CHAPTER 54: KINDNESS

Max stared at the chubby man and wondered how he got such a beautiful wife. But then again, men like him were the most dangerous, so he didn’t want to take that risk by asking such questions.

As for his question, he just nodded and said, "Something like that! Uncle John... is she that divine chef who makes that heavenly food?"

John’s wife giggled at his remark and answered instead of John in her sweet, honey-like voice, "Yes, I am that Divine Chef, and thanks for the compliments."

Max blinked, reaching her in an instant and said in an utterly serious voice, "Then, please allow me to eat more of those heavenly dishes because they even allowed me to break through to Silver Rank. Food prepared by you is truly supreme."

"Quit acting, brat. Seriously, you disappear all night and day, then come to flirt with my wife? Get off!" John snorted and stood up, revealing his towering figure.

Max wasn’t small by any means as he stood at a decent height of 182 centimetres, but even he was dwarfed by this middle-aged man.

Standing over a head taller than him, John patted his shoulder and said, "Try that again and I will have your hands out of their sockets."

"Don’t scare off customers," John’s wife smacked his head, making him have a sulky face. She then turned towards Max and said, "You can just call me Aunt Melissa, and didn’t you say you were hungry? Wait here, and I’ll bring you something."

"Thanks, Aunt Melissa," Max thanked her and swiftly sat at the table to avoid John, who just scoffed at his attempt to hide and went to sit on his seat.

Though, Max wasn’t really scared of him, as he knew John wouldn’t kill him. He was just having some fun with Melissa, and the couple also saw it and played along with it.

Max was a pervert, and he himself knew that, but he still had some rules, which included that he would never go after women in a healthy relationship.

He wasn’t disgusting enough to break others’ happy and healthy relationship to get someone. That was out of line for him.

As he waited, John asked from his seat, "Were you practicing all day?"

"Yes, I had been trying to break through to Silver Rank for a while and finally succeeded yesterday and was consolidating my foundation," Max nodded and answered.

John’s eyes narrowed at him as he asked in confusion, "Then, why is your Mana still in that messy state? You hurriedly ranked up or what? No, that’s also not possible."

’The hell? He can sense all of that? No way I just got into some powerful couple’s restaurant by coincidence!’ Max’s lips twitched as he wondered what he should tell him.

His gears of mind spun quickly as he said, "I just have some minor problems with my Mana Veins, but don’t worry. I have some solutions in mind and will get well soon."

"Mana Veins? Are they blocked? Want my help in cleansing them?" John asked.

Max could sense the sincerity in his voice; he really would help him if he said yes.

Sadly, he couldn’t.

"Don’t worry, Uncle John. It isn’t that big of an issue," Max refused politely while remembering this favor from John.

His Veins could technically be cleared by a higher-ranked Hunter, but it would not only affect him but also the Hunter who performed that cleanse so John was doing a favour to him by helping him.

Of course, that wasn’t the reason Max declined. He could have asked Harley if he really wanted someone’s help in cleansing.

The problem was his Heart’s Desire.

If he let others cleanse his Mana Veins, then it would mean their Mana would enter and explore his body, which would ultimately result in them discovering the Heart’s Desire.

While John probably didn’t know about the Heart’s Desire, Max didn’t want to take that risk. Same was for Harley, as even though he trusted her character, there was just no way he was disclosing Heart’s Desire’s existence.

It could potentially lead to the death of his loved ones and himself. Heck, he wouldn’t be surprised if anyone declared war on the Starhaven Continent just because of Heart’s Desire.

The secret needed to be hidden away until he became powerful enough to contend against those major powers.

"Oye! Oyeeee! Did you sleep while sitting?"

Melissa’s sweet voice brought him out of his reverie, and his face turned slightly red in embarrassment.

He had actually zoned out while John was asking him something, and Melissa had brought the food.

Now, that was really embarrassing.

"Haha! I like that look on your face. Don’t worry, you can eat your dinner for now. You seem to have exhausted yourself, so I made this Silver Boar’s meat for you," Melissa smiled and said.

"Thank you, Aunt Melissa," Max smiled and began to enjoy the delicious dinner while the two of them watched him.

Melissa’s eyes were filled with warmth, and her smile seemed to lighten up the world. She was looking at him closely to see if he liked the meal or not.

On the other hand, John just gave him some silent looks, but Max was sure that there was concern in his eyes. He had noticed it when he came down, and now he was sure of it.

Max swallowed back the piece of meat, put down the chopsticks and asked, "Uncle John, Aunt Melissa, don’t get me wrong on this, but why are you kind to me? I doubt any Innkeeper is this kind to their customers and I’m sure you behave differently with others."

"Do you doubt our kindness? You think we have some ulterior motives?" John asked, narrowing his eyes at him.

"No, it’s just that... I’m not used to such kindness, so it was... strange," Max sighed and said. "It’s not that I hate it, but... I don’t know how to explain it."

He wasn’t lying, as previously Max didn’t have a single person who cared for him, and he also didn’t really have any connections after his grandmother died.

Melissa came towards him and lifted his face by holding his cheeks. Looking into his eyes, she asked, "Why are you so cautious?"

"Ain’t that a normal thing? Being cautious saves your life!"

"And being too cautious takes your life!"