"What kind of life was I even living before?!"
For a brief moment, Phinks felt an impulse to cry.
Compared to everything he had eaten in the past, this was the first time he felt like he had tasted real food.
But the instant he remembered that Uvogin was still standing beside him, he forcibly swallowed back the tears that had reached the corners of his eyes.
Even the soaring joy brought by the meal gradually settled.
"The food you gave us was really delicious. Thank you."
Phinks put down the empty black coconut shell in his hand and spoke to Moge with rare solemnity.
"So words like 'thank you' can actually come out of your mouth, huh?"
"If you say one more word, I'll rip your tongue out!!"
Phinks shot Uvogin a fierce glare before turning back seriously.
"It's the first time I've thanked anyone… Forget that. My name is Phinks."
He introduced himself properly.
"Phinks Magcub."
That was his full name.
"That's Feitan. He is"
"Feitan Portor."
Feitan spoke his own name in a low, flat voice, cutting in before Phinks could finish.
"Right."
Phinks thumped his chest.
"You treated us to food like that. From now on, we recognize you."
He showed his trademark grin ferocious yet somehow friendly.
"If you run into trouble in the future, just call us."
"The two of us have some reputation around here."
"For example, if someone tries to snatch what you dig up, or forces you to do something you don't want to like threatening you to cook for them"
"Hey, hey, hey!!"
Uvogin immediately bristled.
"Who the hell are you talking about, bastard?!"
"Oh? So even a muscle-brained idiot like you can understand that much?"
Phinks mocked him with exaggerated surprise.
"If you know I'm talking about you, then learn your place."
"I recognize him but you're still excluded!! We haven't settled our score yet!"
"Go to hell!!"
Seeing the two about to erupt into another heated exchange or worse, a fight
Moge calmly interjected.
"My name is Moge. If you want something to eat in the future, you can come find me."
"Deal!!"
The moment food was mentioned, Phinks' expression brightened instantly.
"I won't stand on ceremony."
"There's no need to."
Moge smiled.
In terms of age, he wasn't much older than Uvogin and the others.
Right now, to Phinks, anyone who provided food was worth befriending.
Of course, Uvogin was an exception.
"By the way… how exactly did you do that?"
Phinks was still recalling the taste of the pork chop rice, unable to suppress his curiosity about Moge's ability.
"How did I do it? It's simple. I used a special power."
Moge raised his hand, turned his palm over, and calmly stored away the syringe and remaining modification agents.
The Golden Finger granted by his Master Inventor ability also came with its own storage space.
Anything he had Invented whether it was the Plant Modifiers or earlier creations like the glutinous rice cake machine could be kept inside.
"Special power…"
Phinks' eyes widened.
This was the first time he had formally encountered something like this.
Feitan stared as well, unblinking.
Even Uvogin and Machi, who had already seen it once and were mentally prepared, still found it unbelievable upon witnessing it again.
"Can we learn this kind of power?"
Phinks asked bluntly, unable to hold back.
His face was filled with longing.
No matter how impulsive he could be, he understood one thing clearly
If he mastered this power, surviving in Meteor City would be effortless.
Even leaving this place one day would no longer be impossible.
"Of course. This is a power anyone can learn."
Moge answered with a smile.
"Then…"
Phinks suddenly felt his throat go dry.
"However, if you want to learn it and become stronger, you'll still need to"
"I get it!!"
Phinks cut him off immediately.
"There's definitely a price, right?!"
There was no such thing as a free lunch.
Even today's meal wasn't truly free in his mind.
If Moge faced trouble in the future, Phinks had already decided he would step in.
But a mysterious power like this?
Obviously, it wouldn't come without cost.
If the price was within his limits, he would accept without hesitation.
"That's right. There is a corresponding price."
Moge nodded slightly.
"And that price is"
Phinks straightened instinctively.
Feitan also leaned forward a fraction, listening intently.
"You must ask me."
Moge stated the condition casually.
Phinks: …
Both he and Feitan blinked.
Phinks even rubbed his ears, wondering if he had misheard.
"Sure enough. Same condition as before."
Uvogin muttered under his breath.
Phinks glanced at him and noticed that Uvogin looked completely unsurprised.
Even Machi remained calm.
A trace of astonishment gradually appeared on Phinks' face.
"Just… ask you?"
Feitan finally spoke.
For power like this, shouldn't they have to sacrifice something? Their bodies? Their souls?
The old books he had scavenged from garbage heaps always described contracts with demons trading something precious for immense power.
For a split second earlier, Feitan had even prepared himself to give up his soul if necessary.
But the condition Moge offered was simply… asking?
"You're not joking, are you?"
Phinks asked bluntly.
"Just asking you is enough? No other terms? No hidden conditions?"
It sounded too simple.
So simple that it made him uneasy.
In Meteor City, nothing this good came without blood.
He and Feitan had survived by wandering from place to place, often unsure where their next meal would come from.
Unlike Uvogin, who relied on brute strength to carve out a small foothold with Machi, Phinks and Feitan lived far more precariously.
They had experienced cruelty firsthand.
Which was precisely why this "price" felt unreal.