Ashes Of Deep Sea
Chapter 547 - Chapter 547 Chapter 548 Dietary Customs

Chapter 547: Chapter 548 “Dietary Customs Chapter 547: Chapter 548 “Dietary Customs Nina, who had long anticipated her trip to Light Breeze Harbor, had been looking forward to the elvish cuisine of the City-State, only to finally face the cruel reality.

She now sat at the table with a blank stare, looking at the heap of black substance on the table that emitted an indescribable odor–overcooked pancakes topped with fermenting beans that were stringy and bubbly. The combination of smells was so heart-stoppingly pungent that one could imagine it without even tasting it. This went beyond Nina’s understanding of “food” and appeared more like some kind of abstract art.

Opposite her at the table, Sherry obviously wasn’t faring much better, facing a pile of “Elvish localized version” of sweet thin pancakes, the aroma of fermented cheese turning her rather pale.

After a long while, Sherry lifted her head to look at Nina across from her, then pointed at the food on the table with a gesture, “They say this thing is a pancake…”

“How can they insult pancakes like that…” Nina looked as though she was about to cry, “It’s always been my favorite thing to eat since I was a child…”

“But this is indeed the pancake from Light Breeze Harbor,” Taran El sat at the other end of the table, the well-known scholar from the Academy of Truth seemed somewhat nervous and uncomfortable. He wasn’t sure if it was because of “neglecting the relative of Captain Duncan” or simply unable to face the two girls’ almost plaintive looks, “As far as I know, many foreigners do find it hard to adapt… but some do grow to like it a lot after getting used to it…”

Nina looked horrified, “But these beans are rotten! Not just rotten, they’re stringy! The slime is even bubbling!”

“Yet they taste really great, truly,” Taran El earnestly tried to explain, “and there’s absolutely no health issue–on the contrary, it is greatly beneficial to the digestive system…”

Nina and Sherry listened to the scholar’s explanation, both with a look of their souls having left their bodies, as if their minds could no longer follow the logic of the real world.

When Duncan arrived, the scene he witnessed was as expected.

He couldn’t help but chuckle, stepping forward to ruffle Nina’s hair, “Didn’t I tell you that you might not be able to adapt to the food from Light Breeze Harbor–the Elves have made a lot of adjustments to these specialties according to their own taste.”

Nina murmured to herself, “But I never imagined they would adjust them to this…”

“Sorry, that was my oversight–I should have recommended some less ‘locally flavored’ food to you first,” Taran El became conscious of his blunder the moment he saw Duncan appear. However, he quickly regained composure, with an apologetic tone he spoke to the two disappointed girls, “The bread and smoked meat rolls from Light Breeze Harbor are no different from elsewhere. Let’s get rid of these things.”

Unexpectedly, upon hearing Taran El’s words, Sherry suddenly pursed her lips and picked up the oddly smelling “pancake” in front of her.

Lucricia, who had been watching the commotion from the side, was somewhat surprised, “Sherry?”

“This is food,” Sherry muttered, and with great resolve, she shut her eyes and stuffed the pancake into her mouth, chewing vigorously while making muffled noises, “It’s not that bad…”

Nina watched, astonished, as her friend across the table bravely swallowed the food. After a pause, as if she had come to a realization, she silently picked up the stuff from her plate.

The two girls wolfed down the food that Taran El had brought back.

Then, almost simultaneously, they wiped their mouths, looked up at each other, and burst into laughter.

The living room suddenly became quiet.

Duncan smiled, patted Nina’s shoulder, and went over to wipe off the “sauce” from Sherry’s face.

Taran El, after being stunned for a few seconds, came to his senses and broke the silence with a touch of embarrassment, “It’s rare for foreigners to adapt to them so quickly… Oh, right, if you’re not used to these fermented foods from Light Breeze Harbor, we do have many that keep the original flavor from their origins. Besides the bread and smoked meat rolls I mentioned earlier, there are Middle Sea style cream stews, Aer grass-braised meat, mushroom stews from the Northern cuisines, and red vegetable egg custard…”

Nina’s eyes widened as she listened, a glimmer of hope returning to her gaze, “So you also have food that tastes normal?! Why didn’t you say so earlier!”

Taran El spread his hands, “Because it’s not time for desserts now…”

The recently bright expression on Nina’s face stiffened again, “…Desserts?”

“Yes,” Taran El nodded, “those I just mentioned are desserts–we usually blend them into a puree to use as a dip for honey cakes.”

This time, not only Nina but also Duncan was shocked.

Across the table, Sherry clutched her head and let out a feeble mutter, “Damn it, I want to go back to the ship… What the hell is this Subspace execution ground… damn it…”

Duncan thought for a moment, telling himself that nobody in Subspace ate this–yet, he ultimately didn’t have the heart to say it in front of Taran El, the elf native.

