Nina, who has been looking forward to the trip to Qingfeng Port and the delicacies of the Elf City-State for a long time, now finally faces the cruel reality.
She was sitting in front of the table with dull eyes, looking at the pile of dark substances on the table that exuded an indescribable smell - the smell of over-baked waffles piled with fermented and bubbling beans.
Even if you don't taste it, you can imagine how shocking it is. This is beyond Nina's understanding of "food" and is more like some kind of abstract art.
The condition of Shirley across the table was obviously not much better. In front of her was a pile of "elf localized and modified" sweet pancakes, and the smell of fermented cheese made her face turn a little green.
After a long time, Shirley raised her head, looked at Nina opposite her, and then raised her finger to point to the food on the table: "They said this thing is a sweet pancake..."
"How could they insult sweet pancakes like this..." Nina looked like she was about to cry, "This has obviously been my favorite food since I was a child..."
"But this is indeed the sweet pancake of Breezeport," Taran Ayre sat at the other end of the table. This great scholar who was well-known in the Academy of Truth seemed a little nervous at the moment, and he didn't know why.
"I neglected Captain Duncan's family" or simply couldn't face the almost resentful looks of the two girls. "As far as I know, many outsiders really don't seem to adapt...but there are also some who like it very much after getting used to it..."
Nina looked horrified: "But these beans are stinky! Not only are they stinky, they are even stringy! The mucus is even bubbling!"
"But it tastes delicious, really," Taran El tried to explain sincerely, "and there is absolutely no health problem - on the contrary, it is very helpful for the digestive system..."
Nina and Shirley listened to the explanations of the academics. Both of them looked like they were out of their bodies, as if their minds could no longer keep up with the logic of the real world.
When Duncan rushed over, he saw such an unexpected scene.
This made him laugh uncontrollably, and stepped forward to rub Nina's hair: "Didn't I tell you, you may not be able to adapt to the food in Qingfeng Port - the elves use these local specialties according to their tastes.
The food has been adjusted a lot.”
Nina muttered to herself: "But I didn't imagine how they would adjust..."
"I'm sorry, I didn't think well - I should recommend you some food that is not so 'local' first," Taran Ayre subconsciously became nervous the moment he saw Duncan appear, but at any rate
He also got used to this journey, quickly adjusted himself, and said apologetically to the two disappointed girls, "The bread and bacon rolls in Qingfeng Port are the same as anywhere else, just get rid of these things."
But what was unexpected was that after hearing Taran El's words, Shirley suddenly pursed her lips and picked up the "pancake" that exuded a strange smell in front of her.
Lucretia, who was watching the excitement from the side, was a little surprised when she saw this: "Shirley?"
"This is something to eat," Shirley just muttered, and then, as if she had made a great determination, she stuffed the pancake into her mouth as soon as she closed her eyes, chewing hard while making a vague sound, "Yeah.
It’s not that bad…”
Nina looked at her friend in shock across the table who was struggling to swallow her food. After being stunned for a moment, she seemed to think of something, and then she picked up the things on the plate without saying a word.
The two girls almost devoured all the food Taran El bought.
Then they wiped their mouths almost simultaneously, looked up at each other, and grinned.
The living room suddenly became a little quiet.
Duncan smiled, patted Nina on the shoulder, and walked over to wipe the "sauce" on Shirley's face.
Taran Ayre reacted after being stunned for a few seconds, and broke the silence with a little embarrassment: "Few outsiders can adapt to them so quickly... Oh, by the way, if you are not used to Qingfeng Port and the like,
In fact, we also have many foods that have been processed by fermentation processes that retain the taste of their origin. In addition to the bread and bacon rolls I just mentioned, there are also Central Sea-style cream stews, Lenzing grass stew, and Northern
The dishes include mushroom stew and red cabbage custard..."
Nina's eyes widened as she listened, and her eyes seemed to regain a little gleam of expectation: "So you also have food that tastes normal?! Why didn't you tell me earlier!"
Taran El spread his hands: "Because now is not the time for dessert..."
Nina's expression, which had just brightened up, suddenly became dull again: "...Dessert?"
"Yes," Taran El nodded, "those I just mentioned are desserts - we usually beat them into a paste and use them as a dip for honey cakes."
This time not only Nina, but also Duncan was shocked.
Shirley, who was across the table, hugged her head on the spot and muttered feebly: "Damn it, I want to go back to the ship... What kind of subspace execution ground is this?"
Duncan thought for a while and said to himself that no one in the subspace would eat this - but in the face of Taran El, an elf native, he was too embarrassed to say it.
At this moment, a ringing sound from the direction of the door suddenly interrupted the communication among everyone in the living room.
