Chapter 251

Chapter 251

When it comes to hotpot, Lorant feels that it can’t be done without a spicy base.

Unfortunately, in this world, there is no such important seasoning as chili pepper, so Lorant's version of the spicy base had to use a special type of plant beast as a substitute.

A third-level plant beast called the Pain Mushroom also has a very distinct spicy flavor, but it differs from the rich and pungent taste of chili pepper. Among the spiciness, there is also a hint of plant freshness.

Although it is more refreshing than chili pepper, the spiciness is indeed somewhat lacking, though still satisfying.

However, Lorant wasn’t concerned about these issues. If the spiciness was insufficient, it could be extracted and concentrated until it was spicy enough.

With the seasoning handled by a team of chefs, it took about a week to finally prepare Lorant's spicy base.

Once the spicy base was ready, the other clear broth in the combination pot became much simpler to prepare.

Whether it was flavorful mushrooms or fresh river and sea ingredients, these were already widely popular in this world.

Thus, preparing a mushroom broth and a three-flavor broth was no issue for the chefs at the Blue Star Restaurant.

They all brought out their best skills in an attempt to capture the store manager's taste buds. If they had the opportunity to become Lorant’s personal chef, it would be a great honor.

In addition to various flavors of hotpot and rich ingredients, Lorant also prepared many previously overlooked delicious beasts.

Lorant was very picky about food. Even if there was a slight odor in the food, he could clearly taste it.

When conditions didn’t allow for choice, as long as there was meat to supplement nutrition, there wasn’t much to be picky about.

But once Lorant had options, no one at the store ate low-level beast meat anymore.

Low-level beast meat had a gamey taste that couldn’t be removed and could only be masked with strong spices, whereas high-level beast meat had no such issue. Not only was there no odor, but many had a distinct aroma.

However, this didn’t stop Lorant from always experimenting with new dishes.

Some low-level plant beasts or aquatic beasts lacked the gamey taste of low-level beast meat, and Lorant was very willing to try them.

In this process, Lorant discovered a beast that was only third-level.

This beast was an aquatic one, living in water as its name suggested. It looked like a giant freshwater snail.

However, it was a freshwater beast that lived in the Holy Shield River near the store, where many could be found at the river bottom.

The Holy Shield River, a natural barrier separating the Black Forest from human territories, was seen as a protector by many ordinary people.

Yet, there were still many beasts living in it.

Most of these beasts were low-level and aquatic. Compared to low-level beasts outside human cities, aquatic beasts posed much less threat to humans.

They couldn’t leave the river, so their existence hadn’t led people to view the Holy Shield River as a “dangerous area.”

Even more dangerous low-level beasts that roamed the wild outside human cities couldn’t be completely eradicated by any organization.

This was why large cities held such high status in people’s hearts. Once outside the tall walls, every minute in the wild was exposed to the fangs of beasts. For ordinary people, survival was purely a matter of luck.

Sometimes, Lorant thought this might explain why ordinary people feared practitioners rather than respected them, despite knowing that practitioners guarded the entrance to the Lopulo Mountains.

However, ordinary people don't have a tangible sense of this matter because they don't benefit from it. Was the Lopulo Mountains guarded? But what does that have to do with them? The beasts outside the village, which would often snatch villagers when hungry, were the most pressing issue in their eyes.

But for Lorant, what was once an environment where danger lurked at every turn, even while sleeping, had become a welcome distraction.

The beast pet shop was located near the Black Forest, but ever since he had his companion, Lorant wasn't worried about any beasts from the Black Forest threatening his safety.

On good weather days, he would occasionally bring Maomao and a set of professional equipment to fish by the banks of the Holy Shield River using homemade bait.

Beneath the calm surface of the Holy Shield River, countless aquatic beasts lurked.

Lorant estimated that the density of aquatic beasts in the river rivaled that of the Black Forest.

Most of these aquatic beasts were concentrated between levels one to five, which weren't noteworthy or particularly dangerous to Lorant.

Compared to his companion, these beasts were no match, and even for Maomao, they were hardly a challenge.

Perhaps because few practitioners targeted them, the aquatic beasts remained surprisingly naive.

Using a thick rope with a sturdy hook at the end, and hanging a bait made from marinated beast meat and various potions blended by Lorant, he would cast it into the water. It wouldn't take more than a few seconds for an oblivious aquatic beast to bite.

Then, with a tug-of-war between Maomao and the beast, they could secure a fresh aquatic catch.

It was during one of these fishing sessions that Lorant discovered a huge sea snail.

This type of beast, known as the Black Mud Snail, didn't stand out with its numerous tentacles and dark shell, and initially didn't catch Lorant's attention.

But by chance, when Lorant steamed and opened the snail, he was surprised to find the dark shell filled with delicious yellow roe and meat.

The taste reminded Lorant of the sweet, succulent meat of hairy crabs, with tender and chewy snail meat that was delicious when simply steamed.

The roe in the center was so rich and sweet that Lorant ended up eating several in one go.

Paired with his specially made snail vinegar, this delicious creature quickly became one of Lorant's top five favorite dishes.

Of course, this fondness was for its taste alone.

