Chapter 46

When Lu Mingfei dragged his feet into the First Cafeteria at Cassel College, the place was already empty except for the staff cleaning up.

The afternoon sunlight slanted in through the stained-glass dome, casting mottled patches of light and shadow across the vacant tables and chairs.

"What?"

Lu Mingfei stared at the person in charge behind the counter in shock.

"There's no food left?"

"That's right."

The waiter replied cautiously:

"Lunch service is already over, and the ingredients for dinner are still being prepared. You really came at an unfortunate time. Why not try the Second Cafeteria?"

"All right..."

Lu Mingfei muttered,

"I guess that's my only option."

The First Cafeteria mainly served Chinese food, offering the flavors of home and every major cuisine. It was also where Lu Mingfei usually ate.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, a man whose demeanor and attire practically screamed "I'm in charge here" came running out of the kitchen, drenched in sweat. He bowed and scraped before Lu Mingfei.

"You're Mr. Lu, correct?"

Lu Mingfei wondered whether eating at the cafeteria now required a background check, but he answered honestly.

"I am."

"I'm the manager of the First Cafeteria," the middle-aged man said respectfully. "Considering your S-Rank status, we summoned today's head chef the moment you entered the dining hall.

But he's from Shanxi and has a habit of taking afternoon naps, so it took a little time to wake him up... That isn't a problem. Please tell me what you'd like to eat today, and I'll have the kitchen prepare it as quickly as possible."

Lu Mingfei froze for a moment. His first instinct was to tell the manager not to go through all that trouble. He had already planned to turn left and head for the vending machines at the Second Cafeteria to try one of the newly stocked teriyaki chicken cutlet lunch boxes.

But considering that they had already called in the head chef, even if it had been their own decision, it would not be right to order the man around like that.

Lu Mingfei could only keep quiet and apologize to the chef in his heart.

"Just... a bowl of plain noodles, with two fried eggs."

Lu Mingfei scratched his head, unable to think of anything else he wanted to eat.

Who knew what the head chef and manager thought when they heard that? In any case, it was none of Lu's business.

Not long afterward, the waiter brought him his bowl of noodles.

The noodles were served in an exquisite celadon bowl. The clear broth was as transparent as amber, gleaming faintly with golden oil. Fine noodles, thin as silver threads, lay neatly coiled in the soup, each strand distinct.

A few bright green scallions floated on the surface, added in just the right amount. Two fried eggs rested beside the noodles, their whites crisped to a light golden brown around the edges while their yolks remained soft and runny.

Steam curled upward, carrying the rich fragrance of lard and scallions.

The entire bowl was presented perfectly, practically a work of art. Lu Mingfei could not help admiring the chef's skill, but really—

He had only wanted an ordinary bowl of fried egg noodles from some little roadside hole-in-the-wall.

No delicacy could compare to something simple and satisfying.

After all, he might not have eaten human food for a week, a month, or even a year! Although the Lands Between had cycles of day and night, the existence of death and resurrection had long since made Lu Mingfei too lazy to keep track of the days. He simply let time pass.

The Tarnished did not need to eat. The only things he could taste were perhaps the red and blue Tears Flasks, but those were essentially manifestations of the Erdtree's blessing. Calling them tasty would be quite a stretch.

Just as Lu Mingfei was slurping down his noodles with full concentration, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded behind him.

Before he could turn around, he heard Professor Goodrian's trademark booming voice.

"Mingfei! So you're here!"

Professor Goodrian rushed up to him in a whirlwind. When he saw the exquisite bowl of noodles on the table, he visibly paused.

"Oh, you're eating?"

He adjusted his glasses.

"Actually, the Third Cafeteria has a special twenty-four-hour service line, specifically for Executive Division agents and A-Rank students with irregular schedules."

With half a noodle still hanging out of his mouth, Lu Mingfei replied indistinctly,

"Ah... I didn't know, Professor..."

"But this isn't the time to talk about that!"

Professor Goodrian suddenly slapped his forehead, as though he had remembered something important.

"The Equipment Division is ready. They're going to give you a comprehensive Word Spirit examination. Professor Schneider specifically told me that I had to bring you there on time."

Lu Mingfei nearly choked on his noodles. He quickly swallowed the food in his mouth.

"R-right now?"

Professor Goodrian noticed where he was looking and waved a hand.

"It's fine. You can finish your noodles. You're S-Rank—what's wrong with making those Equipment Division people wait ten minutes for you?"

As he spoke, he pulled out a chair and sat down, taking a stack of documents from his pocket.

"Perfect timing. While you eat, I'll tell you about the tests you'll be taking..."

Watching the professor talk endlessly, Lu Mingfei silently sped up his eating.

He thought that the Equipment Division's tests had always been known for being "exciting." He wondered what new tricks they would come up with this time.

At that thought, Lu Mingfei could not help sighing. Even the noodles in his bowl no longer seemed quite as appetizing.

But it could not be avoided.

Word Spirits were important weapons for Mixed-Bloods and dragons. To them, having no Word Spirit was like trying to hop on one leg. Hadn't Norton, whose power was restricted by Lu Mingze, been slaughtered by Lu Mingfei when he was still a clueless rookie?

Though the domain of Crime and Punishment among the Seven Sins had been the real main force.

That was why Lu Mingfei had managed to retain his S-Rank rating despite not having any Word Spirit detected during the first half of the semester: Principal Angers had been doing everything he could to protect him.

Later, at the Three Gorges Reservoir, Lu Mingfei had "awakened" his bloodline under the pressure of life and death. He displayed strength nearly comparable to that of a Mixed-Blood Sovereign and cast both Eye of the Storm King and Dustless Land, thoroughly proving that he deserved the S-Rank bloodline rating.

The good news was that he no longer had to live in fear of being demoted or even expelled. The bad news was... too many people had witnessed it. He had no time at all to hide it or even ease into it.

Lu Mingfei put down his chopsticks. Nearly half the bowl of noodles remained, but Professor Goodrian's endless explanation and the Equipment Division's upcoming "exciting" examination had completely ruined his appetite.

He wiped his mouth and looked up at Professor Goodrian.

"Professor, I'm done eating. Let's go."

Professor Goodrian closed the documents, a trace of satisfaction flashing through the eyes behind his glasses.

"All right, then we'll head straight to the Equipment Division. Professor Schneider said this examination is crucial, considering what you did at Three Gorges last time... Uh, it was somewhat beyond the ordinary."

He paused, as though carefully choosing his words.

"The Board of Trustees has always had voices questioning you. They believe your Word Spirit data needs to be reevaluated."