"Yes, yes, there's meat and wild eggs, my lord," said the giant, visibly more relaxed, though he still used a respectful title. He pulled out a large chunk of raw meat and several wild eggs from a leather pouch at his side, a smile breaking across his dark face. "I'll make you a pot of giant stew."
"No, let's try my cooking instead." Kent chuckled, picking up the pot from the ground.
"You know how to cook?" the giant asked, puzzled.
"Not only do I know how, I'm a culinary master on the Red Soil Continent."
Cooking on the Red Soil Continent was quite primitive; aside from grilling, food was typically boiled in plain water with a pinch of rock salt for flavor. That's why Kent always kept some spices he'd gathered and some homemade paper in his bag.
"A culinary master?" The giant's eyes sparkled as he said, "Fatty Bull is a foodie. This time, I traveled far just to explore and taste the delicacies of the Red Soil Continent."
Although the giant's words were casual, Kent took them seriously.
Kent nodded, saying nonchalantly, "No flavor on this continent can match my cooking." He reached into the fire and pulled out a scorching hot stone slab. Thanks to recently mastering fire magic, he now had a higher tolerance for heat than ordinary people.
The giant hadn't expected Kent to invite him so directly and froze momentarily.
Kent sliced off a small piece of beef fat, placing it on the stone slab, where it quickly melted into sizzling oil.
The giant's eyes widened as if he were witnessing magic.
The aroma spread through the air, causing the giant's nostrils to flare and his eyes to light up.
"What a fragrant smell." Saliva dripped from the giant's mouth, which he quickly wiped away, leaving a handprint on his dark face.
Kent gently cracked the wild egg, letting its contents fall onto the slab, where it quickly solidified and released a mouthwatering aroma the giant had never encountered.
Kent smirked inwardly. To someone like him, accustomed to frying, stir-frying, and sautéing, demonstrating a few simple cooking techniques was easy.
The delicious fried egg with beef fat was placed before the giant. Although two wild eggs were hardly a meal for a three-meter-tall giant, the taste was unparalleled.
"What… this is…" The giant stared with wide eyes, ignoring the drool at the corner of his mouth.
"Go ahead, try it. If you like it, join my team," Kent said nonchalantly, sliding the fried eggs toward the giant.
After just one bite, the giant's eyes widened, and his round ears started twitching rapidly.
This was a clear sign he could hardly contain his excitement.
[+50 satisfaction from the giant, +50, +50.]
"Oh my goodness, this is delicious, my lord!" The giant was so moved he nearly cried, even changing his form of address. "Could you teach me this dish?"
"Of course." Kent was delighted but maintained a composed smile. "If you join my team, I'll teach you not just ten, but a hundred recipes."
"Yes, yes, a hundred times yes!" The giant nodded enthusiastically. "Are you a magician? Can I make this dish without magic?"
"Of course, it's simple; you just need…"
"Kent?" Splitting Blade's voice sounded in the distance, and Old Nag trotted over.
"Kent's horse is here. Come quickly!" called Udo.
"My comrades are here, Fatty Bull." Kent smiled, standing up. "Come, let's introduce you."
A large and small figure emerged from the bushes, and with a few clinks, the guards readied their weapons as if facing a formidable enemy.
Skinny Stick, who had been lying down on the cart, merely lifted his head to glance at the situation, then lay back down to continue his nap.
"Kent…" Splitting Blade cautiously moved toward him, greatsword in hand, "Is everything alright?"
Kent noticed the tense atmosphere. He glanced at the guard team and then at the giant, realizing the reason.
"Don't misunderstand. Lower your weapons, everyone," Kent called out. "This is our new companion, Fatty Bull."
"A new companion?" Splitting Blade frowned. Kent sure was bold; they were on their way to attack Blood Hammer Camp, yet he recruited a stranger along the way—a giant, no less. Who knew if this would backfire?
"My lord, your caravan… are you heading to Blood Hammer Camp?" the giant asked, his expression changing as he looked at their direction.
"Fatty Bull, are you familiar with Blood Hammer Camp?" Kent noticed the giant's strange expression.
"No, not at all. I have a friend who was taken by Blood Hammer. I don't know when I'll see him again." The giant frowned.
Hearing this, the guard team glanced at each other, visibly more relaxed.
"Is that so… Well, we're headed to Blood Hammer Camp to rescue someone." Kent nodded. "Why not come with us? You might see your friend."
"Really?" The giant's eyes lit up. "Alright, I'll go with you!"
…
Beyond the trees, they were nearing Blood Hammer Camp.
The ten-member guard team, driving a two-wheeled cart with a single horse, had purposely dirtied their armor to disguise themselves as an ordinary merchant group. After four days of travel, they finally arrived here. Along the way, they'd passed through Cavern Tribe territory and even released three of the Cavern Tribe leaders.
Their task was to persuade other Cavern Tribe clans to relocate to Spear Hunting Territory.
Now, they rode on horseback, with Splitting Blade driving the cart and the group accompanied by a walking giant. Lacking a proper weapon, the giant had chopped down a tree trunk as thick as a thigh to carry on his shoulder.
Information about Blood Hammer Camp flashed through Kent's mind.
Located on the southern edge of Blackwood Forest, along the banks of Rushing River, Blood Hammer Camp was once a critical outpost for the northern frontier's expansion and adventurers. However, after the successful opening of the Red River route, many adventurers could travel directly along the Red River through Blackwood Forest to reach the Devouring Valley line. Consequently, Blood Hammer Camp, once a significant outpost, gradually fell into disrepair.
To maintain the camp's prosperity, the Bloodstone family, who controlled Blood Hammer, increased investment in slave trading, gladiatorial matches, and gambling, which in turn attracted more adventurers from various backgrounds. Nowadays, one could frequently see orcs, barbarians, and other non-human adventurers at the camp. Even the Blood Hammer's mercenary groups included numerous orc and barbarian slaves among their ranks.
"Splitting Blade, tell me more about Blood Hammer," Kent said.