Time Travel? Rebirth? I Will Win This Time!

Five Days Later – The Morning

In his room, Mike Bai stood over a pile of black and yellow powder, stirring it constantly with a wooden stick. After mixing the powders thoroughly, he added some barley wine, carefully shaping the mixture into small balls with his hands. He placed them into a small wooden barrel, which already had a layer of black powder inside. Nearby, several other barrels, also completed, were stacked neatly. After a few hours of diligent work, Mike Bai sealed the last barrel and threaded a piece of cotton string through it.

"Finally done!" Mike Bai stretched lazily, his face glowing with satisfaction. "Tonight, I'll surprise Anna!"

He suddenly paused, his eyes widening as he remembered, "Oh, right, it's Sunday! I almost forgot—it's time to visit Uncle Otto!" He hurriedly put everything away and ran out the door. Outside, Patrick was already waiting by the carriage.

Once he confirmed he had everything, Mike Bai jumped into the carriage, waving back at Anna, who was excitedly greeting him from a distance.

"Mike Bai, don't forget my gift!" Anna called.

"Don't worry! It'll be beyond your expectations!" Mike Bai laughed, thinking back on the hectic days he had spent preparing her present. Finally, he had managed to craft both the purple dye and his "great creation."

"Anna will definitely be thrilled, won't she?" Mike Bai mused to himself as the carriage rolled toward Otto's place.

At Otto's House

"Little Mike Bai, back again?" greeted the familiar voice of one of the knights as Mike Bai hopped off the carriage, exchanging pleasantries with them. The knights, once dismissive of the nine-year-old boy, now respected him for his culinary talents and kindhearted generosity.

Mike Bai walked into the small home of Uncle Otto, a humble abode with just a bed, a cabinet, and a cross hanging on the wall. Otto was sitting by his bedside, praying quietly. Upon noticing Mike Bai, he offered a gentle smile.

"Uncle, how have you been lately?" Mike Bai asked as he sat beside Otto, casually chatting about the recent little things in life. Otto listened in his usual calm, silent manner, creating a warm, peaceful atmosphere between them.

"You really don't have to bring so much each time. Earning money is hard, after all," Otto said, shaking his head with a soft sigh.

"It's alright, Uncle. My textile workshop is nearly finished, and soon, I'll be able to lie back and make money every day!" Mike Bai replied with a grin, teasing a bit. Otto just shook his head again, a small smile on his lips.

As lunchtime approached, Mike Bai excused himself from the conversation and made his way to the kitchen of the knights' headquarters.

In the Knights' Kitchen

The kitchen was bustling, with ten chefs already waiting for him. Mike Bai raised his hands dramatically, and one of the nimble kitchen staff quickly wrapped a custom apron around him.

"Today we're making onion-braised beef. You there—chop the beef into small pieces," Mike Bai instructed, pointing to one of the chefs, who immediately got to work with respect and efficiency.

"Cut the onions, carrots, and cabbage into small pieces, you handle the beef for two sandglasses, and you—prepare the spices!" Mike Bai continued directing with practiced ease.

At first, the knights' chefs had underestimated the young boy, but after he had prepared a flawless red curry lamb for them some time ago, they had become his most loyal followers in the kitchen.

Once everything was prepared, Mike Bai stepped onto his specially made small stool to oversee the cooking.

"Honestly, after years of being chefs, you still don't know how to handle beef properly?" he asked, shaking his head at the butchered cuts. "When trimming the tendons, you must use a quick knife and cut against the grain."

"And this onion, it needs to be round, firm, and crisp! Are you all listening?" Mike Bai continued, instructing with an air of authority. The chefs nodded earnestly, paying attention to every word.

"Watch carefully—I'm only doing this once!" Mike Bai warned, then quickly set to work.

As the oil heated in the pan, a mixture of animal fat and olive oil released an intoxicating aroma. The beef sizzled as it browned, and the air filled with the scent of butter.

Once the beef had turned golden on all sides, Mike Bai added orange carrots and green herbs, stirring them gently. The ingredients swirled together like a painting, the colors blending into a vibrant masterpiece.

