Hearing Wise's skeptical question, Belle, who had been sitting upright, suddenly put on an Oscar-worthy performance, her face twisting into a wronged expression.
"Bro! How could you think of your dear little sister that way! Have I ever done anything to wrong you?!"
Although Belle's expression was utterly sincere, Wise wasn't moved in the slightest.
"If you hadn't secretly used my credit card to top up your account at the Golden Finger, I might have actually believed you."
Seeing that playing the sympathy card had failed, the exposed Belle tilted her head to the right, balled her hand into a fist, and lightly tapped her own head, feigning ignorance.
"Ehehe~"
Watching Belle's antics, Wise couldn't help but cover his face and shake his head helplessly, finally letting out a sigh.
'She's my sister, after all. Forget it, forget it.'
To his good friend who had nearly suffered a dual mental and physical blow in a single morning, Andrew offered some words of comfort:
"Well, at least you managed to dodge a bullet this time."
"That's not comforting at all!"
After getting confirmation from Andrew and Belle, Soldier 11 decisively picked up the bowl of hellishly spicy ramen. Under Anby's slightly nervous gaze, she delicately lifted a small portion to her mouth.
The moment it entered her mouth, the spiciness exploded, filling her entire palate. The intense stimulation was an impact Soldier 11 had never experienced before.
The first taste was a spiciness so intense it could almost obliterate any other flavor. As is well known, spiciness is a form of pain.
As Soldier 11 chewed, a unique sensation pulsed from the tip of her tongue. But she didn't dislike this feeling; in fact, she quite enjoyed it.
The capsaicin stimulated her mouth, sending constant signals through her nerves to her brain. As her brain was stimulated, endorphins began to be released in her body.
A feeling of euphoria rose within Soldier 11.
She didn't know what this feeling was called yet.
But pure spiciness alone wasn't enough to captivate her. After the initial wave of heat subsided, a complex array of flavors followed.
Besides the heat, the first thing she noticed was the fragrant umami from the concentrated shrimp oil, followed by the rich, mellow flavor brought by the oil itself.
And as she chewed the noodles, the next thing she experienced was the unparalleled firmness of the handmade ramen.
As her teeth bit through the ramen, the firm yet springy noodles danced in her mouth. The perfect texture was utterly intoxicating for the first-time eater.
Then came the fragrance of the wheat flour.
This wheaty aroma was like solid ground, giving all the other flavors roots, allowing them to complement and build upon one another.
And as she finished chewing, saliva broke down the starch into sugar. As she swallowed, a hint of sweetness cut through the lingering spiciness in her mouth.
All of it combined to create a perfect eating experience for Soldier 11.
From that moment on, Soldier 11 completely fell in love with the flavor of spice, and with the food known as ramen.
Under Anby's worried gaze, she ate the noodles bite by bite, savoring every mouthful.
For every member of the Silver Squad, these meals at the video store were a revelation. It was like someone who had survived for years on nothing but stale crackers suddenly being served a gourmet feast.
No matter what they were eating, the sense of salvation from escaping a culinary wasteland, the sheer impact of that moment, was something an ordinary person could hardly imagine.
After savoring the last noodle, Soldier 11 didn't even spare the broth, causing Andrew and Anby, who were watching from the side, to raise their eyebrows.
Soldier 11 looked up and suddenly noticed her beloved captain and new commander, Andrew, staring intently at her. She glanced from side to side, then reluctantly pushed the remaining half-bowl of broth towards them.
"Do you want some? I can share."
Staring at the broth, which still exuded a terrifying aura, Andrew and Anby decisively waved their hands.
"No, no, you go ahead, Soldier 11. Don't mind us."
Not seeing any problem, Soldier 11 nodded at their reply, pulled the bowl back, and continued to drink it in small sips.
Finally, completely satisfied, Soldier 11 put down her bowl and subconsciously rubbed her full stomach. Even the perpetually stern expression on her face had softened.
She couldn't help but sigh in contentment:
"Ramen... is truly the most delicious food in the world. However, I lost my resistance because of it, and my combat effectiveness has dropped significantly compared to my normal state. This is unacceptable."
But this state didn't last long. Soldier 11's expression quickly returned to its previous severity.
"A lapse in self-control has led to a degradation of my optimal condition. I will conduct extra self-discipline training once I've recovered."
While the other squad members didn't argue, unnoticed by Soldier 11, a thick, lamentable barrier had already been erected between them.
It was like a Fire-element user suddenly appearing in an Electro-focused Silver Squad.
Andrew, trying to stifle a laugh, pushed down Belle, who was holding up her phone with a caption typed out behind Soldier 11's back. The group quickly finished off their own ramen.
Andrew once again devoured twenty-five bowls, much to the envy of the Silver Squad. Having just discovered the joy of eating, their biggest frustration now was that their stomachs were too small to eat more.
After a very hearty breakfast, Andrew placed the three addresses he had just received from Lycaon in front of everyone.
To be precise, in front of Anby and the sibling duo, Belle and Wise.
After a brief explanation, Belle and Wise were brought up to speed on what had just happened, though Andrew didn't elaborate on the underlying implications.
After all, it was part of an unspoken understanding between him and the Mayor; spelling it out would be inappropriate.
"I can't believe it. We were so careful, but we still got found out."
Belle slumped onto the table in frustration, her fair, soft face squished into a little pile, looking quite adorable.
"It can't be helped. He's the Mayor, after all. His control over New Eridu is bound to be extensive. Plus, with a group as large as ours returning, it would be weirder if someone determined didn't find us."
Andrew rubbed his chin and continued:
"The fact that only the Mayor's people have come looking for us so far probably means he's already blocked a lot of others who were trying to track us down."
"Mmmph..."
Although she looked extremely reluctant, Belle flopped around like a salted fish a couple of times before finally accepting reality.
"But based on what you're saying, Andrew, does this mean my brother and I haven't been exposed as Proxies?"
"From Lycaon's behavior, it seems that way. From start to finish, he seemed to believe you two were just my friends helping to shelter them."
Andrew nodded, confirming Belle's suspicion.
____
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