"But these are all the chef''s secret recipes," replied Luca. Even though it was true that money could


    make many people sell their secrets.


    Moreover, if Mr. Muller asked for it, it would be awkward for them not to share.


    However, this seemed to imply causing trouble for others.


    "It''s okay, Ms. Craw. Actually, these are just specialty dishes. There''s no such thing as secret or not


    secret. It''s just a recipe. You just need to ask the chef for the proportions of the various seasonings


    since you like this taste," Mr. Muller knew what Luca was thinking and added, "Besides, you can find


    recipes for these dishes online."


    When Luca heard him say that, she nodded and said nothing more.


    Luke was right. The kids would surely enjoy what Luca liked to eat.


    If Aunt Neile learned the recipes, she could make these dishes for the kids in the future.


    It was a good thing...


    After lunch, Warren took the initiative to leave as he did not want to disturb them.


    Luca also headed upstairs. She felt a bit tired and nned to take a nap.


    Luke said he would apany her.


    Lying on the bed, Luca suddenly remembered something she thought about in the car and said, "Do


    you remember Shanks?"


    Shanks?


    Luke frowned, then remembered that Shanks was the one who had been teaching Luca naturopathy


    and medical knowledge for over three years.


    "What happened to him?" asked Luke.


    "I don''t know why, but I have this feeling that Abel will show up at this event. Perhaps he did it for


    Shanks," answered Luca.


    She told Luke about Shanks searching for some special herbs and the ongoing quest for the ones he


    had not found yet.


    "It’s just a small industryworking event," said Luke. While Luca''s analysis made sense, it was hard


    to believe that such a small industryworking event would have the rare herbs Shanks was looking


    for. Finding those ingredients was not easy, so how could they possibly be avable at this event?


    "I know, but Amur said Shanks is also in A City, so I think there might be a connection." Luca gently


    furrowed her brows, resting her head on his chest.


    "Do you mean Shanks will attend?" asked Luke. Since it was an industryworking event, and Abel''s


    pharmaceuticalpany was one of the toppanies in the industry, it would be easy for Shanks to


    get entry qualifications.


    "Not necessarily. I even have a feeling he won''t show up. What I mean is, Abel''s attendance might be


    linked to them receiving some information. That''s why he''s personallying to inquire. After all, the


    drugs researched by Shanks ultimately benefit both the Ind of Despair and Abel," murmured Luca.


    Luke frowned, gently stroking her back with his right hand.


    Luca''s analysis was not without reason.


    At first, he had no intention of attending, so Abel''s attendance could not be because of him.


    Therefore, there might be something at the industryworking event that was attracting Abel.


    If he could find out about that, knowing what Abel wanted in advance might help him prepare for his


    next move.


    Luke added, "Such a good doctor helping the Ind of Despair is simply a waste."


    "Mr. Shanks is a peculiar man," said Luca.


    Even though Shanks had developed such poisonous drugs, he never harmed anyone on the Ind of


    Despair.


    People who consumed the poison were drinking the antidote he prepared at the same time. While it


    was a means of control, the poison also had benefits for the body of the one who ingested it.


    Furthermore, Shanks also provided medical treatment for those severely injured during missions on the


    Ind of Despair.


    So, in the three-plus years, Luca has never seen Shanks harm anyone. Even when there were issues


    during drug trials, Shanks would do everything possible to save them.


    People he could save were not considered as having blood on his hands.


    Therefore, Luca found it strange that Shanks, with his exceptional medical skills, was reluctant to harm


    people on the Ind of Despair. However, at the same time, he was a peculiar person.


    Despite his superb medical skills, he chose to work exclusively for Abel on the Ind of Despair.


    Luca even thought that with Shanks''s abilities, he could easily take Abel''s life at any time, but he did


    not do that. He was willing to work for Abel...


    At one point, she even suspected that Abel had some fatal leverage over Shanks.


    It was simr to how Abel had control over her and N, preventing her from having any thoughts of


    escape.


    However, she had not heard of anything like that during those three years.


    "What''s in your mind?" Luke realized Luca had not replied to him and thought she had fallen asleep.


    He gently lifted his head to look down, only to see her staring at his chin in a daze.


    "I was thinking, Mr. Shanks is indeed a peculiar person. He can save people, but he doesn''t want to


    save more. He only saves the people on the Ind of Despair. And it doesn''t seem like Abel has any


    leverage over him to force him to work for him. He just willingly stays on the Ind of Despair. It''s


    strange," analyzed Luca.


    "You''re so focused on thinking about another man. Bea, I''d get jealous." In private, Luke still liked to


    affectionately call her Bea.


    "Don''t tease me." Luca shook her head and added, "Do you think there really are such strange people


    in the world?"


    Compared to performing surgeries to save lives, Shanks seemed to prefer conducting research in the


    It appeared that researching various drugs was his main profession, and his exceptional medical skills


    were just a side job.


    Curious about her thoughts, Luke asked, "Who''s more skilled in medicine, him or Johann?"


    "To be honest, it would be Shanks." Lucay on the pillow, locking eyes with him. "Although Dr. Park is


    impressive, and has mastered various surgeries. Honestly, he''s already an extraordinary person. But


    Luca thought for a moment and decided to use "abnormal" to describe Shanks''s medical skills.


    "Not only is he proficient in various surgeries, but he even understands dry needling, which is


    something I normally use to help people..."


    "Indeed impressive. Someone so skilled, yet involved with Abel, it''s perplexing," remarked Luke.


    Luca let out a yawn.


    Luke noticed that she was tired and suggested, "Take a rest if you''re tired. He''s just a man, no matter


    how extraordinary he is, he''s still helping the Ind of Despair. It''s not worth worrying so much about."


    Luca understood what he meant and nodded, no longer dwelling on Shanks''s matters, and closed her


    eyes.


    She drifted into a deep sleep.


    As Luke listened to her steady breathing, he slowly sat up. He did not immediately get out of bed but


    leaned against the headboard of the bed, picked up theptop beside him, and began dealing with T


    Corporation''s matters.


    Even though he was away, there were stillpany affairs to attend to.


    Luke opened his email and realized that Jason had already sent all the electronic documents that


    needed attention that morning to his inbox.


    There was a whole page of emails, all sent by Jason earlier in the morning.


    Luke remained calm and shot a nce at Luca, who was beside him, then began working.


    The keyboard was rtively silent, so the slight sounds of his work did not wake Luca up.


    For longer replies, Luke would use his phone to type the responses.


    Luca had been asleep for almost two hours. When she opened her eyes, she subconsciously reached


    out to feel Luke.


    It was not the emptiness she expected, nor did she touch Luke''s waist. Instead, her handnded


    directly on Luke''s thigh.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.