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Zelsh had already begun tearing into the food before Oli’s servings had entered the room. And the moment Oli got his portions, Zelsh swallowed and laughed, “Be careful!”

Oli wanted to wave off the warning but quickly understood what Zelsh was talking about.

First, Oli chose what looked like a fillet of fish wrapped and steamed within some kind of leaves. The green foliage was now as tender as the fish and fell apart with the touch of Oli’s fork, turning into a natural seasoning that paired with the flaky, meaty fish. At the same time, a zesty sauce tickled Oli’s tongue, breaking through the aromatic flavors of the steamed leaves and perfectly seasoned fish. Then Oli noticed the bed of white rice under the filet. Upon tasting that, the entire flavor complex changed as a pinch of acidity cut through everything and realigned the flavors in a new order, readying Oli for his next bite.

“Who knew food would be more effective than death essence!”

The king’s laughs broke Oli’s trance. Blinking, Oli realized that half of that fish platter was suddenly gone but his stomach felt untouched, proving how perfectly balanced and light the dish was.

Zelsh kept laughing in between shoveling his own food, “Careful... Just enjoy it while you can!”

.....

Oli nodded and tried another dish, carving through what Oli thought was a pork roast. But inside Oli found another surprise. Slices of an unfamiliar fruit were wedged inside, having been slow-cooked to spill and blend its juices with the fatty pork.

Everyone kept to themselves for a little while as they enjoyed the food to the fullest. It was Zelsh that finished first despite eating more than Oli and Jarrit combined.

“What do you think of Bore City cuisine?”

“Is everything here this good?” Oli asked seriously.

With a nod, Zelsh replied, “Yup, but I’ve got the best of the best! We take pride in being a city on the culinary front lines, exploring new flavors and dishes whenever possible! It’s how humans and beasts live together in peace.”

“Really?”

“If you share something this good, how could they not get along?” Zelsh reasoned, “Here, we have beast districts, human districts, and mixed districts based on the necessary housing requirements. Many beasts would never fit in a human house, and it’s easy to map out the city like that. But it’s not illegal for a human to live in the beast districts either. It’s just for the sake of convenience.

“And by promoting food or raising chef salaries, we’ve attracted the best culinary geniuses around! Many beasts would struggle to cook something complex, which gives private chefs a thriving market to work in, promoting public culinary knowledge and jobs by default. Many cultivators stuck in the mortal class end up learning to cook in order to secure a well-paying life. It’s great!”

The excitement on Zelsh’s face was evident to everyone. If he wasn’t a king cultivator, his words would sound childishly optimistic, but his passion for good food shined brightly.

“You just like bribing others with good food,” joked Jarrit.

“Hey, I almost got you many times!” Zelsh replied. “Just say the word and you’re welcome to live here as my personal assistant!”

“Tempting, but I must decline again.”

“Oh Rhyner, how lucky can he get?!” Laughing, Zelsh then lifted his goblet and put it to his lips, downing its contents in one go.

Oli had forgotten about the wine thanks to the distracting deliciousness of the food, but no more. The moment the sweet, red nectar fell onto Oli’s tongue, he experienced the mind-boggling euphoria yet again.

“So, Oliver, how did a nomad end up with such powerful techniques?”

“Well, I...” Catching himself, Oli noticed the hidden cunning in Zelsh’s personality. “I just got lucky, I guess.”

“How so? Tell me all about it.” King Zelsh leaned onto the table, holding his chin while smiling back at the young man.

“There’s not much to tell. I wandered with my parents till my dad was killed and I was separated from my mom. They passed on their techniques and I used those to survive, facing beasts on the regular and pillaging bandits whenever I was able.”

“How strong were your parents?”

“They were both perennials.”

“Fair...” Zelsh stopped talking for a moment but his eyes kept questioning Oli.

“That’s the truth. I don’t know what else to say beyond that,” stated Oli.

“Hmm... Well, I’m sure we’ll have a lengthy discussion on the topic in due time.”

“You don’t believe me?”

Shrugging, Zelsh held up his goblet to be refilled by one of his servants. “I do. I just don’t know how much of it I should take for granted and how much is crafted coincidence... But we can save that discussion for another day. For now, you should rest. After that match, your body could use that. We’ve got a big day ahead of us tomorrow.”

“I’ll apologize now.” Bowing his head, Jarrit added, “I’ll be returning in the morning, so I won’t be able to join you.”

“That’s fine, I guess. Just don’t do anything too crazy behind my back this time,” laughed Zelsh.

“What’s tomorrow?” asked Oli.

“A big day that you aren’t allowed to miss. So no more alcohol, only bed! Go on, get going!”

“But I–”

“Right this way.” A servant was already at Oli’s side, motioning for Oli to follow him. “I’ll show you to your room for the evening.”

Zelsh continued to laugh as he finished his newly refilled goblet, “Tomorrow starts early, so don’t stay up, kid!”

As Oli was led out of the dining hall, the other servants began gathering the plates, platters, and silverware. With the meal over, Zelsh turned to Jarrit with a small, serious grin. “Will you tell me more about him or not?”