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Phil sifted through a pile of oddly-shaped sea fish and finally found one he barely recognized. "Is this an Eastern Grouper?" he asked cheerfully. "Let's have this today. Let me show you some cooking skills." Phil wasn't just a barbecue guy, but Zaun's limited ingredients made it difficult for him to showcase his culinary talents. Creating Malicious Mud Frog sashimi was out of the question. Even a braised version would be odd. Jinx cheered victoriously from the side.
Phil cut open the fish simply—such a huge fish would definitely be too much for just two people. The spices in this world aren't many, but some basic sauces like soy sauce have been invented. He filleted the fish, marveling at the glistening fish meat. Zaun would never have anything like this. He sliced the fish into small pieces and blanched them. The skin slightly curled, transforming into Eastern Grouper sashimi. The fish skin, under Phil's handling—and given the high quality of the ingredients—gave off a crystalline transparency. Phil arranged the pieces on two plates, their whiteness accentuated by a few mint leaves as garnish, making for a visually delightful presentation.
Unable to resist the temptation, Jinx picked up a piece and put it in her mouth. After being blanched, the fish skin offered a chewy texture but then softened in the mouth, with the tangy, salty, and fresh flavor of the fish coming through. Jinx barely had time to savor it before she swallowed a few down in quick succession. "Delicious!" Jinx's eyes widened as she grabbed Phil's share.
"Hey, that's mine!" Phil exclaimed, seeing his food being taken away. Wasn't this akin to snatching food from a tiger's mouth? After much effort, Phil managed to rescue a piece of fish skin that had been nipped from the plate. "This is just an appetizer, no snatching, or I won't make any more." With that, Jinx finally calmed down.
Phil leisurely stirred his spatula, contemplating the next dish. In Zaun, time was scarce, so on this trip, Phil could finally relax and do some things he wanted to. "For the main course, let's make some Douban Steamed Fish." Douban sauce wasn't available here. Phil pulled out a small jar of douban sauce he had concocted after many experiments to sate his craving.
He marinated the filleted fish, scoring it, and applied the douban sauce generously, adding a bit of sugar, shredded ginger, and other ingredients, then placed it in a steamer to cook. The aroma wafted from the pot, making Phil's own mouth water. After a few minutes of steaming, Phil opened the lid and added a splash of beer to enhance the flavor and remove any lingering fishiness.
As he waited for the fish to steam, ripples suddenly appeared on the boat's surface, like waves. Out of nowhere, a massive fat-headed fish emerged from the water. "Is there such a huge catfish in the sea?" Phil was incredulous, then he realized, "Tahm Kench?"
"Someone still knows my name?" His broad mouth spoke in a human voice. "Young man, I can see your desires. Do you want wealth and power? For a small price, I can fulfill your wishes." Hearing this, Phil rolled his eyes. What he most wanted now was for this catfish to vanish from his sight. But he knew better than to voice that thought. Though not destructive, this catfish delighted in leading destitute young souls into the abyss he'd crafted.
"Ah! What's that? A giant toad... oof," Jinx started to say, but Phil clamped a hand over her mouth. This creature, regardless of its lack of prominence, was still a demon-level being, invincible wherever there was water.
"Kids, have you thought about what you'll trade?" Tahm was getting impatient. Phil suddenly had an idea. Tahm was probably drawn to the ship by the scent of his cooking. Perhaps he ran into Phil after a night of gambling in Zaun or Bilgewater. So, could he placate him with some food?
"Rumor has it there's a great gourmet on the continent known as Tahm Kench. Could that be you, sir? I've read his work, 'A Hundred Ways to Cook Scuttle Crab,' and it was truly enlightening."
Tahm burst into laughter, patting his belly. "Kid, you're pretty good. Now, tell me your wish."
"I'd like the esteemed gourmet in you to critique my cooking," Phil said, raising the spatula in his hand.
Tahm twirled the whiskers above his mouth, regarding Phil. "Seeing as you've piqued my interest, I'll grant your wish."
Relieved that no mention of a price was made, Phil exhaled. He lifted the pot lid, and a tantalizing aroma wafted out. Tahm caught the scent, and although his whiskers twitched, he maintained the air of a discerning gourmet, waiting gracefully for Phil to present the dish.
Phil poked a chopstick into the fish and, finding it easily pierced, knew it was ready. He plated it, making one large platter for Tahm and a smaller one for Jinx. Jinx pouted at the smaller serving but didn't protest, instead carrying her plate off, muttering, "No need to remind me, I know who he is!"
Meanwhile, Tahm paid no mind to the portions; the largest plate was but a mouthful to him. His agile tongue flicked out, and the dish was swiped clean in an instant. Tahm rubbed his tiny mustache and assumed a savoring pose. "Kid, this dish's flavor is unusual. I haven't tasted anything like it before. Overall, it's quite delicious. The ingredients are good. I'll give you eighty points."
Tahm was being reserved, seemingly forgetting his demonic nature, and Phil let out a sigh of relief. "But there's too little of it," Tahm added with a shift in tone. He rarely dined on humans, as uncooked, they weren't palatable to him. His favorite was Scuttle Crabs, particularly in October when they were plump and delectable. A simple steam would fill him with unforgettable delight.
Phil wasn't sure how to gauge Tahm's position, so he briefly explained the cooking method and handed over half a bottle of douban sauce. This helpless feeling was deeply unpleasant. His hand tensed slightly, ready to don the "Volcanic Forge Armor" from the original plan if it came to a desperate fight.
Tahm's gaze flicked over Phil before he said, "Until we meet again, kid." Having lived over a thousand years, he easily perceived Phil's wariness, but today, he had no interest in taunting humans. He was eager to try douban sauce steamed Scuttle Crab.
With that, the wooden deck rippled, and Tahm turned and vanished into the water like a fish, leaving Phil and Jinx staring wide-eyed at each other.
"That guy just left like that?" Jinx, holding her pet, puzzled over Tahm's departing form.