He handed it to Scarlet. "Try this. It's the best part. Bluefin tuna swims in the deep sea, so it has a lot of collagen. This section is especially rich. When it melts together with the meat, the flavor really explodes."

After that, he didn't wait for a response. He carved out another piece for himself, sat down, and continued eating with unrestrained enthusiasm.

The freedom of it all felt wonderful.

So delicious… Scarlet admitted inwardly as she tasted the tuna. The meat was soft, fragrant, and carried a depth she had never experienced before. She glanced sideways at Ray.

There's no way he's this nice for no reason. He has to be hiding something. I need to be careful.

Still… this is incredible.

She decided she would deal with him later. Right now, finishing the food comes first.

The two of them ate in silence, entirely absorbed. Scarlet's only grievance was that Ray never once looked up at her. His attention was wholly devoted to the food, as if nothing else in the world existed.

She had always thought Jacob was the ultimate glutton, but today her worldview shattered. Ray wasn't just eating. He was processing food like a machine. Bite after bite vanished into his stomach, his pace steady, then faster, as if he were gaining momentum.

Terrifying, she concluded while chewing. Completely terrifying.

The salt crust sealed in the juices perfectly. The savory depth of the fish, paired with the ocean's natural sweetness, left an unforgettable impression. The cheek meat Ray had given her, rich with collagen, became etched into her memory as the most astonishing dish she had ever tasted.

By the time Jacob returned, more than half the tuna was gone.

He froze for a heartbeat, then let out a howl and charged back to the table, rejoining the feast without hesitation.

Ray had already set aside a prime piece for him. The moment Jacob bit into the tuna cheek, his expression went blank, eyes unfocused, as if his soul had briefly left his body.

A while later, the restaurant owner stood nearby, staring in disbelief. Three children. A fifty-kilogram bluefin tuna. Gone.

Scarlet leaned back heavily in her chair, the last traces of her icy composure completely shattered. This was the first time in her life she had eaten to such an extent. If she moved even slightly, she felt her stomach might burst.

"Hey," she said at last, looking at Ray. "What's your name?"

"Raymond, you can call me Ray." Despite having eaten the most, he remained calm and composed. For him, this amount of food was indulgent, but not outrageous.

"How can you eat so much?" Scarlet asked incredulously. "Aren't you bloated at all?"

Ray smiled brightly. "Let me tell you a secret. I've got a dragon living in my stomach. It's the one eating all this."

The half-serious answer left both Jacob and Scarlet staring at him.

"A dragon?" Jacob asked, eyes wide. "How did it get there?"

"I don't know," Ray shrugged. "Born with it, I guess. That's why I eat so much. By the way, your match today was amazing. I blinked, and it was over."

Jacob puffed up proudly. "Of course! We're from Central Academy. We've always been peerless."

That single sentence instantly put Scarlet on guard.

She kicked Jacob under the table, then leaned toward Ray. "We're leaving. You pay the bill."

"I said I'd treat!" Jacob protested.

Scarlet shot him a glare. "Do you even have money?"

"Ah." Jacob froze. "How did I forget that?"

Ray went silent.

Can you be any less reliable?

"What's that look?" Scarlet snapped. "You should feel honored. Not everyone gets to treat us to a meal."

After a brief pause, Ray nodded seriously. "You're right. It's a real honor. Sit tight. I'll go settle the bill."

He stood up and walked away toward the front desk.

Once he disappeared from view, Scarlet smacked Jacob on the head. "Why did you sneak out? Just wait until we get back."

Jacob pouted. "Big Sister Scarlet, I know I messed up, but didn't you eat happily too? If you enjoyed it, why hit me?"

Scarlet snorted. "We're from Central Academy. Do you have any idea how many people are scheming around us? That Ray definitely has ulterior motives."

Jacob blinked. "No way. When I first met him, he gave me dried fish before he even knew who we were."

Scarlet's lips twitched. "And how can you be sure of that? The Skysea Alliance could be watching you. Just wait. When he comes back, he'll definitely try to get closer to us."

Jacob glanced in the direction Ray had gone. "Huh? Shouldn't he be back by now?"

"He probably went to the washroom," Scarlet said coolly. "After eating that much."

"Oh."

Another quarter of an hour passed.

"He's taking forever," Jacob muttered. "Did he eat so much that it all came out?"

"Go look for him," Scarlet ordered, irritation finally surfacing. She hadn't brought any money either. Representing Central meant dignity, not wallets.

Jacob waddled off and soon returned, eyes wide.

"I—I can't find him. Big Sister Scarlet, I think he left! He probably paid his share and ran. See? I told you he wasn't trying to get close to us."

Scarlet scoffed. "That's just bait-and-switch. Let's go."

She stood up with Jacob and headed for the exit.

"Hold it," the boss called, stepping in front of them. "Aren't you two paying the bill?"

*

On the way back to the hotel, Ray felt refreshed as the cool sea breeze brushed against his face.

As for the bill? He wouldn't have done it if Jacob hadn't promised to pay. That meal had been absurdly expensive. And he refused to believe Central Academy students were poor.

What truly soured his mood was Scarlet's attitude. Acting like eating with me was charity? If that's how she sees it, then she can pay herself.

He rolled his eyes, irritation bubbling up.

Ray had his own pride. He had paid his share, one-third of the bill, before leaving. Fair and clean.

Back at the hotel, he immediately began meditating, purging the excess energy from his indulgence. Before that, he calmly blocked Jacob's number on his soul communicator.

No trouble. No entanglements.

He would pretend they had never met.

Unbeknownst to Ray, Scarlet's arrogance had ignited something equally stubborn within him.

At the first pale streaks of dawn, Ray was already on his way to meet the Blacksmith's Association delegation.

The blacksmith's competition marked the official opening of the Skysea Alliance Tournament. Once that was over, he would have to sprint to the individual soul master competition, and the team battle awaited him in the afternoon. His schedule was packed tight, leaving no room for delays. After cultivating the Purple Demon Eyes and devouring a mountain of breakfast, Ray hurried straight to find Kaelan.

Kaelan, a sixth-rank blacksmith, wore his badge proudly on his chest as he led the group forward, much like a stern yet reliable guide. Because they were the youngest, Ray and Rachel naturally fell to the back of the procession.

"Senior disciple sister," Ray whispered, "do we really have to wear our badges?"

Rachel glanced down at her own badge. It shimmered in blue, decorated with two crisp white stars, clearly marking her as a second-rank blacksmith. Once she reached the third rank, her badge would turn orange, bearing three yellow stars. No matter the rank, the hammer insignia remained constant, a symbol of the craft itself.

Ray's own badge was orange, marked with four yellow stars.

"Oh, right," Rachel said quietly. "Dad told me to remind you. Don't wear yours. If you can help it, don't let anyone know you're fourth-rank. He only wants you to place in the top three. That way, you'll qualify for higher-level competitions later."

Before Ray could respond, a voice cut in.

"Junior sister Rachel, still worrying about placements?" Harold turned around with a confident smile. "After this, let's go compete in Central City's Comprehensive Blacksmith Tournament."

At his words, Rachel's usual sharpness softened instantly. The tension between her brows vanished, replaced by a gentle smile that suited her far better.

"Mn. That sounds good," she replied. "Good luck, senior disciple brother."

Harold's teacher was the association's other Saint Blacksmith and also its vice president. Although slightly inferior to Nigel in rank, he was still a towering figure. Nigel had even given Harold guidance before, which was why Rachel addressed him as a senior disciple brother.

Harold laughed, then shifted his gaze to Ray. "Why are we bringing this brat along? Is it so he can broaden his horizons? At his age, can he even lift a forging hammer?"

Ray clenched his teeth inwardly. Even if you want to boast, do you have to trample on me?

He held his tongue. The last thing he wanted was to cause trouble for his teacher.

Rachel, however, was not about to let it slide.

She snorted coldly. "Senior disciple brother, are you questioning my father's judgment? Wulin is my dad's direct disciple. Do you still think he can't lift a hammer?"

Harold froze.

He stared at Ray as if seeing him for the first time. Nigel's direct disciple? That Nigel, one of the continent's most revered Saint Blacksmiths? Fewer than a dozen existed in the open world, and even fewer eighth-rank blacksmiths walked the land.

A flicker of jealousy shot through Harold's eyes.

So that's why.

He had always believed Nigel intended to nurture only his daughter. The idea that a ten-year-old boy had become Nigel's chosen disciple felt absurd.

"Well, I'll be watching your performance," Harold said at last, forcing a smile that never reached his eyes.

Ray felt puzzled. I don't even know him. Why does he hate me already?

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