This was the seventh batch of Truffle Sea Urchin Soup Bai Qiu had prepared.
There were less than ten minutes left before it would be done.
Naturally, he had no intention of bringing such a high-grade dish to share.
Doing so would bring him nothing but unwanted attention and envy.
At the current stage, although everyone claimed to be bringing transcendent-grade food, the best ingredients anyone could realistically have were only around Grade C++ or Grade B−.
Fortunately, Bai Qiu had come up with a good solution.
Dilution.
Just like the diluted Mental Potions he had made before.
If he diluted the seafood soup until it was only Grade B−, wouldn’t that solve the problem?
Once the soups were finished, he could simply pour them into the large pot of water and stir everything together.
Problem solved.
Ten minutes later… Bai Qiu stared at the enormous pot of “seafood soup,” which now looked almost as clear as plain water.
After giving it a thorough stir, he scooped up a spoonful and tasted it.
“…Grade C?”
“I diluted it too much.”
“In that case…”
“One more bowl.”
After another two and a half minutes of careful experimentation…
Bai Qiu finally succeeded.
He had used eight bowls of Truffle Sea Urchin Soup to raise the quality of the entire pot—
No.
The entire soup—
To Grade B−.
One Grade B++ ingredient.
One Grade C++ ingredient.
Using only forty percent of the sea urchin roe…
He had managed to create an entire pot of Grade B− soup.
Its only flaw… Was that the color looked far too pale.
“Sigh…”
“I should’ve stocked up on supplies back on Earth.”
“Like coffee creamer.”
“Just one spoonful, and the color would’ve looked perfect.”
Bai Qiu couldn’t help recalling the wonders of modern food additives.
After a moment’s thought, he grabbed some of the roasted Mist Sea Tea leaves and sprinkled them into the pot.
Almost immediately, the previously translucent soup took on a light golden hue.
At the same time, the characteristic white mist unique to Mist Sea Tea began rising gently from the surface.
The corners of Bai Qiu’s lips curled upward.
He couldn’t help but laugh.
“Oh, right.”
“I should probably add salt this time.”
He suddenly remembered.
Scooping up another spoonful, he took a sip.
The flavor was good.
Very good, in fact.
But it still couldn’t compare to the original seafood soup.
Nor did it possess that endlessly lingering aftertaste.
“Ah!” Bai Qiu raised a finger.
An idea had struck him.
He took out a Fragrant Fruit, peeled it, and squeezed every last drop of juice into the pot.
After stirring it thoroughly…
He sampled another spoonful.
Then nodded in satisfaction.
“That’s it.”
The color. The aroma. The taste.
All perfect.
Fruit Tea Truffle Sea Urchin Soup complete.
Putting the enormous pot into his Spatial Bracelet, Bai Qiu opened the door and headed toward Room 1981.
Upon arriving… Bai Qiu immediately understood why everyone had chosen this room for the midnight gathering.
Wasn’t this… The room that had belonged to the young swordsman who had ambushed him earlier that day?
Now that its owner was dead…
The room had become vacant, effectively turning into one of the ship’s public gathering areas.
And the largest dining room aboard.
Even after someone dies, you guys turn his room into a party venue?
You people…
The tiny shred of guilt Bai Qiu still felt completely disappeared.
He walked straight inside.
The moment he entered, the young man in the tight blue combat suit greeted him enthusiastically.
“There you are!”
“What took you so long?”
“It was only a little over ten minutes.” Bai Qiu answered calmly.
“I couldn’t exactly carry the soup over while it was only half-cooked.”
He wasn’t wearing the Skyward Battle Armor at the moment.
Instead, he had on a casual shirt beneath his Concealment Cloak.
Even so, everyone recognized him immediately.
The room was filled with the warm bustle of a lively gathering.
Someone was pan-frying meat by the balcony.
Someone else was making handmade pastries.
Others were tending barbecue grills.
The atmosphere was relaxed and unexpectedly cozy.
“Heh!”
“Finally!” A bronze-skinned burly man waved his hand.
