Moge had not quite expected to encounter the duo of Uvogin and Machi so quickly.
Although it was surprising, it was not entirely incomprehensible.
Given Uvogin's loud, straightforward, and boisterous personality, finding him in Meteor City was never difficult.
Furthermore, compared with other older residents and unfamiliar figures lurking in the shadows, he was relatively easy to deal with.
The Uvogin who was still living in Meteor City at this time had already shown signs of his future character.
When Chrollo once brought Shalnark and Franklin into his territory to steal supplies, Uvogin had chosen to intimidate them first instead of immediately resorting to violence.
To prevent their escape, he had thrown the broken wooden stick that Machi was holding, rather than using something more dangerous like sharp scrap metal.
He had even challenged Franklin to a head-on contest of strength between "real men."
It was not until later, when Chrollo gathered his companions to perform a cartoon-like spectacle for the children of Meteor City, that Uvogin began to admire him, and the two sides gradually formed a connection.
In other words, the current Uvogin was still just a thirteen-year-old boy who could be reasoned with.
Of course, this was only under normal circumstances.
If he harbored hostile intentions, the situation would be entirely different.
Although Moge's current strength was weak, his Nen Ability was genuine and substantial, not some empty illusion.
"Are you both here?"
Standing at the doorway, Moge glanced back at Uvogin, who had crossed his arms and craned his neck, and at Machi standing quietly beside him.
"Come inside."
Without waiting for Uvogin to question him, he casually pushed open the door and stepped in first.
Seeing this, Uvogin raised an eyebrow and remained silent for two seconds.
"If we're going in, then we're going in. What's the big deal?"
He snorted and followed him inside.
Since they had already come this far, leaving now would only make them a laughingstock.
Uvogin did not want to hear people mocking him later, saying, "They walked all the way to the front door but didn't even dare to step inside."
Moreover, Machi's sixth sense had never been wrong before, and he trusted it completely.
"What the hell is this place?!"
The moment he entered, Uvogin instinctively scanned the interior.
After discovering that the room was almost completely empty, with barely any belongings inside, he could not help but complain:
"Machi has more stuff at her place than you do!"
"…"
Standing nearby, Machi glanced at the big idiot Uvogin but did not bother arguing.
Instead, she shifted her attention to Moge, who had brought them here for reasons still unclear.
Although she trusted her intuition, that did not mean she would lower her guard.
After all, this involved a request and a commission.
"Didn't you say you had food here and wanted to treat us?"
Uvogin plopped down on the floor.
Sensing no immediate danger, his tone became more casual.
"Looking at this empty place of yours, you still dare to say you have food?"
"Or are you saying—"
He looked up at Moge and revealed his stark white teeth in a grin.
"You plan to offer yourself as food?!"
"With your tender skin and soft flesh, you wouldn't even be enough to get stuck in my teeth~!!"
Moge ignored Uvogin's provocation and threats and calmly asked again:
"You are hungry, so you require me to treat you. Is that correct?"
"Didn't you say there was food here and tell us to come?!"
Uvogin was growing impatient.
"Fine, you can put it that way, as long as you bring me something delicious!!"
"Of course, if you plan on serving us moldy, stinking bread—"
"Then don't blame me for flipping… flipping your roof off!!"
Uvogin had originally wanted to say he would flip the table, but realizing there was not even a proper table, he quickly changed his words.
"Don't worry."
Moge said nothing more and slowly sank his consciousness inward.
Uvogin and Machi also fell silent, quietly staring at him.
After about ten seconds—
"Um…"
Moge slowly opened his eyes and coughed lightly.
"Is there anything specific you would like to eat?"
"Anything specific?"
Uvogin scratched his body.
"What, you mean whatever I want, you can just conjure it up right here?!"
"Then let's say I want to eat…"
"mochi."
Machi, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke, interrupting Uvogin's rambling.
It was the first time she had spoken.
She lifted her head and looked straight into Moge's eyes.
"mochi, huh…"
Uvogin smacked his lips, recalling the memory.
That was food they had recently snatched from the motorcycle duo, Feitan and Phinks.
Feitan and Phinks, in turn, had stolen it from another child who had been praying devoutly in the church and had received food from Father Litzol.
On the other side of the garbage dump ruins stood a well-built church.
Inside lived Father Litzol.
He was responsible for collecting bodies, praying for the deceased, and erecting gravestones.
The people of Meteor City did not want to suffer in life only to have their bodies mistreated after death.
Therefore, almost no one disturbed the church.
It also seemed to maintain some contact with the outside world and occasionally received food supplies.
Father Litzol would distribute them to devout children.
Mochi was one such item—sticky and glutinous.
Although it was not as fragrant as meat, for people like them who rarely ate properly, it tasted extremely good.
"Mochi… I understand now."
Moge nodded slightly and closed his eyes again.
However, although he had now received Uvogin's commission for food and met the basic condition, he suddenly realized another crucial issue.
That was whether his Qi and Nen were sufficient to support the invention.
As was well known, any Nen Ability required the consumption of aura and life energy.
Only if his Nen and Qi were strong enough could he support increasingly unreasonable and difficult requests.
For example, if someone asked him to destroy the world, the amount of Nen required would be astronomical.
Just like now.
Uvogin's request was for food, and if Moge tried to create something that could endlessly generate food out of thin air—
Such as Doraemon's Gourmet Tablecloth—
The cost would far exceed what he could handle at present.
Therefore, he could only narrow the scope of the invention.
"I still need more strength…"
Moge once again strengthened his determination to improve his Nen and Qi.
If he could directly use items like someone with Doraemon's Four-Dimensional Pocket, wouldn't everything become simple and effortless?!!
Moge sighed silently.
"Perhaps I can try using Vows and Limitations to reduce the consumption…"
His thoughts raced, yet he did not forget about creating the mochi.
Soon, just as Uvogin was beginning to feel bored and wondered whether he had wasted time playing a staring contest with this foolish boy—
A layer of bright light suddenly spread from Moge's hands.
"Huh?!!!"
Uvogin immediately raised his head, and Machi's gaze sharpened.
Under their intense scrutiny, their pupils contracted.
Before their eyes, a strange purple machine gradually materialized out of thin air.
It took shape in front of Moge.
It had a chimney-like top and a small opening at the bottom, seemingly meant to dispense finished products.
A lever was installed on its side, clearly used to activate it.
"What in the world is that?!!!"
Uvogin's eyes widened as he sprang to his feet.