He poured a generous amount of onions into the pot with one hand, while the other hand lifted a bottle of wine and poured it in as well. Flames leapt from the pan, roasting the onions to a sweet, smoky aroma.

The chefs watched, wide-eyed, as Mike Bai worked his magic. The whole kitchen seemed to hold its breath, the rich scent of the dish overwhelming their senses.

"Food is the way to spread the light of the Lord and bring happiness to others," Mike Bai said solemnly, turning to face the chefs. "I will not tolerate anyone wasting food, do you understand?"

"Yes, Mike Bai!" they replied in unison, their voices full of respect.

In the Dining Hall

Later, in the mess hall, knights and staff savored their meal, each bite filled with the delicate balance of flavors: the sweetness of the vegetables, the tenderness of the beef, and the rich, hearty sauce that bound it all together.

Commander Odder, sitting nearby, watched the knights with a complicated expression. He turned his gaze to the plate of food before him, still hot and fragrant.

"Mike Bai's here again?" he mused aloud.

"Yes," replied Everfred, his mouth full, his voice muffled by food.

"Will he give us one of his 'sermons' about our frugality again?" Commander Odder wondered to himself. "Maybe we should stop letting him visit." But as he raised a spoonful of food to his mouth, he couldn't help but admit, "This is delicious."

Later That Afternoon

As the day drew to a close, Mike Bai stood by the entrance of the knights' headquarters, waving to Otto and the other knights. "No need to see me off, Uncle. It's a short trip, I'll be fine."

Otto, standing silently at the door, nodded and waved, but didn't speak.

"Take care, Mike Bai," said one of the knights.

"Don't forget to come back soon!" another called out.

"Come to us if you ever need help, little Mike Bai!" said a third.

Otto turned in surprise at the voices, wondering when the knights had gathered around.

"Thank you, everyone," Mike Bai smiled as he handed Otto a small wallet. "This is a modest contribution from the Adler family to support the knights' work."

"You've always been so generous with the Lord's work," Everfred smiled warmly, taking the wallet with a flourish. "You are truly a rare and devout believer."

"By the way, tonight, keep an eye on the southern sky. There's a surprise coming!" Mike Bai said with a wink.

Elsewhere in the Valley

As the sun set and darkness fell over the city, the air grew still. Far from the knights' headquarters, in a secluded valley, a vulture descended from the sky. With an air of regality, it strode across the earth, surveying its territory.

Suddenly, it froze, its sharp eyes locking on a movement in the bushes behind it. After a long pause, it turned back, unaware of the danger lurking behind.

Before the vulture could take another step, a shadowy figure darted out from the sand, seizing the bird's long neck. The vulture never had the chance to spread its wings and escape before its life was taken.

The figure threw the bird aside with disdain and let out three loud crow-like calls.

In an instant, hundreds of dark figures erupted from the earth, from the bushes, from every shadowed corner of the valley. Despite the growing numbers, the valley remained eerily quiet. A black cloud swept over the sky, and every figure dropped to the ground, moving with the utmost stealth toward the knights' headquarters.

They moved like shadows, silent and swift, undeterred by the soft, shifting sands beneath them, and their progress was masked by the roaring wind.

The Surprise in the Sky

Back at the knights' headquarters, Otto and the other knights gathered around, staring up at the southern horizon.

"What do you think Mike Bai's surprise is?" one of them asked.

"I don't know, but the boy has certainly learned a lot from the abbey's library," Otto replied.

"Really? I envy you for having such a clever nephew," said Everfred wistfully.

Suddenly, one of the knights shouted, "Look! A meteor!"

A low, thunderous rumble echoed in the distance. A dozen fireballs streaked across the dark sky, exploding into a dazzling display of colors. In a breathtaking burst of light, the sky was transformed into a chaotic sea of bright, shimmering blooms, like chrysanthemums in full bloom or dragons soaring through the night.

The knights gasped in awe, their eyes wide. But just as the sky erupted in light, something else lurked in the shadows below...

"Assassins!" Mike Bai and Otto exclaimed in unison.