"Oh, so that’s how it is. You’re very thoughtful, coming all this way so early in the morning." Lucian smiled and stepped aside. "Why don't you come in and sit for a while?"

  "By the way, I should introduce you. This is my Aunt Kara. Kara, this is Chloe, the daughter of Lord Mayor Sterling. We met out in the wilderness a few days ago and cleared some Secret Realms together."

  Both women were visibly startled.

  "Wait... you’re Lucian’s Aunt Kara?"

  "You’re Sis’s daughter?"

  Neither had expected the other to be such a striking beauty.

  Chloe was the first to react, her face brightening into a sweet smile. "You look so young and beautiful! Honestly, I thought you were Lucian’s sister—or maybe even his girlfriend. It never even crossed my mind that you were his aunt..."

  Kara’s cheeks flushed a faint pink. "I’m not that much older, really," she said bashfully. "I’m the youngest in the family, so there isn't a huge age gap between us."

  Lucian grinned. "Yeah, Kara is only twenty-six."

  Chloe stuck out her tongue pyfully. "I still don't buy it. You look like you’re in your early twenties. Seriously, you’re gorgeous..."

  "Stop, you're embarrassing me," Kara ughed softly, quickly ushering Chloe inside. "Come in, don't just stand out here in the heat."

  Meanwhile, at Riverport City Airport.

  Sis had arrived with a fleet of luxury business vans and a retinue of House Sterling servants. He was prepared to give Her Highness of the Taegeuk Kingdom a royal welcome, with pns to escort her directly to a five-star hotel for some well-earned rest.

  However, the flight had nded, yet there was no sign of the Princess. Sis paced back and forth, his anxiety growing.

  After a long wait, a group of people dressed in traditional Taegeuk Kingdom attire finally emerged from the gate and walked straight toward Sis.

  Leading them was a handsome middle-aged woman with the professional air of a chief of staff. She walked right up to Sis and offered a crisp handshake.

  "You must be Lord Mayor Sterling. Thank you for the reception," the woman said. Her voice was ft, entirely devoid of emotion. "I am the secretary in charge of Princess Aurelia’s study-abroad arrangements. We can depart for the hotel now."

  Sis blinked, gncing at the group behind her. They were all bodyguards and assistants. The Princess was nowhere to be found.

  "Secretary Thorne, it’s a pleasure," Sis said, confused. "But I was told we were here to receive Her Highness. Why isn't she with you?"

  Secretary Thorne’s expression remained icy. "Princess Aurelia has her own business to attend to in Riverport City. She has already departed."

  "Already departed?" Sis’s brow furrowed. He had suspected as much—the Taegeuk Kingdom’s royalty wouldn't come to a pce like Riverport City without a private agenda.

  "...Every single one of these dishes has Enchanted Attributes?! The Enchanting Chef Hidden Css can actually do this?!" Chloe stared at the feast id out before her, her jaw practically on the floor.

  Kara set a pair of chopsticks in front of Chloe and smiled. "That’s why I have to thank you and Lucian. If it weren't for you, I never would have awakened such an incredible Hidden Css."

  Chloe had already eaten breakfast before coming over, but the spread before her was irresistible. The food smelled divine, looked perfect, and—most importantly—offered permanent attribute bonuses. Between the stats and the warm hospitality, Chloe found herself blushing as she reached for her chopsticks.

  One bite was all it took. The food was exquisite, far surpassing the skills of the master chefs employed by House Sterling.

  "This is amazing..." Chloe hummed, her eyes fluttering shut in delight. "Kara, if you use a Cooking Blueprint to make a dish, there's a chance it will provide permanent attribute points, right?"

  "That’s the theory, yes," Kara replied.

  "Then how about this? When I get back, I’ll have House Sterling track down and buy every single Cooking Blueprint in Riverport City and send them all to you."

  Kara immediately waved her hands in protest. "Oh, I couldn't possibly! You already gave Lucian and me ten million credits. That’s more than enough. I can’t just take your blueprints too..."

  Lucian spoke up with a chuckle. "It’s fine, Kara. Cooking Blueprints aren't actually that expensive on their own; we could buy them ourselves. But rounding up every single one in the city? Only House Sterling has the resources to pull that off."

  He turned to Chloe. "We could make it a partnership. House Sterling provides the blueprints, and in exchange, Kara provides the finished permanent-stat food to help your family’s top fighters increase their strength."

  Chloe nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! The blueprints are cheap, but items that grant permanent stats are priceless. Honestly, House Sterling would be getting the better end of the deal!"

