Chapter 415: Amulet of Protection After returning to his house, Noah realised that a new day had actually arrived. He’d entered Esta quite late in the previous afternoon, and the time he’d spent exploring the city with Lola, conducting the hunting expedition, and then managing the extended evening business hours with the nobles. The sky outside showed the pale grey of early dawn rather than the darkness of night. He didn’t bother trying to sleep at this point—his enhanced vitality made him feel reasonably alert despite the long day, and his internal clock was already adjusting to the new morning. Besides, his dad should be awake by now preparing breakfast like he always did. Noah headed downstairs, the familiar sounds and smells of home cooking drifting up from the kitchen. It was comforting in a way that even his miraculous shop couldn’t replicate. "Good morning, Dad," Noah greeted as he entered the kitchen, finding his father exactly where expected, moving around the stove. His father looked up with a warm smile, his salt-and-pepper hair slightly dishevelled from sleep, but his eyes alert and welcoming. "Good morning, son. Had some good sleep?" The question was asked with genuine paternal concern—he had noticed his son’s increasingly irregular hours and demanding schedule, even if he didn’t fully understand all the details of what Noah was involved with. "Yeah," Noah nodded, not bothering to correct the assumption. The few hours of rest he’d gotten before the day’s activities felt like enough given his enhanced attributes. "Did you wash up?" Alan gestured toward the table where plates were already set. "I prepared some scrambled eggs and avocado toast. Figured you’d need a good breakfast with how busy you’ve been lately." "Thanks, Dad," Noah said sincerely, moving to the sink to wash his hands. "Your cooking is always the best."​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Noah already knew that these sorts of cooking compliments made his father’s heart light up with joy inwardly, even if he didn’t show anything out. -- After eating breakfast with his father, enjoying the simple pleasure of scrambled eggs and avocado toast in comfortable silence broken only by casual conversations between father and son, Noah headed out with a specific purpose in mind. He had several important tasks to accomplish today, but the first and most personally significant was visiting his Aunt Mei’s house. Today, he would finally fulfil a promise he’d made to himself: providing proper protection for his family. Noah walked through the familiar streets of his neighbourhood, the morning sun warm on his face as early commuters headed to work and joggers passed by on their exercise routes. Everything felt so normal and mundane compared to the magical kingdoms he’d been visiting—no practitioners with supernatural abilities or monsters lurking around. Just ordinary people living ordinary lives, completely unaware that interdimensional travel and magical artefacts existed. The enchantments could easily defend against any threats below master rank, which on Earth meant protection from virtually everything—car accidents, gunshots, physical assaults, falling debris, even most industrial accidents. The shields could withstand the equivalent of ten master-rank attacks before requiring recharging, which translated to an almost absurd level of safety for civilians living normal lives. In Earth’s context, these items were incredibly power-defining. They would transform his family members into essentially invulnerable individuals as long as the enchantments held, protecting them from the random dangers and accidents that claimed lives every day. But Noah had no intention of explaining any of that directly. His family didn’t know about his interdimensional shop, his combat capabilities, or the magical systems he now operated within. Noah pulled up by the curb, parked his GTR, then knocked on the door. He had already informed his aunt of his arrival, so they were expecting him. Aunt Mei opened it within moments, her face lighting up with delight. "Noah!" She immediately pulled him into a warm hug before stepping back to examine him with that particular aunt-like scrutiny that checked for weight loss, illness, or general well-being. "You look good! Come in, come in! Have you eaten breakfast yet?" "I actually just had breakfast with Dad," Noah admitted, knowing what was coming next. Mei’s expression immediately shifted to mock offence. "Just had breakfast? So what, you can’t eat a little more with your aunt? I made congee and fried dough sticks—your favourites! You’re going to refuse?" Noah smiled, recognising the familiar guilt-trip that was equal parts genuine hospitality and aunty tradition. "Of course not, Aunt Mei. I’d love to join you all." "Good answer," she said with satisfaction, ushering him inside. "Smith! Ethan! Noah’s here!" Uncle Smith appeared from the living room, his reading glasses perched on his nose and a newspaper in hand. Smith stood up from his seat and gave Noah a welcoming hug. They had a very good relationship, with Smith helping Noah early on when he was struggling, and Noah helping Smith with the recent scam he had been pulled into. "Noah! Good to see you, son." Ethan also greeted Noah with respect. Noah was akin to his cool older brother. He had paved the way for Ethan in his streaming career and life in general. He had helped him get out of his first break-up depression, bought him many things and allowed him to get revenge. He didn’t just feed him, he taught him how to fish, which was many times better. Just like his father, he was also grateful for the way he handled the scammers. The family settled around the kitchen table, Aunt Mei serving generous portions of steaming congee with various toppings and accompaniments. Despite having just eaten with his father, Noah found himself genuinely enjoying the meal—his enhanced metabolism meant he could eat considerably more without discomfort, and Mei’s cooking held nostalgic comfort that transcended mere sustenance. They chatted about ordinary things, Ethan’s performance in his streaming career and school. Uncle Smith’s recent promotion at work, neighbourhood gossip that Mei relayed with obvious enjoyment, and Alan’s health and daily routine. As the meal wound down and Mei began clearing dishes despite Noah and Smith’s offers to help, Noah decided it was time. "Actually, before I forget," Noah said casually, reaching into his jacket pocket where he’d transferred the three amulets from his storage ring earlier. "I got something for all of you." He pulled out three elegant pendants, each one featuring a beautifully crafted protective amulet hanging from a durable chain. "These are really nice," Aunt Mei said, examining hers with obvious appreciation. The craftsmanship was genuinely impressive, looking like expensive jewellery rather than some random amulet from a stall. "I got matching ones for Dad and myself, too," Noah explained, pulling out his own to demonstrate. "Saw these at a shop and thought it would be nice for the family to have something connecting us. You know, like a symbolic thing, we’re all looking out for each other." He kept his tone light and slightly embarrassed, as if he was worried they might find the gesture too sentimental. Ethan immediately put his on, admiring how it looked. "This is actually pretty cool. Thanks, Noah!" Uncle Smith examined his more carefully. "This is fine craftsmanship. Must have been expensive, I-" Noah waved off the concern. "Business has been good, like I said. I wanted to do something nice for my family. Just wear them, okay? It would mean a lot to me knowing we’re all connected like this. Also, I want you to wear them whenever you go out! If I ever see you without one, I would be really upset."