Chapter 176: Chapter 176

Loren smiled and took the little one's hand, pulling her out of the lounge.

"What human child doesn't eat? Relying solely on psychic abilities to live will make you miss out on a lot of fun, little one."

"But... it's really, really bad... The chef who made that stuff should be sent to the front lines to defend the Federation!!"

The expression on the little one's face was on the verge of tears.

"It's fine, I have a solution, don't worry." Loren raised his hand and patted Ayla Morningstar's head.

Truthfully, it was Loren himself who wanted to eat something.

He hadn't eaten for several days.

Loren, who grew up in the slums, always held an inexplicable obsession with "food."

Even though he no longer needed to eat and could survive on pure energy alone.

As everyone knew, Loren's few basic hobbies were—"enjoying good food," "taking baths," and "provoking the Security Bureau."

Dressed in a brand new black coat, Loren, holding Ayla Morningstar's small hand, walked into the castle's cafeteria.

He led the little one straight to the cafeteria serving window and knocked on the glass.

"Excuse me, sorry to bother you. Could you ask the chef here to come out for a moment?"

Loren said this to the middle-aged man wearing a chef's hat who was dozing off inside the window.

The dozing chef, after being disturbed by Loren, didn't get angry. Instead, he lazily pointed at the various foods displayed outside the window and said:

"Look, the chef's not here. Take whatever you want to eat. The taste is what it is, don't be picky. It's free anyway."

Looking at the chef's hat on the man's head, Loren's face broke into a chilling smile. He let go of the little one's hand and said, as if talking to himself:

"Little one, as your temporary guardian, I'm going to teach you a technique for negotiating with people tonight. It's extremely effective."

As soon as he finished speaking, that black-and-gold revolver appeared in Loren's right hand.

The muzzle lifted, the dark, yawning barrel pointed directly at the man wearing the chef's hat behind the glass window.

An energy bullet shot out.

The bullet's immense kinetic energy shattered the glass in front of the window.

The shattered glass fragments scattered with a clatter over the pile of food in front of the window.

The bullet charged menacingly through the window, arriving just above the man with the chef's hat. It circled continuously, emitting a sharp "whooshing" sound.

Loren bent down, picked up the little one, lightly tapped his right foot, and with Ayla Morningstar, leaped through the window into the kitchen. He walked calmly towards the chef.

His tall figure stood before the chef. Loren looked down at the somewhat terrified chef and said softly:

"Now, I'd like you to organize your words. If you don't answer properly, you might die, Mr. Chef."

Due to the overwhelmingly terrifying aura emanating from Loren, the chef, momentarily breathless with fear, collapsed on the spot.

Because of their different positions, Loren's tall body happened to block most of the light in the kitchen.

His shadow also happened to fall over the chef's face.

From the chef's perspective, Loren's intimidation factor was maxed out.

The chef, scared into collapsing by Loren's actions and aura, stammered:

"I... I... am the chef... what... what do you... want... with me?"

"This is... inside the Interstellar Hunter... Association, you... better not cause trouble..."

Hearing this, Loren chuckled lightly.

"Don't be nervous, Mr. Chef. We're here to place an order..."

Loren, holding the little one's hand, stood right beside the chef, smiling as he watched the chef cook new food with a grave expression.

Unlike the shoddy, mass-produced food on display at the serving window, what the chef was preparing now was a genuine feast.

Superb technique, premium ingredients, extremely precise seasoning, meticulous plating...

With his potential truly ignited by Loren, the chef was pouring his lifelong learning into this...

"This is the negotiation technique. Did you learn it, little one?"

"I learned it, big brother! It really works!" Ayla Morningstar looked at Loren with admiration.

She could already smell the aroma of the food.

The little one, who hadn't eaten for a long time, unconsciously began to salivate a little.

Smelling the delicious fragrance permeating the kitchen, she was getting hungry...

In the cafeteria, some low-rank interstellar hunters who needed food were still seated.

The high-rank interstellar hunters in the Association never patronized this place. Having no need for food, they always regarded the Association's cafeteria as forbidden territory.

These low-rank interstellar hunters, having witnessed Loren's actions firsthand, suddenly felt their minds opened. They each planted a seed named "negotiation" in their hearts.

So that's how it's done... As expected of the "Night Raven" big shot, we've learned something real...

Loren and Ayla Morningstar sat in a corner of the cafeteria, enjoying the feast before them with evident pleasure.

Even Raven, who usually only liked to eat fruit, was drawn by the enticing aroma. It released its possession state and joined the dining journey.

The two humans and the raven, in their corner of the cafeteria, enjoyed the pleasures brought by the food as if no one else was around.

The food on the table was completely devoured.

Ayla Morningstar leaned back in her chair contentedly, patting her little belly.

I think that chef uncle doesn't need to go to the front lines anymore...

After resting for a while, Loren, having satisfied his basic hobby, stood up and led the little one out of the cafeteria.

The chef behind the window silently watched the retreating figures of Loren and Ayla Morningstar, his face ashen.

Was the food I usually made really that bad?

Was it necessary to threaten me like that?!

Bastard, I'm going to report you to the Chief!!

After exiting the cafeteria located on the second floor.

The two humans and the raven ambled slowly towards the lounge on the third floor, as if taking a leisurely stroll.

The languid feeling after a satisfying meal was displayed to the fullest on this duo and their avian companion.

Back in the third-floor corridor, Loren escorted Ayla Morningstar to the door of Lounge 104.

"See you tomorrow, little one." Loren said his goodbye.

Even though Loren had a poor reputation outside, he was at least impeccable towards those he was entrusted with.

"See you tomorrow, big brother." Ayla Morningstar smiled and waved at Loren.

The door closed. Loren turned and walked towards Room 105.

After taking a couple of steps, the sound of a door opening came from behind Loren again.

Puzzled, Loren looked back.

"Is something wrong, little one?"

Ayla Morningstar asked Loren a question with a giggle.

"Big brother, is The Abyss really as terrible as they say on the forums?"