Chapter 708: The Role of Gourmet Food (Seeking monthly votes at the start of the month)

Memorial Hall District, Aurosai Street, inside another apartment.

Lu Mi placed the half-eaten, cold Felt fish in front of Ludwig.

Upon seeing the pan-fried fish in the exquisite wooden box, Ludwig's eyes suddenly lit up. He quickly turned his head and looked at Lu Jianuo.

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

Lu Mi leaned back against the chair, watching Ludwig divide the remaining half of the fish into several pieces, chewing and swallowing them, meat and bones alike.

Before he could ask, Ludwig squinted his eyes and said in a manner that seemed like enjoyment:

"Felt fire fish, a type of mutated fish produced by the overflow of pollution in Trier during the Fourth Era. The species stabilized 769 years ago. They mainly live in the Danluo section of the Madar underground river. The fish meat and blood can be mixed with various sunflowers to concoct a 'Warm Cocktail.' After drinking it, one can resist the effects of extreme cold to a certain extent within half an hour."

"Felt fire fish that have survived for more than ten years are ingredients rich in spirituality. Using their meat, the blood of a 'Hunter' pathway Beyonder of a middle sequence, ice cubes, and lemon juice, one can cook 'Iced Lemon Fish Fillets.' After anyone eats it for the first time, they can permanently reduce a certain amount of damage from fire burns. Eating it again afterward will strengthen this effect, but it only lasts for half an hour."

According to Fu Lan Ka, the first time you eat it, it's a permanent increase in some fire resistance, and subsequent times are a temporary enhancement... Lu Mi nodded with a sudden realization.

Lu Jianuo, who was beside them, was stunned:

Ludwig actually knows how to cook?

And it's cooking that involves supernatural powers!

Can I help him get ingredients rich in spirituality and have him make similar delicacies for me to eat?

That seems like it could permanently improve some of my abilities!

After Ludwig finished eating, Lu Mi suddenly thought of something:

The ritual for Fu Lan Ka to advance to "Pain Witch" is "without using a substitute, be burned at the stake for a quarter of an hour and survive, and not go insane."

"If Fu Lan Ka could eat 'Iced Lemon Fish Fillets' made from Felt fire fish to increase her fire resistance, that would be great. Although the pain caused by it wouldn't be reduced, her hope of surviving the burning would greatly increase. At that time, before holding the ritual, she could also temporarily eat some more." Lu Mi's thoughts raced, and he quickly made a decision.

Today, he would go to underground Trier to find a Felt fire fish that has survived for more than ten years!

Lu Mi took out the map of underground Trier he had reconstructed from memory—sourced from the one Gardner Ma Ding had once shown him—from his "Traveler's Bag" and began searching for the location of the Danluo section of the Madar underground river.

While examining it, he asked Ludwig with a smile:

"Why can you accurately state the name of the origin? Does the Felt fire fish know the name of the river it swims around in?"

Ludwig licked his lips, still wanting more:

"They do know."

"During long periods of fishing, humans inevitably mention the names of rivers and river sections. After the Felt fire fish hear it over and over again, even if they don't understand what it represents, they instinctively remember it in their corresponding cells."

"Is that so." Lu Mi had originally just been making a joke; he hadn't expected to receive such a serious answer.

He pointed at himself and asked curiously:

"Can I also reduce the burn damage caused by fire if I eat 'Iced Lemon Fish Fillets'?"

As a "Reaper," the damage fire dealt to him was already quite low.

Ludwig picked up a grain-sized piece of fish residue from the exquisite wooden box and showed it to Lu Mi:

"Just this little bit."

After saying that, the little boy stuffed the residue into his own mouth, not wasting any at all.

"Alright." Lu Mi sighed with a smile, "Something is better than nothing."

He planned to get a special portion of "Iced Lemon Fish Fillets" for himself, and Jianna, Anthony, Lu Jianuo, and Ludwig would each have a portion too!

In order to accomplish this, Lu Mi took the initiative to ask:

"What is the difference between a Felt fire fish that has survived for more than ten years and an ordinary one?"

Ludwig said in a tone like he was reciting a textbook:

"A Felt fire fish that has survived for more than ten years is nearly a meter long, hides in rock caves at the bottom of the river, and normally won't approach the surface. However, it is sensitive to fresh blood and food rich in spirituality. It is extremely aggressive and willing to take any risk when in an instinctive state."

"Their skin has hardened, they don't fear harpoon guns, and sharp teeth have grown inside their mouths. They can gnaw on humans who fall into the river, and their blood has certain burning properties."

After listening carefully, Lu Mi calmly made a judgment:

A Felt fire fish that has survived for more than ten years has no Beyonder characteristics, nor has it gained supernatural power through a method similar to a Gift. It belongs to a population that has suffered pollution and stabilized.

If they were allowed to live in a similar environment for another few tens of thousands of years, perhaps they would evolve into a creature like the Batins black worm, with its own complete society.

Putting away the map, Lu Mi stood up. Before leaving, he looked at Ludwig and asked thoughtfully:

"Besides bringing certain permanent improvements, does similar special cooking include negative effects like pollution?"

Ludwig looked Lu Mi up and down, and for a moment, he was actually silent.

Lu Mi suspected that this guy was mocking him:

A person who has already been severely polluted doesn't need to worry about such a small amount of pollution.

