’Noah?’ Pani silently repeated the name. He had never heard of anyone like that by Mingye’s side.

On the way, Pani followed behind the cloaked figure, his eyes constantly scanning their surroundings as he secretly memorized the route. His mind raced, trying to come up with a plan.

Soon, they arrived at a side hall of the ancient castle.

The architectural style of the side hall matched the main castle, with Gothic spires and intricate carvings that spoke of its former luxury. However, it had long since fallen into disrepair, its walls covered in mottled moss.

The cloaked figure pushed open a heavy door, and a pungent smell of herbs filled the room.

Pani subconsciously held his breath. As a doctor, he was all too familiar with the smells and properties of various herbs.

With just a brief sniff, he immediately realized that the herbs filling the room were all poisonous.

"Lord Noah, Lord Noah?" the cloaked figure called out a few times. The room was silent, save for the faint sound of dripping water from a corner.

After a brief search, they were told that Noah was in the kitchen.

The cloaked figure led Pani to the kitchen, where the sight before them left Pani astonished.

A slender man was wearing an apron, and several thick tentacles extended from his tailbone. Each tentacle held a different condiment, and he was dumping them all into a pot at once.

The man seemed to be in a particularly good mood, humming an unidentifiable tune. The melody was strange and whimsical, echoing through the small kitchen.

Pani’s gaze fell on the pot. The inky-black concoction was bubbling, emitting an indescribable odor like burnt leather mixed with rotting flesh.

He couldn’t help but wonder, ’Is this really edible?’

"Lord Noah, this person wishes to join Snake Scale City. He requires your review," the cloaked figure said respectfully.

"Later. I’m making dinner for my sister," Noah said without turning around, his hands never stopping as he continued to add seasonings to the pot.

’Sister?’ Pani’s heart skipped a beat. ’Could he be talking about Yaoyao?’ A flicker of hope ignited within him.

He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and tried to make his voice sound sincere and enthusiastic. "Sir, I’ve studied cooking quite a bit. I can help you."

Only then did Noah turn to look at Pani. The latter’s figure was shrouded in a large black robe, his face obscured. All that could be seen was a pair of deep-set eyes, glinting with a probing light in the dimness.

"Take off the robe," Noah said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Pani’s heart tightened. After a moment’s hesitation, he slowly took off the black robe.

He was already fully disguised. He had used a potion to change his hair and pupils to an inconspicuous black and had applied a special lotion to his skin to alter its original texture and complexion.

Noah looked at the young, black-haired, black-eyed man before him, his voice dripping with arrogance and doubt. "You? You know how to cook Ancient Earth cuisine?"

"Yes." Pani straightened his back, his gaze firm as he met Noah’s without a shred of fear.

"Fine, then you can try. My sister has been exhausted lately. I want to make her some fish soup to help her recover," Noah said with a slight nod, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes.

Pani washed his hands and glanced at the culinary disaster Noah had been brewing, secretly shaking his head.

If Noah hadn’t mentioned he was making fish soup, Pani would have thought he was brewing a poison.

"Are there any more fish?" he asked.

"Yes, as many as you want." Noah smiled confidently. He reached out and casually grabbed at the air. In an instant, a live, flapping fish appeared in his hand, splashing water onto the ground with a crisp sound.

Pani’s brow furrowed slightly, and he marveled inwardly.

’He can control water. He’s one of the Sea Clan People. But they’ve always lived deep beneath the sea and rarely venture onto the continent. What is he doing here?’

Though his mind was filled with questions, Pani’s expression remained impassive.

"Here," Noah said, handing the fish over.

Pani took it and began to process the fish with practiced movements. He deftly scaled it, his technique clean and precise with every stroke. Then he expertly gutted and cleaned the fish. The entire process was smooth and seamless. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Noah stood behind him, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, his eyes fixed on Pani, not missing a single subtle movement.

As soon as he got close to Pani, Noah caught the faint scent of herbs on him.

He beckoned to his cloaked subordinate with a finger and asked in a low whisper, "Did you go to my quarters to find me?"

"Yes, Lord Noah," the cloaked man answered respectfully.

Noah frowned slightly, thinking to himself, ’Did he pick up the scent in my side hall?’

His suspicion grew heavier. He slowly walked forward, staring intently at Pani, and began his interrogation. "What’s your name?"

"Bai Reni," Pani answered calmly. It was the alias he had prepared in advance. He had even entered meticulously forged identity data for it on the Star Network, scrutinizing every detail to ensure it was flawless.

"Why do you want to join Snake Scale City?" Noah’s gaze was like two sharp blades, seeming to pierce through Pani’s disguise and into the depths of his soul.

Unflustered, Pani repeated the tragic, emotional story he had fabricated at the city gate, his hands never stopping as he methodically prepared the fish soup.

At the most moving parts of the story, his voice trembled slightly, his face twisting into an expression of pain and despair that would stir pity in anyone’s heart.

"You’re very skilled at cooking. Did you often cook for your wife?" Noah’s questions came one after another, like a relentless barrage.

"Yes." Pani’s eyes instantly softened with exceptional tenderness.

He thought of his time at the base, of the happy days he had spent with Yaoyao, and of his worry and concern for her. This unintentional show of genuine emotion did not escape Noah’s notice.

"Do you still love her?" A hint of curiosity entered Noah’s voice.

"I do," Pani answered, his voice firm and unwavering, without a hint of hesitation.

"She beat you to a pulp, and you still love her? Doesn’t that mean you’d go running back the moment she beckoned? Joining Snake Scale City isn’t a game," Noah said, his tone laced with mockery.

"...She has many outstanding males by her side, and I was the least favored. All because I’m a herbivore. Not only did my wife beat and curse me, but even the other carnivore males would often bully me."

Pani grew more and more agitated, and the knife in his hand swung down fiercely, striking the cutting board.

Seeing this, Noah raised an eyebrow. He had heard about the discrimination herbivores faced from carnivores on the continent. In a world where the strong preyed on the weak, such things were not uncommon.

"I love her, but I also hate her. I’ve had enough of those torturous days." Pani practically spat the words out through gritted teeth, the pain and rage on his face palpable.