Trust

"Asem. We need cooks. A lot of them," Ed said as the citizens in front of him looked confused. They didn't know if the monsters coming were attacking them, or if they were hallucinating flying monsters. Some pinched themselves, while others enjoyed the view as if they wanted to keep dreaming.

Ed's companions had their own spatial rings. They could have entered the city with no one knowing anything about them, but Ed made sure they did so in a grandiose way. The city was dying, not only physically, but also mentally. Ed wanted for them to feel the joy of being alive again, and what better way to do so, then to fill their stomachs. Same as in the Bloody war, Ed adopted the method of food in order to reward people for their loyalty and their perseverance.

"You can't possibly be trying to feed the citizens all at once. Even if we have cooks, we don't have the equipment needed…" Helena intervened from behind. She didn't think Ed would try to do something so reckless. Even fighting 4000 people seemed easier, to her, compared to feeding them.

"You don't need to worry too much; I did say I will take care of the sect. And by cooks, I only meant people with general knowledge about food. I and my companions will take care of most of the work."

"Still, no one in the sect really knows how to cook…" Asem embarrassedly stated.

"Then how did you feed the disciples?" Ed turned around to look at him in a surprised way.

"The citizens helped us. We've never had to worry about food before, so…"

Asem's words caused an idea to spark above Ed's head.

'They should have a lot of doubts concerning me, so this should be the best opportunity…' Ed thought to himself before looking at Asem. "Then, please ask for the cooks to come from the people. Once they are available, notify me."

Asem nodded as he and the others descended and headed into the crowd in front of them. Only Barsine remained behind. She approached Ed and stood shoulder to shoulder with him. She wore an emerald silk dress that complemented her light green eyes. She was as old as Alexander, yet she seemed like she didn't lose her youth at all. If it wasn't for her previous coma, she would have looked much more beautiful.

"Thank you for doing this…" still overwhelmed, her voice cracked, as she struggled to keep herself from crying.

"You've seen what happened if I didn't do at least this, I wouldn't be able to meet Alexander."

"His body, where is it?" Barsine seemed to struggle the hardest asking this question.

"…I've been keeping with me ever since. I'll organize a funeral for him once things calm down a little in the city," Ed explained.

"I see…You know, I haven't seen him smile the way he did in your fight, for more than thirty years. I'm feeling glad even while mourning for him." Barsine couldn't keep fighting any longer, as her tears started to drop one after the other.

"I was glad to have fought him. As unfortunate as it was, we met as enemies. Had we met as allies…as friends, I believe I would have gained a friend and a mentor for life."

"I'm sure he would be glad to hear you say such a thing."

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"Edward Avalon, we are prepared." The old man that commented on Ed's power from before, approached him this time.

"I see. Then, allow me to address the people." Ed stepped to the front, causing the people to look at him again. "Everyone, in order to prepare everything, I will take us to another place. Don't worry, as nothing will happen to you."

Ed's words finished with the scenery around the plaza changing. A person in the crowd blinked, which caused him to freak out, as he found himself in a different place entirely.

"Those that will help us with cooking, follow me." Ed started to walk, but upon noticing how no one was following him, he turned around only to notice people gazing at him. "Uhm, we need to start soon…"

The people started to follow after him, even though they couldn't register what happened. Ed's companions were waiting for him ahead, near some cooking equipment.

Ed used his dimension creation ability without anyone noticing, but he simply stated that he 'teleported' the citizens. He didn't want to reveal such a strong ability of his when he didn't trust everyone yet.

Ed commanded people in the kitchen (his choice of words) like a certain Scottish cook. He made sure to prepare, not only food but also a show for the citizens. The children enjoyed watching him and his companions prepare the ingredients, while those that were powerful enough, realized the strength disparity by watching them cook.

The citizens that were cooking with Ed were horrified at first. Other than Ed, Emilia, and Bella, they were surrounded by all kinds of monster. However, as time went on, they realized that there wasn't much difference between them and the monsters. Of course, if they weren't following Ed's orders, things would have been quite different.

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After a while, everything was prepared, and so Ed used the thousands of Telekinesis threads he could create to pass the food around.

"Everyone, eat to your heart's content, and then some more! From now on, no one will have to suffer from hunger while I'm around!"

The citizens looked apprehensively at the delicacies being passed to them. Their brains struggled against their stomachs. The fear of the unknown vs. the strong pull of euphoria, the result was unclear.

A child put his hand to the front, trying to grab a piece of pizza that Ed created, for them especially, but his mother stopped him. She then realized that Ed might kill her, just for that act, so she looked at him in fear.

"You don't trust me, and I don't blame. However, I will-" Ed noticed her actions and tried to explain himself, but he was surprised to see Asem limping forward until he reached the mother and her child.

"Please, sir, just forgive my son!" The woman panicked, believing that she would be punished. But, nothing happened to her. In fact, she stared at Asem, who stuffed his mouth with the pizza that the child wanted to eat.

"I trust him, as the person to make my father experience the highest level of a fight. And I trust him, as the sect master," Asem declared as the tears that filled his eyes spilled down.

The citizens stared at Ed and Asem. And, before long, their hands reached out to the food. The joy of eating delicious food, mixed with the hope of a better life, and the memories of the past arduous couple of months. They cried, laughed, chatted, and finally, they bowed respectively towards Ed.