Just then, a bell rang from the direction of the entrance, suddenly interrupting the conversation in the living room.

Lucricia frowned almost imperceptibly, and a “manservant” dressed in butler’s attire quickly walked out of the living room with mechanically stiff strides. Moments later, the manservant returned from the hall, bowed slightly before his mistress, “A visitor from the city hall, Governor Sala Mel invites you to come for a discussion.”

Lucricia frowned impatiently, “Tell the visitor I will not go–I am entertaining more important guests and do not have time.”

“But the messenger said that the matter Governor Sala Mel wants to discuss is related to your ‘honored guest,'” the servant continued in a mechanical, dull tone, “and this matter has the witness of the Four Gods.”

Lucricia’s expression finally changed slightly, and she subconsciously raised her head to glance at Duncan.

Duncan had of course heard the conversation between the servant and the other party, but his face was indifferent, merely waving his hand nonchalantly, “It’s quite normal, I strutted into the city with you–other City-States might not care, but in the City-State of the elves, I, an ‘adventurer’ who was still active a hundred years ago, may not be an unfamiliar face.”

“Then he should’ve come in person,” Lucricia said with a hint of dissatisfaction in her tone, “it’s not polite to just send someone over casually.”

“Think about Tyrion’s current schedule–the governors of the City-States aren’t so leisurely,” Duncan laughed, looking at the “Sea Witch” who appeared aloof and arrogant but was actually just too lazy and troubled to leave her house, and said casually, “Let’s go out anyway, listen to what the governor has to say. I’m also curious how he even brought up ‘the witness of the Four Gods’–or shall I accompany you?”

“Ah no, I can go by myself!” Lucricia quickly said, then she sighed, nodded to the other people in the living room in farewell, and prepared to leave.

Several colored paper scraps flew out beside her, but in the next second, those paper scraps returned to her body–Lucricia suddenly stopped, looked back at Duncan with a slightly complex expression, and managed a stiff smile before stepping out of the living room.

Duncan remained expressionless throughout.

After Lucricia left, Taran El scratched his head in confusion, looking at the others in the living room, “Doesn’t she always just use a spell to hurry on her way when she goes out alone? Why is she willing to walk today…”

Duncan nonchalantly crossed his arms, “How would I know.”

…

Sala Mel was somewhat surprised as he saw the “Sea Witch” enter his office–not because she arrived on time, but because today, the witch lady actually entered City Hall through the main entrance, properly took the elevator up, walked through the corridor to the door of his office, and came in.

“I’ve already opened the window for you,” the aged elven governor raised his hand, pointing to the open window beside him, “I thought you would fly in as usual.”

“An illusion isn’t stopped by glass, I could get in without you opening the window,” Lucricia said with a stern face, her tone slightly awkward, “but today… I just felt like walking.”

“Oh, indeed, appropriate exercise is good for the health, especially for scholars like you, who are focused on research,” Sala Mel spoke. For some reason, he felt that today’s “witch” lady was a bit off in her attitude and way of speaking, and even the aura she emitted was different from usual. But soon he set aside that bit of disharmony, “Please, have a seat and take a look at the letter I’ve placed on the desk.”

Lucricia had already noticed the opened envelope bearing the conspicuous emblem of the Four Gods Church. She nodded, sat down opposite Sala Mel, casually picked up the letter, and scanned it quickly.

Soon after, the “witch” lady raised her eyebrows, clearly surprised by the content of the letter, and within that surprise, there was a subtle hint of “interest.”

She looked up, raising the letter in her hand, “Was this letter sent to all the City-States of the Endless Sea?”

“Yes, the governors of various City-States should all receive it one after another,” Sala Mel nodded, “Although I am very interested in their reactions when the time comes, I would like to hear your opinion first–as the offspring of Captain Duncan, and someone who has just re-established contact with him, what do you think about the Four Gods Church’s stance on this matter?”

Lucricia thought for a moment, “…The Church, they seem to be more diligent and ‘enlightened’ than I expected.”

“To be precise, the attitudes of the Four Pilgrimage Arks are very enlightened,” said Sala Mel, “Many people have a preconceived notion, always thinking that the pontiffs and their ‘Pilgrimage Bishops’ cohorts are the most rigid and inflexible representatives of this world, but in fact, the situation is often contrary to people’s common sense.”

Lucricia, “You seem to be not bound by these ‘common senses’?”

“After all, living long enough makes you learn more,” Sala Mel shrugged, “When I first received the letter I was also a bit surprised, but after considering the recent events and the Four Gods Church’s activities, I’m not surprised by the contents of the letter anymore.”

Lucricia’s brows furrowed slightly, “The Four Gods Church’s recent activities?”

Instead of answering her directly, Sala Mel suddenly asked, “…When was the last time you encountered the Church’s patrol fleet at the border?”