Chapter 105

Treya took a deep breath and introduced Rumno to Abel. "Abel, this is Rumno. He is currently..."

"I'm pursuing Treya," Rumno, a tall man with glasses and a gentle demeanor, stepped forward to shake hands with Abel. "I've heard Treya speak about you, and it's great to finally meet you. Hello, my name is Rumno, and I'm pursuing Treya."

"Hello, I'm Abel, Terea's son. But wait, you said 'pursuing'? I thought you two were already together." Abel felt a slight sense of relief at this.

"Treya is a wonderful woman," Rumno replied. "We've had some deep discussions and decided not to rush things. So, I'm still in the pursuit stage."

As soon as Rumno finished speaking, Treya interjected, "Alright, let's not dwell on this. We originally planned to come back and make something to eat. My dear, you just returned, so let's celebrate your return from studying abroad."

With that, Treya headed to the kitchen with the ingredients she had bought. After prepping, she went back to her room to change for dinner.

At that moment, Rumno followed Treya into the kitchen, beginning to assist her. Abel felt a bit awkward and decided to retreat to his room.

Once inside, Abel immediately retrieved a black bag from his backpack. Gently shaking it, he ensured the runes inside were well mixed. He narrowed his eyes and silently recited a mantra or natural prayer.

When the spell concluded, Abel poured out the runes he had crafted from carved stones and animal bones onto the table. Twenty-five runes were scattered before him. He selected nine of them, placing them upright in a three-by-three grid.

After arranging the nine runes, Abel closed his eyes and began to recite another spell quietly. His expression grew serious, even cold.

When he opened his eyes again, Abel returned all the runes to the black bag without making any noticeable movements. He resumed his usual posture at the desk, appearing to read a book as if nothing had happened.

In the year he spent studying magic in Asgard, Abel had learned a wide range of spells—not just combat magic but also healing, prophecy, transformation, and more. Among these, he had mastered the runestone divination, which involved the engraving of grace runes. This knowledge helped to address some of his previous shortcomings.

"Abel, dear, dinner is ready!" Treya called out.

Hearing her, Abel first took a potion, then got up and walked to the living room as usual. Treya and Rumno had set the table, and the aroma of the food was enticing. A genuine smile spread across Abel's face as he inhaled the familiar scents of dishes he hadn't had in a while.

"I really miss this!" he exclaimed.

Seeing the smile on his face, Treya smiled back. "Didn't you eat authentic Chinese food in Huaxia?"

Taking a seat, Abel picked up his fork and took a bite of the American-style Chinese dish, General Tso's chicken. The familiar yet unauthentic flavors reminded him of home, and he savored the taste.

"This is my mother's cooking; even the Chinese food in the middle can't compare to this," he said appreciatively.

Treya smiled and then invited Rumno to sit at the table with them to start eating.

Rumno poured red wine for himself and Treya, then handed a glass to Abel. "I heard from Treya that you prefer Pepsi over Coca-Cola. I personally like Pepsi too, so I think we could be friends."

Picking up the Pepsi, Abel nodded with a smile. "If you like Pepsi, then we should definitely be friends."

During his year in Asgard, there was no Coke available, making it almost irrelevant. Still, Abel found himself missing it, and he enjoyed the Pepsi as soon as he took a sip.

After several rounds of wine and a variety of dishes, Treya brought out desserts. Abel and Rumno each took a couple of bites before setting their forks down.

At that moment, Rumno glanced at Abel, then down at his watch. He smiled and said, "Honestly, I thought it would be more difficult, but now it seems I've overestimated you, Abel Shaw!"

Hearing Rumno's words, Treya frowned, looking confused. "Rumno, what are you talking about?"

"Treya, it's such a shame," Rumno replied with a hint of regret. "If this weren't a mission, I would love to spend more time with someone like you. But unfortunately, there are no 'if's' in this world."

Although Rumno's words were vague, the implications were clear. Treya grew furious and slammed her hand on the table to stand, but before she could rise, she suddenly sank back into her chair, feeling weak and unsteady. She realized she lacked any strength and struggled to even control her mouth and tongue, barely managing to stay seated and breathe.

Standing up, Rumno looked at Abel, who was also leaning back in his chair. He grinned and said, "I only gave the lady half the dosage since she's a woman. But you, as a powerful mage, are receiving three times the standard amount."

"I've studied your battle videos and gathered information. I know that a lot of your magic requires hand signs and incantations. I'm also aware that your magic is typically tied to a wand for casting, so I used this method to ensure you couldn't fight back. Hurting you and bringing you back safely also guarantees that you won't be able to retaliate against me."

In response to Rumno's words, Abel's eyes reflected indifference and calmness, while Treya looked dazed and bewildered, suspecting she might be dealing with a madman obsessed with magic.

Rumno pulled out a small box and took out a syringe, preparing to inject Abel. Just as he began to walk around the dining table toward Abel, the latter suddenly straightened in his chair and said, "Since you know I'm not an ordinary person, you shouldn't prepare to confront me with ordinary means. Your so-called 'triple dosage' is nothing more than a joke."

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