Chapter 708: The Role of Cuisine (Beginning of Month—Requesting Monthly Votes)

In the Memorial District, on Aoluosaijie, in another apartment.

Lumian placed the cold half of a Filte fish in front of Ludwig.

Upon seeing the oil-fried fish flesh inside the exquisite wooden box, Ludwig's eyes instantly brightened; he quickly turned his head toward Lu Jianuo.

Lu Jianuo understood his intent and rummaged through the newly rented room to find a child's knife and fork, then handed them over.

Lumian leaned back in his chair, watching Ludwig divide the remaining half of the fish into pieces and chew through both flesh and bone before swallowing.

Before he could ask, Ludwig half-closed his eyes and said, as if savoring:

"Filte firefish, a mutated species born from contamination spilling out from Fourth Era Trill, stabilized as a distinct variety seven hundred and sixty-nine years ago, primarily inhabiting the Dan Luo section of the Mardal underground river; its flesh and blood can be mixed with various sunflowers to create a 'Warm Cocktail,' which, when consumed, temporarily mitigates the effects of extreme cold for half an hour.

"Filte firefish that have lived over ten years are spirit-rich ingredients; their flesh, combined with the blood of a Seeker-path Adept, ice, and lemon juice, can be cooked into 'Ice-Lemon Fish Slices.' Anyone eating them for the first time gains permanent reduction in fire damage; subsequent consumption enhances this effect, though it lasts only half an hour."

According to Francia's words, the first bite grants permanent fire resistance, and subsequent bites provide temporary boosts… Lumian nodded in understanding.

Beside him, Lu Jianuo listened, stunned:

Ludwig actually knew how to cook?

And not just ordinary cooking—cooking tied to the supernatural!

Could I get him spirit-rich ingredients so he'd make similar dishes for me?

That might permanently boost some of my abilities!

When Ludwig finished eating, Lumian suddenly remembered something:

Franca's ritual to ascend to the 'Pain Witch' was: 'Survive being burned on a pyre for fifteen minutes without using a proxy, and remain sane.'

'If Franca could eat Filte firefish-made 'Ice-Lemon Fish Slices' to gain increased fire resistance, it would help—even though the pain wouldn't lessen, her chances of surviving the burning would rise dramatically, and she could eat more just before the ritual.' Lumian's thoughts flashed; he made his decision swiftly.

Today, we go to Underground Trill to find Filte firefish that have lived over ten years!

Lumian pulled from his 'Traveler's Satchel' the map of Underground Trill he had reconstructed from memory—the one previously shown by Gardner Martin—and began searching for the location of the Dan Luo section of the Mardal River.

As he studied it, he smiled and asked Ludwig:

'How do you know the exact name of its habitat? Do Filte firefish know what river they swim in?'

Ludwig licked his lips, still savoring:

'They do know.

'Over long years of fishing, humans inevitably mention river names and river section names. The Filte firefish hear these repeatedly; even without understanding their meaning, they instinctively store them in their cells.'

'I see.' Lumian had only meant to joke, but never expected such a serious answer.

He pointed at himself and asked curiously:

'If I eat "Ice-Lemon Fish Slices," will I also gain reduced fire damage?'

As a 'Harvester,' Lumian already suffered minimal damage from fire.

Ludwig picked up a grain-sized fragment of fish flesh from the exquisite wooden box and showed it to Lumian:

'Just this little bit.'

Then, without hesitation, the boy popped the fragment into his mouth, wasting nothing.

'Alright,' Lumian sighed with a smile. 'Better than nothing.'

He planned to prepare a special batch of 'Ice-Lemon Fish Slices' for himself—and one each for Jianna, Anthony, Lu Jianuo, and Ludwig!

To accomplish this, Lumian asked proactively:

'What distinguishes Filte firefish that have lived over ten years from ordinary ones?'

Ludwig recited like a child memorizing a textbook:

'Filte firefish that have lived over ten years grow nearly a meter long, dwell in underwater cave systems, rarely approach the surface, but are highly sensitive to fresh blood and spirit-rich food, extremely aggressive, and willing to risk anything while in instinctual state.

'Their skin has hardened, rendering them immune to harpoon guns; their mouths have grown sharp teeth capable of devouring humans who fall into the river; their blood possesses mild burning properties.'

After listening carefully, Lumian made a calm judgment:

These Filte firefish possess no supernatural traits and have not gained power through any form of blessing—they are a stable population that has endured contamination.

If left in such an environment for tens of thousands of years, they might evolve into beings like Bating Black Worms, with their own complete society.

He folded the map and stood up. Before leaving, he looked at Ludwig and asked thoughtfully:

'Besides granting certain permanent enhancements, do such special culinary preparations carry negative effects like contamination?'

