Observation

It was close to noon when Matthew returned to the inner city from the valley where he had been practicing.

Before he even stepped through the inn's front door, a faint clamor drifted out from within. It sounded like people arguing, punctuated by the sharp clinking of cups and plates. Matthew paused slightly, his brow furrowing instinctively—he had always disliked such noise, and he disliked drawing attention to himself even more.

He had originally planned to quietly cross the lobby and head straight back to his room on the second floor.

However, as his gaze swept across the slightly chaotic lobby, a thought flashed through his mind: Aidan.

The boy's terrified expression from last night, the heavy bag of wealth he had carried back, and the flicker of gratitude mixed with lingering fear in his eyes... all of it rose vividly in Matthew's mind.

Aidan had only recently broken through to become a Class holder. His body was at a stage where it needed a massive amount of energy to stabilize his foundation and temper his physique.

The nourishment provided by ordinary food was likely far from enough.

Moreover, after surviving such danger last night, the mental toll on him must have been considerable as well.

With this in mind, Matthew changed his plan. No longer avoiding the noise, he turned and walked toward the counter with steady steps.

The innkeeper, who was currently at his wits' end dealing with several drunken guests behind the counter, caught sight of Matthew out of the corner of his eye. His expression instantly changed.

After what had happened last night, the innkeeper knew very well that Matthew was no ordinary guest. Furthermore, Matthew was closely connected to the formidable Lord Regg. Not daring to show the slightest negligence, the innkeeper quickly squeezed out a smile, hurriedly dismissed the guests around him, and walked over with quick steps.

“My lord, you're back,” the innkeeper said.

His voice carried obvious respect, and even a trace of subtle nervousness. “Is there anything you need?”

Matthew did not waste words. He looked at the innkeeper calmly and spoke in a low but unquestionable tone.

“Starting today, prepare magical beast meat for all three daily meals.”

He paused briefly to ensure the man understood, then continued,

“And make it two servings.”

The innkeeper nodded hastily in agreement. “Yes, yes, absolutely! Two meals of magical beast meat will be prepared for you on time.”

Matthew nodded slightly, then gave a room number. “Deliver the other serving to this room. It is for Aidan, who lives there.”

His tone was flat, as if he were merely giving instructions for an ordinary chore.

Having finished his instructions, Matthew said no more. He merely nodded at the innkeeper's repeated assurances and turned toward the stairs.

His figure quickly disappeared around the corner of the stairs, shutting out the lobby's noise behind him.

The upstairs corridor was much quieter.

Standing in the dim hallway of the inn, he paused for a moment before walking to Aidan's door and knocking twice.

He hadn't harbored much hope of a response.

Aidan was always diligent, usually heading out to work before dawn and rarely returning before dusk.

However, right after the knock fell, a rustling sound came from inside, as if someone was hurriedly getting up. Then, hurried footsteps approached the door.

Matthew raised an eyebrow slightly, stopping his footsteps just as he was about to leave.

The door was pulled open from the inside.

Aidan stood behind the door, his hair somewhat disheveled, his eyes still holding a trace of sleepiness and confusion. He wore only a loose linen shirt, the collar askew, looking very much like he had jumped out of bed in a rush.

When he saw it was Matthew outside, he shuddered, most of his sleepiness instantly vanishing. A flash of embarrassment crossed his face, and he quickly raised his hand to smooth his hair and straighten his collar, trying to make himself look more presentable.

“B-Brother Matthew,” his voice was still a bit raspy from sleep.

Matthew's gaze lingered on his face for a moment. He didn't ask any questions, but simply nodded and gave a concise instruction:

“Come to my room in a bit. Clean yourself up first. Lunch is ready, so come eat with me.”

With that, he turned and walked straight to his own room.

...

The midday sun streamed through the window grates, casting intersecting geometric patterns of light and shadow across the wooden floor of Matthew's room.

On the small round table in the center of the room, a lunch for two had already been laid out. Most prominent were two hearty, perfectly seared magical beast steaks. The meat showed deep red marbling, with slightly charred edges that exuded a rich aroma of rendered fat and unique spices. Just the scent alone made one feel the abundant energy contained within.

Alongside the steaks were golden, crispy coarse wheat bread, a small dish of salted wild greens, and two cups of clear ale.

Matthew sat by the table. He did not pick up his utensils, but simply waited quietly.

After a short while, a knock sounded at the door.

“Come in.”

Aidan pushed the door open and entered. He had changed into a clean cotton coat, and his hair was neatly combed, though a hint of fatigue still lingered in his eyes, unable to be fully concealed.

He looked at the hearty lunch prepared on the table.

When his eyes fell on the two plates of clearly extraordinary magical beast meat, he froze for a moment, his footsteps pausing.

“Sit,” Matthew said, pointing to the chair opposite him.

Aidan sat down as told, his posture still somewhat stiff.

He looked at Matthew, then at the fragrant steak in front of him, his throat moving involuntarily as he swallowed.

“Eat,” Matthew said, being the first to pick up his knife and fork to cut a piece of steak. The meat was firm yet juicy. Upon entering his mouth, a gentle but continuous stream of warmth slowly spread from his stomach to his limbs. It was indeed top-quality low-tier magical beast meat, highly beneficial for stabilizing one's vital energy and replenishing physical strength.

Seeing this, Aidan also hurriedly began to eat. He was clearly starving. He ate a bit quickly for the first few bites, but soon realized Matthew was dining unhurriedly across from him, so he slowed down slightly, trying to make his manners look more refined.

He carefully cut his steak, occasionally stealing a glance at Matthew. Seeing that the older youth had no intention of speaking, he lowered his head again to focus on his food.

For a time, the only sounds in the room were the light clinking of utensils against porcelain plates and the quiet noise of the two eating.

The sunlight shifted slowly, and the air was filled with the aroma of food and a quiet, contemplative atmosphere.

Matthew did not eat much, appearing mostly to keep him company. His gaze fell on Aidan from time to time, calmly observing the youth.

He didn't care about the boy's eating manners; rather, it was the fact that Aidan had broken through to become a Class holder with the help of a potion that intrigued him.

...

...