From Uvogin's perspective, Arvin Locke's request was pretty excessive.
It was just like earlier, when Uvogin had been curious about Arvin Locke's strange power. When Arvin Locke told him to beg, Uvogin had gotten angry.
For people like them, lowering their heads to someone in public was harder than dying.
In Uvogin's mind, Arvin Locke probably didn't mean anything malicious.
It was just Arvin Locke's odd personality.
But for Phinks—
It could easily feel like blatant mockery and humiliation.
"So in the end, we'll still have to settle this with our fists!!"
Uvogin clenched his hands, already preparing for a fight.
At the same time, though, he suddenly realized something.
Maybe when Arvin Locke had asked him to beg earlier, it wasn't meant as an insult.
Maybe it was just Arvin Locke's way of doing things.
Or perhaps…
Some kind of special requirement or condition.
Uvogin's brain—far from as dumb as people assumed—began turning over the thought.
But in the next moment—
It was his turn to freeze.
"So you just want us to ask?"
Phinks snapped out of his thoughts and asked again.
After receiving confirmation from Arvin Locke—
"I see…"
He nodded seriously.
Then said clearly:
"Please give us the same kind of delicious, fragrant food that can fill our stomachs—just like the kind Uvogin had."
Phinks made his request without hesitation.
Uvogin: "????????"
Wait.
Bro?!
You told him to ask—
and you actually asked?!
Where's your pride?!
Where's that arrogant attitude you had earlier when you were shouting about fighting me?!
How did you end up like this over some food?!
Uvogin couldn't understand it at all.
But inside Phinks' mind, he was already sneering coldly.
Of course you can talk big—you're full.
Phinks only glanced at the stunned Uvogin and could already guess what that idiot was thinking.
You're stuffed and satisfied while we're still starving.
Of course you don't feel the urgency.
You're just a full man who doesn't understand the hunger of the starving.
You just finished eating and now you're acting tough.
"Besides, all he asked us to do was ask him politely."
Phinks didn't feel embarrassed at all.
Instead, he felt completely justified.
"What's the big deal about that?"
To him, Arvin Locke's request wasn't even a big ask.
When he was younger, he had gone through far worse humiliations just for a bite of food.
After all—
This was Meteor City.
This wasn't some playground where kids fought for fun.
People here really died.
Everyone fought for survival resources.
Especially food.
If simply asking politely could fill your stomach—
Then eight or nine out of ten people in Meteor City would gladly do it.
"Besides…"
Phinks looked at Uvogin again with growing disdain.
"Didn't you guys also get food by following this guy around?"
"You're literally eating thanks to him."
"And you're still trying to laugh at me?"
"Don't make me laugh!!"
Who the hell are you trying to mock?!
"Hey!! What kind of look is that?!!"
Now it was Uvogin's turn to get angry, shouting loudly.
But Phinks ignored him completely.
Right now—
Nothing was more important than food.
Feitan also remained silent.
Although this begging-like request annoyed him a little, he always stood on the same side as Phinks.
So he chose to respect his partner's decision.
Of course…
The main reason was still the smell of the food.
Especially when he saw Machi carefully scraping every last grain of rice from inside the black coconut fruit—
making sure not a single grain was wasted.
Feitan's throat rolled even harder.
"No problem."
Arvin Locke snapped his fingers lightly and smiled.
"Since there's a request, it will be fulfilled."
Coincidentally, he had been worrying that his stock of Plant Modification Agents was running low.
Food for the coming days wasn't guaranteed.
And now—
These two had delivered a new commission right to his doorstep.
That meant his supply would increase again.
"But there's one small problem."
Arvin Locke raised his head slightly, listening to the surroundings.
"You two were talking pretty loudly earlier."
"I think quite a few people heard it."
"Hm?!"
Phinks and Uvogin both pricked up their ears.
Sure enough—
They could faintly hear footsteps approaching.
There were even scattered voices drifting through the forest.
"What's that smell?!"
"It smells amazing!! Is the church cooking something new?"
"No… it's coming from outside the church!"
"Quick! Let's go check it out!"
"Maybe there's still something left!!"
More and more voices were approaching.
"It looks like we've attracted some attention."
Arvin Locke shrugged slightly.
"We'll have to relocate for now."
"But don't you need trees for those foods to appear?"
Machi, who had just finished her seafood fried rice, reminded him calmly.
"Other than here, the only place with trees would be the outer area."
"That's not necessary."
Phinks immediately spoke up.
"There's a rotten tree at Feitan's place."
"It's the one he uses as a stepping stool so he can stand on it and see a little higher—"
THUD!!
A fist suddenly smashed into Phinks' side.
"Talk too much."
Feitan, whose height only reached Phinks' waist, spoke his first sentence since arriving.
His voice was low and cold.
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