Not long after, Pei returned home carrying a bag with a plucked hen. Under the surprised gazes of Zhong Yan and Ellen, it marched straight into the kitchen and began preparing dinner.
And it kept at it for several hours. By the time the dinner bell sounded, a pot of richly fragrant chicken soup was brought to the table.
"Ehn-ne, ehn-na! (Hehehe, chicken soup is ready!)"
Wearing an apron, Pei carried the remaining dishes to the table. Even Zhong Yan was stunned by how extravagant the dinner looked.
What had gotten into Pei? Why was dinner so lavish tonight? Was it because they had a guest?
But when Anby had visited before, Pei hadn't gone this far.
Zhong Yan had no clue what was behind the change, but he didn't care much either.
As the saying goes: those who don't eat enthusiastically must have something wrong in the head. After inviting Ellen to sit down, Zhong Yan immediately dug in, devouring the feast.
Throughout dinner, Pei kept serving Ellen food, especially that chicken soup—she ended up eating over half of it.
Sharks really did have impressive appetites. Out of the whole table full of dishes, Ellen devoured nearly 80%, and the remaining 20% Zhong Yan forced himself to finish.
After dinner, evening crept in, the sky outside gradually dimming. The air conditioning in the house grew colder, prompting Zhong Yan to turn up the temperature a few degrees.
Pei busied itself washing dishes in the kitchen, while Zhong Yan and Ellen sat on the living room sofa watching the news report on the upcoming municipal elections.
This election had been a rollercoaster—from the Red Fang Gang to the Nin-Village, and then to the Mountain Lion Gang afterward.
With all the chaos, online commenters had long since been blasting the higher-ups for their inaction. Yet somehow, they still had the audacity to go through with this election.
No one knew what kind of outcome this election would bring. Some said it could influence the future direction of New Eridu.
"It's getting late. I think I should head home," Ellen said while checking a few messages on her phone.
Zhong Yan didn't even have to guess—it was clearly a task from Victoria Housekeeping Co.
Ellen still wasn't ready to reveal her identity as a combat maid, but that was fine. Zhong Yan had no intention of telling her he was a Uchiha either.
After a moment of silence, Zhong Yan nodded and said, "I'll walk you to the station."
With that, the two got up from the couch. After giving Pei a quick heads-up, they left the house together.
Ninth Street, one of the ordinary neighborhoods in the Janus Quarter, was similar in scale to where the Phaeton siblings lived—Sixth Street. But once night fell, Ninth Street became incredibly lively, especially in summer. All kinds of people in colorful outfits filled the streets.
Among them were salarymen hurrying home for dinner and students on break hanging out with friends. Under the bright neon lights, the entire street pulsed with energy.
Still, none were more eye-catching than Zhong Yan and Ellen.
They were a perfect pair—talented man and beautiful woman. Wherever they went, they drew attention. Even girls in yukatas laughing with friends paled in comparison.
Of course, what stood out most was Ellen walking down the street in a maid outfit. That alone guaranteed attention.
As they strolled, Ellen suddenly leaned closer and said softly, "What happened today... don't tell anyone."
Zhong Yan was a bit surprised. He looked at her, wondering—wasn't she the one who initiated it all? Why the secrecy now?
"D-Don't look at me like that! I was just a little caught up in the moment earlier. I'm not regretting it! I just think this isn't something others need to know."
Halfway through her sentence, Ellen paused, her cheeks reddening slightly. After a moment, she added, "Next time... if you need me, I can come over again. But preferably when I'm free."
Hearing that, Zhong Yan was stunned at first, then smiled.
Why did he smile? The answer was obvious.
Soon, they arrived at the station. Zhong Yan saw Ellen onto the subway, then started heading back.
But just as he reached halfway, he received a message from Belle.
Technically, it came through the group chat.
This chat included Zhong Yan, the Phaeton siblings, and the four members of Cunning Hares. It was their dedicated channel for investigating the Exaltists organization.
[Belle: We've got a lead on the Exaltists.]
[Wise: Fairy found something online—there's a Proxy Network commission involving them. Not sure if it's legit, but it's worth checking out.]
[Zhong Yan: A Proxy Network commission about the Exaltists? Those guys go online now?]
[Nicole: Ohohoho! I've finally found those bastards! They made me lose so many Dennies—I'm gonna ruin them.]
[Anby: Zhong Yan, have you eaten? If not, I can bring you two burgers.]
[Zhong Yan: ...I've already eaten. I'm stuffed. No need for burgers.]
[Billy: Anby, I'm still out and haven't had dinner. Can you bring me something?]
[Anby: Billy, you need to learn what self-reliance means.]
[Billy: That's blatant favoritism!]
[...]
After the lively chatter, it was Wise who brought them back on topic.
[Wise: Fairy's already spotted the client on the surveillance. We're not sure if they're really with the Exaltists, but odds are high.]
[Wise: I've had Fairy accept the commission. Everyone, meet at the video store ASAP. We need to discuss the details of our plan.]
After reading those last two messages, Zhong Yan, who had just reached his front door, quietly stepped back.
He put his phone in his pocket, slipped into a hidden alley, and once he confirmed no one was watching, he activated Kamui.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in an abandoned building, a woman looked at the now-accepted commission on her phone. Her voice echoed through the empty space.
"I wonder if the one who accepted the request... is him?"
"Hmm... I'm probably close to being found out too. I've got to act fast!"