Chapter 123: Cooking (II)

Although Jackson had already reached the Third Sequence, he no longer needed ordinary meals to satisfy his hunger. His body had undergone several transformations, and the energy circulating within him was more than enough to sustain his daily activities.

But that didn’t mean the same applied to everyone else.

Aella and Mother Rose still needed proper meals, and after everything they had been through, the last thing Jackson wanted was for them to wake up to an empty dining table.

Fortunately, growing up, he had learned his fair share of cooking. It had been quite some time since he last prepared a proper meal, but he hadn’t forgotten the basics.

With that in mind, he headed straight to the kitchen.

Today, he decided to prepare both of their favorite dishes. For Aella, he would make her favorite cake, while Mother Rose would get her beloved chicken curry, prepared with wine as its base.

The moment he entered the kitchen, Jackson rolled up his sleeves and got to work.

His movements were swift and precise. From chopping the ingredients to preparing the spices, everything proceeded smoothly. Although he hadn’t cooked in a long time, his hands seemed to remember every movement.

This wasn’t particularly surprising.

As Jackson had advanced through the ranks, his spiritual force and overall physical capabilities had improved tremendously. His senses had become sharper, his coordination more refined, and even the simplest movements he performed as an ordinary human had become considerably more efficient.

Cooking was no exception.

He could judge the precise amount of seasoning, control the temperature with ease, and handle several tasks simultaneously without losing track of anything.

Within minutes, the kitchen was filled with the rich aroma of freshly prepared food. The fragrance of simmering chicken curry, mixed with the sweetness of the cake, gradually spread beyond the kitchen and into the adjoining rooms.

Perhaps it was the delicious smell, or perhaps their bodies had finally recovered enough, but both Mother Rose and Aella woke up almost simultaneously.

By the time they stepped out, Jackson was already standing in the kitchen, dressed in a white apron bearing a small rose emblem.

Noticing the two sleepy figures, he turned toward them with a warm smile.

“Both of you sleepyheads are finally up. I thought you were going to sleep forever.”

His voice was gentle and teasing, as though nothing unusual had happened that day.

He made no mention of the attack, the kidnapping, or the terrifying events they had endured. For the moment, he simply wanted them to enjoy a peaceful evening.

Aella rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked around in confusion.

“Brother, is it morning already? Why didn’t you wake me up earlier? I might have already missed my morning session.”

Jackson almost laughed.

Even after everything that had happened, this little girl was still worrying about her daily routine.

She didn’t seem entirely aware of the danger she had been in. The Desolate Troop Leader and the Bloodfang Gang had targeted her directly, but she had lost consciousness before understanding what was happening. As a result, she remembered little, if anything, about the attack itself.

Jackson wasn’t particularly interested in changing that.

There was no need to frighten her with unnecessary details.

“Don’t worry about that for now. Both of you should go wash up and come sit down. Dinner will be ready soon.”

He turned toward his mother.

Mother Rose was still standing there with a slightly dazed expression. Perhaps the familiar sight of Jackson preparing a meal had stirred something deep within her.

For a fleeting moment, her thoughts returned to the days when her husband was still alive, when he would stand in the kitchen preparing meals for their family.

Those memories had once brought her comfort. Now, they carried a hint of sadness.

But as she looked at Jackson, the uneasiness in her heart gradually settled.

His presence alone seemed to reassure her.

As long as her son was here, everything would be fine.

She didn’t need to worry about anything else.

Following Jackson’s instructions, Rose and Aella quickly washed up before taking their seats at the dining table.

Jackson soon brought out the dishes, carefully arranging them before the two of them. He didn’t forget to prepare a portion for himself either, even though he didn’t particularly need to eat.

Just as he was about to sit down, he suddenly seemed to remember something.

His gaze shifted toward the main entrance.

“Mrs. Snow Farcry, why don’t you join us as well?”

For a moment, Jackson almost felt like slapping himself.

How could he have nearly forgotten about her?

Snow had been hired to protect his family, and although she had technically only fulfilled her duty, there was no denying what she had done. She had fought until she could no longer stand, desperately trying to protect Rose and Aella from the attackers.

Without her, the situation might have been considerably worse.

It was only right that she share the meal with them.

As expected, Snow’s response was immediate.

“There’s no need. I’m on duty.”

Her tone was curt and professional, leaving little room for discussion.

Jackson didn’t insist. He understood that she was simply doing her job.

However, before he could return to his seat, Mother Rose spoke up.

“Snow, you’ve been working hard all this time. Come and have dinner with us.”

Aella immediately joined in.

“Yes! Sister Snow, come eat with us! Brother cooked everything himself!”

The little girl’s enthusiastic invitation seemed to have a greater effect than anything Jackson could have said.

Snow remained silent for a moment.

In the end, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse Aella.

“Since you insist…”

She finally approached the dining table and took an empty seat.

Soon, all four of them were sitting together, enjoying a peaceful dinner.

It had been quite some time since Jackson had cooked a proper meal, making the occasion somewhat special for everyone. Even Mother Rose seemed to enjoy herself more than usual, while Aella happily dug into her favorite cake.

But among the four, Snow Farcry’s reaction was perhaps the most interesting.

The moment she took her first bite, her eyes widened ever so slightly.

Jackson noticed the change immediately.

He couldn’t help feeling a little gratified as he watched her expression brighten. It seemed his cooking skills hadn’t deteriorated after all.

So tasty… How could anyone cook this well?

Hearing her thoughts, Jackson’s smile grew a little wider.

This was worth the effort.

For the first time in what felt like a long while, the house was filled with something other than tension and worry. The sound of conversation, Aella’s cheerful voice, and the occasional laughter made the evening feel almost ordinary.

And Jackson wanted to preserve that feeling.

After dinner, he took care of the dishes before finally returning to his room.

The day’s events had left him with plenty to think about, and he intended to spend the rest of the evening meditating.

However, just as he was preparing to settle down, a notification appeared on his communication device.

Jackson glanced at the screen.

The sender was none other than Veronica Green Soul.

He opened the message.

“Hey, what about our duel arrangement? I’ve already given you the payment in advance. You can’t keep avoiding the duel. If you delay any longer, it’ll just mean you’re a coward.”

Jackson stared at the message for a few seconds before letting out a helpless sigh.

He had almost forgotten about this matter.

It seemed today really was destined to be an eventful evening.