I am a former Flame Chasers

Ryan soon realized he had made a mistake: Vil-V was more terrifying than the enemy.

After finally organizing his thoughts, he came down from the roof and found Vil-V proudly showcasing her latest creation. At first, he was intrigued, but when he discovered that her invention had nothing to do with combat or downloading data, he was utterly disappointed—it was just an automatic barbecue machine.

The machine could automatically attract flying birds, then pluck, clean, and roast them all in one go. While it still sounded somewhat impressive and could be considered a marvel in this small town, it wasn't exactly what he had hoped for. Even Ryan raised his fist at this absurd idea, smiling gently.

Vil-V was indeed a genius, but when would she ever understand the mood of the situation?

She kept insisting that after a long journey with only dry food to eat, she had lost her inspiration and couldn't think of a way to make a signal receiver.

"Are you threatening me?" Ryan narrowed his eyes, feeling like physically annihilating the "magician" and calling out the "self" that could communicate with him.

"No way, I'm very honest. If I can't do it, I can't do it." Vil-V rested her head on her hand, kicked a stone, and said nonchalantly, "At least the enemy will show up tomorrow. Do we really have to eat dry food again today? And you said not to be nervous."

As a wanted criminal, she was used to being hunted and had mastered the art of escaping while still having fun.

Ryan couldn't help but see some truth in her words, while Sakura gave a wry smile, recalling the unfinished chicken feet in the laboratory. The memory instantly caused the blood pressure of the Cocoon to soar. They had killed so many people, but no one had ever been as bold as Vil-V.

"It's precisely this kind of whimsy that makes her impossible to catch."

"What did you say?" Sakura asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I think she's right. We should remain calm, even when working. That's the security you bring. If we were the weaker party, she'd probably become a killing machine."

Ryan turned to look at her, not expecting Sakura to try to smooth things over. What she said was quite pleasant, and since he had no way of dealing with Vil-V, he decided to go along with it.

"I didn't expect you to be so considerate of others," Ryan said casually, then noticing Sakura's expression freeze. He didn't wait for her to refute and simply turned to Vil-V. "Alright, let's see your performance."

"Great! I've been waiting for you to say that." Vil-V cheered, and with her acting talent, she spun around twice on the spot, patted her chest, and caused a ripple of excitement. "Ladies and gentlemen, as the gears turn, and with thunderous applause—"

She paused, but the other two men remained expressionless, folding their arms and pouting. So, she quickly skipped this stage.

"Behold the magic!"

With that, she pulled the joystick, and Ryan watched in amazement as the machine sprang to life. The scene was almost magical:

A passenger pigeon, flying overhead, seemed to stagger into the large funnel, as though it was drunk. Feathers and blood burst from the other funnel, and as the conveyor belt turned, the poor pigeon was automatically sent into an electric furnace. Then, Vil-V's carefully selected seasonings were sprinkled on the bird, and the conveyor belt moved it along to be served.

The pigeon, once free, was now transformed into a perfectly roasted delicacy.

Ryan's nose twitched as he smelled the rich aroma. Though he couldn't fathom the science behind it, it truly felt like magic.

Oh my God, this Vil-V is really cunning. It would be incredibly powerful if this technology were used for the right purposes.

"Forget it. Mei will naturally handle this kind of thing from now on."

Ryan decided to let himself go. Or rather, the true strength of Vil-V lay in her wild ideas. If he took that away, everything would seem so mundane.

After a long wait, the electric oven made a "ding" sound. Vil-V, holding the tray in one hand, gracefully passed in front of them and turned in circles, proudly showcasing her creation.

"Can't you just eat it without any theatrics?"

"So where's the applause?" Vil-V retorted with a grin.

Ryan licked his lips and finally decided to indulge her desire for applause. He figured that, after all the fancy spectacle, it would be good enough if what she made from all that scrap metal was edible.

Clap, clap, clap.

When the applause finally came, Vil-V nodded with satisfaction and opened the lid to reveal the golden, roasted pigeon. Sakura took out the dagger from her leg ring, sliced off the two wings, and took a careful bite. She locked eyes with Ryan, who was equally surprised.

Wow, it really smells good!

The taste was simple but delicious. Everything from the heat to the flavor was spot on. It wasn't extraordinary, but it was definitely satisfying—something that could be called "delicious" from any angle.

"I like your expressions. They prove that this performance was very successful." Vil-V beamed with pride. The spotlight had been stolen by Ryan, but she was still basking in the glory of her performance.

Clap, clap, clap.

This time, the applause was a little louder, but Ryan's eyes were full of regret. If only Vil-V took things more seriously, her achievements might rival Mei's.

"Very good. I also welcome you to challenge CGMF-311."

"Wait, what is this?" Ryan asked, confused.

"Of course, it's an oven! The name's too simple. How about 'Pigeons Chasing Fire'?"

