The Cafeteria Always Beckoned

"What do you think Heartmoon Fox is up to?"

"Who knows? Slurp... Mm, this is pretty good."

At lunchtime in the Mountain City Hero Association cafeteria, Hyacinth sat at a table, picking at her boxed meal as she spoke to Nightingale, who was eating heartily across from her.

Nightingale stuffed a piece of braised pork knuckle into her mouth and chewed carefully, savoring its rich flavor without a trace of greasiness before answering.

Hyacinth sighed helplessly and picked up a piece of pork knuckle herself. It really was good, but the food did nothing to ease her doubts. If anything, it made them grow.

Last night... or, more precisely, early this morning, she had helped Senior Qiu Gui fight a colossal monster inside the invaded Mindscape. With Cheshire Rabbit's help, she had landed a crucial assist that allowed the combined mecha to destroy Monster No. 11.

It should have been a happy ending for everyone—Qiu Gui had defeated the giant monster, Hyacinth had gained a rare experience, and Heartmoon Fox had gotten her entertainment. Everyone had a bright future ahead.

Yet Nan Xiaofeng couldn't shake the strange feeling that Heartmoon Fox was secretly planning something enormous. No matter whom she asked, though, her companions all said, "I don't feel that way," then looked at her with concern and urged her to get some sleep.

Iris, Shuo Ye, Jack-in-the-Pulpit—every one of them thought she looked tired. But Nan Xiaofeng was certain she'd slept enough.

She'd slept from four until noon! Eight solid hours. She hadn't slept that soundly even when she was in school!

Then she had come to the cafeteria and spotted Nightingale getting a boxed meal at the counter. Nan Xiaofeng had rushed over as though she'd found a savior, and after talking with Nightingale, she had finally heard