In three months, when his stationing term ended and he rotated off Waste Star, Captain Kate planned to pull a few strings and head to the front.
Once there, even doing menial logistics escort work would be fine.
The battlefield was dangerous, yes—but it was the best place to accumulate merit and climb the ranks.
Being able to eat delicious natural food in a backwater like Waste Star was something Captain Kate had never imagined.
Moreover, the two natural‑food dishes he had eaten were exquisite—comparable to those served at the Alliance Star's high‑end restaurants!
Though Captain Kate had never dined at a high‑end restaurant on the Alliance Star, before coming to Waste Star he had once helped his superior by picking up dessert for the superior's daughter from such a restaurant and had seen the food with his own eyes.
He had even snuck a sniff—so fragrant—probably the same feeling as what he had just eaten now?
He ate a sweet potato cake and then a piece of apple pie. Captain Kate was in high spirits, feeling comfortable all over.
He had planned to save some for to‑morrow, but damn—these foods were too good! He could not stop his hands or mouth.
He finished the precious delicacies in no time.
Looking at the empty plate, Captain Kate decided to have his nephew trade for more natural‑food delicacies the next day.
They were a little pricey, sure, but he was, after all, a sector captain on Waste Star. He could afford to splurge a few times.
Besides, what he was paying now was nowhere near a tenth of what such dishes would fetch at a high‑end restaurant on the Alliance Star. By that measure, he was getting a bargain!
Originally he had only wanted a treat once in a while. He did not expect that, when he woke the next morning, he would clearly feel something different in his body.
A scan from his terminal made him stare—his physical constitution had leapt overnight from B+ to A!
Under normal circumstances, reaching A would have taken at least another two or three years of steady training.
But the numbers did not lie, and he could feel it in himself—so what had caused the sudden boost?
In a flash, Captain Kate thought of the two plates of delicacies made from natural food that he had eaten yesterday…
"Someone! Call Kane—I need him."
Could his breakthrough be related to those dishes?
Captain Kate was determined to get to the bottom of it.
Perhaps it was his chance to escape his present identity—as captain of a rag‑tag, odds‑and‑ends battle group on the Alliance's fringes.
So long as he could keep growing stronger, perhaps one day his dream would come true—he would make it to the battlefield!
…
On Lan Grace's side, the day after the sweet potato cakes and apple pie, she received a big order.
Captain Kate wanted more delicacies made from natural food—and this time, he would take whatever she made!
The price he offered was very much to Lan Grace's satisfaction.
Lan Grace unceremoniously asked for a heap of ingredients she needed, then packed up the assorted fancy mini buns she had just made and had Kane take them away.
Behind her, Mi Milo—who had just eaten a spinach‑tinted, mung‑bean‑filled mini bun—was tear‑eyed.
The wrapper was soft and fluffy, with a light hint of spinach; inside, the soft, mildly sweet mung‑bean paste—too delicious!
But he had only got one. The rest were gone…
For a moment, Mi Milo felt he really did not want to see Kane!
Because every time Kane appeared, the good things Lan Grace made were taken away T_T…
Lan Grace finished her little longevity‑peach bun filled with red‑bean paste, turned, and saw Mi Milo's aggrieved face.
She could not help but smile and ruffle his soft blond hair. Speaking gently, she soothed, "All right. When more ingredients arrive to‑morrow, I'll make sure you eat your fill."
Boo‑hoo—
Tears nearly burst out of Mi Milo at her words.
A full meal!
Not like now, where he tasted a bit and it was gone—but a full meal of delicacies made from natural food, to let him eat! His! Fill!
Mi Milo had never imagined Lan Grace would be willing to let him eat that much!
Lan Grace was the best!
Clearly, he had chosen the right master to follow!
Er… something seemed a little off?
Never mind—so long as there was good food!
Mi Milo did not even notice that, little by little, he had moved himself from the position of "Lan