"Wait! Is that braised beef?" one of Erick’s team members blurted out, shock written all over his face.

"And cheese-glazed ribs?!" another chimed in with a piece of bread stuffed in his mouth, his eyes widening in utter disbelief.

"Damn! When was the last time we had anything that could even be called meat? Or smelled an aroma this good?"

One after another, the team members stared at the spread before them as though they were looking at a treasure trove.

Ivy was soon done placing all the food containers on the ground. The delicious dishes filled the entire area with mouthwatering aromas, causing everyone’s stomachs to growl loudly. A warm smile rested on her face while the others remained frozen in place, their expressions filled with shock.

The difference between her food and what Erick’s team had brought was like the difference between heaven and earth.

The bread and sardines they had been preparing to eat suddenly looked pitiful in comparison.

"Can you help me with the hot pot, Darren?" Ivy asked, raising an eyebrow while maintaining her gentle smile.

"Sure!" Darren replied immediately.

Without wasting a second, he grabbed the large pot Ivy had provided and poured water into it. He then began adding the necessary ingredients one after another. Various herbs, spices, and seasonings quickly transformed the water into a rich, fragrant broth.

Soon, steam began rising from the pot.

The aroma alone was enough to make everyone drool.

"Where did she even bring that pot from?" one of the team members whispered under his breath, confusion written all over his face. "Her small bag?"

"That’s exactly what I’ve been wondering too," another replied quietly. "The more I think about it, the crazier it sounds. How can a bag that small hold all of this? It has to be some kind of magical item."

"Exactly!" another team member agreed enthusiastically before taking a deep inhale through his nose. "Oh damn... I want some hot pot too."

The others nodded in agreement.

At this point, nobody was paying attention to their own food anymore.

Their eyes remained glued to the bubbling pot.

Once the broth had boiled thoroughly, Darren began adding slices of raw chicken, fish, mushrooms, vegetables, and several other ingredients into different sections of the pot.

The rich fragrance immediately intensified.

Several people visibly swallowed.

"Come over," Ivy suddenly called out.

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it carried enough authority to send waves of disbelief through the entire team.

"You can come and have some."

The group collectively froze.

Even Erick blinked.

Ivy’s gaze shifted toward him.

"You too, Mr. Erick."

"What?!" one of the team members whispered in shock. "Did she just invite us over, or am I hallucinating?"

"Nope," another replied instantly. "She definitely invited us. She said we could have some hot pot."

"Huh? Are you serious?"

"I’m serious!"

Several pairs of eyes immediately turned toward Ivy as if seeking confirmation.

To their surprise, she simply nodded.

The invitation was real.

"Are you sure about that?" Erick asked, trying his best to remain composed while swallowing hard. "We’re actually fine with the bread and sardines."

His words said one thing.

His eyes said something completely different.

The man’s gaze had not left the hot pot for more than a few seconds since it started boiling.

At this point, he would probably wrestle a monster just for a single bowl.

"I’m very sure," Ivy replied calmly. "You can put the bread and sardines aside and eat them later. For now, enjoy the hot pot with us."

A faint smile appeared on her face.

"We’ll need plenty of strength to fight monsters afterward."

The moment those words left her mouth, Erick’s remaining resistance crumbled.

"Well..." he coughed lightly. "Since you insist."

Without hesitation, he set his bread and sardines aside before grabbing a plate.

He then handed it to Darren.

Darren chuckled knowingly before filling the plate with steaming broth and a generous amount of assorted meats.

Beef.

Chicken.

Fish.

Vegetables.

Several other ingredients Erick couldn’t even identify.

The aroma alone nearly made his soul leave his body.

He immediately took a bite.

The moment the food entered his mouth, his eyes widened.

A look of pure bliss spread across his face.

It was delicious.

Far more delicious than he had expected.

Seeing their captain happily devouring the food, the rest of the team no longer bothered pretending.

They practically rushed forward.

"Move!"

"Hey! I was here first!"

"Leave some meat for me!"

"Get your elbow out of my face!"

One after another, they grabbed plates and handed them to Darren.

Darren simply laughed while serving everyone.

Within moments, every member of the team had a steaming bowl of hot pot in their hands.

The area soon became filled with satisfied groans and happy expressions.

Only Nathan remained seated by himself.

His plate of bread and sardines rested untouched beside him.

His eyes burned with rage as he stared at the group happily eating without a care in the world.

The sight only made his mood worsen.

Meanwhile, while the humans enjoyed their meal, the illusion dogs were having a feast of their own.

Ivy had already provided special dog food for them.

The invisible creatures happily munched away nearby.

To ordinary people, it looked like nothing was there.

Only Ivy, Darren, and those possessing special abilities could actually see them.

The rest of the team remained completely unaware that several dogs were currently eating among them.

Nathan focus remained fixed on the laughing group.

The more he watched them enjoying themselves, the angrier he became.

"They’re really shameless..." Nathan muttered under his breath, his face darkening with resentment.