"It took you forever. Was the line at that shop really that bad?"

Yue Ge slipped back into the train compartment just ten minutes before departure. Perhaps because they were in public, Bai Ya behaved with unexpected poise—even sipping her coffee with delicate, measured movements. Nothing like her usual casual self at home. Coupled with how early she’d woken today, Yue Ge almost suspected she’d been swapped with an imposter.

Then again, they hadn’t known each other long. Seeing different sides of her made sense. Maybe she simply saw him as a friend, letting her guard down around him.

But why had they formed this bond so quickly? Yue Ge didn’t quite understand. He’d just been doing what Bai Ya asked.

"Crowded," Yue Ge placed the cake box on the table. "They had tons of flavors. Got a few kinds. This’ll be lunch, okay?"

He decided not to mention the little boy. It wasn’t important. Bai Ya would’ve handled it if he’d told her—but leaving it alone seemed more interesting.

"Mm." Bai Ya opened the boxes one by one. After a long pause, biting her fork, she chose the matcha slice first. Thankfully, Yue Ge had bought two of each flavor—no guilt about finishing them all.

"Where’s Little Ash?" Yue Ge scanned the compartment. Normally, the cat napped in a corner when Bai Ya wasn’t playing with him.

"Stuffed him back in his carrier." Bai Ya sliced her cake without looking up. Clearly not her first time dealing with this. "He causes trouble if you blink. Better he stays put."

"What’d he do?" Yue Ge searched—and spotted Little Ash’s head poking from a torn mesh pocket in a bag on the overhead rack. The cat lay listlessly inside.

"Wandered into the engine room. Almost got flagged as a monster intruder." Bai Ya glanced up. Little Ash instantly ducked back into the bag. She kept eating, unfazed. This wasn’t new.

"Hah… What’d happen if they caught him?" Yue Ge asked.

"Nothing major. They’d detain him, test if he’s got Essence-extraction potential." She set down her fork, shifting to professional mode. "Yue Ge, do you know the success rate for Essence production?"

"How much?"

Ever since confirming his gaps in basic knowledge, Bai Ya had been casually tutoring him. Her guidance was why he’d adapted so fast.

She must have her reasons for sharing so freely. To Yue Ge, it felt like she was training an assistant. Not in actual Essence crafting—but whenever he asked about Essences, she answered.

"Less than ten percent." Bai Ya lowered her gaze. Her fork stabbed into the cake but didn’t lift it. "And that’s under professional conditions. Without the Organization’s equipment? It plummets below five."

"That hard?"

"Worse than you think." She shook her head. "Low-tier monster materials rarely yield usable Essences. Some just mutate humans into monsters. Even successful extractions require heavy sedatives to stabilize—barely worth the cost."

"Why not use high-tier Essences then?"

"That’s the problem." Bai Ya sighed. "The Organization mass-produces Common-tier Essences out of necessity."

Yue Ge tilted his head, confused.

"Manpower shortage. Most Chosen Ones can’t handle High Danger Class monsters." Her fork floated mid-air as she lifted her hand. "My research shows Essences below High Danger Class can’t fully activate. That’s part of the degradation."

"What’s the difference between activated and not?"

"Unactivated Essences only strengthen the body. But even the weakest High Danger Class monster has hide that shrugs off bullets. Think human muscles alone can fight that?" She paused. "If Common-tier Essences could beat High Danger Class monsters, humanity wouldn’t be trapped in cities. Truth is—even High Danger Class Chosen Ones often lose to High Danger Class monsters. Let alone Divine-tier."

History recorded barely any Divine-tier kills. Each cost humanity dearly. And above them? Zero Divine-tier kills. Still, Essence extraction didn’t require killing the monster—just a body part, or even enough blood. Otherwise, Divine-tier Essences wouldn’t exist at all.

"So only a few can use special abilities?" Yue Ge finally grasped it.

"Essences are degraded monster genes fused into humans. We’re just borrowing their power." Bai Ya stated it calmly. Only a creator like her could speak so bluntly about their true nature.

That was exactly why… she needed Yue Ge. Her research had stalled for years.

"Can Common-tier Chosen Ones never beat High Danger Class?"

"Not impossible. But like a child beating an adult—you’d need tools and overwhelming numbers." She shook her head. "The Organization can’t waste manpower hunting weak monsters. Capturing Commons is more efficient."

"Got it." Yue Ge nodded.

"You’ll learn more later. No rush." Bai Ya stopped explaining. Too much at once would overwhelm him. She’d feed him details slowly—how much he absorbed wasn’t her concern.

Honestly, she didn’t need his help with research. Expecting a grade-schooler to do high-school homework was unrealistic. She had other tasks for him. But neither of them was ready yet.

Just as Bai Ya picked up her fork to resume eating, a knock sounded at the compartment door.

Her relaxed expression hardened. She sliced her cake sharply, then glanced at Yue Ge.

"I’ll get it." Yue Ge stood and walked over.

He opened the door to a familiar face—the very person he’d just seen minutes ago.

"Hello, Doctor Bai Ya, I’m here to—" Huan’s words died as he stared silently at Yue Ge. He took two steps back, double-checking the door number.

"Bai Ya, someone’s here for you." Yue Ge stepped aside.

"Come in." Bai Ya’s voice was flat.

Huan studied Yue Ge’s unchanged expression—no surprise, no recognition. He bowed his head and entered.

"Sorry to disturb you."