Chapter 84: Zerev’s Special Quirk

Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Zerev’s Special Quirk

In the spacious, brightly lit hall, a male with long blue hair leaned lazily against a rounded armchair, his deep silver eyes fixed on the petite female standing before him. Ophelia glanced at Moye, and seeing no particular reaction from him, she stated her purpose.

"I came here this time to find someone who can build a three-story stone house."

"The males who can build three-story stone houses demand a hefty reward. It will cost at least one Crystal Stone, and if your requirements are more complex, it could even be two or three." Moye inexplicably felt that this little female, Ophelia, was somewhat of a spendthrift.

"Rest assured, City Lord," Ophelia nodded with a smile. "Since I dared to come, I am fully prepared. I still have a few Orange Crystal Stones on hand, which should be enough to cover the fee."

Moye raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised by her answer. He said thoughtfully, "It seems the White Tiger King, Klein, is quite generous with you. He must have advanced you quite a few Crystal Stones."

Since Klein was a Mine Master, Moye interacted with him often. The man was a profit-driven individual who never made a loss-making deal.

Ophelia tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "It’s alright, I suppose." She had no choice but to let Klein take the fall for this. After all, he was a Mine Master, making him the wealthiest person she knew.

"Since you have Orange Crystal Stones, things will be much easier. However, the male who can build a three-story stone house has a rather eccentric temper. Just paying the fee won’t be enough."

"Then what else does he need?" Ophelia felt a twinge of anxiety, praying her dream of a little villa wouldn’t be shattered.

Seeing her nervousness, Moye chuckled. "He has a particular fondness for good food. If your mate can cook a meal that satisfies him, he might just agree to build the stone house for you."

Ophelia instantly breathed a sigh of relief. While she wasn’t an expert chef, she could still whip up a few simple stir-fried dishes. Not to mention, she had vegetables and green peppers in her dimension. Whatever she cooked would undoubtedly be far more delicious than the Beast World’s sole staple of roasted meat.

"Alright, I’d like to give it a try. My tribe is quite a distance from Ten Thousand Beasts City. Could I cook it here?"

Moye glanced at his Young Master. Seeing no objection from him, he readily agreed. "Of course. There are plenty of ingredients in the kitchen; feel free to use whatever you like."

This ’kitchen’ had been newly built after Zerev arrived in Ten Thousand Beasts City. His palate was extremely discerning, and as a lover of fine cuisine, he constantly had people experimenting with unusual foods.

Moye personally led Ophelia and Tyler to the kitchen. Calling it a kitchen was a stretch; it was more like an empty room containing two stone pots and a table. However, upon closer inspection, Ophelia discovered that there was more to this kitchen than met the eye.

The stone pot resembled a simplified version of a rustic earthen stove. There was a designated spot underneath for a fire, and the pot itself was separate from the stove, making it easy to remove and wash.

"Why is this stone pot different from the normal ones?" she asked, seriously suspecting that another transmigrator had arrived in this Beast World.

Moye was nonchalant about it. "This kind of stove isn’t common around here, but it’s a household necessity in the Holy Capital."

"Holy Capital?" It was Ophelia’s first time hearing this name.

"The Holy Capital is the gathering place for all the major clans of the Starfall Continent. It’s an existence even greater than Ten Thousand Beasts City, and all our cities are under its jurisdiction. Young Master Zerev is the equivalent of a tribe’s Young Clan Leader, but in the Holy Capital, they use titles like Young Master, Princess, Master, and Madam."

Ophelia understood; the Holy Capital was basically the capital of the Starfall Continent. From Moye’s description, besides the tribes, there were higher-tier organizations—the major clans—which sounded somewhat like ancient feudal lords. So, their Golden Dragon Clan was just a minor player after all. No wonder Zerev possessed such an extraordinary aura; he carried the noble elegance of a true aristocrat.

"Alright, you can use anything on this table as you see fit."

"Okay, thank you, City Lord Mo Ye."

"No need for thanks. I’ll take my leave now and won’t disturb you two."

After he left, Ophelia walked over to the table to inspect the ingredients, and to her surprise, she discovered quite a few novelties. Cucumbers, eggplants, eggs, rice, and some peculiar berries she had never seen before. She picked up a stem of purple berries and sniffed it, but there was no scent at all.

Just as she was about to take a bite, Tyler quickly stopped her. "These are sour berries. They don’t smell like anything, but the juice inside is extremely sour when they’re crushed. They’re inedible."

"Sour?" Ophelia’s eyes lit up. "Isn’t that just all-natural vinegar?"

Her gaze toward the colorful berries grew even more fervent. Taking advantage of the fact that no one else was around, she secretly plucked one of each and stored them in her dimension to study them later.

After reviewing her options, Ophelia decided on a menu: sour and spicy cabbage, tomato and egg stir-fry, braised pork with potatoes, and a refreshing side dish of smashed cucumber salad. Pork belly, potatoes, and eggs were readily available. The cabbage and tomatoes would come from her farming dimension. As for the sugar needed for the braised pork, she would use the brown sugar she had previously made from sugarcane. While it wasn’t rock sugar, the flavor was close enough, and having some was better than none.

Tyler washed his hands. "Princess, let me cook." It wasn’t that he wanted to steal the work; he simply had never seen the Princess cook before.

"No need. Just wash the vegetables and help me prep the ingredients on the side while I steam the rice." With braised pork and tomato egg stir-fry, it would be a crime not to have some white rice to go with them.

An hour later, the four dishes and rice were served on the table. The male capable of building the three-story stone house had also been invited over by Moye.

"City Lord Mo Ye, I left a portion of everything in the kitchen. You and Young Master Zerev can also try my cooking."

Smelling the rich aroma of meat and the tangy, spicy scent of the dishes wafting through the air, Moye couldn’t help but sniff appreciatively.

"..." Zerev cast a cold glance at Moye, unimpressed by his lack of composure.

Moye immediately straightened his posture. "Alright, we’ll head out first. Take your time."

"Mhm."

Ophelia turned her head to see that the male named Samo had already started eating. Chopsticks were not yet commonplace in the Beast World, so Samo used his bare hands. His dark, grubby hand was stained with grease and vegetable juice, inevitably reminding her of how people ate in a certain country back on Earth. Seeing him eating so joyfully, Ophelia knew the deal was in the bag.

Meanwhile, in the dining hall of the City Lord Mansion.

Zerev sat in his chair, gazing at the various dishes on the table, each boasting a distinct flavor profile.

Moye respectfully handed over a pair of white jade chopsticks. "Young Master, please enjoy the meal."

Zerev took them and methodically picked up a perfectly cubed piece of braised pork. The sweet flavor was rich but not overly cloying. Next was the cucumber, which was pleasantly tart and highly appetizing. Zerev’s stern expression gradually softened, and Moye, standing by his side, breathed a sigh of relief.

About twenty minutes later, the food on the table had been completely swept clean.

Holding a clean white animal skin with both hands, Moye asked, "What does Young Master think of the taste?"

"It’s passable. Have her handle my meals during my stay in Ten Thousand Beasts City."

Moye hesitated. "This..."

Those silver eyes narrowed slightly. "Is there a problem?"