Xueluo sat uneasily in the limousine Ouli had brought, restlessly shifting his feet.

Opposite him, Ouli elegantly placed the hamburger in her mouth. After another bite, she said in surprise, "This is delicious! It’s humble food, but the taste is perfect!"

"Thank you for your patronage. That’ll be four Holy Yuan."

Xueluo muttered this inwardly but lacked the courage to speak it aloud.

After all, the Human Alliance’s nobles were descendants of mages who survived the last great war. Though not as powerful as the Hymn Guild, they were still formidable. Valuing bloodlines, they’d built the post-war noble council system.

For Xueluo, avoiding such people was wise.

Ignoring his thoughts, Ouli finished the hamburger swiftly. She turned to him, elegantly wiped her hands, and smiled. "Shall we discuss work?"

"Um… I hate to dampen things right away," Xueluo said weakly, slowly raising his hand. He spoke softly, "Aren’t Vampires officially declared extinct? Why ask me to kill one now…"

Is she tricking me for a hamburger?

Worried, Xueluo glanced back at his small cart. Several men in black suits surrounded it like hostages.

Just as he feared it’d be smashed if he refused—

"Official extinction claims are utterly unreliable, don’t you think?" Ouli replied smoothly. She continued, "The Glaives family earned great merits in the last war. That’s why we rule here. We acquired many Blood Kin relics then…"

Pausing, she placed a hand on her chest and lifted her chin. "One relic—I don’t know what it is—but last night, a Vampire broke into our estate and stole it. Several died by his hand since."

…

Sensing the gravity, Xueluo fell silent, letting her continue.

"But we can’t request the Hymn Guild to exterminate him. It’d tarnish our honor. Hoarding Vampire relics is illegal anyway. Last night’s attack crippled our elite guards."

"So you need a third party to retrieve it?"

"You grasp things quickly."

Ouli reached under her seat. "Let’s be frank."

Thud!

She slammed a large box onto the table and opened it. Inside lay a thick pile of Holy Yuan coins.

"This is an advance. Don’t be shocked—the Vampire is worth this much."

…

Xueluo stared dazedly at the money box.

This money…

Enough to send Irina to school, with plenty left over.

"The final payment will be double. Will you take it?"

The moment Ouli finished, Xueluo twitched nervously. He grabbed her hand and shouted, "I accept!"

Startled, Ouli soon smiled. "Then I’ll provide intel. May your hunt go smoothly."

—

After leaving Ouli’s car, Xueluo pushed his cart toward the suburbs.

Almost noon, he thought, taking a deep breath.

Fighting a Vampire at night is suicide.

I must hurry back.

Irina’s lunch isn’t sorted yet…

He took another deep breath and walked on.

Too poor for city housing, Xueluo lived in Lincoln City’s suburbs. Once famed for corn, the area was now cratered ruins, unfarmable.

His small, single-story house stood amid the rubble.

"I’m home," he called, placing the cart aside. Stepping inside, he covered his nose instantly. "What the hell!"

Before him lay collapsed book mountains, crumpled clothes strewn everywhere, toys and dolls scattered—no space to step.

Ahead, on a table before a giant book pile, sat cans of tuna, spam, salted cod, pickled cabbage, and more.

Xueluo stared speechlessly at the pyramid of military-style rations—not a girl’s daily food.

Did she eat only this for breakfast…

As he grumbled inwardly—

Pop!

A girl’s head popped from the book mountain. Seeing Xueluo, she frowned. "Brother! Where were you this morning?"

Looking at the pretty but unkempt girl, Xueluo rubbed his forehead. "Selling hamburgers! Why only cans? Where’s the nutrition? Breakfast needs milk and eggs! Did you forget?"

"I like canned food!"

"No matter how much you like it, eating only this—"

"So what? I like it! Complain again and I won’t share!"

Pouting, Irina hugged the can mountain, her face slightly flushed.

Xueluo sighed. "I know you can’t cook, but boiling eggs is easy. I taught you yesterday."

"I don’t like eggs!"

"Didn’t you enjoy last night’s spaghetti with fried egg?"

"…Shut up, idiot brother! Last night was…"

Watching her make excuses, Xueluo shook his head. "Honestly, you’re just lazy."

!

Struck to the core, Irina froze, shoulders stiff.

"A-Ab-Absolutely not!"

"Your reaction gives you away! Mouth says no, body betrays you."

"Don’t talk suggestively, perverted brother!"

Irina crossed her arms and made a strange sound. "Whimper…"

Tears welled in her red eyes; her teeth clenched audibly.

I went too far again… Seriously. Push her too hard, and she’ll be terrifying later. Apologize now.

"S-Sorry. I went too far. Irina, you’re not lazy—you’re just so engrossed in studying you can’t stop, right?"

"…Gurgle! Yeah! That’s it!"

Though she spoke, Irina’s throat rumbled like an angry cat. She didn’t seem happy.

"D-Don’t stare like that… Hey, as an apology, you pick lunch. What do you want?"

"Really!"

Irina’s face lit up. She raised her hand high and shouted, "Venison!"

"Why start with such a hard request!"

Though Xueluo yelled this, he later hunted a young deer for her deep in the forest beyond the suburbs.