'He's not expecting an attack,' her inner demon whispered.
'I just leveled up. I have a cast-iron spatula. I could hit him in the back of the knees, grab the ember, loot his pockets, and sprint into the miasma. I could rob a god. I could be a culinary pirate!'
Yan Zhaoge, possessing the ability to read the violent, shifting intent in her aura, threw his head back and let out a booming, delighted laugh.
"Do not attempt to mug me, little Chef," the Sovereign chuckled, genuinely thrilled by her audacity. "You are fast, but you are not that fast. Take the ember. It is a gift."
Ji'an immediately snatched the glowing red core from his palm, shoving it deep into her spatial ring before he could change his mind.
"No take-backs," Ji'an declared fiercely, patting her ring. "The contract is sealed. I will make you snacks. But you are not allowed to complain if I test spicy recipes on you."
