Seoul, Red Unlimited Samgyupsal.
Ian looked at the array of foods in front of him curiously. On top of the table, there were cuts or strips of pork on a black plate. Ordinary porn and marindated pork. There are also a lot of side dishes on smaller black plates. Cuts of bananas, tofu, vegetable salads, and kimchi.
"I forgot, can you eat whole foods? I mean, you’re..."
Said Damon with an awkward expression as he forgot that Ian wasn’t a human. "Should I order blood bags? Don’t worry, as an SSS-rank hunter, I have privileges that you can’t imagine. Not to mention, you’re the only Ex-rank hunter. We can easily acquire supplies."
Hearing this, Ian just smiled mysteriously and proceeded to take the bananas on the plate and eat them. Ian licked his fingers. "You’re misunderstanding something. We’re not like those vampires that you watched in films. We can still eat food just fine. We just don’t need it, though, because vampires like me do not age, and we are basically immortal immune to aging and natural diseases."
"What about blood? Is it true that you need blood to survive?"
"Well, there’s some truth to that. Mostly, lesser vampires and true vampires still need to drink blood once every month to barely function. Four times a month for optimal function. However, higher vampires and above do not need to drink blood."
Ian patiently explained as he continued to munch on the side dishes. "Well, it’s also true for me. Although I’m just a true vampire. My strength has reached such a level that I don’t need to sleep, drink, or eat. But I can still do them and can enjoy them just fine though... That’s also the same, right?
"You’re only a true vampire?" An apparent surprise flashed in Damon’s eyes. "Then how the hell are you so strong when you’re not even a higher vampire? And...Why are you telling me this? Isn’t this supposed to be a secret?"
"Do you think that with my level of strength, I still need to guard such unimportant secrets? So what if I’m just a true vampire. The power system of the vampire race, although I’m a vampire, doesn’t suit me. I’m walking a different path that only I can walk."
"That’s true... I mean, you have shattered planets and maybe even stars. Even within Earth or Curtained Imperium, there shouldn’t no anyone much stronger than you except for the Dark God in your mouth." Said Damon seriously.
Ian crossed his arms with a mischievous smile. "I didn’t tell you, right?"
"I am the King of Blood Realm and even the Curtained Imperium itself."
Damon’s ever composed expression broke. His eyes widened at the revelation.
Well, now that he thinks about it. With Ian’s strength, it wasn’t that shocking. But still, Damon didn’t expect Ian to have such an identity. Doesn’t this mean the Curtained World was under Ian’s command? The man in front of him?
"Well, let’s just eat..." Ian said lazily with an amused expression. He didn’t expect Damon to have such a big reaction.
Damon nodded as he began to prepare the grilling equipment that the staff had put on the table. He pushed the tabletop grill, a flat or slightly ridged pan, a non-stick surface, where the meats are cooked. Sometimes gas, charcoal, or electric-powered.
There was also a built-in stove, installed on the table itself, that provided heat to the grill pan. Can be gas, electric, or infrared. But what’s on their table runs on gas. Damon skillfully turned the gas and put the strips of pork using a metal tong.
"Did we avail the unlimited cheese one?"
At the sight of cheese, Ian couldn’t help but reminisce about his memories of his past life. ’Ahhh... Those days are gone... Can I still go back to that world if I ever reach the Universe level of power? If so, should I?’
For Ian, it’s not a matter of whether he can or cannot. It’s a matter of whether he should... There’s actually nothing worthy on Earth in his past life for him to consider trying to go back. Unlike others, Ian grew up with less. Only those who grew up with less understand the value of gratitude.
He was thankful for this new life. For the system that had given him the opportunity to break his fate and survive. He was already satisfied with his current situation.
’What is he thinking?’ Damon looked at Ian, who suddenly just stared at the empty air. He shook his head and used the scissors to cut the long strips of pork, and increased the temperature of the stove.
Damon pushed the rice bowl to Ian. "Do you eat rice?"
’Of course, I’m a Filipino in my past life.’
Ian inwardly thought.
Damon and Ian ate with relish. Ian had to admit that he quite enjoyed Damon’s company. He never felt more relaxed than before. Even when he was with Barseagle and others, he only felt a sense of belonging, but there was a subtle sense of distance. Is it because it was bound that they would never be able to catch up to him? There was a time when he had to separate paths with them and pursue higher goals.
But Damon was different. He had a special bloodline with an extremely high upper limit that belonged to the Super Race. Certainly, such level of bloodline is beyond a mere planetary level. As long as Damon properly develops his bloodline and unearth his hidden potential, keeping up with him will not be a problem.
Of course, Ian would try his best to help his old team grow stronger and find opportunities for them, like heavenly treasures or medicine that could directly increase their upper limit. After all, there is no lack of such treasure. For example, there was the Nine Paths Fruit. As long as he masters the method on how to plant them or where he could acquire their seeds. There would be no problem for his old team to finally keep up with his pace of growing stronger.
The path of power is a lonely path, you say? Well, he believes in the saying that if there’s a will, there’s a way. What’s the point of gaining power if you couldn’t even enjoy it? If you cannot even do such a simple thing? Ian will not forget his original intentions why he desired strength in the first place. He wants to live an unrestrained life, freedom. Not to be bound by even by the pursuit of strength. He will not let it blind him.
Of course, he also understood why others say the path to the top is lonely. But that’s only applicable to ordinary geniuses and hard workers. It doesn’t apply to evildoer cheaters like him.
’One just needs to live smartly...’
Ian’s eyes while eating pork flashed a profound light.