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nWilliam took Luna and Erebus to a bustling barbecue restaurant.

nThey ordered various meat skewers and vegetables, then sat down to enjoy the meal. 𝘳𝑎.𝒸ℴ

nIn this fast-paced and restless era, finding a true friend is so precious.

nSome might not understand why William got upset over Wyatt’s behavior and even decided to distance himself from them. After all, they were close roommates not long ago.

nWyatt’s invitation to those three young men was actually meant to humiliate them.

nSome might think this behavior is justifiable — the bullied finally become powerful and naturally seek revenge.

nWilliam doesn’t necessarily think Wyatt went too far, but he simply doesn’t like such behavior.

nPerhaps this is human nature.

nSimilarly, William disapproves of Wyatt’s attitude towards Lucy.

nInitially, when he had nothing, pursuing Lucy was like seeing a goddess.

nNow, merely having the potential to become a Soulmancer, he treats a girl this way.

nWilliam still dislikes such people.

nWilliam won’t deny Wyatt the chance to become a Soulmancer over this. To him, such behavior is all too common. The inherently weak, once they suddenly become strong, either amplify their sense of justice or their inner evil.

nWilliam never considers himself on the side of absolute righteousness, given the countless souls under his command, enough to overflow the abyss of the underworld.

nIt’s just a matter of dislike.

nHe wanted to experience campus life, and now that he has, and doesn’t enjoy it, there’s no need to continue. It’s better to help the 13th Bureau maintain social order,that seems more interesting.

nWilliam has adapted to this peaceful society, free of war, where people live and work in contentment.

nSince he likes such a society, William feels obliged to ensure it continues this way. Be it a Soulmancer, a God King, a deity of witchcraft, or even a Cosmic Entity, no one should spoil his mood.

n“Mr. Johnson, why didn’t you eat at that place just now?” Luna was genuinely curious about human relationships.

nShe didn’t understand why William suddenly left the previous restaurant in anger, despite planning to dine there.

nGazing at the barbecue in front of him, William smiled and said, “The food here is tastier.”

nHe isn’t fond of lengthy lectures or arguments, just as he chose to ignore Wyatt earlier when called to stop.

nHearing this, Luna and Erebus eagerly started tasting the barbecue.

nOriginating from the southern United States, especially Texas, the barbecue is known for its rich smoky flavor and special spicy sauce.

nLuna and the others stayed at Alice’s house a while ago and naturally ate a lot of delicious food. However, Mia always thought of them as children, so the dishes she prepared were relatively mild, avoiding spicy and irritating foods.

nNow, tasting this unique barbecue flavor, Luna felt like she had discovered a new world of taste, akin to a princess who has lived in luxury suddenly experiencing the delight of street food.

n“Buddy, can these kids handle spicy food? I’ve made it mildly spicy for you, how’s that?” The barbecue restaurant’s owner, a true Texan, approached with concern for the kids.

nHe genuinely worried about the children being overwhelmed by the spiciness.

nWilliam, with a gentle smile, asked Luna, “Do you find it spicy?”

nLuna, her mouth greasy from the barbecue, looked bewilderedly at William. Erebus chimed in, “Not spicy at all!”

nWilliam then requested the owner, “Please add more spicy sauce. We’d also like beef ribs, corn on the cob, and grilled chicken wings.”

nThe owner chuckled, “No offense, buddy, but it seems like you’re new to fatherhood. Be careful, the kids might find it too spicy and cause trouble when you get home.”

nWilliam responded with a smile, “Make it the spiciest you have. I’m the one who calls the shots at home, no worries.” .𝒎

n“Alright then,” the owner agreed, though his eyes betrayed skepticism.

nMen often boast about their high status at home, but in reality, their position is usually not as prominent as they claim.

nThe owner knew this all too well.

nWilliam also tried some of the barbecue and found it deliciously simple yet unexpectedly spicy and flavorful.

nSoon, the owner brought over a new plate of beef ribs, corn on the cob, and grilled chicken wings, all evenly coated in a thick, spicy sauce, looking especially tempting. “I brought three portions of each for you to try first, to avoid waste,” the owner said cheerfully to William. “Our shop’s extra spicy sauce is intensely hot, and anyone who can finish twenty portions of any meat covered in it eats for free.”

nWilliam smiled and replied, “Then I’ll definitely have to come and support your business more often.”

n“Extra spicy?” Luna curiously picked up a grilled chicken wing, eyeing the bright red sauce smeared on it with drooling anticipation, and then…

nTen minutes later, many customers were casting surprised glances at William’s table.

nAstonishingly, the two adorable children at the table were devouring the food as if they hadn’t eaten in half a month, skewer after skewer, seemingly unstoppable. In just a short time, they had accumulated a large pile of empty skewers on the table.

nWhat was truly shocking was not just their enormous appetite, but the fact that they were eating the spiciest version. Regular patrons who had tried it before could barely handle one or two skewers before breaking into a sweat, yet Erebus and Luna were eating it as if it was nothing.

n“Buddy… your kids… were they fed hot sauce in the womb or what?” the owner was dumbfounded.

nHe considered himself adept at handling spicy food, but had to admit defeat seeing the kids’ tolerance.

nForget twenty skewers,he thought they could easily down two hundred.

nLuna, whose true form was a phoenix, found spicy foods like chili sauce perfectly to her taste and thoroughly enjoyed it.

nWilliam ordered a bottle of Coca-Cola for each child. Luna sipped hers through a straw, a content smile spreading across her face.

nErebus felt secretly relieved he hadn’t joined Thanarok in seeking revenge; otherwise, he would have missed out on such a feast.

nTheir meal was certainly on the house, as William, too, wasn’t averse to spicy food and could handle various flavors.

nJust as they were thoroughly enjoying their meal, William’s phone rang again. It had rung many times already, but he hadn’t wanted to answer. Now in a good mood, he picked up.

nIt was Ryan.

n“William, where are you?” Ryan had called over a dozen times, showing persistence.

nWilliam replied, “I’m at Pitfire BBQ in Red Hook.”

n“Wait for me, I’m coming right over,” Ryan said excitedly, relieved that William had finally answered his call.

nHe had worried that William was ignoring him too.

n𝘪𝑎.𝘤𝑜𝘮

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