After a few seconds, Ludwig finally said:

"I'm just a child, I don't understand these things. I only know that if you want to eat better and more delicious food, you have to bear the corresponding risks. Those who aren't willing don't have to eat..."

Having said that, Ludwig instinctively added:

"If you don't eat it, you can choose to leave the food to me."

Lu Mi nodded slightly, opened the door, and walked out of the apartment.

…………

Underground Trier, the Madar River flowed through a quiet, empty, and dark rock cave, the sound of splashing echoing from afar.

Lu Mi, Fu Lan Ka, and Jianna emerged from the shadows, one carrying a carbide lamp, two with empty hands.

This section of the underground river was guarded by people sent by suppliers who wanted to monopolize the ingredient of Felt fire fish, but it couldn't stump one "Hunter" and two "Witches." They used the shadows to pass through the patrol area and successfully reached the riverside.

Lu Mi raised the carbide lamp and discovered that this underground river was not only wide but also deep. The bottom seemed to have multiple submerged rock caves, and many strange-looking fish were swimming around there.

After observing for a moment, Lu Mi put down the carbide lamp, rolled up his sleeves, and squatted by the river.

He then inserted his right arm into the icy water.

"Just fishing like this?" Fu Lan Ka knew Lu Mi liked "fishing," but she hadn't expected that when the prey was actually a fish, he would still be fishing.

"Otherwise?" Lu Mi laughed, "Take off my clothes, dive into the rock cave at the bottom of the water, and catch it directly?"

"That's not impossible." Fu Lan Ka said with a smile, "It just so happens I can appreciate your physique."

Lu Mi didn't pay any more attention to this guy. A thin layer of scorching white flames erupted from the tip of his thumb.

The flame didn't quickly extinguish in the water; instead, supported by Lu Mi's spirituality, it turned into the shape of a small knife and gently sliced his index finger.

A drop of fresh blood spilled out and quickly spread.

The Felt fire fish swimming in the shallow parts of the river seemed to sense something terrifying and quickly moved away from the area where the blood was seeping out.

Not long after, one after another, huge Felt fire fish with scorched yellow and hard skin emerged from the rock caves at the bottom of the river.

One of them swam the fastest. In the blink of an eye, it arrived in front of Lu Mi's right hand, opened its mouth, and revealed white, sharp teeth.

Before it could bite down, Lu Mi's palm suddenly clenched into a fist, and instead of retreating, he advanced, smashing into its mouth.

With a bang, Lu Mi grabbed its skull and dragged this huge Felt fish out of the river.

Silently, clusters of cold, evil black flames ignited in the river, burning Lu Mi's blood that had merged into the water flow.

This came from Jianna.

"We can go back." Lu Mi threw the huge Felt fish to Fu Lan Ka.

Fu Lan Ka used frost to refrigerate the ingredient and stuffed it into her "Traveler's Bag" while looking around as if she were thinking about something.

"What are you thinking about?" Lu Mi asked keenly.

Fu Lan Ka pointed in one direction and said:

"I remember we entered a special Mirror World nearby and got that classical silver mirror that allowed Anthony and me to enter Fourth Era Trier."

"Right." Lu Mi signaled for Fu Lan Ka to continue.

Fu Lan Ka withdrew her gaze and said:

"I'm thinking, if we could use the Mirror World, could we ambush Mo Lan Avigny?"

"I'm talking about the Mirror World in the conventional sense, the Mirror World that connects all the mirrors in this world."

The Mirror World in the conventional sense is closer to a collection of the concept of "doors." It is not a true world but belongs to a complex passage connecting different mirrors and different arcane realms.

That is to say, if one could use the Mirror World and master the correct positioning, Fu Lan Ka could hide directly behind the mirror Mo Lan Avigny often used and launch an attack as soon as the other party entered.

"What are you really trying to say?" Lu Mi raised an eyebrow.

Fu Lan Ka said eagerly:

"Since Fourth Era Trier leaks a bit of pollution, creating special creatures like the Felt fire fish and creating the special Mirror World we explored before, could there be a corner in this vast underground that has been influenced by the pollution of high-level Witch power for a long time?"

"In that place, would it be possible to pass through the mirror surface and enter the Mirror World without becoming a demigod Witch?"

Lu Mi thought seriously for a moment and said:

"It's possible."

Jianna's eyes turned slightly and she said:

"Could it be right where you picked up the special mirror?"

"That area definitely has a certain amount of pollution from the overflow of the Fourth Era Trier Mirror World power."

"We can go over and take a look." Lu Mi laughed, "There's no need to be too anxious. If it really doesn't work, we'll just wait. Wait until the Beyonder characteristic of 'Cisor' is made into a sealed artifact. That might allow us to transform into 'Wraiths' and hide in the mirror. Of course, I'm not sure if 'Wraiths' can use the Mirror World."

"In any case, let's go find it first!" Fu Lan Ka took out her fragment of the Mirror World.

She hoped this item could provide some kind of special sensing.

Lu Mi took a look, pondered for a few seconds, and said seriously:

"Taking the Mirror World fragment probably won't be useful."

"Take out the statue of the 'Primordial Witch'."

PS: Seeking monthly votes at the start of the month~

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 709 =====