Chapter 6

Brandi Ratcliff led Cason down the grand staircase into the Golden Griffin's luxurious dining hall.

Seeing their high-end silk loungewear, the maître d' practically tripped over his own feet rushing to seat them at a private VIP table by the window.

A waiter handed Brandi a menu embossed with gold lettering. She didn't even glance at the prices. She tapped her index finger against the heavy parchment, her eyes scanning the items.

"I'll take a large bowl of the snow feather chicken soup, heavily spiced," Brandi ordered smoothly. "And bring a basket of your freshest artisan bread."

Sitting across the table, Cason's body went completely rigid. His pupils contracted into tiny pinpricks. His fingers dug into the armrests of his chair so hard his knuckles turned white.

That specific soup. It was the exact dish his mother used to make for him when he was a child, the only comforting memory he had before his life turned into a bloodbath.

He stared dead into Brandi's eyes, his gaze sharp enough to cut glass. Was she investigating him? Did she know who he really was? The paranoia clawed at his throat, making it hard to breathe.

Brandi felt the sudden, murderous shift in his aura. Her stomach dropped. She had been so focused on triggering a system reward that she completely forgot to hide her future knowledge.

She didn't flinch. She kept her face perfectly blank, offering him her signature cold half-smile. She tossed the menu onto the table and pushed it toward him.

"I like my food heavy and spicy," Brandi said, her tone dripping with casual indifference. "Besides, you lost half your body weight in blood. That specific broth is pure, concentrated mana and iron. I'm not having you pass out on me tomorrow. Order whatever you want for yourself."

Cason studied her face for a long, agonizing moment. Her excuse was flawless. It was arrogant, self-centered, and perfectly in character. The logic was brutally practical. The tension slowly drained from his shoulders. It had to be a bizarre coincidence.

"That's enough food," Cason muttered, pushing the menu away. His stomach was still tied in knots.

The waiter quickly brought out the steaming dishes. The rich smell of roasted meat and savory broth filled the air.

Brandi picked up a silver ladle. She scooped a generous portion of the snow feather chicken soup into a porcelain bowl and shoved it across the table until it hit Cason's plate with a clink.

"Drink it," she commanded. "You need to replace the blood you lost."

Cason looked down at the golden broth. In his past life, he had survived on cold, stale rations while running from assassins. No one had ever pushed a bowl of hot soup toward him just to make sure he healed. A strange, tight feeling gripped his chest.

He picked up the silver spoon. He took a sip. The rich, familiar taste exploded on his tongue, a phantom warmth of a home he had long forgotten, and the hard line of his jaw finally relaxed.

The moment he swallowed, a deafening alarm went off inside Brandi's skull.

[Ding! Deep emotional resonance triggered! Investment rated as S-Class!]

[Congratulations, Host. Reward: Legendary Magical Artifact - 'Star's Eye' Necklace.]

[Passive Effect: Grants the wearer immunity to three fatal mental attacks and one instance of absolute concealment.]

Brandi's hand jerked. The silver fork in her hand clattered against her plate. Her heart hammered wildly against her ribs. A legendary artifact that could block mental attacks? Just for buying a bowl of soup?

To hide her violently shaking hands, she grabbed her knife and aggressively sawed off a massive chunk of the roast sheep, shoving it into her mouth and chewing with excessive force.

Cason watched her tear into the meat. She ate like a starving mercenary, not a noble lady. It was crude, but it was so fiercely alive that he couldn't look away.

The rest of the meal passed in a comfortable silence. The food worked its magic, bringing a healthy flush back to Cason's pale face.

When the bill came, Brandi tossed another high-grade crystal onto the table and walked away without waiting for change.

Back in the suite, Cason collapsed onto the velvet sofa, his exhausted body finally giving out. Within minutes, his breathing evened out into a deep sleep.

Brandi walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, turning her back to him.

She opened her system inventory. A heavy, silver chain materialized in her palm, holding a gemstone that swirled with the deep, dark blue of a midnight galaxy.

She quickly unclasped it and secured it around her neck, letting the heavy stone rest against her collarbone. She pulled the high collar of her dress up to hide the faint, magical glow.

The moment the metal touched her skin, a wave of absolute calm washed over her mind. The mental barrier locked into place, making her feel invincible.

She turned around and looked at Cason's sleeping face.

Basic salves and food weren't enough. If she wanted to milk this villain for everything he was worth, she needed to fix his broken magic core. Tomorrow, she was going to find the best healer in the city and dump a mountain of cash on him.