"I know," Emma said with a nod. "But you haven't even taken down a beast yet. And with you only at Rank 5, who knows how many you'll actually manage to kill when the time comes." Damian just stared at her, completely at a loss for words. What the hell does she mean by that? She's questioning my skills? I'm a Rank 8 Etherian. Taking out a bunch of level five beasts is nothing—it's like swatting flies. "I'm already sticking my neck out for you here, giving you half a breakfast. If Drake finds out, he'll probably call me unfair." Emma started to pull the half bowl of fruit oatmeal back from Damian. "If it feels too little, you can just skip it." "I'll eat it." Damian clutched the bowl right away, as if he didn't, it might vanish in the next second. "Ms. Tibarn, I'll slay plenty of beasts. You'll see me differently then."I don't even know what's in this bowl, but it smells sweet and delicious. Damian was already swallowing hard by the time he made his way downstairs. Fine. Since female cooks so well, I'll show her what I can and take out a few extra beasts to cover my meal. Emma knew Damian wasn't the type to turn down food. With a sly smile, she dangled the promise in front of him. "I know you'll take down plenty of beasts. When the hunt's over, I'll make you something you've never tasted before. My treat." The promise of a mystery dish lit up Damian's eyes. "Deal. Don't you dare back out." Emma thumped her chest like a vow. "Me? Break a promise? Not happening." He's just a fox. How much cleverness can he really have? If I set my mind to it, I can have him eating out of my hand in minutes. The two of them had breakfast and headed out promptly.Emma had barely stepped outside the villa when a shadow slipped silently to a stop outside Drake's bedroom door. "Mr. Smith, we've confirmed it. Ms. Tibarn went out hunting with a woman named Laura, who lives in the front villas. The beast they're after came from the outer battlefield. Two high-tier Chitinids are hiding inside it." The door swung open without a sound. Drake stepped out slowly, his black robe trailing behind him, gold threads shifting with every move like a dragon waiting to strike. His brows were sharp as blades, his eyes cold and commanding, and even before he spoke, the weight of his presence pressed down on anyone near him. He walked into the kitchen, glanced at the untouched breakfast on the table, then spoke to the man who had followed him in. "Send two experts to watch over her. They stay in the distance as long as she's safe. Only step in if her life's on the line." It's not like I'm worried about her. What I really fear is if that female dies, then no one will be around to calm me anymore, and I won't get to taste food this good again. … Emma showed up at Laura's place with breakfast in hand and passed it over. "Laura, your favorite fruit oatmeal." Laura had always been weak for Emma's cooking. And that oatmeal was pure heaven. "You really know how to spoil me." Laura took the bowl with both hands, breathed in the sweet aroma as if it were perfume, then tucked it into her storage band. She had already been fed a bottle of nutrient fluid by her mate when she woke up, so this would wait until lunch. Emma glanced at the time and asked, "So… those two teams you mentioned yesterday, they still haven't shown up?" Laura had told her that because they suspected a high-tier Chitinid, she had asked two team Etherian to join them for extra security."They should be here any minute." As soon as Laura finished speaking, a medium-sized Gravicar in shimmering violet-gold slid to a stop outside her place. Emma's eyes widened with envy. She had spotted the exact model a few days ago on lightcore's promo page. NexusPrime Tech had just released it last month, priced at two billion star coins. The Gravicar wasn't just roomy and fast. It was also incredibly stylish. It was also incredibly stylish. It came with a built-in defence shield and top-of-the-line weapon systems. "Like it?" Damian leaned closer, catching the way Emma's eyes were practically glued to the Gravicar. His voice dropped low in her ear. Emma nodded fast. "That's the latest from NexusPrime Tech. Packed with features, solid price, great value." Her gaze lingered on the violet-gold shine of the Gravicar, and out of nowhere, Edric slipped into her mind.A smile curved her lips. "I heard we can customize the colors. Once I'm back from this beast hunt, I'm getting one too. Mine's gonna be black with a violet finish." Same color as my little Edric. "What's so great about black with violet anyway?" Damian shot Emma a look. He wasn't a fan of it at all. "If you're into it, fine. When I get back from hunting that beast, I'll buy you the Gravicar." Pink. Pink looks amazing! Red works too, just like my tail. Emma gave him a once-over and said, "You don't even have a single star coin on you. How are you supposed to give one away?" Damian went quiet. He cleared his throat, looking a little embarrassed, then muttered, "I've got a buddy at NexusPrime Tech. I can get one through him, maybe even at a discount."