However, perhaps because this beast required quite a few cooking steps, although the meat and roe were plentiful, they were still scarce compared to its shell, which was why not many people had discovered its deliciousness yet.

In this world, most people's requirements for food were still at the stage of satiation.

Even practitioners usually didn't fuss over their meals, as most people couldn't afford to be choosy.

And those who could pursue the taste of food often didn't care much about what kind of beast they ate. What mattered to them was whether the beast was high-level enough.

Because in this world, the higher the level of the beast, the harder it was to hunt and the rarer it was.

So even if low-level beasts tasted great, they couldn't match the prestige that came with eating high-level beasts.

For those who prided themselves on their status, the rarity and power of the beast mattered far more than its taste.

The more powerful the beast, the more worth it was to spend a large sum, and it would greatly enhance the appetite of those in power if they could hear about how many practitioners lost their lives hunting the beast.

Lorant couldn't quite comment on this somewhat morbid pursuit of ingredients.

This world was inherently distorted, and these people were just a microcosm of it.

But under his influence, everyone at the beast pet shop had come to share his standards for food. As long as it was delicious, they would accept anything.

So, for the evening banquet, alongside the hot pot, Lorant had also prepared a Black Mud Snail for each person.

Since the aquatic beasts are hidden beneath the water's surface, you never know what might bite the hook once it's in the water. It took nearly a week of fishing by the Holy Shield River to prepare these Black Mud Snails.

Getting one of these beasts into your mouth isn't easy.

This delicious beast not only has a hard shell, but inside, there are many irregular, jagged bones that require careful separation to extract the tender, flavorful snail meat from those annoying little bones.

It takes a while to finish a mud snail completely, so Lorant only provided one per person as a post-dinner treat to keep everyone entertained.

As the sky gradually darkened, Lorant lit a dim lamp in the glasshouse where the Lightwing Butterflies were, hanging it above the wooden table.

On the table, two steaming hot pots were bubbling, emitting a fragrant aroma, and on both sides of the hot pots were various carefully prepared beast meats and cleaned vegetables.

The Lightwing Butterflies hadn't settled down for the night yet and were flying freely in the glasshouse, their glowing wings making the space look like it was filled with fireworks.

That's why Lorant only hung a dim light over the table; the light from the Lightwing Butterflies was enough to illuminate the space brightly.

From a distance, it looked like a river of stars had been captured inside the glasshouse.

Lancelot sat at the dining table when a curious Lightwing Butterfly fluttered over, landed beside his hand, and stretched out its tiny claws, eyeing a piece of meat on the plate.

Lancelot raised an eyebrow slightly and, just as the butterfly was about to succeed, gave it a light flick, sending the butterfly tumbling to the edge of the plate.

The butterfly, now upside down, flapped its wings in anger and glared at Lancelot with fiery little eyes before moving its claws, as if weighing the difference in strength between them.

Seeing Lancelot resting his head on his hand, looking down at it, the butterfly looked down at its own fragile little limbs, and after a brief moment of thought, it huffily flew away.

A smart butterfly knows when to back off! Just you wait—give it thirty years, and who knows what might happen? Don't underestimate a little butterfly!

I'll build up my muscles first, then come back and challenge you!

Although the body of the light-winged butterfly was tiny, so small that its eyes were just a dot, Lancelot saw a certain determination in this little one.

Lorant, standing nearby, nodded approvingly, clearly impressed by Lancelot’s insight. These light-winged butterflies couldn’t just eat anything indiscriminately.

While these creatures weren’t so fragile that they couldn’t eat meat, their appetites were quite small, and they got full quickly after just a little food.

Unless they were fed the meat of high-level beasts, their small appetites wouldn’t allow them to extract enough energy from their food.

Only Lorant’s specially crafted 'Luminous Dew,' made from rare and costly ingredients, could provide the energy these delicate creatures needed.

Lorant didn’t want a light-winged butterfly to overeat and lose its appetite for Luminous Dew the next day.

Soon, everyone gathered in the glass-enclosed room, ready for the meal.

Lorant had prepared hotpot-like meals before, but never with such care or ceremony.

When everyone saw the table laid out with fresh vegetables and two steaming pots, they didn’t seem particularly surprised.

It was the first time for both Joe and Anne to witness such a scene. As the butler and head maid, they had been trained to remain composed under any circumstances, no matter how unusual the situation.

In front of Lorant, they always maintained their posture and demeanor, trying hard not to show any impropriety. Although curious, they hid it well.

The thinly sliced meat, after a quick dip in the bubbling broth, transformed from a vibrant red to an appetizing pinkish-brown.

The tender, juicy meat was dipped in a rich sauce made from fragrant sesame paste, sesame oil, and a blend of fresh, zesty herbs.

As soon as the meat hit the tongue, it burst with flavorful juices. The unique aroma of high-level beast meat, the spicy kick of the hotpot broth, and the rich, savory dipping sauce combined to create a perfect symphony of flavors.

The Lorant family was enjoying their meal immensely.

At Lorant's insistence, Joe and Anne, who had initially planned to stand and serve, quickly gave in to the delicious food, their chopsticks moving quickly but still elegantly.

