Actually, I'm Only Seventeen

"Can someone really steal another person's abilities? I always thought that such an ability was fabricated." Gu Ding remembered reading a dark period of history from the Middle Ancient Era, which described how powerful members of the witch clan in that era possessed such abilities. He had always believed that dark history was a story made up by later generations.

"That dark period of history in the Middle Ancient Era is real. Many powerful individuals were captured alive by the Witch Clan and had their abilities stolen." The Sea Emperor gave an affirmative answer regarding the existence of that history.

"Wouldn't someone who can do these things be invincible? A single Logia-type ability is enough to cause terrifying destruction! If several Logia-type abilities are combined, who knows what kind of consequences it would cause?" Gu Ding found the thought terrifying.

"While the matter of seizing abilities is true, it is extremely risky and has a very low success rate," Sea Emperor explained.

"First, the thief must possess a microscopic level of Mind Power to detect the Gene Chain within the target's body. Second, the thief must know the location of the Gene Chain corresponding to the target's ability. These two conditions alone are enough to eliminate the vast majority of people."

"Third, the plunderer must know the corresponding secret techniques, which were also closely guarded secrets in the Middle Ancient Era. I thought that no one would inherit them in your era, but I didn't expect that someone would still know them."

"Fourth, the stronger the ability to seize, the greater the price to pay. For an ability like Blade Heart, the opponent would probably have to pay a price no less than their own life to succeed in seizing it."

"Fifth, even if you successfully acquire it, there is a high chance that the ability will conflict with the new host's body. Such a conflict may seriously lead to a large-scale break in the Gene Chain, resulting in the death of the host."

After hearing the Sea Emperor's description, Gu Ding and Liliath both felt that the success rate of this ability-stealing method sounded really unreliable. "Since the risk is so great, why did so many witches try it in the Middle Ancient Era?"

"Those people are risking everything for power. Once the first person succeeds, countless others follow suit, thinking they will be the lucky ones too. This is a deep-seated flaw in you humans, that you never seriously consider the issue of probability." The Sea Emperor took the opportunity to express his views on humanity.

"Why do you think the uncle's ability has been taken away? You found out that he has already lost this ability?" Gu Ding asked, somewhat puzzled.

"After he disappeared when he was seven years old, his Civilian Smart Watch disappeared, and he hasn't worn Smart Watch since. How could I possibly know his physical condition?" Sea Emperor gave a negative answer. "I'm guessing this because his disappearance is similar to several cases in the Middle Ancient Era. The people who disappeared were all children whose abilities had been awakened for less than three days."

"Those people implant seeds of psychic power into newly awakened children, then use battles and killings to catalyze the evolution of the corresponding genes within the children. This process takes at least several years, even more than a decade. Once the power matures, they remove the Gene Chain encased in the psychic seed and then kill the child. Of course, one or two children escaped, which is why this kind of thing was exposed. I think Bigge's existence is practically a replay of those cases from the Middle Ancient Era..."

Just then, Bigge's voice rang out, "I've made three dishes, all of them are pretty simple, you can try them."

All three dishes were exquisitely prepared, especially the knife skills. Even though they weren't hungry initially Gu Ding and Liliath couldn't resist trying them.

"Lily, we had this for lunch, and we thought it was a really good dish," Gu Ding said, pointing to a plate in the middle.

The two of them each picked up a piece of food with their chopsticks.

Gu Ding thought that although it was slightly different from the one at the tavern, it still tasted quite good. Just as he was wondering how to start the conversation, Liliath spoke up, "We just had this dish about half an hour ago. Yours is a little different from the one at the tavern. The tavern uses more seasonings, so the flavor is stronger and the aroma is more fragrant. I use fewer seasonings, but it gives a different feeling, more refreshing and more original. I personally prefer the flavor of yours."

Bigge looked at Gu Ding, waiting for his evaluation.

"I can taste the difference from the tavern's, but I don't have Lily's discerning palate to know so much. I only know the difference between good and bad. I think what you made definitely falls into the category of good." Gu Ding grinned, revealing his white teeth.

The two then tasted the remaining two dishes, proving that Bigge was indeed talented in cooking. He had learned all three dishes by secretly studying them from chefs at different taverns. As for cooking, this was the first time he had done it in many years. His place didn't have a kitchen; he barely had enough to eat each day, let alone extra money to buy cooking utensils to practice with. The tavern owners wouldn't let him into the kitchen, fearing he would sneak in and steal food—after all, he had a history of doing so when he was a child.

"Then I've made up my mind. I'm officially inviting you, Uncle, to join our team and become our head chef! I'm the co-chef, so if anyone wants fried rice, they can come to me." Gu Ding grinned again and extended the invitation.

"There's something..." Bigge suddenly became hesitant, "Actually... I'm only seventeen years old this year."

"Seventeen..." Gu Ding and Liliath were both petrified. Bigge more like a middle-aged man in his forties no matter how you looked at him.

"I just look older than my age..." Bigge scratched his head sheepishly.

"Alright." Gu Ding and Liliath accepted the fact with resignation. They had been calling him "Uncle" the whole way, and now it seemed they had to change their address.

"Bigge, tell us about the Food Festival! It sounds like a lot of fun." Gu Ding had noticed before that Bigge seemed quite eager whenever the Food Festival was mentioned, and he guessed that Bigge probably wanted to participate.

"Every year, the Food Festival in Dilisies is held in a place rich in ingredients because there's a Food Festival: the chefs must catch a live ingredient and cook it. To win, chefs from all over will use their best skills to catch ingredients with the highest genetic level. This year it's being held at Lake Reik, where there's a Golden Crocodile with a Seventh Order Gene Body, but I doubt anyone will be able to catch that guy," Bigge chuckled sheepishly.

"Let's go check it out together tomorrow. Bigge, are you going to participate in the competition? It sounds really interesting," Gu Ding encouraged, knowing that Bigge actually really wanted to participate.

"Let's forget about it. Those chefs are all very skilled." Bigge hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.

Seeing Bigge shake his head, Gu Ding didn't press the issue. He grinned and said, "Then let's go get some free food together tomorrow!"

(Thanks to Joshua for the donation!)

;