Birthday Banquet

Her eyes widened, her cherry-red lips parted, and she stammered, "You... you... you."

The Big-Breasted Woman's reaction drew the attention of her companions.

As Six-Arms turned his head, he grumbled, "Poison Scorpion, what kind of trouble are you causing now? Huh?"

Then he saw Reke, and his voice failed him as he let out a gasp.

The rest of the team, who didn't recognize Reke, were left completely confused, wondering what had gotten into their superiors.

The Bald Man, who had also recognized Reke, felt a flash of surprise and delight. He trotted over to Reke, bowed, and said, "Sir, it is an honor to see you again."

Reke looked at this scene, scratched his head, and asked with a hint of confusion, "Do you know me?"

Reke had completely forgotten when he had ever met this person.

"I had the honor of going on a mission with you ten years ago," the Bald Man replied respectfully.

Looking at the group, Reke sifted through the memories in his mind and finally recalled where he had encountered them.

He nodded slightly and said, "It's you lot. Make sure to eat plenty tonight."

The elevator arrived just then. Reke stepped inside and gestured for the Bald Man and the others to join him.

"Sir, please go ahead. We'll wait for the next one."

The Big-Breasted Woman and Six-Arms finally snapped out of their daze, standing behind the Bald Man and bowing deeply to Reke.

Reke said nothing more and closed the elevator doors.

"Leader, who was that?"

Those who didn't recognize Reke asked the Bald Man curiously.

The Bald Man shook his head and warned, "I don't know the specifics myself, but you just need to know one thing: don't provoke that man. If you do, you'll die for nothing."

The elevator stopped at the ninth floor. As soon as he stepped out, Reke was drawn in by the aroma in the air.

He walked straight to the dining table, picked up a plate of steak, and shoveled it into his mouth.

He was only halfway through the meal when he was interrupted. He looked down helplessly at the little girl tugging on his pant leg.

"Uncle Reke, why didn't you come find me when you arrived? You just hid here eating by yourself." The little girl looked at Reke with her expressive, wide eyes, pouting in a display of feigned anger.

"Xin Xin, don't disturb Uncle Reke while he's eating. I'll come find you once I'm finished." Reke ignored Xin Yue's pout and turned his attention back to the food.

Xin Yue knew exactly what kind of person Reke was. She spread her small wings and took flight, circling him incessantly—this was her signature method for dealing with him.

"Xin Xin, why don't you go find your brother Dong Kang?" Reke said while eating a cup of ice cream, hoping to shoo the little one away.

Only Xin Yue dared to bother him while he was eating; anyone else would have been swatted away or destroyed on the spot.

"No, no! Brother Dong Kang is too cowardly. Last time I asked him to go out and play, he didn't dare, and he even told my mom, so I couldn't go."

"Cough, cough! Was that 'playing'? You were trying to leave the city for the wilderness!" Reke nearly choked to death.

"I was just curious," Xin Yue said with an embarrassed smile.

"Lola, where are you? Hurry up and take Xin Xin away." Reke had no way to deal with the little girl, so he resorted to his Great Summoning Technique.

Lola had seen Reke and her daughter a long time ago, but she had no intention of helping him out. She found his flustered state quite amusing.

As for Reke's shouting, she not only pretended not to hear it, but she also stopped looking in their direction and went off to find Pat and the others.

Lan Xin, who had been drinking with Bellis, heard Reke's voice and prepared to go find him, but Bellis grabbed him and wouldn't let him leave.

After calling out for a long time without anyone appearing, Reke guessed Lola's intentions and turned his gaze toward the smug-looking Xin Yue.

A mischievous smirk appeared on Reke's face as he reached out with his greasy hand to pinch Xin Yue's chubby cheeks.

"Eek! Uncle Reke, you're so mean, you're getting my face all dirty!" Xin Yue shrieked, flapping her wings and retreating rapidly, launching a verbal protest against him.

"Let's see if you keep bothering me now, you little brat." Reke laughed, hands on his hips.

Xin Yue's face turned red with anger. She launched a charge at Reke, flew onto his head, and grabbed his hair, unleashing a flurry of attacks.

Seeing that the little girl was no longer blocking his view, Reke ignored the girl attacking his hair and continued his battle with the food on another table.

Once Reke was full and satisfied, he finally plucked the little girl off his head, where she had fallen asleep from exhaustion.

He carried Xin Yue to find Lola and confronted her: "Lola, did you do that on purpose? I clearly sensed your energy nearby, and the moment I called out, you ran off."

"Don't talk nonsense. Someone needed me for something." Lola knew Reke's temper too well; she wasn't about to admit it.

"You know in your heart whether you did or not. Keep an eye on this girl yourself; I'm leaving." Reke handed Xin Yue to Lola and said.

"Didn't you just get here? Aren't you going to wait for Xin Xin to wake up?"

"I've had my fill. Xin Xin won't be waking up for a while; she spent over half an hour wreaking havoc on my head. See you in eight years." Reke patted his rounded belly and said with a relaxed expression.

"What? You're leaving for that long this time?" Lola asked loudly, doubting she had heard correctly.

"Whoosh!"

The area around them was instantly crowded with people.

Pat asked, "Eighth Sister, what's going on?"

Lola explained that Reke was planning to leave for eight years.

Everyone found it hard to believe, unable to understand why Reke had been gone for so long.

Lan Xin was the first to speak; without asking for the reason, he requested, "Brother Lei, take me with you."

"Reke, did something happen?" Although Pat had stepped back to the second line, he spent most of his time in the wild, excavating unknown creatures.

"I went to seek a breakthrough this time, and since I don't know how long it will take, I will definitely return when the spaceship is finished. That will also be the time I leave Udrapa Planet." Reke briefly explained his plan.

"Lan Xin, you don't need to follow me; you'd just be in the way. You should marry Shaniu sooner and give your mother a grandchild to raise."

Reke heartlessly rejected Lan Xin, offering him a suggestion instead.

After speaking, Reke looked around at the members of the Budaso Adventure Team, turned his back to them, and waved his hand, departing without taking a single cloud with him.

Lan Xin watched Reke's receding figure, feeling utterly dejected. After Reke's explanation, he knew there wasn't much time left to see him.

Even if Reke said he would come to collect the spaceship in eight years, it was hard to say whether he would see them again by then. Based on his understanding of Reke, leaving without saying goodbye was something Reke was capable of doing.

"Little follower, I'll keep watch with you at Professor Plus's place in eight years." Bellis held Lan Xin's hand and said softly.

"Thank you, Bellis."