Chapter 4: If You Obey, You Get Good Food

In the dining room.

Lin Tianhao was about to ask what was wrong, but his gaze swept over Lin Mo, and he too stiffened, eyes nearly popping out.

"Level 3?!"

He shot to his feet, face filled with disbelief.

"Wait, Mo'er, you were Level 1 before bed last night—how are you Level 3 now?"

Faced with his parents' stunned gazes, Lin Mo's heart skipped.

Dammit, got so caught up in the thrill, forgot how to cover this up.

Say the skill went out on its own to kill monsters?

No, that's too shocking.

In this world, skills gaining self-awareness is unheard of.

If exposed, I can't predict what consequences might follow.

And this is my greatest secret—I must never reveal it lightly.

Lin Mo's mind raced, and in less than a tenth of a second, he switched to an expression of slight embarrassment mixed with stubbornness.

"Dad, Mom, actually…"

Lin Mo scratched his head and sighed: "After dinner last night, I lay on the bed thinking—I still felt uneasy."

"Even though I'm a blank-element mage, I'm still Lin Tianhao and Su Wan's son."

"So after you both fell asleep, I slipped out to level up a bit."

As he spoke, Lin Mo's eyes were clear, his tone sincere:

"Dad, Mom, don't worry—I may have no elemental affinity, but I'll still work hard to grow stronger. Even if I'm just a clumsy bird, I want to try flapping my wings first."

The dining room fell silent for several seconds.

Lin Tianhao and Su Wan exchanged a glance, and both their eyes instantly reddened.

Look! Look!

Who says my Mo'er is a lazy fish?

This child is so considerate it breaks your heart!

He talks about mooching off us, but secretly stays up all night leveling just so we won't worry!

As for how Lin Mo reached Level 3 in one night, the two elders didn't find it strange at all.

Their son always got his allowance in big handfuls—he must've paid a few high-level adventurers to train him.

It's extravagant, but for the Lin family, is that even a problem?

"Good! Good boy!"

Lin Tianhao, moved, slapped Lin Mo's shoulder hard, "With this heart, Dad's already satisfied! If you want to train, I fully support you!"

After saying this, Lin Tianhao waved his hand and called out toward the door:

"Hongyu!"

The moment he spoke, a swift figure pushed the door open.

A young woman in black fitted leather armor stood there, tall and curvaceous, with curves where they should be and contours where they belonged.

Her wine-red hair was tied into a high ponytail, giving her a sharp, martial air, her gaze piercing like a blade.

"Commander."

The woman bowed slightly, her voice cool and clear.

Lin Tianhao nodded slightly, then turned to Lin Mo and said:

"Since you're serious about leveling, don't sneak out anymore—it's unsafe."

"After breakfast, Hongyu will take you into the wilds. Train however you want, but safety first!"

Lin Mo glanced at Ye Hongyu, summoned by his father's shout.

He knew her—he'd met her before; she was his father's loyal subordinate, with formidable strength.

Sigh…

Looks like I have no choice but to go out into the wilds.

Xiao Huo's temper is explosive—if I keep lying around at home, it'll keep demanding to go out and kill monsters.

Then I'd have no way to explain how I level up just by lying down.

Fine, I'll go out then.

After all, Xiao Huo kills monsters without draining my mental energy—wherever I lie down is the same. Might as well treat it like a walk.

"Thank you, Dad! Thank you, Mom!"

Thinking this, Lin Mo immediately broke into a bright smile.

"Ah, ah, good, good, good…"

Lin Tianhao, watching his accomplished son, smiled with satisfaction.

Su Wan urged Lin Mo to sit down and eat.

Just as he picked up his chopsticks again, Lin Mo remembered Xiao Huo's message.

Fire-element food?

Does that mean my skill needs constant replenishment of elemental energy, and doesn't drain my mental energy during combat?

Lin Mo thought for a moment, then looked at his mother Su Wan.

"Ahem, uh… Mom."

"For breakfast today, do we have anything with strong fire-element energy? Like Flame Fruits or Crimson Flame Beast steaks?"

Su Wan froze, then her smile deepened.

He must have thought his son lacked the talent for "Fire Element Affinity," so he wanted to compensate for it through food.

Although this method is merely a drop in the bucket compared to talent, this "wolf nature" and "ambition" are too rare!

"Yes! Of course there is!"

Su Wan immediately turned her head and instructed the butler:

"Quick, go fetch that box of 'Molten Lava Red Heart Fruits,' and also the tenderloin from the batch of Flame Rhinos that arrived yesterday; have the kitchen fry them up immediately!"

"As long as Mo'er is willing to eat it, even if it's the liver of a Fire Dragon from the sky, Mom will get it for you!"

Ten minutes later.

Plates of food, each worth a fortune, were placed before Lin Mo.

That thick aura of Fire Element made Ye Hongyu, standing aside, unable to help but glance over.

The value of this single breakfast equaled a year's expenses for an ordinary family.

Lin Mo didn't stand on ceremony; he picked up a Molten Lava Red Heart Fruit that looked like a cherry tomato and tossed it into his mouth.

Boom!

A stream of heat instantly flowed down his throat and spread throughout his entire body.

At the same time,

Lin Mo could clearly feel the skill icon of the Little Fireball suddenly become agitated.

【Ding! 'Fireball' has tasted high-purity Fire Element!】

【Mood: Joyful (like drinking a bottle of ice-cold Coke on a scorching hot day)】

【'Fireball' roared: Awesome! That's the taste! I feel full of power all over! Where are those damn mobs? Hurry and let me out! I want to burn them to death!】

"..."

