Showing them the intricacies of cooking, I fill the next couple of hours with a flurry of recipes and techniques.

I show them how to clean and treat their cookware correctly, in terms of maintenance, storage, and many other things. All things that were included in the slip, but I repeat to emphasize the importance of it.

After cooking several different dishes, ranging from meats to even making ice cream, I call an end to our culinary experiments. To hasten the process, I had to improvise with unique items, making adjustments along the way.

And I’ll need to refresh some of these for my personal stores. Kai and Hana, Reina’s parents, shower me with thanks for everything, but I wave it off with some words.

“Just make sure that I always eat for free when you guys become famous!”

They look at me in confusion, before chuckling at my joke with nods. Reina looks confused, but says nothing and nods, too.

I soon excuse myself, letting them cultivate together and learn more about the method, while I head toward Gong’s location. The living quarters of most of the demi-humans. A non-descript inner part of the city. A perfect place to hide the core of the demihumans.

After navigating the maze of the city again, I soon arrive at Gong’s location, one of her living quarters, spread throughout the city.

Huh, it seems like she has multiple places to sleep throughout the underground.

Though, that makes sense. If the place ever came under siege, she’d need places with adequate space and stealth to hide her body.

As I approach, I see Gong is chatting with someone, one of the bird demi-humans. When she sees me, she gives a bright smile, letting the demi-human jump and fly off into the underground sky, giving us some privacy.

Heading toward me, she speaks first.

“James! Thanks for the information earlier. You were right. Some of your suggestions made things easier with a few people.”

Ah, that’s why she was talking to the bird demi-humans. They were one group I mentioned could help make her life easier. Like by handling some of the communication between different parts of the city. Gong’s been handling that with her spiders, but she shouldn’t need to handle everything.

“… I wanted to talk to you about the combat people, though, and your suggestions for them.”

I look up at her as worry clouds her features.

“Was there someone in particular you were thinking about?”

I know exactly who she’s concerned about talking to.

“…you mentioned I should talk to Xavier, about how we speak in front of the others. Did that really come up in the scan?”

Xavier, the lion demihumans. He’s also the one who came to help me ascertain whether the fish spirit beast was hostile to everyone.

He’s also the closest thing to a father that Gong has had in the slums, as she grew up. A big part of why he was one of the main demihumans to join her group.

I should give it to her straight.

“Yeah… I’m sorry, Gong. I know how close you are to him.

“My scan let me know that the way he speaks to you is far too casual, in front of others, and might cause others close to him to do the same far down the line. Leading to some preventable incidents.”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

She pauses to think, considering his words and actions so far.

“I could see where you are going with this…are you sure, though? Wouldn’t it be okay if we just dealt with it later?”

As she says this, she fidgets, a break from her usual composure. Clearly, this isn’t something she wants to do.

“Yeah… do you want me to be the bad guy on it?”

She looks shocked at my wording, but thinks about it. Looking just as conflicted about this part.

“I don’t want to make you hated by the others, though…”

Gently, I take her hands in mine.

“You don’t have to worry about me, Gong. This is what being a good partner is about. Let me be that for you…”

She squeezes my hands back, looking me in the eyes. Her mouth coming ever closer to mine, before she lays a light kiss on my lips. Whispered words of appreciation fill my ears.

Soon enough, I hear a sigh.

“Okay… let’s do this. I’ll have the spiders bring him over.”

With little delay, she calls him over to us, far from any listening ears. He approaches, clearly in a good mood.

“Little Gong, Master James, it’s good to see you both.”

“Xavier! How have things been? I hear you’ve been making excellent progress with your body cultivation alongside the OCS method. One of the best in the group, actually. Which is amazing, considering your age.”

He swells with pride before answering.

“Even before cultivating, Gong can tell you, I worked out every day. Even with my smaller size back then, I made sure that at the very least, when I needed it, my body would never betray me. I try to tell the young ones this, but not all of them listen…”

I give a chuckle, having already seen that with my scan. Something that’s a problem, but one that Gong and her group of trusted people can resolve with time. No reason for me to interject.

“Yeah… I’m sure they’ll figure it out someday, though.”

He shakes his head, mirroring my chuckle.

“One could only hope.”

A few seconds after this saying this, he collects himself and takes a breath, before speaking again.

“Now, I’m sure you both didn’t call me out just to check on me… so what can I do for you?”

With a quick glance at Gong, I speak my mind.

“I’ve been listening in on the public conversations you’ve had with Gong in front of the others. I’d like you to refer to her more formally in front of them. You probably haven’t noticed it yet, but some of the younger ones are getting a little too casual with her, because of it.”

He shifts a quick glance at Gong, but her silence says enough.

“…I understand. I’ll do as you ask, Master James. Please don’t be afraid to mention anything else.”

I can sense the smallest sigh of relief from Gong at this. A small request, done right, doesn’t need to escalate.

Everyone here understands the stakes, especially at this level. As well as how groups can break apart, at the smallest things.

“With that said, keep doing what you’re doing with everyone. Because of your work, I know Gong is having a much easier time… Personally, thank you for always watching over her. She’s precious to me, as you already know.”

His face loosens a bit at my admission.

“Always, Master James. As long as there is breath in this old body… I’ll defend her to the best of my ability.”

I can trust him fully with her while I’m not here.

“Thank you, Xavier. There were a few additional things that we could use your help with…”

With a glance at Gong, I decide to fill him in on some things I’ve already told Gong, about how the combat groups can be better utilized or have unnecessary problems come up. Additionally, I give him tips on how to improve his training. Something that he easily understands, as I explain it using my scan.

However, as we discuss things, a sneaky, little demi-human creeps toward Xavier, crawling on the ceiling, little by little. Looking to ambush him.

As we continue to talk, I can see Xavier have a growing grin on his face. Letting the kid come closer and closer, but hiding that he can sense him.

And soon, the kid drops from the high ceiling, like a fucking assassin. In a way that is very reminiscent of how I first met them. After all, they are the same demi-human kid that helped me kill the cultivator who almost killed the fox demi-human family.

Unfortunately for the kid, Xavier seems to have far more experience at this and catches the kid easily, who has a wooden dagger, desperately flailing towards him.

“I’ll get you someday, you old bastard!”

A belly laugh erupts from him. Before he noogies the heck out of him in punishment.

“One day, you little squirt. And didn’t I teach you not interrupt in the middle of a conversation?!”

He soon places the kid on the ground and forces him to bow his head to Gong and I.

“Mistress Gong, Master James. My apologies for this one. I still have much to teach him.”

The kid is about to say something disrespectful, looking surprised at the change in Xavier’s term of address for Gong, but Xavier gives him a look, which shuts him up.

Progress.

“I won’t bother you too further. Thank you for your instruction, Master James. I’ll take it to heart.”

With a bow, he leaves us. Gong turns back to me, beaming.

“Thanks James…”

Her eyes turn mischievous.

“Now…how should I reward my precious James?”

As she closes in, smothering me in kisses and hugs, I feel both terrified and grateful that I don’t have to breathe.