The Demon’s Menu

Slurp, slurp.

With a bowl in hand, Jason squatted beside the campfire, eating noodles.

Compared to the satisfaction of just gnawing on the spine, the noodles naturally fell short, but the al dente texture, the rich broth, paired with the green onions and cilantro, still made Jason’s appetite surge.

Bowls of noodles went down his stomach.

Jason suddenly thought of a question.

Why not add an egg?

And a couple of slices of ham would be perfect!

Looking at the long-gone noodles, Jason sighed with regret.

It would have to wait until next time.

Newly boiled Holy Water was poured by Jason into the cowhide bags one by one.

Looking at the dozens of cowhide bags, Jason’s once empty heart immediately felt much more substantial.

Even more substantial was his fullness!

[Consuming a large amount of Kelwo Flying Dragon Dragon Bones (incomplete)]

[Physical vigor restored to a significant degree!]

[Fullness +9]

[Fullness: 14]

…

[Consuming a large amount of Denita Land Dragon Dragon Bones (incomplete)]

[Physical vigor restored to a significant degree!]

[Fullness +7]

[Fullness: 21]

…

Even the long-stored Dragon Bones still provided Jason with a substantial level of fullness.

Jason could completely imagine how much fullness and Excitement of Feast a whole Kelwo Flying Dragon or Denita Land Dragon would bring.

However, even so, Jason wasn’t the slightest bit unsatisfied.

After all, these were unexpected gains.

Having obtained such unplanned gains, Jason began to ponder about advancing in his profession.

“Knowing the traits of one more creature would fulfill all the conditions for advancing to ‘Night Watcher’.”

“Becoming a ‘Night Watcher’ cost me 5 points of fullness!”

“Advancing to ‘Night Watcher’ should only need 10 points of fullness, even if it doubles; perhaps just add 1 point of Excitement of Feast to be certain. With the current reserve of 21 points of fullness and 2 points of Excitement of Feast, it should be enough.”

With that thought, Jason wanted to go directly to Gerard.

However, after taking only one step, Jason stopped.

Gerard had given him plenty already.

Providing protection.

Offering residence, food.

Teaching Riding Skill.

Giving Dragon Bones.

Even though Gerard did so willingly, the premise of that willingness was his belief that Jason was his cousin.

But what was the reality?

Jason knew he would always be Jason (Chen Jie).

He wasn’t used to receiving without cause.

What he was more used to was an exchange.

Before ‘Nightless City’, he had this habit.

And it was because of this habit that he had survived in ‘Nightless City’.

So, he decided to keep it up.

“Maybe I can do something for Gerard,” he muttered to himself, pulling out the invitation.

…

111 Duron Street, fifth floor of the main building.

Gerard was reviewing the documents that had just been delivered, his brow slightly furrowed.

Part of these documents concerned the inside of the port, but most were about matters outside it.

The former was a minor annoyance.

The latter?

It was a significant problem.

Because, according to the summary of existing information, Gerard could feel that someone was consolidating the forces against Hans Port, and such maneuvers, he was all too familiar with.

“You finally can’t sit still, can you?” he sighed.

Then, little Reed knocked and entered.

“My lord, Sir Jason has arrived,” said the personal valet.

“Let Jason come in,” Gerard ordered.

“Bring two cups of tea.”

“And some pastries too.”

Gerard understood the temperaments of his so-called cousin quite well by now.

Cool in demeanor, but a lover of food.

If in doubt about what to say, just give him something to eat – that never fails.

By noon, Jason had settled into his vacation cottage, and he understood completely what happened afterward.

Not that he minded.

Dragon bone,

who wouldn’t want a taste?

Even though he hunted the Kelwo Flying Dragons and Denita Land Dragons to protect Hans Port, in the end, he still… took a taste.

Just a tiny bit.

The taste was average.

Not as delicious as beef.

It might have been because the chef had never cooked such food.

You see, he even got to taste dragon meat.

What’s the big deal about his cousin gnawing on some bones?

If the Kelwo Flying Dragons and Denita Land Dragons hadn’t disappeared, he was planning to hunt a couple for his cousin as dinner.

“Jason, sit.”

Gerard invited Jason to sit with a smile.

The tea and pastries were already laid out on the coffee table.

Unlike the two or three-tier pastry stands before.

The pastry stand before them had five tiers.

The top layer held cream pudding, the second layer mousse cake, the third layer donuts, the fourth layer sliced fruit, and the fifth layer was Hans Port’s specialty coconut jelly.

Because of the way it was served, the top and bottom layers were bowl-shaped, accompanied by spoons of varying lengths.

Jason placed the invitation in front of Gerard, then picked up a long-handled spoon and dug into the bottom layer of coconut jelly.

Cool and sweet.

It had fruit inside as well.

Even in autumn, such coconut jelly was still refreshing.

Jason could imagine how delightful a bowl of this coconut jelly would be during the sweltering summer.

Having examined the invitation, Gerard said with a smile:

“Go!”

“Syndra must have prepared a big gift for you.”

“Don’t worry, just accept it.”

Gerard thought Jason was worried about something.

“The rumor now is: you are the Cursed Child!”

“Everything connected to you brings misfortune!”

“We’re pretty close, aren’t we?”

Jason put down the spoon, having finished a layer of the coconut jelly. He picked up a slice of pineapple and continued:

“Changes have appeared outside the harbor, and it’s only a matter of time before the changes within the harbor transition from quantitative to qualitative.”

“Rather than passively waiting, why don’t we take the initiative, ignite the changes within the harbor?”

“At least…”

“It would allow me to take the initiative.”

Suddenly, Gerard was taken aback.

Then, instantly understanding what Jason wanted to do, Gerard shook his head.

“No!”

“You may want to help me.”

“But some things are much more complicated than you think.”

Gerard was rejecting Jason’s idea.

“Some things don’t change just because people want them to.”

“And!”

“My existence is not a secret!”

“It was only a matter of time before they targeted me!”

After finishing the fruit on the second-to-last layer, Jason targeted the donuts.

The soft donuts paired with the tea were pure enjoyment.

“At 111 Duron Street, no one can harm you!”

Gerard assured him seriously.

“But I can’t stay at 111 Duron Street for the rest of my life.”

“And you can’t protect me forever!”

“Some things I have to face sooner or later.”

After the pine nut mousse cake burst with flavor in his mouth, Jason’s mouth curved involuntarily.

“But the time is not now!”

“At least you need my guidance for a while, and only after you achieve the ability to protect yourself, can you face these things!”

Gerard was still not at ease.

Watching Gerard stand firm on his view, Jason felt like he was looking at a worried mother.

Such a person was truly difficult to deal with.

But also hard to resent.

Yet Jason was not one to give up easily. He ate his pudding while looking at Gerard.

Gerard also looked at his cousin.

He saw the sincerity in Jason’s eyes.

In the end, the man who controlled Hans Port nodded.

But it wasn’t a direct agreement—

“I have a condition!”