This was Chen Lun''s first breakfast at Mrs. Caroline''s ce, and his first meal of rice since he had crossed over.


    He was silently moved to tears and expressed great satisfaction.


    Mrs. Caroline''s cooking was stunning; the aromatic rice was stir-fried in butter with eggs, and topped with chopped celery, cod, and shrimp, all very fresh and tender.


    Although Chen Lun wasn''t a fan of fish, he ate everything up and then contentedly drank a cup of floral tea.


    "Is that your husband, Mrs. Caroline?"


    He noticed two picture frames on the cupboard and couldn''t help but ask.


    Turning around, Mrs. Caroline looked back, smiled, and responded,


    "Oh yes, that''s my husband, Henry... and our son, Oliver."


    "Then, are they also in Amber City now?"


    Chen Lun asked aloud.


    Mrs. Caroline fell silent for a moment.


    "No, Henry sacrificed himself for the Empire many years ago... and so did Oliver."


    Mrs. Caroline stood up, picked up the photo album, and wiped the dust off it with a handkerchief.


    The photographs showed a young Mrs. Caroline and Mr. Henry in military uniform, and another one of their son, Oliver.


    "They bravely gave their lives in an overseasnding operation... May the Sun''s radiance shine on them forever."


    Mrs. Caroline said a prayer quietly, then put the photo album down.


    "I''m very sorry, Mrs. Caroline."


    Chen Lun said apologetically.


    Floey nced at him, and through her ck silk scarf, her look seemed to carry a slight reproach.


    "It''s okay, little Jack, it''s all in the past..."


    Mrs. Caroline''s smile returned, and she came over to refill Chen Lun''s floral tea.


    "Flowers bloom like fire, as does loneliness.


    Time may make us forget, but as long as I remember them, that''s enough..."


    Chen Lun looked at this white-haired woman, unsure of what to say.


    Mrs. Caroline had spoken of a battle, of which he had heard; the Tresor Empire had long covetednds beyond the maind.


    The nearest huge ind to the Tresor Empire was beyond the Far East. This ind was known as Mist Ind, inhabited by people and civilization alike.


    The overseasnding operationsunched by the Tresor Empire were essentially colonial wars.


    Yet for many years, all had ended in failure.


    Even until several versionster in a previous life, the Empire''s n to colonize had still made no progress. What unknown, powerful force resided on Mist Ind, able to repel the Empire''s incursions?


    "Mrs. Caroline, your cooking is wonderful. May I learn from you?"


    Floey put down her spoon, looked up, and asked with a smile.


    Mrs. Caroline, surprised and then delighted, sat down next to her.


    "Of course, little Floey."


    Chen Lun was also surprised by Floey''s question.


    But he guessed her intention was likely to divert Mrs. Caroline''s sorrowful emotions.


    Indeed a good girl.


    "Remember to cook the cod in milk beforehand, and do not break it into pieces..."


    Listening to Mrs. Caroline excitedly discuss the nuances of making fish and rice casserole, Chen Lun gave Floey a thumbs up.


    Floey responded with a faint smile.


    Afterward, Chen Lun expressed his gratitude for the hospitality to Mrs. Caroline and then left.


    Walking out of the building, he nned to start his day''s routine. Passing by a coffee shop next to the flower store, he noticed Connie and Kent sitting under an outdoor parasol.


    Kent was talking animatedly, gesticting wildly, but Connie was unmoved.


    She sat with her arms crossed, somewhat lost in thought.


    Chen Lun didn''t bother with them, nor did he care, and chose to leave directly.


    In the alley across the street,


    two young men from the Iron Fist Gang listlessly smoked.


    "Hey, buddy, why not just go in and nab that foreign girl!"


    "You must be crazy, this street is under the special care of Viscount Pompey in the Inner City District, especially that flower shop.


    I heard thendy, Mrs. Caroline, is the widow of a warrade of Viscount Pompey... If you''re looking for trouble, don''t drag me into it!"


