Chapter 142: Breakfast

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"Hey!"

Watching the real estate agent leave, Mike chuckled and casually tossed the slip of paper aside.

Young people these days… always looking for shortcuts. 

Sighing, he turned around, only to see Charles and Erik staring at him with intense curiosity. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, "Why are you two looking at me like that?"

"Dad! Where did you get all that money? How do you have so much? Fury's payment shouldn't have come in yet, right?"

Charles still felt as if this whole thing was unreal.

Mike shrugged. "Ah, well, it just… sort of came to me."

He had some money of his own, then the White Queen insisted on giving him a massive thank-you fee, and Howard handed him a blank check with an astronomical amount. Before he knew it, he was rich.

Erik couldn't help but ask, "Dad, be honest… are you secretly a prince of some country?"

"How old are you? And you still have such childish thoughts?"

Mike crushed Erik's fantasy without hesitation.

"Dad, I have a very serious question for you." Charles rubbed his hands together. "How much money do you actually have?"

Seeing how Mike bought this estate without a care in the world, he didn't seem like someone who had just emptied his wallet.

Mike did a quick mental calculation and said, "I could probably buy another seven or eight of these."

"What?!" Erik practically shouted. "Seven or eight more?!"

Charles pressed his forehead. "Wait… are we actually this rich?"

The two brothers exchanged a glance, suddenly feeling the urge to cry.

Thinking back to their childhood—hesitating to buy toys, saving up to split a single meal, even working part-time jobs in college just to afford gifts for their girlfriends—they felt like breaking down on the spot.

"This much money isn't a lot," Mike said with a frown. "Compared to real billionaires, I'm still way behind."

At this rate of spending, the money wouldn't last forever.

The two brothers were speechless. So this… is our father's mindset? 

Mike secretly enjoyed their reactions but quickly straightened his expression and said seriously, "Alright, now that we've bought the land for the school, when do you plan to start enrolling students? When will you take action?"

Hearing this, the brothers forced themselves to set aside their sudden wealth and focused. After a brief silence, Erik spoke up. "I'll be leaving soon."

"Erik…" Charles murmured, his eyes filled with worry.

Leaving—he said it so casually, but only those who understood what it truly meant could grasp the weight behind those words.

"Let me know before you go," Mike said after a moment of thought.

Erik nodded. "I will."

"As for enrollment, we have to wait for the right opportunity."

Right now wasn't the time. The school had yet to prove its value, and opening admissions too soon would only bring unnecessary pressure and resistance from various forces.

Mike raised an eyebrow. "That opportunity… it's the Black Queen, isn't it?"

In their plan, the Black Queen played a crucial role.

The brothers nodded. Erik explained, "I'll be infiltrating the Hellfire Club, but I need time to earn their trust, establish my authority, and clear myself of suspicion when the Black Queen is eliminated."

Charles stroked his chin. "I'll wait for your signal. In the meantime, I'll find ways to make a name for myself."

The two nodded in agreement.

Mike checked his watch and clapped his hands. "Alright, that's enough business talk. Let's go fill our stomachs. I've got my eye on a restaurant nearby—"

Before he could finish, Erik suddenly interrupted, "Dad, let's go home. I want to eat your cooking."

Forcing a smile, he added, "I won't be able to come home for a long time."

Charles fell silent.

Mike nodded, a card materializing in his hand. With a single thought, a portal appeared before them, and the three of them stepped inside.

---

 *Three Days Later – The McCoy Home*

Early in the morning, Erik got up before dawn. He packed up his belongings, took a last look around his room, then closed the door and headed downstairs.

Quietly, he entered the kitchen and stood there for a moment, lost in thought, recalling past memories. Then, somewhat clumsily, he started preparing breakfast.

---

Inside Mike's room, he had already heard Erik get up. Using his super vision, he watched as Erik busied himself in the kitchen. A fleeting smile crossed his lips before he let out a quiet sigh.

Mike rested his hands behind his head, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, unfocused. Memories flickered before him, one after another.

The laughter of three children as they chased each other around the house.

The guilty expressions they wore when they got into trouble at school, avoiding his gaze as they stood in the teacher's office.

The first time they called him Dad. Their silly faces when they first learned to walk…

Even the moment he first met the three of them was still crystal clear in his mind.

But in the blink of an eye, they had grown up. They were already setting off on their own paths in life.

It was bittersweet, but…

Just thinking about how incredible they would become in the future made him feel unexpectedly proud.

Mike forced a small smile before letting out a deep sigh.

No matter how much he tried to reassure himself, he was still worried.

But lying here wouldn't solve anything.

Getting up, he washed his face and headed downstairs.

---

"Dad, you're up?"

From the kitchen, Erik poked his head out and gave Mike a nervous smile.

Mike raised an eyebrow and asked, "What are you sneaking around for?"

Erik quickly ducked back inside and emerged with two plates of breakfast, carefully setting them down in front of Mike.

Mike glanced at the food—it actually looked pretty decent.

Which meant… he had done this plenty of times before?

His sharp instincts immediately caught onto that detail.

"Dad, try it and see what you think," Erik said, handing over the utensils.

Mike nodded nonchalantly, but his reaction only made Erik more anxious.

Is he upset? 

Is it because I'm leaving today? 

A wave of melancholy washed over Erik.

Mike took a bite, then nodded. "Not bad."

So, it definitely wasn't his first time making this.

Erik broke into a smile, but the next second, his expression froze.

"So," Mike said casually, his gaze turning slightly dangerous, "I assume you made breakfast for quite a few girls back in college?"

Erik stiffened for a moment before his mind raced for an excuse. He quickly blurted out, "I was just using them for practice!"

Oh?

That reasoning… was airtight.

Mike couldn't help but chuckle. "You little rascal. Do I seem that scary?"

Erik shook his head. "I just… feel a little guilty."

Over twenty years, he had never really done anything for his father—except for this one breakfast.

Mike waved it off. "There's nothing to feel guilty about. I'm your dad, after all. Now, eat up. It really is good."

Erik nodded, watching as Mike ate with satisfaction. His heart suddenly felt a little sore.

At that moment, Charles stepped out of his room. He glanced at the two eating breakfast, forced a smile, then walked into the kitchen. A few moments later, he returned with his own plate and silently took a seat across from them, eating without a word.

(End of Chapter)