Godfather World

Echo Association

Barely! Zen didn't know what Yelena and Bolt were thinking when he burst into the kitchen, panting. They agreed to meet at six, and thanks to the guild meeting, Zen was delayed. He had fifteen seconds to spare by the time he arrived. Nervously, he looked at the invigilators and only relaxed when Bolt gave him a thumbs up, flashing him a grin.

Yelena huffed when Zen sagged in relief, trudging to the counter. No matter how Yelena looked at this candidate, he smelled like a civilian. Why was he selected as one of the true Godfather heirs? Unlike the other chosen candidates, Zen didn't show any signs of blood awakening.

Bolt knew what his young partner was thinking and grinned. Zen was truly a mystery. How did anyone grow up in a mafia family without knowing anything about the underworld? Moreover, he wasn't part of any illegal experimentation or trained in any form of combat. What did his family think of his existence?

"I want meatball spaghetti!" Yelena demanded and banged her fork on the kitchen counter, kicking the chair beneath impatiently.

Zen frowned in disapproval at her actions. "If you continue to treat the utensils and property in the kitchen with such disrespect, I will add ghost peppers into your food."

The horror reflected in Yelena's cobalt eyes told Zen that he hit the nail on the head. She hated spicy things, and it was a very effective threat. Beside her, Bolt turned away, unable to maintain a straight face. Zen might behave very similar to a civilian, but he definitely knew how to handle even the most troublesome characters in the underworld. His motherly nature was like a fluffy fleece blanket in the middle of a freezing winter night. It brought comfort to their weary souls.

As Zen cooked dinner, Bolt taught Yelena how to use the VR system. The invigilators made plans to teach Zen different skills tonight in the virtual world. If they wanted Zen to survive the next event, there was only one thing he had to master before it.

Invigilators might not know the next event's details, but they were given tasks and duties to fulfil. Bolt anticipated the type of ordeals the candidates would face based on their preparation list. Yelena agreed that it was too late to strengthen his physical abilities for Zen. Instead, Zen should sharpen his natural wits and unique way of thinking. His civilian-like thought process was his greatest edge over the other candidates.

"Dinner is ready!" Zen announced as he sprinkled the last handful of parmesan cheese over Bolt's portion.

Yelena dug in messily and blushed when the noodles hit her tongue. It was warm and tingly when she ate it. She didn't know what kind of spices Zen used, but the young invigilator liked it.

Bolt appreciated the extra cheese. It hasn't even been a day since they met, but Zen remembered what he liked. This attentiveness was only possible for someone with a sincere heart.

They dug in quickly, and Zen found comfort as he ate. Ever since he died a few days back, so many things transpired. He found it amazing how he took everything in like a sponge without breaking down mentally or emotionally. Death felt surreal. Even if there was a possibility of dying in the next event, Zen felt strangely at peace whenever he was in the kitchen.

Other students felt safer in a more familiar environment, such as the shooting range or in their new rooms. For Zen, he felt most at home when he was in the kitchen.

Without a word, Zen walked over to the fridge to get Yelena a glass of strawberry milk and some apple juice for himself. He glanced over his shoulder for a second to Bolt before grabbing a bottle of beer and slammed the fridge shut.

"How do you know what we like to drink?" Bolt couldn't help but be surprised. It was accurate enough, and Yelena reached her hands out greedily for the strawberry milk.