The villain, caught in a chaotic situation, only wants to boost his popularity.

In the dead of night, the pitch-black media player suddenly lit up.

The cold fluorescent light illuminated a line of large characters:

Episode 3: Bloodthirsty Fog Assault, Premiering!

Then the camera angle changes.

Somewhere, in the deep night sky, a bright, full moon shines.

Under the bright but not glaring moonlight, a figure was seen fleeing in a disheveled state.

"Heh...heh..."

Her back heaved violently with each breath, producing heavy panting sounds.

Blood was seeping from the bite marks on his arm, and the bright red drops of blood hit the ground, splashing up fine dust.

She scanned her surroundings warily, her pupils slightly contracting with tension. Confirming there were no pursuers behind her, she quickly pulled out her specially made intercom:

"Purple-tier Operator Agility! Sector 11 is under attack by an unknown demon... Requesting reinforcements! Requesting reinforcements!"

But unlike before, there were no familiar responses from the intercom, only crackling white noise.

Min suddenly looked up, her heart clenching.

Suddenly everything went dark, and the moonlight disappeared!

She discovered that she could no longer see the full moon overhead!

A thick, black fog, like ink that couldn't be dissolved, filled her field of vision.

The fog seemed to be "alive," stickily wrapping around her arms.

"Ah!!!!" she cried out in pain.

The moment the black mist wrapped around her arm, a faint "sizzling" sound came, like a leech's sucker clinging tightly to her skin and slowly "sucking".

She could clearly feel her spiritual energy being gradually drained away by the black mist; her once warm arms turned icy cold, and her strength was slipping away.

She swung her arms vigorously, but the fog seemed to be glued on, becoming tighter and tighter the more she swung.

"Who are you...!? How did you manage to catch up with me!!!"

Despite possessing the psychic power of "Godspeed," she was completely unable to shake off the long-haired, purple-haired enemy wearing a vengeful ghost mask behind her.

Silence fell, and no one responded.

She stared intently at the outside of the black mist, as if hoping to see through it!

But the black aura did not stop because of her words.

Instead, it continued to entangle her, constantly bringing a suffocating sense of oppression—like being coiled around by a cold snake.

"Clatter..."

A dull thud was heard as something fell to the ground.

...............

The sky was just beginning to lighten, and the morning mist had not yet dissipated.

Holy Spirit Bureau, Cooking Level.

A girl with snow-white hair is standing in front of the kitchen counter.

She stared intently at the book in her hands, as if solving a math problem.

Her fingertips slowly traced the pages of the book, and she unconsciously murmured, "Hmm... finely shred it, soak it in water to remove the bitterness!"

"Hmm... stir-fry over high heat..."

Before he could finish speaking, light footsteps sounded behind him.

"Xiaoxue? You're up so early?" A gentle voice came from the doorway.

"Huh—Chief!" Xuehua exclaimed in surprise, hurriedly hiding the book behind her back.

"N-nothing! I'm... I'm practicing with Stigmata! Yes, Stigmata!"

As she slowly approached, her classic maid outfit accentuated her gentle yet dignified demeanor.

Her eyes were smiling, but her tone carried a hint of mischief: "Oh? Practicing Stigmata... why are you on the cooking floor? Shouldn't you be in the combat training grounds?"

Xuehua opened her mouth, but before she could explain, Suijiu chuckled and stepped forward, putting one hand on her shoulder and naturally taking the recipe she had hidden behind her back with the other.

"Let me teach you!" Sui Jiu neatly tied on her apron, her tone cheerful, yet considerately refraining from asking why—as if she had already seen through the girl's little thoughts.

…………

"Look, this is how you hold a knife: relax your wrist and follow the grain—"

With practiced ease, she picked up the cleaver and her movements were fluid and graceful. In an instant, the potato was transformed into fine, even strands that fell like silver threads.

"Looks so easy! I can do it too!" Xuehua confidently took the knife.

"Knock knock knock—"

Thirty seconds later—

"Oh dear! Director, why are these shreds cut so thin?!" She looked at the unevenly cut and varied "potato strips" on the cutting board, and covered her head in confusion.

