Mr. Zhongli, we can't slack off anymore!

Night fell without warning over the entire desert. The scorching heat of the day receded rapidly, replaced by a bone-chilling cold seeping from deep within the sand.

The air became crisp and dry, each breath carrying a misty white haze. The sand dunes, golden and soft by day, now appeared a cold, silvery-gray under the cool moonlight, their outlines hard and silent.

The only thing that could ward off the endless cold night was the crackling campfire in the center of the camp.

The orange-red flames leaped and licked the metal support above, not only dispelling the darkness within a radius of several meters, but also generously bestowing upon the people sitting around them a warm scent of pine resin and hay.

The firelight illuminated the faces of the discipline officers and mercenaries, their faces roughened by wind and sand, and etched with weariness.

Even more enticing is the aroma emanating from the food roasting above the flames.

On the makeshift grill, large chunks of meat sizzled as they roasted, dripping fat into the fire and igniting even more intense flames and a richer, more intense aroma. The complex scents, mingled with the unique aromas of desert spices, intertwined with the pure meaty fragrance of heated protein, filling everyone's nostrils and relentlessly stirring their empty stomachs, eliciting barely suppressed rumblings from their bellies.

"Everyone, the food is ready, you can start eating." Jin Moli's gentle and clear voice rang out amidst the soft sounds of swallowing.

Without anyone noticing, she seemed to have naturally taken over the logistics of this temporary team, arranging everything from food preparation to cooking and distribution in an orderly manner.

At that moment, she took off her apron, stood beside the makeshift dining table, and announced that dinner was served with a perfectly timed smile on her face.

As soon as she finished speaking, the men, already ravenous, moved almost simultaneously. They weren't fighting, but their quick and orderly movements of gathering around and grabbing food could be described as a mini "charge." After all, after a long day of hard work, the allure of a hot meal was unparalleled.

The traveler remained seated on a flat rock a short distance from the fire, wrapped tightly in the thick blanket that Jin Moli had given her earlier, and did not join the "enthusiastic rush" for food.

Anyway, I've prepared enough portions, so I can go over after they've all taken theirs.

She thought to herself, then found her sudden "reserve" a little amusing.

There's a saying, isn't there? If you pretend to be civilized for too long, you actually become civilized.

She shook her head slightly with a self-deprecating smile and wrapped the blanket tighter around herself.

"Vice Hall Master, it's time to eat." Jin Moli's voice rang out beside her. She had walked over at some point, carrying a wooden tray with dishes that were clearly different from the "communal meals" that everyone else was eating.

The dishes were more refined, and the pairings were more thoughtful: a small bowl of steaming soup, a few refreshing seasonal vegetables, and perfectly grilled ribs cut into bite-sized pieces. The temperature was also perfectly controlled, neither too hot nor too cold, just right for eating.

"Hmm..." The traveler took the tray, his eyes falling on the tempting food. The aroma filled his nose, but strangely, his stomach did not feel any desire. Instead, he felt a faint resistance.

She frowned, gently placed the tray on the stone beside her, and said in a low voice, "I've seen too many crime scenes and dealt with too many bodies today... I don't feel very hungry. I'll skip the food."

Contact with the dead was a familiar part of her "work." However, lately, she had been traveling to various places, busy with all sorts of "grand" missions and adventures, and it seemed that it had been too long since she had been able to come into such close and concentrated contact with the most primal and naked form of death.

That indescribable, intense scent, foreshadowing the complete demise of life, still stubbornly lingered deep within her nasal cavity. With just a moment's recollection, it would become clear again, overpowering the aroma of any food.

It seemed that after not doing these 'regular tasks' for so long, even her sense of smell and appetite had become rusty, or even resistant. She sighed silently to herself.

Jin Moli's smile seemed to freeze slightly for a moment, the gentle and concerned curve stopping at the corner of her mouth, and a barely perceptible ripple, similar to "the plan being disrupted," flashed quickly across her eyes.

But the strangeness vanished in an instant, and she immediately put on a gentler, more understanding smile again, saying softly, "Then I'll put it away for you in a thermal food container. I'll heat it up for you later when the deputy leader feels hungry. You'll need to consume a lot of energy at night in the desert."

"Okay. Thank you." The traveler nodded and then politely asked, "What about you? Have you eaten yet?" She noticed that the other logistics team members had already eaten with the search team members, so she casually asked them this question.