  "Well..." Kara hesitated for a moment before smiling. "If you both think it’s a good idea, then I won't compin."

  "Great! I’ll talk to my dad as soon as I get home!" Chloe was beaming. She had come here just to deliver some money to Lucian, but she had stumbled upon a literal treasure in Kara.

  House Sterling would gain access to attribute-boosting food and further cement their bond with a genius like Lucian. It was a massive win.

  As the three of them chatted happily, the shop's door, which had been left slightly ajar, was pushed open again.

  "You really think the person I’m looking for is in a dump like this?"

  The three of them turned toward the entrance. Two more people had entered the small bun shop.

  One was a girl about Lucian’s age, and the other was a man in his early twenties. Judging by their clothes, they weren't from the Dragon Federation.

  The girl was undeniably beautiful—perhaps not quite at Chloe’s level, but close. She had a sweet, oval face with soft, delicate features. However, despite her "sweet" look, her expression was sharp, filled with an arrogance and disdain that made her immediately unlikable.

  The man behind her was built like a tank, cd in heavy bck armor. He was clearly a high-level warrior-type Css User. He kept his head lowered, deferring to the girl’s every movement.

  The girl scanned the bun shop with the same look one might give a pigsty. It was a look of pure, unadulterated revulsion.

  The man beside her kept his gaze on the floor. "According to our investigation, this is the pce," he said in a low voice.

  "Considering the css in question is considered useless, it makes sense that the family’s circumstances would be... modest."

  "Modest?" The girl arched a brow, a mocking sneer curling her lip. "They’re living in a trash heap."

  Lucian’s eyes narrowed.

  Kara stood up, acting as if she hadn't heard the insults. She maintained a polite smile. "Are you two here for buns? I’m sorry, but the shop is closed for the day..."

  "Who would buy food here?" the girl snapped, cutting Kara off. She didn't even look at Kara, her eyes searching the back of the room. "We’re looking for someone. Does a boy named Lucian live here?"

  Hearing them ask for Lucian, Kara turned back to him. "Lucian, are these friends of yours?"

  Lucian stood up and shook his head. "No. I’ve never seen them before."

  He walked over to Kara’s side and fixed the girl with a cold stare. "I’m Lucian. Do I know you?"

  The girl looked him up and down, her contempt pin for all to see. "So, you’re the 'Dragon Tamer' I’ve heard so much about?"

  "That’s me. Who are you?" Lucian’s tone was just as blunt.

  "Hmph." The girl scoffed, offering no answer.

  The man behind her stepped forward. "This is Her Highness, Aurelia of the Taegeuk Kingdom. I am her retainer, Thorne, a Level 30 Knight."

  As he spoke, the man made his information public.Name: ThorneLevel: 30Css: Guardian Knight (2nd Advancement)

  An adventurer with a second css advancement was significantly stronger than a first-advancement Swordsman like Gareth.

  Lucian was taken aback. He hadn't expected two strangers from the Taegeuk Kingdom to show up in Riverport City specifically looking for him.

  Chloe stepped forward, whispering urgently into Lucian’s ear. "I’ve heard of this Aurelia. My dad got a notice yesterday from the higher-ups. A Taegeuk princess is coming to the Dragon Federation as an exchange student, and her flight was supposed to nd in Riverport City today."

  "My dad went to the airport to meet them personally. What are they doing here?"

  Lucian looked the pair over. "You sure they aren't just scammers using her name?"

  Chloe shook her head. "I don't think so. I caught a glimpse of her photo on my dad’s desk. That’s definitely her."

  "A princess?" Lucian said, skeptical. "A princess travels with only one Level 30 bodyguard? And why would she come looking for me?"

  "The Level 30 limit is a rule," Chloe expined. "Foreign royalty studying in the Federation aren't allowed to bring anyone over Level 30. It’s a security protocol. As for why she’s here... even my dad didn't know that."

  Lucian nodded. It seemed she was the real deal. He’d likely find out her reasons soon enough.

  Chloe was still unsettled by Aurelia’s presence, so she gave Lucian a quick nod and stepped away to call her father. Sis was supposed to be hosting her, so her appearing here was a major anomaly.

  While Chloe went upstairs to make the call, Kara—now knowing she was in the presence of royalty—felt a bit out of her depth. She hurriedly tried to py the host. "Please, Princess, have a seat—"

  "There's no need for that," Thorne interrupted, his voice cold. "Her Highness does not care for sitting in unclean pces."

  Kara froze, her face flushed with embarrassment, unsure of what to say next.