone to kneel with our heads raised up at the red cloud in the sky, while the disabled were forced to lay sprawled on the ground."
"Mother!" Lily's eyes widened in fear after hearing the disabled were forced to lie sprawled on the ground.
A moment later, Lily turned and glanced at her Uncle Fenwick. After seeing his calm expression, her brows furrowed.
However she did not care for now, her mind was too filled with worry to care about why her Uncle Fenwick did not look worried.