“Try my barbecue!” A freshly grilled piece of meat flew toward Bai Qiu.
Of course… It wasn’t literally thrown.
The sauce and juices coating the meat had been suspended by some mysterious force.
The meat floated gently to a stop in front of Bai Qiu.
“Then I won’t refuse.” Bai Qiu reached out and caught it.
Using Wind Manipulation, he supported the piece of meat.
Even after the burly man withdrew his own power, the meat remained perfectly suspended, allowing Bai Qiu to sample it comfortably.
The burly man’s eyes lit up.
Clearly pleased, he nodded and completely released his control.
After taking a bite, Bai Qiu gave an approving nod.
The grilling technique was excellent.
The chef was obviously experienced.
The ingredients were first-rate.
There was no doubt this was the meat of an extraordinary beast.
Perhaps because of the atmosphere…
Everyone seemed far more relaxed than before.
Aside from the young man in the bright blue combat suit—who stubbornly refused to change clothes—nearly everyone had removed their armor and changed into casual attire while preparing food.
Although the room measured only around eighty square meters, the twenty-odd people inside didn’t feel cramped at all.
Finding a spacious corner, Bai Qiu decided to put on a little show.
With a wave of his hand, he manipulated Star Iron Ore into a simple stove right before everyone’s eyes.
Then… He produced his enormous iron pot.
Before he even lifted the lid, someone spoke.
“I heard from Cu Chulainn that you’ve been making some kind of soup.”
“Try my home-brewed beer first.”
“Then you can decide whether your own cooking is worthy of being served.”
The speaker was a scruffy man with a beard.
His face was so red it resembled the backside of a baboon.
With an openly provocative grin, he tossed Bai Qiu a small bottle of beer.
“Hahaha!”
“You old drunk.”
“Already had one too many?”
“Don’t embarrass yourself when he puts your cooking to shame.”
Someone else laughed, easing the brief moment of tension.
Bai Qiu uncapped the bottle and took a sip.
There was no question about it.
It was top-quality.
Its quality sat right at the peak of Grade C++.
It had most likely been brewed from Grade C++ fruit.
“Not bad.” Bai Qiu nodded in approval.
Then he grinned.
“But I don’t think my soup is anything to be ashamed of either.”
With that, he lifted the lid of the iron pot.
A rich, layered fragrance instantly swept through the entire room.
The atmosphere exploded with excitement.
“Ohhh!”
“Haha! The drunk’s about to eat his words!”
“What is that smell? It smells incredible!”
“Perfect! I’m getting tired of cakes and pastries anyway. Let’s try something new!”
“Bring your own bowl or cup.” Bai Qiu spoke seriously.
Unfortunately, that only earned him another round of laughter.
The room was soon overflowing with cheerful energy.
People toasted one another, sampled Bai Qiu’s Fruit Tea Truffle Sea Urchin Soup, and showered it with praise.
Faced with wave after wave of exaggerated compliments, Bai Qiu could only wear an awkward yet polite smile.
“Hahaha!”
“Drunkard, you lost!”
“That’s right! What did we agree on earlier?”
“The loser has to sit by the bathroom door!”
“Hahahaha!”
After praising Bai Qiu’s soup, everyone immediately turned their attention to the unfortunate drunk.
Although the bearded man looked thoroughly displeased, he honored the bet.
Swaying slightly, he shuffled over to the bathroom entrance and sat down there alone, silently nursing his beer.
Watching the scene unfold, Bai Qiu realized everyone had apparently been playing some sort of game behind his back.
Curious, he asked.
Only then did he learn that several people—including Cu Chulainn—had made a wager with the drunkard.
Since both he and Bai Qiu were providing drinks, they had bet on whose offering would prove more popular.
The loser had to voluntarily sit by the bathroom entrance to make room for anyone else who might arrive at the gathering later.
Bai Qiu couldn’t help laughing.
At this stage of the game… Only a group of people as strong as they were could afford to relax enough to have this much fun.
— The end of the Chapter–
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