"Yes, I've already had a quick bite." Jin Moli replied, gently repackaging the traveler's untouched meal into a rather exquisite-looking insulated container.

Have you already eaten?

The traveler stared, somewhat lost in thought, at her slender figure as she turned and walked towards the tent where supplies were stored. In the midst of such busy camp preparations, when did she manage to find a moment to eat?

"Miss Jasmine! Come on over! I heard you haven't had a proper meal yet! There's still a seat here, come and eat with us!" Several seemingly cheerful mercenaries, along with two or three young disciplinary officers, appeared to have planned it beforehand and greeted Jasmine warmly, their voices filled with undisguised concern and eagerness. They quickly cleared a spot by the campfire, and someone even offered her hot soup and freshly baked flatbread.

Jin Moli, who was originally standing near the traveler, was instantly surrounded by this group of enthusiastic men. The traveler was even unintentionally pushed to the side by one of the big mercenaries.

Sigh... The traveler sighed silently in his heart.

Why is it that beautiful women are always surrounded by so many people?

Especially in this desolate and bitterly cold desert night, a gentle and considerate bright spot is enough to attract all weary eyes. She was already used to it.

She turned around and saw Seno walking out of the darkness on the outskirts of the camp, bathed in the cool moonlight. He was still wearing his signature jackal hat, and his expression beneath the brim was even colder and more austere than during the day, as if he were draped in the chill of the night.

"Well? Any other discoveries?" The traveler stepped forward and asked in a low voice.

Seno stopped in front of her, his gaze fixed intently on the traveler's face. After a two-second pause, he spoke in a serious tone, as if discussing a major case: "Hmm, I've discovered... in the desert environment, when hunting down criminals with the Water Elemental Eye, one must pay special attention to tactical choices."

The traveler seemed to have guessed what was going on, but still continued, "Oh? What do you mean?"

Seno spoke clearly and logically, word by word: "Because if you use fire elemental attacks on them..." He paused to make sure the traveler's attention was fully focused, and then solemnly revealed the answer: "Then, the criminals will vanish into thin air."

"Uh..." After a full three seconds, the traveler finally managed to squeeze out a few dry, lifeless laughs: "Heh, heh, heh..."

What time is it, and you're still pondering your lame jokes!

"Hehehe..." However, a clear, bell-like laugh, with the unique charm of a mature woman, came from the side, easily drowning out the traveler's awkward, dry laugh.

Jin Moli had somehow slipped away from the group of enthusiastic men and quietly returned to the traveler's side. She lightly covered her lips with the back of her hand, her gaze towards Seno filled with genuine joy: "How interesting. That metaphor... is brilliant. Mr. Seno, could you give me another one?"

Seno seemed quite pleased with Jin Moli's praise, nodding earnestly, "Yes, no problem." Then, he looked at the traveler and asked in a tone as if seeking his opinion, "Would you like to hear it too?"

The traveler was speechless for a moment, looking at Seno's serious expression that said "I still have stock" and at the gleam in Jin Moli's eyes that seemed to be full of genuine expectation.

The traveler wasn't particularly averse to lame jokes, but was more worried about the health of the disciplinary officer who had been running around all day and probably hadn't eaten a single grain of rice.

"We can tell the lame joke later." The traveler tried to make her tone sound natural: "Sino, you've been running all day, haven't you eaten yet? Go get something to eat first, it's important to replenish your energy." She pointed in the direction of the campfire.

“Yes, that’s right.” Sino nodded, but clearly had no intention of giving up his hobby: “I’ll tell you after dinner.”

The two walked together to the long table where the food had been laid out. However, it was now empty, with only some food scraps and grease stains remaining, glistening faintly in the firelight. The whirlwind speed at which they ate perfectly demonstrated the efficiency of this group of manual laborers.

Sino looked at the empty tabletop with no expression, as if he had expected it all along, or simply didn't care.

"You can have mine," the traveler said, immediately remembering the portion he hadn't eaten that evening. "Jin Moli saved one for me, but I didn't have an appetite."

This way, food won't be wasted, and Seno can have something hot to eat—a win-win situation.

"What would you like to eat, Deputy Hall Master?" Jin Moli lowered her head slightly, her gaze falling on the traveler's face, and asked softly.

"Didn't I say I don't want to eat right now?" The traveler waved his hand.

"Stop arguing." Seno's gaze swept calmly between the traveler and Jin Moli, and he directly offered a compromise: "Let's eat together."