As for how Kain knew this skill...ghosts can learn a lot when they have time.

"First things first." He slashed the machete down on the fish scales and skin. There was a small metallic clang, then the machete sliced through the fish. "Did you hear that?"

The two men’s facial muscles went slack. That clanging sound made their hearts tremble. Kain held out the machete, letting one of them take it. He ordered them both to try.

The first man swung. When the two forces collided, the man dropped the machete and stepped back, cradling his hand. He cursed as he stepped back and instinctively looked at Kain.

Picking up the machete, Kain handed it to the other man. He glanced worriedly from the man to the machete and then to the fish.

With Kain’s eyes on him, he dared not say no. He walked up to the fish, closed his eyes, and swung. When it hit the fish, the force caused him to stumble backwards even more violently than the first man.

Catching the machete before it fell, Kain scanned the nine people who were still standing there. He raised the machete towards Jaylin.

"Try it."

She stepped forward, steeling herself. Unsure of why he asked her to try, she didn’t back down.

Decisively, she made the cut. Unexpectedly, like Kain, she sliced through.

She didn’t even register the slight stinging pain from her hand. It took a bit of work to get the blade out, but she did, and she tried it again.

The result was the same.

He stopped her from trying again. He spoke, low enough for only her to hear.

"This is the fundamental difference between being ordinary and being Awakened."

He looked at the two men and teased, deadpan. "Look, a delicate little lady is stronger than both of you. How does it make you feel?"

The two men had faces full of shame. And at the same time, they wondered what kind of strong man Jaylin might be.

They had both felt the pain shooting through their arm. For her to cut the fish, not one, but twice, was already a feat.

"Let’s get started," Kain clapped his hands. "Because none of you can cut the skin, I’ll give you another way."

He pointed to the dorsal fin, "This is the softest place aside from the belly that you’ll find. Peel away some of the cartilage around it, and what’s left is a sharp bone tool completely ready to use."

He demonstrated twice, giving the bones to the two men.

"The fish scale is also another important part." He plucked a few scales for them to see. "As you can see, it’s flexible and pliable." He handed it to them, letting them feel it.

"At the same time, when layered, it becomes dense, almost impervious."

He stacked the scales. He had the men poke a hole in the scale in their hand, then had them try to pierce the stacked scales. The difference was obvious.

Like a surgeon, Kain showed them the different parts of the fish piece by piece. He advised them on how to go about their cut, mainly talking about the small bones.

"For the larger bones. That’s much more work, but the principle remains the same. Use the small bone, whittle away with it using the machete. After the tip becomes sharper, you can use it to pierce the bone a little at a time.

For the first large bone, whittle it down and turn it into a saw. Using that saw, you cut the rest of the bones."

At this point, he had gone through various sections. He didn’t carve the entire fish for them. He only gave instructions for the major junctions.

"Once you make the necessary tools for yourselves to do your work, have the rest of the bones sent to those who create weapons. As for the bone marrow, it goes directly to Floor Four and Five.

Remember to wear gloves. It makes it easier to work."

He gave his instructions and was ready to leave. He had been in these clothes for the better part of the day, and he hadn’t eaten anything yet.

He didn’t remember that none of the people around him had eaten, except possibly Amelia.

As he was about to walk away, he turned to the nine people. "You all can live on Floor Three for now. If I need you, I’ll let you know."

He walked away with Amelia in tow. Her steps were light as she clung to him regardless of the scent of fish that was on his body.

They made their way back to Floor Five.

"You left, just like that? Why didn’t you tell them where to throw the fish away?"

"I taught them how to carve. There’s more than enough manpower for them to figure out where to throw trash. If they can’t figure it out, then they should fall into the waters and stay there."

As soon as they set foot in their own home, Amelia jumped into Kain’s arms. Her fingers tangled into his hair. She crashes her lips onto his, heavy and frantic.

Kain wraps an arm around her waist as her legs wrap around his.

He takes control the moment she is settled, frenzied kisses become slow and turn languid, deepening as his hand tightens around her waist.

"What’s that for?" he pulls away, voice husky.

"I missed you." She nipped at his lips, eyes blazing.

"Me too," he replied, looking around the room. "Where are the kids?"

"Downstairs, with Jake and Vera," she breathed. "It’s just the two of us."

He hummed and leaned in to kiss her, only to pull away. She whined.

He quickly walked to the intercom. From the corner of his eye, he could see the monitoring still on. He saw the fish and remembered what he hadn’t told them.

Amelia looked quizzical as he pressed the intercom.

His voice filled the five floors. His indifferent tone reached everyone’s ears.

"If you don’t want to die. Don’t eat the fish. Throw it out."

He left the warning and stopped monitoring.

His lips found Amelia’s again, and he started walking to the bathroom. As much as he would love to throw her on the bed, he preferred not to have his bedroom smell like fish.

Amelia pulled away, breathing heavy, "What if they eat it?"

"If anyone tries to eat it, there’s bound to be a show."

Amused, she replied, "You’re expecting them to eat it, aren’t you?"

He laughed heartily, "Of course. People love to push the button. With such a big ’DO NOT’ sign, how could they resist?"

She hummed. "Well, leave them to push their buttons; you just need to take care of mine."

In the shower, Kain did more than push buttons.

Too bad, he couldn’t push buttons for too long before the children decided it was time to end the fun.

Kain couldn’t help saying, "I knew it. This is what parents go through. The little gremlins are the world’s biggest cockblock."

Amelia laughed, and he felt the squeeze on his shaft.

"Laugh again, and I don’t think you’ll be getting out of here."

She slipped away quickly, grabbing a robe and stepping out of the bathroom.

Kain groaned. His forehead touched the wall.

Outside, Amelia was talking to Avery. She was complaining that Amelia had promised to spar with her, but then she left her all alone.

Kain had been restricting their access to the nurturing station. It was only when Amelia was available that he would let them in and allow them to stay for the entire day.

The three children had been looking forward to it.

"Can you give me five minutes?" She looked at the little ones’ aggrieved faces.

She had forgotten her promise to them the minute Kain came home. Now she was caught between a rock and a hard place. She knew she had to do what she promised them, but she also wanted some alone time with Kain.

Who told them to be her children? Had it been anyone else, she would have already started a war.

"Is it because you and Dad are playing in the shower? Didn’t you say shower time isn’t play time?" Ashton asked.

Amelia cleared her throat. "Well, it’s been a long time since your Dad got the chance to play, so Mom wanted to give him a chance. The shower is the only place he can have fun, because he still has work to do. Forgive your Dad this once. Give me five minutes, and I’ll come right back. How does that sound?"

The children begrudgingly allowed it.

Amelia went back to the bathroom, smiling. Even if it was only five minutes, it was still something.

She scampered off, ready to collect her five minutes. The bathroom door was shut tightly.

Little did she know that those five minutes would cause Kain trouble with the children in the future.