Lucretia frowned slightly, and a "valet" wearing a waiter's clothes quickly walked out of the living room with mechanically stiff steps. After a while, the male servant turned back from the foyer and came to her.
She bowed slightly in front of the hostess: "Visitor from the City Hall, Governor Sarah Meyer invites you to come to discuss matters."
Lucretia frowned impatiently: "Tell the visitor that I'm not going - I'm entertaining more important guests and don't have time."
"But the messenger said that the matter that Consul Sarah Meir wants to discuss is related to your 'distinguished guest'," the manservant still said in a mechanical voice, "and this matter is witnessed by the four gods."
Lucretia's expression finally changed slightly. She subconsciously raised her head and glanced at Duncan.
Of course, Duncan heard the conversation between the other party and the manservant, but the expression on his face was indifferent, and he just waved his hands indifferently: "It's normal, I followed you into the city with great arrogance - it may not matter to other city-states,
But in the elven city-state, I, an 'adventurer' who was active a hundred years ago, may not be a strange face."
"Then he should come to visit in person," Lucretia said with some dissatisfaction in her tone, "It's not a good etiquette to just send someone here casually."
"Think about Tirian's current schedule - the governors of the city-state are not so free," Duncan laughed. He glanced at the "Sea Witch" who seemed cold and arrogant, but actually refused to go out because of fear of trouble and laziness.
", said casually, "Let's go out and listen to what the consul has to say. I'm also curious as to why he mentioned the 'witnesses of the four gods' - or should I go with you?"
"Ah, I can just go by myself!" Lucretia said quickly, then she sighed, nodded goodbye to the others in the living room, and prepared to turn around and leave.
Three or two pieces of colored paper flew out from her side, but in the next second, those pieces of paper all returned to her body - Lucretia suddenly stopped and turned to look at Duncan with a subtle expression.
He smiled stiffly and walked out of the living room.
Duncan remained expressionless throughout.
After Lucretia left, Taran El scratched his head inexplicably and looked at the other people in the living room: "Don't she usually just use magic to get on her way when she goes out alone? Why is she suddenly willing to walk today?
Already..."
Duncan crossed his arms and said, "I didn't know."
…
Sarah Mel looked at the "Sea Witch" who walked into his office with some surprise - he was not surprised that the other party arrived on time, but because the witch lady actually entered the city hall through the main entrance today.
, he honestly took the elevator up, then walked honestly from the corridor to his office door, opened the door and walked in.
"I have already opened the window for you," the elderly Elf Archon raised his hand and pointed to the open window next to him, "I thought you would fly in as usual."
"Glass can't block the phantom, you don't have to open the window and I can come in," Lucretia glanced at the other party with a stern face, her tone a little unnatural, "But today... I just want to walk around."
"Oh, indeed, proper exercise is good for the body, especially for a scholar like you who is dedicated to research," Sarah Meyer said. For some reason, he always felt that the attitude and way of speaking of this "witch" lady today
It was a bit strange, even the aura he exuded had some changes from the past, but soon, he put this violation aside, "Please sit down, and then look at the things I put on the table.
Letter."
Lucretia had just noticed the open letter with the eye-catching emblem of the Church of the Four Gods. She nodded, sat down opposite Sarah Mel, picked up the letter and scanned it quickly.
once.
Soon, the "witch" raised her eyebrows. It was obvious that the content of the letter surprised her, and there was also a subtle "interest" in the surprise.
She raised her head and waved the letter in her hand: "This letter was sent to all the city-states on the boundless sea?"
"Yes, the governors of each city-state should receive it one after another in the near future," Sarah Mel nodded. "Although I am very interested in their reaction then, I would like to hear it first.
Your opinion - As a descendant of Captain Duncan, and one who has just reestablished contact with him, what do you think of the attitude of the Four Gods Church on this matter?"
Lucretia thought for a while: "...the church, they are more dedicated and 'enlightened' than I thought."
“Strictly speaking, the attitude of the four major Ark pilgrims is very open,” said Sarah Meyer. “Many people have preconceived impressions about this. They always think that the popes and the ‘Court of Bishops’ around them are this
He is the most rigid and stubborn representative in the world who abides by the teachings, but in fact, the situation is often contrary to people's common sense."
Lucretia: "You don't seem to be bound by these 'common senses'?"
"After all, if you live long enough, you will know more," Sarah Meyer shrugged. "I was actually surprised when I first received this letter, but after thinking about what happened recently,
As well as the recent activities of the Four Gods Church, I am not surprised by the contents of the letter."
Lucretia frowned slightly: "What are the recent activities of the Four Gods Church?"
Sarah Meyer did not answer her directly, but suddenly asked a question: "...When was the last time you encountered the church's patrol fleet at the border?"