Chapter 36: Why Have You Stopped Eating?

"Hungry?"

The Logistics Minister’s voice was soft, his eyes seemingly brimming with a long-awaited anticipation.

Ron’s pupils dilated to their limit in the darkness, capturing the sight of the candle in his hand—its surface bumpy, uneven, and a murky, sickly white.

*Darkness Emergency Escape 3.0!*

He still remembered this terrifying name, and he remembered that it contained the skin shavings of a Dark Goblin, the pus of a Blood Slime, and the excrement of the living containment object 3-071.

The young man twitched his lips, never expecting this day to come so soon.

"Uh... Mr. Sid, the Darkness Emergency Escape 3.0 is supposed to be used only in extreme emergencies..."

"Hmm-hmm," Sid nodded.

Seeing this, Ron let out a sigh of relief. "What I mean is, the current situation isn't urgent enough. It would be a terrible waste to use it now..."

Hearing this, a smile appeared on the silver-haired youth’s cold, aloof face, as if he had already considered such a situation.

Under the twin golden and crimson moons, he stood tall, his hands gripping the lapels of his coat.

*Swish—*

In the silent night, the sound of the garment fluttering was exceptionally clear—the lining of his coat was generously displayed before Ron.

The boy merely took one look, and the corner of his eye twitched violently.

There, attached to the otherwise flat lining, were pocket after pocket, each filled with long or short candles. At a rough glance, there were no fewer than dozens of them!

Seeing Ron stunned by his thorough preparation, Sid Flores snapped a candle in two.

"Half for you, half for me."

After the sharing was done, he said nonchalantly, "To avoid the risk of going hungry when it’s not an emergency, I specifically had a tailor modify my lining to maximize space utilization. The Darkness Emergency Escape 3.0 I’ve brought is enough to keep us fed for three days and three nights. Ron, don't worry, eat up!"

*With all that effort, wouldn't it have been better to just bring some real food!*

Ron’s small face turned pale, his expression faintly twisted. Being an undercover agent, he realized, truly came with constant dangers.

Seeing that Ron didn't move, Sid took the lead, biting hard into the candle.

"Eat! Why are you... *hurl*... not eating? *Hurl*..."

He chewed with a crunching sound, fulfilling his duty as a senior to lead by example.

***

The blonde boy was terrified by the sight and hurriedly took a small cookie from his pocket and popped it into his mouth to calm his nerves.

Respecting everyone's personal will was Ron's personal creed. He had already warned Sid that "Darkness Emergency Escape 3.0" was a reserve emergency energy source to be used only in dire situations and should not be consumed lightly.

But seeing how well-prepared the Logistics Minister was, Ron set his mind at ease and swallowed the thought of sharing his own rations to help them survive this difficult night. After all, tastes differ. Since Brother Sid had already prepared his own provisions, as a good friend, he could only silently support his decision in his heart.

With that thought, the boy climbed up from the bed. His fair, warm palms rummaged through his pockets, eventually pulling out six large milky candies, five bars of intensely fragrant chocolate, and ten cookies that looked delicious and sweet.

In that moment, the air in the dormitory for new recruits seemed to freeze.

The crispness of the cookies mixed with the rich aroma of chocolate and milk candy instantly burst forth in the boy's mouth, causing Ron to squint in enjoyment. His pretty face gradually relaxed under the comfort of the food.

On a quiet night, there was nothing more pleasant than this.

But at that moment, the boy suddenly felt a scorching gaze fixed upon him.

Ron froze, then turned his head, only to find Sid, who had been eating with such gusto, staring at him with an instinctive, yearning hunger.

Puzzled, the boy pointed at the candle in Sid's hand and asked considerately, "Mr. Sid, why did you stop? Is it not good?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Logistics Minister’s face twitched noticeably.

Sid Flores looked at Ron’s cookies, then back at the "Darkness Emergency Escape 3.0" in his hand. He struggled with something, seemingly locked in a grim internal battle.

After a full silence of several seconds, the silver-haired youth smiled with tears in the corners of his eyes, then, under Ron’s gaze, bit down hard on the candle again.

"It's good! Who said it wasn't?"

"This thing... *hurl*... it smells foul... *hurl*... but it tastes great!"

"Sweet, like chestnuts!"

Hearing this, Ron finally felt at ease. He had originally thought Sid was just being stubborn, but now it seemed "Darkness Emergency Escape 3.0" wasn't without its merits.

As for why he was vomiting as he ate... it must be because the candle was too dry. Mr. Sid was choking, and in an emergency, the "Darkness Emergency Escape 3.0" was likely supposed to be paired with urine...

Before the boy's thoughts could fully resolve, a notification from his Proficiency Panel suddenly popped into his field of vision.

***

【The Matriarch of Compassion has cast a glance at you.】

!!!

Who!?

Ron gasped, suspecting he was hallucinating. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief and looked at the notification from the Proficiency Panel again.

The Matriarch of Compassion!

That twisted evil god who took pleasure in tormenting people!

*How annoying, why is she peeping at me in the middle of the night?*

*Could it be that my excessive kindness makes me stand out too much in the Pain Cult stronghold, so this evil god has noticed me?*

Ron couldn't imagine the consequences of his undercover identity being exposed. It would implicate Mr. Sid and Mr. Snake, who was so determined to repent!

*Do I really have to go against my conscience and act like a cultist to keep up the disguise? But I only know how to do good deeds!*

At this moment, the blonde boy felt deeply conflicted; even the cookie in his hand no longer tasted good.

"Um, Mr. Sid, do you think it's possible for us undercover agents to be discovered by the deity worshipped by the Pain Cult?"

After hesitating for a long time, he decided to consult the experienced Mr. Sid.

"*Hurl*... No."

The Logistics Minister swallowed a mouthful of candle powder with difficulty and gave an unquestionable answer.

"The gods aren't that idle. How could they possibly have nothing better to do than investigate your identity? And even if they did notice, they wouldn't necessarily care."

Hearing this, the heart Ron had been holding in his throat finally relaxed a little.

That must be it!

He had spent the entire day doing good deeds; if anyone were to glance at him, it would be the God of Holy Light.

As for why it was the Matriarch of Compassion...

It must be because this evil god was inspecting the area, looked over the entire stronghold, and just happened to catch a glimpse of him in the process.

And because he had the Proficiency Panel, he was sensitive enough to detect the gaze.

Yes, that must be it!

He, Ron Griffith, was a man firmly walking the path of the Holy Light; how could he possibly be noticed by that annoying Matriarch?