Beginning the Exploration, Modest Gains
After making some simple preparations, the two headed into the mountains.
The surrounding jungle was dense, with no roads at all. They could only make their way through the forest. The ground was covered in dead branches and fallen leaves, with all kinds of vines everywhere, greatly slowing their progress.
After struggling onward for nearly half a day, with no idea how far they had traveled, Lara was panting from exhaustion. The two sat down to rest, and Jiang Hao took out the grilled fish he had prepared earlier from his backpack. Wrapped in banana leaves, he opened it and gave half to Lara.
Lara took it and bit into it, then looked at Jiang Hao. "Even with such simple ingredients, you managed to make it delicious. Are you a chef?"
Jiang Hao smiled. "I studied cooking professionally."
Lara looked at Jiang Hao in surprise. "How do you know how to do everything?"
"Just a personal hobby. I like wilderness exploration, and if I didn't know a little cooking, I'd probably have to eat nothing but rations outside. That would be miserable. Besides, cooking skills are useful when dealing with emergencies." Jiang Hao said as he ate the fish.
Lara strongly agreed with Jiang Hao. "I like exploring too. Now that Father is dead, I think I should inherit his will and become an explorer too. It looks like I still have a great many things to learn."
The current Lara really was still very inexperienced, nothing like the famous Queen of Adventure she would become in the future.
"Have some water." Jiang Hao handed her the canteen.
Lara took the canteen and drank a few mouthfuls. After putting it down, she asked, "Jon, do you think we can really destroy Queen Himiko and escape