Lin Mo's hand, which was cutting the steak, paused for a moment.

This Little Fireball is way too short-tempered.

I can't let it go out like this right now...

"Little Fire, calm down, calm down. As my skill, can't you have some depth?"

Lin Mo couldn't help but soothe this short-tempered old brother in his mind.

【'Fireball' expressed disdain: Can depth be eaten? Stop wasting words, hurry and take me to the wild! My great blade is already thirsty for battle!】

Lin Mo helplessly shook his head and murmured in his heart:

"We'll go after we finish eating, but we must first agree on three rules."

"First, when we get to the wild later, don't stray too far from me; stay within a five-hundred-meter range, understand?"

【'Fireball' let out a cold snort: Tsk, so troublesome. Fine, for the sake of this meal, I'll listen to you. Hurry up and eat; let's get to work after we finish!】

"And there's a second point."

Lin Mo continued speaking in his mind, "Later, you'll have to pretend a bit. Other people's fireballs are one-shot; once thrown, they explode and vanish. But you, after firing one, you just float in the sky looking for the next target; is that appropriate?"

"So, you must learn to disguise yourself. After firing one, you must immediately vanish on the spot for me, understand?"

【'Fireball' instantly lost its temper: You want me to run after firing? I am destined to become a Forbidden Spell! How can I do such sneaky things? I just want to float in the sky and make those monsters tremble in fear!】

Lin Mo: "..."

This skill is so short-tempered and chuunibyou...

"No! If you dare to keep floating outside, it will be very easy for people to discover I have a problem. If I get caught and dissected for research later, who will feed you such top-tier demon beast meat?"

As Lin Mo spoke, he deliberately used his fork to spear a piece of Flame Rhino meat still sizzling with oil and waved it in front of his mouth.

"See? This single piece of meat costs tens of thousands. If you don't listen, from now on I'll just drink plain porridge every day, and you won't get a single spark!"

【'Fireball' fell silent.】

That originally bloodthirsty icon flickered twice, as if engaged in a fierce internal struggle.

It was a battle between dignity and delicious food.

A few seconds later.

【'Fireball' compromised: Fine, fine, fine, as long as there's enough meat, everything is negotiable!】

【'Fireball' grumbled and added: But remember this, this isn't cowardice, this is... this is tactical maneuvering! It's for the sake of longer-lasting slaughter!】

"..."

The corner of Lin Mo's mouth twitched; he then put that piece of Fire Element beef into his mouth.

Fine, maneuvering it is, slaughter it is; as long as you're happy.

"That's more like it, Little Fire."

"As long as you listen, don't say Flame Rhino; even the heart meat of that Crimson Flame Dragon, I'll get it for you as a snack in the future."

【'Fireball's' anger value instantly reset to zero, and its status changed to: Expectant.】

Done!

Lin Mo was in high spirits; he finished the food on the plate in a few bites, wiped his mouth, and stood up.

"Dad, Mom, I'm full."

"Sister Ye, let's go; let's head to the Dark Forest."

Hearing the four words "Dark Forest," Su Wan's right hand, holding the cutlery, paused.

"Dark Forest?"

"Mo'er, that is a mixed leveling zone from Lv. 3 to Lv. 5; inside, there are not only packs of Shadow Wolves, but also venomous spiders..."

"After all, you have little practical combat experience, and you are a fragile mage..."

Su Wan looked at her son with some concern.

Before Lin Mo could speak, Lin Tianhao burst into laughter and waved his hand dismissively:

"Ah, wife, you worry too much!"

He pointed to Ye Hongyu standing nearby, his tone brimming with trust in his subordinate:

"With Hongyu with you, what do you have to fear?"

"Hongyu is the youngest elite squad leader of the Jianghai City Defense Force's Special Unit—her strength is formidable."

Hearing the commander's praise, Ye Hongyu bowed slightly.

Though her strikingly fierce face remained expressionless, her eyes radiated absolute confidence and calm.

"Lady, please rest assured."

Ye Hongyu's voice was cold and resolute, "As long as I still draw breath, I will not let the young master suffer so much as a scratch."

Su Wan looked at Ye Hongyu, then at her husband and son, and finally sighed helplessly.

"This… fine."

She softly admonished:

"Since your father says so, then go."

"But Mo'er, remember—we don't need to push ourselves so hard. If danger arises, hide behind Hongyu. Don't be reckless, understood?"

Lin Mo nodded obediently:

"Don't worry, Mom—I'm the most cautious person alive."

Seeing this, Lin Tianhao laughed happily, then turned to Ye Hongyu.

His cheerful expression instantly grew stern, the commander's authority unmistakable:

"Hongyu, I entrust Mo'er to you."

"If you encounter uncontrollable danger… whether human or monster, eliminate them immediately—no need to report!"

As he spoke the final half-sentence, a surge of iron-blooded slaughter swept through the dining room.

"Yes, Commander!"

Ye Hongyu snapped to attention and saluted, her gaze sharp as a blade.

"Alright, don't make it sound like a farewell forever."

Lin Mo, unable to bear the atmosphere, waved his hand and strode toward the villa gate, "Dad, Mom, see you later! Tonight I'm eating Stir-Fried Crimson Flame Dragon!"

【'Fireball Spell' drooling, mood: excited and eager, damage +100%】

"Yes, yes, yes! I'll have someone prepare it right away!"

Su Wan called out from behind.