After finishing the tale of treasure that inspired generations of adventurers to set sail, the cook also roasted the meat from the fish-man's belly.
It revealed a cooked white color, with some charred spots, covered in fine brown particles, glistening with moist oil.
The repeatedly applied seasoning had penetrated the grain of the meat, presenting an enticing visual effect.
“This roasted fish is different from what you usually eat,” said Airland, pointing to the white porcelain plate the cook had set down.
“I love honey-roasted fish the most!
“But this is also very tempting.”
Honey-roasted fish... How much honey would that take... I’ll try it if I get the chance... It should taste good... Klein’s mind began to wander.
With a cook, they no longer needed to do it themselves, and they watched with anticipation as slices of fish were cut off, placed onto different plates, and pushed in front of them.
Klein was very serious about enjoying food. He didn’t rush to tackle the fish, but instead first picked up his cup and took a sip of black tea, using the slightly acidic liquid to clear the residual taste in his mouth.
After doing this, he forked a slice of fish and put it into his mouth.
In an instant, he felt the slightly pungent flavors of cumin, basil, and other spices, fully opening his taste buds.
Then, the delicious juice of the meat, the salty and slightly astringent taste of sea salt, and the refreshing sourness of lemon all burst forth simultaneously, intertwining and reverberating in his mouth, drawing out saliva.
As his teeth chewed, under the rendered fat, the final stubbornness of the fish meat broke apart strand by strand, revealing the beauty of the meat itself and a faint sweetness.
Klein swallowed the fish in his mouth, recalled a food show he had seen in his previous life, and selected a comment that best matched the feeling just now:
“Well-layered, very good!”
“Haha, the tone and words are like a gourmet,” Airland joked.
Donna shook her fork and added, “Uncle, maybe you should start a column in the newspaper, reviewing different restaurants and different cuisines.”
Eh, why didn’t I ever think of this idea... This is a job that earns both writing fees and allows tasting delicious food! The only problem is that fat people can’t be flexible clowns... Use the vomiting method? That would be such a waste of food! Klein seriously considered Donna’s suggestion.
“For this wonderful night!”
When the food was almost gone, Airland poured some more Sonia blood wine, and raised his glass with a flushed face.
Klein and the others, also in good spirits, echoed:
“For this wonderful night.”
They successively drank the remaining liquid in their glasses and watched the waiter clear the table and clean the deck.
In the cold wind, they talked a bit more, touching on the topic of mermaids, which interested Donna the most.
Crevice told the young girl that in some legends, mermaids are also called sirens. They use their songs to lure humans not for fun but for hunting. Besides possibly encountering such creatures on the route from the Garcias Islands to the deep Sonia Sea, there are also some chances of discovery in the yet unexplored, dangerous seas. However, these all come from the drunken boasts of some pirates, all of whom avoided the question of how they escaped the mermaids’ songs, so they are not very trustworthy.
Regardless, it at least points to a possible direction... Klein noted what they had discussed.
“Donna, Danton, it’s time to go back. You have to get up early tomorrow to have breakfast with your parents,” Cecil said, looking at the moon’s position.
“Alright.” Donna reluctantly stood up.
Danton hurriedly asked:
“Can I, can I become an adventurer?”
His mind had been captured by the previous hunting activity and the legends he had just heard.
Crevice walked over to him, patted his shoulder, and said:
“Before asking that question, you need at least five years of combat training and knowledge acquisition. I think your father will hire good tutors for you.”
“Mm!” Danton’s eyes brightened, and he nodded vigorously.
Five years from now, when you’re grown up, you’ll probably no longer want to be an adventurer who might end up at the bottom of the sea... Crevice’s handling is very seasoned, not directly refusing but giving hope, letting time wash it away, thus avoiding the child’s sudden rebellion... Anyway, learning a martial art never hurts anyone... Klein put his hands in his pockets, thinking appreciatively.
On the way back to the cabin, Crevice handed two 5-pound notes to Klein:
“Your reward.”
He had just received 150 pounds from Airland for the entire fish-man.
“I didn’t do anything,” Klein instinctively refused.
Crevice scanned him with his pale blue eyes and said deeply:
“You freed Cecil and kept an eye on the children.”
Kept an eye on the children? Klein felt like laughing but eventually took the two notes and made a triangle on his chest:
“You are more generous than I imagined. Thank you.”
He stopped refusing because he had suddenly figured out a problem: if he didn’t accept the 10 pounds, in the eyes of an experienced adventurer like Crevice, it would mean he was dissatisfied with the price, trying to get more, and might attack them at any time — among those who call themselves adventurers, greedy madmen are definitely not rare!
Seeing Gehrman Sparrow put away the notes, Crevice withdrew his gaze and said with a flat expression: