Hiril didn’t eat it with spring onions, cucumber sticks, or a pancake. Just a thin piece of duck.

  The moment his teeth sank into the crispy skin and tender meat, an amazing taste swept across his tongue.

  The pleasant smell of wood from fruit trees made him feel as if he were in an orchard.

  “I’ve tried all the restaurants of any popularity in the orcs’ territory and Rodu, but I’ve never eaten anything so good!” Hiril said, his voice excited and joyous.

  The Roast Goose Restaurant claimed to be the best at roasting geese. Their roast geese, which were priced at 500 copper coins each, might have won many people’s hearts, but they couldn’t hold a candle to this roast duck.

  “Never thought I’d eat something so good here in Chaos City. Let me try the sweet bean sauce.” Hiril dipped a piece of duck into the sauce and the put it into his mouth.

  The sauce was thick and smooth, and tasted mildly sweet and savory at the same time. It went perfectly with the duck meat, giving extra flavor to it.

  The sauce didn’t overpower the taste of meat, but enhanced it, making it even more flavorful.

  “I never liked sweet sauce, but something about this sauce makes it a must for the duck,” Hiril commented to Christy.

  “Mag said the proper way to eat it is with spring onions, cucumber sticks, and pancakes,” Christy said as she carefully placed a duck roll she had just made on a plate and pushed it gently towards Hiril.

  “Thanks, Miss Christy,” Hiril said. He felt like she was growing on him. His oldest granddaughter was of an age with Christy, but she rarely visited him, let alone make duck rolls for him.

  He picked it up, the pancake translucent in the lamplight. He could even see the two spring onion sticks and two cucumber sticks neatly placed on the meat.

  Hiril looked at it for a moment before eating it. The pancake was warm, soft, and a bit chewy; the spring onions and cucumber sticks were fresh, crunchy, and refreshing.

  “What an unusual combination of flavors! This dish is amazing!” Hiril almost jumped up in excitement.

  The three different ways of eating the duck afforded him three distinct and enjoyable experiences.

  The Peking Duck had blown his mind so much that he found his stereotype about the food in Chaos City had been broken.

  “This is so good!” Hiril made another duck roll himself, and ate it with an elated smile.

  Christy also took a graceful bite of the duck roll she had just made.

  “Mmm, delish!” Christy smiled so much that her eyes almost closed.

  She had prepared herself, but she was still stunned.

  “This duck is out of this world!”


  “Mag is such a talented chef!”


  “This is simply unbelievable!”


  The customers were full of praise for Mag’s cooking and his knife skills.

  Mag couldn’t get enough of their praise, but then again, who didn’t love praise?

  “Excuse me, I’d like a Peking Duck.”


  “I’m so sorry, sir, but we’ve sold out,” Yabemiya said with an apologetic smile. “Please come back tomorrow night.”


  Yet the customer was pretty persistent. “Mag,” he called out, “it’s still early, why don’t you make another batch for us? I’m sure there’re enough people to buy 10 more ducks.”


  The customers who wanted to order a duck looked to the kitchen, wondering if Mag would grant him his wish.

  Mag turned around and smiled. “I’m sorry, sir. I want to cook more for you, but right now we are only able to prepare 100 ducks every day. We’ll try to prepare more in the future.”


  “Such an interesting owner. I wonder if he’ll let me have another tofu pudding,” Hiril said as he put down his spoon, looking at the empty bowl before him.

  “I’m afraid he’ll probably say the same thing,” replied Christy. She wanted another tofu pudding too!

  Hiril looked surprised, and then smiled. “It’s rare to find such a devoted chef these days.”


  “Yeah,” Christy agreed. “He is so different.” There was a sparkle in her eyes as she looked at Mag’s back.

  “Since we’re not entitled to more of the amazing food here, I guess we should leave now.” Hiril paid the check and walked out with Christy. “This is the best meal I’ve had since I returned. Thank you, Miss Christy.”


  Christy smiled. “No, I should thank you for treating me to such a wonderful dinner.”


  “You’re a good kid. I wish you were my granddaughter. Walk with me around the square if you have nothing better to do.”
……

  Full dark had fallen by the time there were only a handful of people waiting outside. They had to be avid fans of the food here if they could wait for so long.

  Mag could satisfy most of the fans now that the restaurant had grown bigger.

  “Ding!”


  The door opened.

  “Wel—” Sally was struck dumb when she looked up from the table she was cleaning and saw who it was.