Although when they first arrived at the pet shop, they weren't quite used to the utensils the Lorant family used, over time, they grew to appreciate how convenient chopsticks were.

Now, especially with such a delicious pot in front of them, a well-used pair of chopsticks was the perfect tool for getting at the food.

The steam from the hot pot filled the glass room, warming the cold winter night.

Despite not having seen each other in a while, the family chatted warmly, with no need for alcohol to loosen their tongues.

Lancelot turned and, through the misty steam, gazed at Lorant's delicate profile, his eyes filled with undeniable affection.

Silem shifted uncomfortably in his seat. His earlier suspicions were confirmed—his teacher really did have feelings for his older brother!

And for some reason, his brother was completely clueless, even with Lancelot staring at him so intensely. He didn’t seem to notice and kept serving him food!

Silem wished he could snatch his brother's chopsticks and shake him while shouting,

"Wake up!

Look at that guy’s face. He’s not interested in the food—he’s eyeing you like you’re the main course!"

After watching for a bit longer and seeing that the two were still oblivious, Silem stood up, planning to pull his brother aside for a serious talk.

As he stood up, Ruth, sitting next to him, coincidentally reached out and stopped her youngest son. "Silem, I'd like another cup of vanilla milk. Can you get it for me?"

Ruth smiled at her somewhat clueless second son, trying to distract him.

Silem absentmindedly took the empty cup from his hand and subconsciously took two steps forward before realizing he hadn’t gotten up for this task and hesitated to speak.

Before he could say anything, Martha, standing next to him, also handed over her cup. “Silem, get me a drink as well.”

Silem stood there holding two empty cups. “?”

He sensed that the two adults didn’t want him to say anything, but as the only one present who saw through the situation, Silem felt a heavy responsibility on his shoulders. He couldn’t just let his brother fall into the noble’s trap.

Although it wasn’t right to speak ill of his actual teacher, Silem clearly knew the dirty side of those noble lords. Few of the beautiful boys and girls who entered the castle ever came out alive.

Of course, Silem didn’t think Lancelot would dare to treat his brother as a plaything, given the beast pet shop’s current standing. However, in a society where marriage was still the norm, he had never considered if the other person might genuinely want to pursue his brother.

Silem had seen enough of the dark side during his time at the academy, so he was even more worried that his “innocent” brother might be deceived by dishonest nobles, leading to heartbreak and harm.

He had to save his innocent brother from falling for the knight’s smooth talk before it was too late!

In this family, only he could save his clueless brother!

Before the knight could speak again, he saw his brother, whom he had imagined as a clueless rabbit being led astray, glance at him helplessly.

“Silem, can you get me a drink too? With ice, less sugar,” Lorant, who had seen everything across the table, was helpless with his stubborn younger brother.

Silem looked into Lorant’s eyes and stood there foolishly blinking.

For some reason, Silem could clearly see in his brother’s eyes the unspoken message: “Don’t cause trouble, don’t take matters into your own hands.”

Before he could react, Lancelot quickly stood up and took Lorant’s cup.

“I’ll do it,” the white-haired knight said naturally as he stood up. “Sour plum water, full ice, half sugar, plus half a spoon of vanilla honey, right?”

Seeing Lancelot leave with a joyful expression after Lorant's smile, Silem seemed to understand something.

He gave his brother, who wore a triumphant smile, a complicated look, and then gave Lancelot an even more complex glance.

He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off from his original expectations.

A cunning and scheming noble knight deceiving the innocent, kind, and handsome store manager from humble origins?

Or was it...

The sinister store manager secretly setting hooks for the naive knight?

It seemed someone needed help, but not in the way he had expected.

Silem smacked his lips, ready to voice a litany of complaints, but under his brother's slightly threatening gaze, he obediently pretended to know nothing and went to get the drinks.

However, the young knight now looked at his teacher with a hint of pity in his eyes.

Dear teacher, I misunderstood you, but I can't save you. All I can do is wish you luck.

Of course, it looks like you're enjoying this.

Still, Silem glanced back at his brother, remembering his past tactics, and wished he could slap himself for being so naive.

He must have been out of his mind to ever think his brother was some kind of innocent rabbit.

Even if he was slow, the former ruler of Holland's slums was definitely not someone who could be called an 'innocent rabbit'!

Silem quietly made the sign of the Goddess of Light on his chest, silently praying for his teacher's well-being.

Three days later, Gabriel and the others arrived at the beast pet shop, clearly excited.

Although they hadn't attended any beast pet classes for a long time, the moment they entered the shop, memories deeply engraved in their bones resurfaced.

Suddenly, these knights—once lovers of adventure and mischief who despised theory classes—transformed into diligent students, determined to ace their exams and get into Imperial University.

They huddled together, racking their brains to recall what they had learned in class.

Some students, already struggling with their grades, suddenly recalled the fear of being dominated by their beloved teacher.

Beginning to panic, they crowded around others, trying to cram at the last minute.

However, the more anxious they became, the more blank their minds turned, and within five minutes of arriving at the shop, some had already given up completely. Though they seemed to be muttering to themselves, if you listened closely, they were actually praying to every deity they could think of.