God damn, Pigeons Chasing Fire? Aren't you worried the Fire Moth will come after you? Ryan thought. This guy was getting bolder by the minute—was he trying to provoke them?

Before he could ponder more, Sakura had already stood up. Only some cleanly gnawed bones remained on the ground.

"Let me challenge you, Vil-V."

"Oh? You, a killer, actually dare to challenge me on something like this?" Vil-V raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.

To be honest, Vil-V was quite good at messing with people. Sakura stood there coldly, her expression unreadable.

"Please don't be so confident and don't think too much. I'm just returning the favor."

Ryan understood now why she was so fired up. It seemed she didn't want to owe anyone anything. Maybe she had obsessive-compulsive tendencies.

Ryan didn't know how to respond, so he chose to wait for her to leave. Vil-V was even more irritating than Mobius in some ways, and at least Mobius's coercion and inducement had some effectiveness.

He watched as Sakura built her stove, lit the fire with the thorns she had collected, then took a baby pigeon from the "Pigeons Chasing Fire" machine. She plucked its feathers, cleaned it, and slowly roasted it over the fire.

Compared to the cold, mechanical approach of Vil-V, Sakura's movements were careful and slow, lacking the exaggerated flair. Watching her work, Ryan realized the biggest difference between Sakura and Hua:

One was quiet, the other was dull.

The saying "quiet as a virgin, swift as a rabbit" must've been referring to her. It was interesting, to say the least.

Ryan sighed to himself, thinking how strange his "escape journey" had become. He wondered if the pursuers would vomit blood after seeing this scene.

But, how should he put it? Compared to the monotonous cycle of "kill, save, and kill again," this felt much more interesting.

He wasn't a masochist, and the life-and-death battle with the third Herrscher still haunted him. If he could choose, he would never relive that feeling of being on the edge of life and death again. Unfortunately, the Herrscher wasn't as easy to deal with as the Cocoon.

At least this felt better, as if he had returned to a simpler time of raising birds and watching sunsets.

With a self-deprecating smile, Ryan's attention was drawn back to the fragrance in front of him. Sakura had silently walked up to him, holding the pigeon that had been skewered on a wooden stick.

"Please try it."

Her voice was polite but devoid of emotion. Ryan didn't care, so he picked up the pigeon and took a bite. His eyes lit up.

This is delicious! It was much better than the strange machine-made version from Vil-V. It was truly amazing.

The cooking temperature was just right, enhancing the flavor. The spiciness was spot on, showcasing Sakura's keen observational skills.

Ryan usually smeared hot sauce on the dry food he ate on the road. It was his habit: the more unappetizing the food, the stronger the flavor.

"It's different for each person, and that's something a machine can never replicate."

"Thank you." Sakura responded, but her expression remained neutral.

"Hey, why do you think she won? I could've improved. This isn't fair." Vil-V grumbled.

"This isn't a competition. Winning or losing doesn't matter. Besides, I'm just speaking the truth. Machines can only learn from humans," Ryan rolled his eyes. He saw Vil-V biting her fingers in dissatisfaction, clearly deep in thought.

I think you could make a chef next time.

He turned his gaze back to Sakura, who was still standing nearby. "Don't you want to eat?"

"I've already eaten hers, so no need to waste more food. How about I take the first half of the night shift?" Sakura looked stern but not resistant.

The ideal attitude for cooperation was one where neither party owed the other anything, and neither hindered the other's progress. Ryan was content with this state and simply reclined his chair.

"Then I'll leave it to you. Remember to wake me up in the middle of the night."

Before Sakura could respond, she saw Ryan lying down with his hands behind his head, already snoring softly. His raised hand subtly lowered.

You are really rude. Or should I say, you trust me too much. Aren't you worried I'll take the opportunity to escape?

She wasn't sure whether this was confidence or arrogance. Did he really think she only had one way out? If she could, she would have his head on a platter.

Looking at Ryan, who appeared to be asleep—or pretending to sleep—Sakura didn't take action. On one hand, she was wary of his strength, but on the other hand, it was due to a deep-rooted pride.

Since you treat me sincerely, I will repay you fairly.

With a dignified air, she turned and walked over to Vil-V, who was still tinkering with the machine. "Do you believe me too?"

"I trust his judgment. I don't bother with meaningless things like this," Vil-V shrugged innocently.

Isn't this better than your broken machine?

Sakura fought the urge to complain, then saw Vil-V look up, her fair face covered in engine oil.

"If you're bored on night watch, here's something to think about."

"What is it?"

Vil-V smiled innocently, "For example, why does he want you to survive? It's an interesting question, don't you think?"

The desert was lonely, and the moonlight cold. Sakura glanced at the girl who was focused on her machine, then nodded slightly without giving any hint.

This is a question we should think carefully about.