Andrey’s nights were always dead silent and shadowy, but tonight, the light cast those lurking demonic shadows onto the barren ground, and the wails from beneath the gravestones turned the night’s dampness into frost fog.

Like ghouls returning to their crypts after a revel, one by one, roaming specters moved to their predetermined positions.

"Excuse me, this is my seat."

"What are you babbling about, does this seat have your name on it?"

"No, but I like this patterned purple tablecloth, and I must sit here."

"What a coincidence, I happen to like it too, so I’m sitting here!"

The two quarreling figures stared at each other, their uncompromising attitudes making it seem as if the dispute would never end.

But, contrary to expectations, they soon found a mutually acceptable solution.

They detached their pelvic bones and lower bodies, placing the pelvises side by side on the chair. Their upper bodies, meanwhile, were tossed onto a temporarily arranged table, gazing with satisfaction at the purple cloth beneath.

"Look, when my pelvis is on top, it’s like a piece of art."

"Yes, I feel the same."

Mr. Dean shifted his gaze away from the two liches who had come to an agreement.

"I’ve always emphasized the issue of discipline in Andrey, and ever since Andrey’s establishment, I’ve felt that the liches’ standards have dropped."

"Really? You should’ve said something earlier. Just tell me, and I’ll help you educate them," said Mr. Raymond, sitting opposite Mr. Dean and swinging his arm.

"Don’t even think about doing anything! Why do you think the liches of Andrey have such low standards, if not for you, you bastard, trampling and crushing their dignity! If my skull shone eternally like the sun, I too wouldn’t know what dignity is. You are the root cause of all this! You have to stay by my side! This is an academic gathering! I won’t allow any mischief!"

Raymond propped his hand against the table, "This is the Plague Doctor’s academic gathering, I won’t cause any trouble, and if it weren’t for the organizer being my purifier, I wouldn’t bother coming to a place like this."

Bone lanterns perched with light bats lit the way, as tables spread out like damp mushrooms across the forest floor, each surrounded by two chairs, and supplemented with tablecloths and cutlery for decoration. At least, all these seemed unnecessary ornaments to liches.

In front of these utensils, the coarse veins on the surface of the Blood Nest Great Tree writhed, pulsing like a heart.

"These are all that child’s arrangements, but what for?" The dean picked up a silver fork and idly endowed it with a dozen magical enhancements until the fork glowed with an exceptional radiance.

"That child?" Raymond looked at the dean, tapping his fingers on the table as Holy Light tinted it golden.

"Mr. Plague Doctor. Have any objections? He’s a member of Andrey, which makes him my child."

"No objections," Raymond picked up two metal rods from the plate, casually weighing them, "Of course it’s for eating. Don’t you think this looks like the setup for a dining room?"

"Now I’m starting to look forward to it."

As the liches conversed among themselves, the Blood Nest Great Tree underwent a new transformation.

The acidic blood plasma encasing the surface flowed out like juice squeezed from a burst pomegranate, revealing the honeycomb structure underneath, directly facing the room full of liches where Lyle stood in the honeycomb lab, greeting the audience.

"Pleasure to meet you, gentlemen. I am very delighted to share the results of my research with you, ’Hungry Flesh’."

Lyle stood on the high platform of the Blood Nest Great Tree and began explaining his research ideas and process to the crowd. Knowledge from Spirit Summoning Studies pertinent to his work was also briefly explained, deepening the liches’ awe and admiration. With the dedicated support of a few masters of Spirit Summoning Studies, Lyle’s knowledge in the field had reached new heights.

"...That said, my experimental results, in theory, can grant you the ability to reclaim the rights to hunger and dining, allowing you to re-experience the flavors of life."

"And this, is my achievement."

Lyle wore a proud smile, made way, and, reaching out toward the shadow behind him, extended his palm.

A hand as translucent as a ghost’s settled into Lyle’s leather glove, and the lightweight gauze that covered the entire body was dyed crimson under the blood-red moonlight. The devilish charm began to act upon the soul flame of the Liches as she stepped out of the honeycomb laboratory, just like a princess stepping onto the terrace of her castle, waiting for the poet to sing praises of her beauty.

"That’s Alianna!"

"Alianna!" 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The appearance of Alianna caused quite a stir. Lyle was very pleased with their surprise, but it was only the beginning.

"Alianna, I’m going to start now."

Upon hearing Lyle’s voice, Alianna, hidden behind the veil, nodded. Lyle took the edge of the veil, stood beside her, and slowly lifted his hand. He could see a slight undulation on the veil—the rhythm of her breathing.

As the veil was completely lifted, gasps arose from below.

Revealed under the moonlight was a face of icy purity. Her black hair was pinned up at the back of her head with curls clinging to her cheeks. Her skin was as white as snow, eyes deep blue, lips a soft pink. She looked as though she had stepped out of a painting, an amalgamation of the Saintess’s sanctity and alluring features.

Alianna shot Lyle, who was secretly snickering aside, a glance and, expressionless, picked up the hem of her dress then curtsied to the assembly of Liches.

"Gentlemen, my name is Alianna of the Cup of Luxury. It is my great honor to meet you all in my new form."

Lyle, accompanied by Alianna, headed to the dinner table that was prepared in advance, arranged no differently from the one in the opulent cup. All eyes of the Liches were on Alianna, appraising not just her beauty but also her human-like appearance.

Lyle pushed her chair towards the table. Only one step remained.

The experiment with food.

Lyle actually felt nervous, as it was Nia who proposed this part.

He wasn’t sure if he had offended someone, although he did agree indeed.

With an uncertain tone, Lyle looked at the table.

"Mr. Raymond?"

Raymond shot up to his feet with a swoosh.

As Raymond stood up, the Dean also stood up with a snap, and the Liches at the nearby table reflexively fluttered under their table, a conditioned reflex to avoid the strike of the Holy Light.

"Raymond, what are you doing!" The Dean’s staff glowed, ready to start a fight at any moment.

Raymond raised his arm, and a golden glow appeared in his hand.

"I’m going to cook."

Mr. Dean stood in place dumbfounded, no longer stopping Raymond’s movement.

Raymond walked up to the table of Lyle and Alianna, the orb of Holy Light in his hand not dissipating. Then, intense Holy Flames erupted from Raymond’s hand, and as he gyrated his body like in a battle dance, the orb of Holy Light burned within the flames.

It finally landed on Alianna’s plate.

It was a steak gleaming with light, the color of it identical to honey—the Holy Light steak.

Raymond patted his chest armor with a thud.

"Luminescent cuisine, Valkyrie Holy Flame steak. Please enjoy."