Lorna's Escape

Nina was just about to play with her unicorn when she was pulled out of the water again.

"You little rascal, I sold a unicorn."

Lorna smiled indulgently as she spoke, gently tickling Nina's skin.

"Hehehe, no way! In my heart, you're the absolute best!"

Nina smiled so hard her eyes narrowed into crescent moons, and she quickly twisted her body to beg for mercy.

"Leader."

Charles bowed slightly.

"Charles, what are you doing here?"

Kino was taken aback; if he remembered correctly, this was a family dinner.

"Please help an old friend."

Charles said

"Here, call me Kino."

Kino nodded in understanding and didn't ask any more questions.

"Please have a seat, everyone. I'll go cut some fruit."

Jenna up the fruit basket and was about to cut it up to eat.

Charles glanced at it, his eyelids twitching. If he wasn't mistaken, it was Life Fruit. The leader was as generous as ever.

The group took their seats, with Lorna sitting next to Kino.

"Everyone, please have some fruit before dinner; dinner will be ready soon."

Jenna came out carrying the sliced Life Fruit.

The group picked up their knives and forks and began to taste the food.

Charles didn't stand on ceremony either; the Life Fruit was also available in the store for 1 million Contribution Points, and there was only one per year.

Tom has already bought this year's one.

I never expected him to get such a good deal today.

"It's delicious, Kino! This must be expensive."

Jenna ate the fruit of life.

The abundant juice bursts in your mouth instantly, the flesh is firm yet soft and chewy. Every chew feels like embracing a cloud, gentle and delicate, with a sweet taste and a subtle fruity aroma that lingers on the tip of your tongue.

This is the best fruit she has ever eaten.

However, she didn't notice that her facial skin had become supple and smooth, the faint crow's feet at the corners of her eyes had slowly smoothed out, and her hair, which used to be streaked with silver, had now become jet black and shiny, falling smoothly over her shoulders.

Nina was about to say something when she saw Kino gently raise a finger, cover his mouth, and nod.

Mom has become the older sister.

"The price is okay, it's homegrown, but the yield is a bit low."

"Oh, okay? Then next time you can keep it for yourself, and Auntie can just have a taste."

"It's okay, I'll bring some more next time I get the results."

Charles didn't say anything, he just ate his fruit; it was all about survival.

The food is ready.

Ten dishes floated around Erik, one by one placed on the table.

"It smells delicious! I never knew you had such a talent for cooking, Uncle."

Kino smiled and praised.

Erik's hand trembled violently upon hearing this address; he truly couldn't bear such a title.

"Just call me Erik, Chief."

"No problem, Erik, you can call me Kino today too."

Kino knew he needed to give him time to prepare.

After Erik placed the dishes on the table, he took his seat.

This time I noticed there were only a few pieces of fruit left in front of me.

"What kind of fruit is this? I don't remember buying this."

Erik asked, puzzled.

"This was brought by Kino, Erik, have a taste, it's great."

Jenna said that she had specially saved this for Erik.

Erik discovers that Jenna has regained her youth; the Rejuvenation Potion exists, but Jenna says she'll use it when she's older.

If it's not Rejuvenation Potion.

Erik looked at the green skin of the fruit and sensed that the magnetic field around Charles was at least twice as strong as before.

With a twitch at the corner of his mouth, he stomped hard on Charles's foot.

You old man, you're shameless.

Charles turned green with envy, but it was alright; he'd struck gold this time.

He could tell the difference between a Life Fruit costing one million Contribution Points and Healing Potion costing one hundred Contribution Points.

Kino and Lorna were trying not to laugh.

"Honey, why aren't you eating?"

Jenna asked, puzzled.

Erik looked at the girl in front of him, as if he had returned to the past.

"I'll eat now."

Erik finished the rest of the fruit.

The sound of spoons and forks clattering against the plates.

Kino found that although the dishes looked a bit strange, the taste was acceptable and not at all weird.

"Lorna, I heard Tony and the others said you've developed a new invention. Do you think you'll win the title of Magneto?"

Charles started the conversation.

"No, I still need to study for a while longer."

Lorna shook her head.

"Then keep trying. When Erik was your age, he was a good-for-nothing, and his abilities were inconsistent."

Charles exposes his old friend's past.

Erik's lips twitched. "Is this how you help me?"

"I'm curious, why are you so eager to obtain the title of Magneto? Or is it by defeating him?"

Charles feigned curiosity.

"... It's just that we have the same abilities, and we also want revenge for his past irresponsibility."

Lorna lowered her head slightly, her voice carrying a complex emotion.

Erik's expression darkened.

Jenna gently took Erik's hand.

"I say this because of my own reasons."

Kino picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth.

"I saved Lorna in the alley back then... because Lorna was still young at the time, and I thought she wasn't Mind Stone enough, so I used that as an excuse. I never expected her to take it as her goal."

I unintentionally brought her unnecessary burdens and pressure. Looking back now, I think I should have been more careful in dealing with that little girl's feelings.

I apologize for that.

Erik's face darkened; the culprit had been found.

"No, I want to do it myself."

Lorna said.

The next second, Erik slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and stared at Kino.

"Kino, do you truly love Lorna? I'm not talking about that perfunctory excuse from before, nor is it out of pity for her!"

If your feelings for her are so superficial, then release Lorna. I Magneto, can afford to raise my daughter."

Instantly, the atmosphere at the scene became extremely heavy and deathly silent.

Jenna was a little flustered. How did a perfectly good dinner party suddenly turn into this?

Nina shrank back; her father was so fierce.

"Let's go."

Lorna, pale-faced, grabbed Kino's sleeve and prepared to leave.

"Lorna, trust me."

Kino gently pressed Lorna's shoulder, making him sit down again and look into Erik's eyes.

He no longer showed the respect he once had; only indifference remained—indifference towards a stranger.

"At first, I didn't really like Lorna because I was sure her feelings for me were more about trust and dependence."

The second time was when Tony told me that there was a girl around me who had a crush on me. I was somewhat happy then, even though I knew it might be fake, I was still very happy."

Lorna slowly regained her composure. She had actually been avoiding the answer all along, worried that he didn't like her and only pitied her.

At this moment, she listened attentively to Kino's words, her eyes sparkling with a hint of expectation mixed with nervousness, as if awaiting the judgment of fate.