Hometown—for everyone, it holds a special place.
No matter whether one is poor or wealthy, after being away from home for a long time, one inevitably longs to return and take a look.
And every so often, the thought arises—bringing with it a faint sense of longing.
Except for a few ungrateful individuals or those who have suffered extreme injustice, no one fails to love the land that raised them.
Han Shaoqing had summoned Artoria into this world, yet had no way to send her back to her homeland. He felt a trace of guilt. Looking out at the sea, he changed the subject:
"Aya, do you like fish?"
He had originally intended to control some marine creatures and let Artoria watch a performance of sea life to lighten the mood.
Unexpectedly, Artoria replied,
"I do. Aside from a few kinds, I like eating most fish… Shaoqing, are you planning to make a seafood feast?"
"Uh…"
As expected—a foodie.
Han Shaoqing couldn't help but laugh.
"Alright then. This season, salmon is excellent—small scales, few bones, tender and delicious flesh, smooth and rich in texture."
"Gulp~"
As she listened, Artoria began to feel hungry and couldn't help swallowing, turning her head slightly aside.
Han Shaoqing stepped barefoot onto the soft sand by the shore. The moment his hand touched the seawater, waves of telepathy spread outward.
Soon, he selected a salmon over a meter long—plump, healthy, and alone.
At his call, the salmon quickly swam toward him.
About three minutes later, the hefty fish entered the view of both Han Shaoqing and Artoria.
"This ability is really convenient."
At the sight of food, Artoria's homesickness faded considerably, replaced by anticipation.
After giving the salmon a quick and clean end, Han Shaoqing stored it in his spatial ring.
"Let's go, Shaoqing. It's about time we head back," Artoria urged.
Under her urging, Han Shaoqing put his shoes back on and left the beach with ingredients in hand—and with the "ahoge king" full of expectation.
Back at Xavier Manor, Han Shaoqing went straight into the kitchen.
Preparing salmon was relatively simple.
He cut open the fresh fish, selecting the best portion. Using gravitational control, he removed all the bones, then skinned it with a knife and sliced the meat into thin pieces about 0.3 cm thick. The slices were arranged with garnishes and chilled.
Next came the "soul" condiments.
With the remaining ingredients, Han Shaoqing made a large portion of pan-fried fish and a pot of three-delicacy fish soup.
Sean and Alex were outside playing cards.
Raven, with her blonde hair and blue eyes, entered the kitchen to help.
Watching Han Shaoqing's skilled movements, she asked,
"Do you cook often?"
"Not really. Just occasionally."
Han Shaoqing fried the fish without even using a spatula. When the timing was right, he simply flipped it using gravitational control.
The fatty salmon sizzled in the hot oil, releasing mouthwatering aromas. Under Han Shaoqing's precise control, various ingredients combined in perfect proportions. Pots, pans, and utensils moved through the kitchen as if performing a magical show.
He alone could handle the workload of more than a dozen people.
In terms of control and time management, Han Shaoqing was undoubtedly at a master level.
Turning his head, he noticed Raven, who was washing vegetables beside him, staring at him in a daze.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
Raven snapped back to her senses, slightly flustered.
"N-Nothing… I just thought of something from when I was younger."
While frying the fish, Han Shaoqing spoke gently,
"You've been distracted lately. Your training progress has slowed."
"If you spend half your energy trying to look 'normal,' then you only have half left for everything else."
"If you want society to accept you, you have to accept yourself first."
"Only when you fully devote yourself can you improve further."
"Honestly, your original appearance is quite beautiful."
"Really?"
Raven seemed moved.
"Of course."
Han Shaoqing turned, lifting the finished fish onto a plate.
The plate in midair suddenly loosened, and Raven instinctively reached out to catch it.
Because her focus wavered, she instantly reverted to her original form.
Red hair, blue skin, a devilish figure, and snake-like pupils.
She did look unusual—but upon closer inspection, there was a unique kind of beauty to her.
"This is good. It's easier for you too, isn't it?"
"When you fully master your abilities, you'll be able to switch forms freely."
"Instead of worrying about others' opinions, it's better to focus on improving yourself."
"Mm… I'll listen to you."
Raven nodded, no longer changing her appearance, helping in the kitchen in her true form and occasionally asking questions.
Han Shaoqing answered while continuing his work. Besides salmon, he also prepared foie gras, steak, vegetables, and other dishes using available ingredients.
Half an hour later, more than a dozen dishes floated onto the dining table under his control.
In the living room, Artoria was reading a magazine very seriously, her eyes gleaming like a predator's.
Only when she smelled the food did she suddenly look up.
"Is it time to eat? I'm really looking forward to Shaoqing's gourmet cooking!"
Artoria was a true foodie.
Back when she was king, due to limited productivity, there weren't even proper plates at meals. Usually, a large piece of roasted meat was placed on the table, and everyone carved off portions with knives.
Natural and additive-free—healthy, but not particularly delicious.
So when it came to fine cuisine, Artoria had virtually no resistance.
They enjoyed a warm and lively dinner together.
Afterward, Han Shaoqing returned to his room to rest.
The next day.
Warships from both the United States and the Soviet Union gathered near Cuba.
All it would take was a single spark to ignite World War III.
If two nuclear superpowers went to war, humanity would face annihilation.
Han Shaoqing, Charles, and the others sat in the living room.
Only Hank was absent.
Most likely, he had injected the serum derived from Raven's blood—only for it to backfire, turning him into a beast.
Han Shaoqing had heard the commotion the previous night but chose not to intervene.
He had already warned Hank. Since Hank insisted on going his own way, he had to bear the consequences.
In any case, it wasn't fatal. With Hank's intellect, he would eventually develop a stabilizing serum and return to normal.
It wasn't a major issue.
Right now, the most important matter was resolving the Cuban Crisis.
On the old black-and-white television, the President of the United States was delivering an impassioned speech.
The Soviet Union planned to deploy nuclear missiles in Cuba. A fleet carrying the missiles was about to reach the Caribbean.
War was imminent.
All diplomatic efforts to avoid conflict had failed.
Newspapers around the world were reporting the crisis, sparking widespread panic. People began hoarding supplies.
Many retreated into bomb shelters.
The situation was on the verge of spiraling out of control.
-----------------------
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