Ludwig studied Lumian up and down, falling silent for a moment.

Lumian suspected the boy was mocking him:

Someone already heavily contaminated had no reason to worry about a little more.

After several seconds, Ludwig spoke:

'I'm just a child—I don't understand these things. I only know that to taste better, more delicious food, you must accept the risks. Those unwilling can simply refuse…'

Here, Ludwig instinctively added:

'If you don't eat it, you can leave the food for me.'

Lumian gave a slight nod, opened the door, and stepped out of the apartment.

…………

In Underground Trill, the Mardal River flowed through quiet, empty, dark caverns, its splash echoing far away.

Lumian, Franca, and Jianna emerged from the shadows—one carrying an acetylene lamp, the other two with empty hands.

This stretch of the underground river was guarded by suppliers seeking to monopolize Filte firefish supplies, but it posed no challenge to a 'Hunter' and two 'Witches'; using shadows, they slipped past patrols and reached the riverbank unimpeded.

Lumian raised the acetylene lamp and saw that the underground river was not only wide but deep, its bottom dotted with multiple submerged caves, where strange, misshapen fish swam about.

After brief observation, Lumian set down the lamp, rolled up his sleeves, and crouched by the river's edge.

He plunged his right arm into the icy water.

'You're just fishing like this?' Franca knew Lumian liked 'fishing,' but she hadn't expected that when the prey was actual fish, he'd still fish the old-fashioned way.

'What else?' Lumian chuckled. 'Strip naked, dive to the cave floor, and grab them by hand?'

'Not impossible,' Franca grinned. 'Good chance to admire your physique.'

Lumian ignored her, and a thin layer of blazing white flame erupted from the tip of his thumb.

The flame did not extinguish quickly in the water; instead, sustained by his spirit, it took the shape of a small blade and lightly sliced his index finger.

A drop of blood oozed out and rapidly spread.

The Filte firefish near the surface, sensing something terrifying, fled swiftly from the blood-soaked area.

Soon after, one after another, massive Filte firefish with charred, hardened skin emerged from the underwater caves.

One swam fastest, arriving at Lumian's right hand in the blink of an eye, opening its mouth to reveal rows of sharp, white teeth.

Before it could snap down, Lumian suddenly clenched his fist—not retreating, but advancing—driving it straight into the fish's mouth.

With a thud, he seized its skull and yanked the enormous fish out of the water.

Silent and unseen, clusters of cold, sinister black flames ignited in the river, burning the blood Lumian had released into the water.

This came from Jianna.

'We can go back,' Lumian tossed the massive Filte fish to Franca.

Franca, while chilling the ingredient with frost and stuffing it into her 'Traveler's Satchel,' glanced around as if deep in thought.

'What are you thinking?' Lumian asked sharply.

Franca pointed in a direction:

'I remember we entered a special mirror world nearby and retrieved the classical silver mirror that allowed me and Anthony to enter Fourth Era Trill.'

'Yes.' Lumian gestured for her to continue.

Franca turned her gaze away and said:

'I was wondering—if we could use the mirror world, could we ambush Moran Avini?

'I mean the conventional mirror world—the one connecting all mirrors across this world.'

The conventional mirror world is closer to a collective of 'Doors' than a true world—it's a complex passage linking different mirrors and their mysterious realms.

In other words, if we could harness the mirror world and pinpoint the correct location, Franca could hide behind Moran Avini's usual mirror and strike the moment he stepped through.

'What are you really getting at?' Lumian raised an eyebrow.

Franca, eager, said:

'Since Fourth Era Trill leaks a bit of contamination, creating unique creatures like Filte firefish and the special mirror world we explored before, might there be some hidden corner in this vast underground where the pollution of a high-ranking Witch's power has lingered long-term?

'Could there, there, one enter the mirror world without becoming a half-god Witch?'

Lumian considered carefully and replied:

'Possible.'

Jianna's eyes flickered as she said:

'Could it be right where you found that special mirror?

'That area must have some residual contamination from the Fourth Era Trill mirror world.'

'Let's go take a look,' Lumian smiled. 'No need to rush. If we can't find it, we can wait—until the 'Siso''s supernatural trait is forged into a sealed artifact. That might let us transform into 'Soul Wraiths' and hide inside mirrors. Though I'm not sure if Soul Wraiths can use the mirror world.'

'In any case, let's go find it!' Franca pulled out her fragment of the mirror world.

She hoped the item might provide some special resonance.

Lumian glanced at it, pondered for a few seconds, and said seriously:

'The mirror world fragment won't help.

'Bring out the statue of the Primordial Witch.'

ps: Beginning of the month—requesting monthly votes~

(End of Chapter)