"You haven't... never chopped vegetables before, have you?" Sui Jiu raised an eyebrow.

"Though I've never chopped vegetables!" Xuehua puffed out her chest, her tone proud, "my Holy Judgment has chopped off countless cultists!"

"How can that be the same!" Sui Jiu sighed helplessly, rubbing her forehead. "Fine, just use the ones I cut."

"No! This is for Jing..." Xuehua blurted out, then realized she had let something slip and hurriedly covered her mouth.

Sui Jiu's smile deepened as he gently took her hand, his voice tender yet sly: "Xiao Xue, you see right through me. The best way to win a man's heart is through his stomach."

"Let me teach you properly, and I promise that from now on, Jing-jun will only eat your cooking!"

Her fingers covered Xuehua's fair hand, guiding her to adjust her grip on the knife, her knuckles slightly bent, her strength steady.

At first, the knife was a little clumsy, but soon, the blade made a crisp and regular rhythm on the cutting board—thump, thump, thump, as firm as a heartbeat.

"See, it's very simple, isn't it?" Sui Jiu encouraged. "Xiao Xue will definitely be a virtuous wife in the future!"

"Hehehehehehe! A... a virtuous wife?!" Xuehua's face instantly turned red, and she waved her hands shyly, "I... I never wanted to be Jing-kun's wife!"

"Snap—!"

A crisp sound came from the wooden frame snapping instantly.

Xuehua was momentarily distracted and used too much force, breaking the chopping board in half.

…………

"The oil needs to be heated in the pan first to prevent it from burning."

"Hmm... Hmm..."

"Then add salt and light soy sauce, just a little bit to enhance the flavor."

"Director!" Xuehua raised her hand to ask, her eyes sparkling, "How much more?"

"Oh dear, I forgot to mention the amounts!" Sui Jiu slapped her forehead lightly. "About two to three tablespoons of oil, a small spoonful of salt, and half a spoonful of light soy sauce will do."

"Hmm... Hmm..." Xuehua nodded frantically, like a little bird earnestly pecking at rice.

—From now on, Jing-kun can only eat the food I cook!

—What if Kagami confesses to me right after he finishes eating…? Should I say yes immediately, or…?

—Wouldn't it seem too hasty to agree immediately?

—Hehehehehe, Jingjun's eating expression is so cute! I really want to pinch his cheeks.

"Xiaoxue! Xiaoxue!" Sui Jiu waved her hand in front of her eyes, pulling her back to reality from her pink bubble. "Too much oil!"

"Oh dear—!"

…………

Ten minutes later.

Xuehua stared blankly at the plate of "stir-fried shredded potatoes with pork" that was glistening with thick oil.

She listlessly clutched the corner of her apron, her voice so low it was almost inaudible: "Next time... I'll definitely do better next time."

She gritted her teeth, preparing to devour the entire "masterpiece"—

Sui Jiu stopped her, gently pressing her hand, his tone tender, "The sentiment is never in the taste. This is the first dish you've ever made yourself; you should tell Xiao Jing about it."

"But... what if Kagami hates me because of this?" Xuehua's eyes were slightly moist.

"If he rejects you because of a single dish," Sui Jiu said seriously, "then I wouldn't feel comfortable entrusting you to him."

Xuehua froze, then lowered her head, pursed her lips, and muttered softly, "But..."

"Alright, alright, I know Xiaoxue wants to do well." Suijiu ruffled her hair.

"Next, I'll teach you three of my signature dishes—I guarantee he'll want to lick the bowl clean!"

………………

The sixth Holy Spirit Bureau, the accommodation floor, outside the temporary residence of Shepherd Mirror.

Xuehua paced back and forth in the corridor.

Finally, she took a deep breath and gently knocked on the door.

"Kyo-kun!" The voice was full of excitement and anticipation.

Soon, the door opened.

When Xuehua saw the scene inside the room, her smile froze, and her face suddenly turned gloomy, as if shrouded in a thick layer of black mist.

She said, feeling wronged.

"Kagami-kun, why...?"