Luna froze for a moment, then shook her head. "I don’t think that’s necessary. Why would you always need to be prepared to kill someone? We practice martial arts, but most of the time it’s better to stay relaxed."

Andrew only smiled and said nothing. For most people, training was about balance and peace of mind. But for him, things were different.

Tonight, or perhaps very soon, he would need to take action. He would need to kill Jaden, one of Guillermo’s loyal dogs. There was no room for relaxation in his world.

With Brielle away, Andrew planned to make the most of his time at Sovereign’s Apothecary. The ninth-grade supreme elixir he wanted to craft required materials so rare and expensive that collecting them himself would take years.

Luckily, this was the country’s largest alchemy institute, and its storerooms were overflowing with precious ingredients.

Before noon, a cheerful voice rang out from the entrance. "Andrew, I’m here!"

Isabelle bounded into the courtyard carrying a box of pastries.

Andrew chuckled. "You’re as loud as ever. What brings you here this time?"

Isabelle did not answer right away. Instead, she glanced at Luna, who was sitting nearby, and a flicker of irritation crossed her eyes before she smiled sweetly.

"Of course, I came to see you, Andrew. Anything that involves you is what matters most to me."

Andrew coughed lightly, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Isabella was acting strange again, and he wondered if she was deliberately saying that for Luna to hear.

Nonetheless, he wisely chose not to respond.

Luna had already set aside her work and was staring coldly at Isabelle.

Ignoring her, Isabelle walked to the table and opened the pastry box. Picking up a piece, she smiled brightly.

"Here, Andrew, try this. My mom made it, and it’s the best in all of Chetvine."

Andrew gave a helpless smile. "Alright, I’ll try it. But put it down first, I can take it myself."

Isabelle shook her head with an innocent look. "It’s fine! I’ve already picked it up. You can just eat from my hand. Don’t worry, my fingers are clean. And if you happen to lick my fingers, I won’t mind at all."

Andrew choked on his own breath. This brat was getting bold.

Luna stood up abruptly, her voice cold and flat. "I’m going to get lunch now. You two just take your time… playing."

The word "playing" came out sharp and crisp, slicing through the air.

Andrew called quickly, "Wait, General Phelan. There’s plenty. Why don’t you try one too?"

Chapter 2409 +25 BONUS

Luna stopped and looked back at him with a blank expression. Isabelle did not speak either; she just turned her gaze toward Andrew’s face, expressionless but icy.

For a moment, the three of them stood locked in place, their stances forming a perfect triangle of tension.

Time felt painfully slow for Andrew, and each second stretched out for what felt like forever.

What the hell was this feeling? He could sense two sharp waves of killing intent aimed straight at him.

Isabelle broke the silence first, letting out a cold laugh. "Andrew, I don’t want to share your affection with anyone. If you do, I’ll be mad."

Luna fired back instantly. "Andrew, I don’t mind if you feed me your food yourself, or even share it with me alone… But I don’t need someone else’s leftovers, and I won’t accept them."

The two women exchanged sharp glares before both let out a dismissive snort and turned away.

Luna strode off toward the cafeteria for lunch, while Isabelle crossed her arms, puffed up at a distance. She refused to even look at Andrew.