Almighty Summoner System

Ciera also thought that she was hearing things when Ban said his plans. However, just like Yakob, she did not say anything else afraid that she might offend Ban in the process, leading to him not handing them the Demon Mushroom's body over. 

"So? What do you think about my proposal?" Ciera asked.

"You can discuss it with your group first before deciding…" Yakob said with a smile. 

In his mind, Ban was just a young lad. Even though it was clear that he was a genius, his group would also not let him decide on such an important matter on his own. He guessed that whoever was hiding may be fighting alongside him or secretly protecting him, they should be the real people who have a say to everything important. 

Ban kept on wondering why Yakob always thought that there were other people around other than him. Well, there was that woman, but he was still not sure if she was really on his side so it doesn't count. 

However, it was good that he was thinking about that as well. This way, they would be more cautious towards him. He thought that he should just continue to act that way.

"No need for them. Well, the Demon Mushroom's body is not important to me so I can give them to you if I have the Pure River Water. And if we can't obtain it, then just help us obtain an intact body of at least Elite Grade and F-Apprentice Rank. And as for how many, then you can decide how valuable the Demon Mushroom is to you guys and compensate us accordingly." Ban said. 

Yakob and Ciera nodded their heads. They felt relieved hearing that. 

"Then it's settled, let's set out tomorrow morning." Yakob said. 

Ban nodded his head as well. 

"Alright, I'll just be behind these trees but I can assure you that we will definitely wake up in time," Ban said. 

Just as he was about to get up and go back to the center of the trees, Yakob suddenly stopped him, offering for him to eat. 

"Ban, have you eaten yet? How about joining us for dinner?" 

"This… we have already eaten earlier!" He said.

"No need to worry about anything Ban, just join us for dinner alright? I can assure you that my cooking is one of the finest in Falcon City." Yakob said with a puffed chest. 

For him to have that confidence, then he might really have the ability to cook. 

On the side, Ciera just shook her head, and when Elder Yakob was not looking, she made an 'X' sign with his arms in front of her chest towards Ban, as if warning him of something. 

Ban was not an idiot. Even though he was lacking in some department, he could tell that Ciera was warning him of Yakob's cooking. He could tell that the two of them were quite close, based on the way she sat close to him earlier, and for her to act like that towards Yakob's cooking… Was his confident act earlier just a ruse? 

Although Ban kept declining saying that he was already full, after Yakob pestered him for a long time, he finally agreed to eat a little. He also reminded Yakob vaguely that only he himself would eat and not the others. 

Hearing that he finally agreed, Yakob finally relaxed and immediately went to the tent prepared by the other tree and started cooking their dinner. 

Ciera could only sigh on Ban's behalf. 

Only Ban, Eva and Ciera were left on the logs.

"If you have really eaten, you should not have accepted his proposal… I have tried his cooking multiple times before, and I can say that it was anything other than delicious." Ciera said with a look of pity on her eyes. 

"Well, he kept on insisting so…" Ban also realized this already after seeing Ciera's reaction. However, in the end, he was still forced to eat. 

"Anyways, just pretend that you ate them but just secretly throw the food away. Although it's quite wasteful, you should not blame yourself but Elder Yakob instead. He's the one wasting the food with such terrible cooking. I always do this trick every time he wants to cook, ever since then, I haven't experienced any stomach ache." Ciera said with a laugh. 

His cooking was that terrible? To think it could cause diarrhea… 

Ban trembled at that thought. Fortunately, Ciera warned him beforehand. He was truly planning to eat just a little of his cooking to satisfy him. But hearing what Ciera said, it looks like he should not actually let even a bit of it enter his mouth. His safety was the most important. 

However, Ciera might be exaggerating about it a little, but in any case, he should be careful.

"You might be doubting but you should look over there and observe the reaction of his students." Ciera laughed and pointed towards the tents. 

Ban followed her fingers and finally believed what she said. 

The three students have dismal expressions on their faces. From what he could hear, the three of them seemed to be trying to persuade him not to cook? 

They have a pleading look on their eyes, heck one of them has already kneeled to the ground, saying something like, "Elder, you're extremely tired traveling for the entire you should rest and let us, your students do the cooking!" 

His other two companions seem to be pleading the same case. 

However, to their disappointment, Yakob still decided to cook dinner tonight. His reasoning was quite simple, "Nonsense, my cooking ability has been praised multiple times by the Lord himself. If I don't cook personally for our guests, young Ban here, wouldn't that be an insult to him? Move to the side and observe me cooking, this way you guys might be able to learn a thing or two." 

The three students could only cry in silence. 

'It was because we were afraid of you poisoning our guests that we won't allow you to cook…'

'What do you mean learn a thing or two... What do you want us to learn, food poisoning?' 

Nevertheless, they were only the students. If they tried to voice out their thoughts, they're afraid that the D-Master Rank Yakob might beat them into a pulp.

Ban secretly wiped the sweat rolling on his neck seeing that scene. 'I must not let even the aroma of the food enter my nose, it's better to be safe.' He secretly vowed to himself.

"Wait, if you don't eat his cooking, then what do you guys usually eat when he's the one cooking?" Ban inquired.

"Well, I'm already prepared for this to happen so I secretly sneak some food on Storage Pouch for such occasions… The three of them are also well aware of this so they might have also done the same thing." Ciera laughed softly while pointing at the Storage Pouch tied on her waist. 

She then took some of the food she secretly saved and to Ban's surprise, it was actually just some hard meat jerkys. 

Ban felt pity for her. To forcefully eat some hard meat jerky just because the food prepared might as well be called poison…

"Wait a moment, I'll get some food for you!"