    The young man who proposed the capture was startled.


    "How did you know about this!?"


    "Don''t forget, the boss often goes out to drink with the big shots from the Inner City District. I overheard a subordinate officer mention itst time."


    The young man discarded his cigarette butt and tugged at his leather jacket.


    Another guy, however, was somewhat impatient.


    "So what do we do now? That out-of-towner girl hides in there all day...


    It''s the guy whoes out to stroll around; why not tie him up first, then make him bring out the girl?"


    The one who had thrown the cigarette butt helplessly took off his felt trilby, scratching his head.


    He looked at hispanion as if staring at an idiot.


    "You could try that, but if he calls the police, by the next day, we''ll definitely be in the drains."


    "Alright, alright, let''s wait a bit more!"


    ...


    Chen Lun bought a newspaper and sat down on a bench in the square.


    On a temporarily constructed wooden tform nearby, a Monk from the Red Apple Church still stood today, tirelessly preaching.


    "Ah, magnificent Lady Rose, thank you for bestowing upon us health and vigor, passion and fervor…


    Yourpassionate gaze showers upon humanity, casting seeds in the garden that grow into trees…


    The holy insects consume the apple, their secretions turn into nectar, showing mercy to the ailments and the suffering of mankind, easing their pains and misfortunes…"


    The Monk descended from the tform with a face full of pity for the world.


    Two Church Guardians, whose origins were unknown, each held a tray with several small boxes on them.


    Many excited observers rushed forward, eagerly purchasing those small boxes.


    "Praise Rose."


    The Monk lightly touched his left chest and forehead with his forefinger, spread his fingers wide, and made a prayer gesture as if holding up the sky.


    Chen Lun watched the red-robed Monk and could not help but snort in ridicule.


    Oh Red, you''re deceiving people again, eh? Why not take a break and do some sacrifices or something?


    Chen Lun was well aware of what was inside those small boxes.


    It was a secretion from a Supernatural Creature known as "nectar," which had healing and health-enhancing effects on the human body.


    The side effects were not significant, just morally wrong.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Because it reduced lifespan and had a slight addictive quality.


    Small, supernatural maggots excreted these secretions after consuming the apples, creating the nectar.


    Chen Lun felt disgusted just thinking about it.


    But thesemon people did not know this and were instead willing to give huge "donations" in exchange for this miraculous medicine.


    He sighed lightly; the Red Apple Church was indeed very good at this.


    "Hey, do you think the tax cut proposal by Viscount Daniel will pass?"


    "How likely is that? It''s totally impractical."


    Two office workers were chatting on a nearby bench, catching Chen Lun''s attention.


    He felt that something sounded familiar, so he flipped over his newspaper.


    Sure enough, he saw a slightly overweight middle-aged man holding forth in arge section, the very Viscount Daniel who had been the subject of much discussiontely.


    "Sigh, Viscount Daniel is a kind and upright good person; it''s just unfortunate that the council never considers such views."


    "A good person? I doubt it... His proposals are clearly impractical and doomed to fail.


    Mostly they''re just published to attract attention and gain votes. I heard he''s nning to run for a seat in Fossil City…"


    The tone of the speaking office worker was somewhat disdainful, indicating he wasn''t quite fond of the legitor.


    Hispanion seemed slightly annoyed.


    "How can you regard Viscount Daniel like that? He''s one of the few in Amber City who truly considers themon people!"


    "Oh please... With this proposal, for example, Amber City''s finances simply can''t support the operations of the city after such a tax cut.


    If that happens, there won''t even be a Lamplighter to light the streetmps at night. Just don''t fall into a ditch when you go out!"


    The two office workers started arguing, but Chen Lun wasn''t paying close attention.


    Because he suddenly remembered something—the Viscount Daniel was, indeed, the very person the small guild had protected in his past life.


    And it was the same Viscount who would end up being killed by Dolly…