Primal Feast

Grim let out a hearty laugh. "Haha! Eat up if you like it! Dip the bread in the sauce on the plate while it's hot. Once the bread soaks up the gravy, it won't be as good."

He Xi did as he was told, breaking off a piece of bread and dipping it generously in the thick sauce before putting it in his mouth.

"Boss Grim, this sauce is incredible. You used wine and garlic, right?"

"You've got a good palate, kid." Grim seemed a little surprised but didn't hide anything. "That's right, it's made with prickly pear peppers from the Southern Continent, wild garlic, and the finest dark beer."

He Xi swallowed the bread in his mouth and joked, "You just told me just like that? Next time I learn how to make it myself, I won't come here to eat."

Grim waved his hand magnanimously. "What's the big deal! Food and wine are the same, it's good to have someone appreciate them. If you really like it, I'll give you a small jar of sauce when you leave! You can put a little on your roasted meat when you're out adventuring in the future, it'll definitely elevate the flavor!"

He Xi sincerely praised, "Grim, you're not just a great chef, but also a straightforward and generous friend!"

Grim snorted through his nose and turned to wipe the seemingly endless supply of glasses. However, He Xi could see the tusks at the corners of his mouth twitch upwards almost imperceptibly.

[Half-Orc · Grim's Favorability towards you increased, Analysis Points +4]

The portion of Cracked Hoof Bull ribs was truly astonishing. Even though He Xi had been hungry all day and even shared a large piece with the eagerly watching Bruce, there was still plenty of meat left on the stone slab.

He asked Grim for a few large, thick leaves and carefully wrapped the remaining roast. He also bought a loaf of bread to serve as rations for the next day.

Touching his slightly bulging stomach, the feeling of being full and warm all over from the rich food was something he hadn't experienced in a long time.

This young body was still growing, and he had simply eaten too little and too poorly before.

"Looks like I need to eat more nutritious monster meat in the future. Maybe my stats will even increase."

Letting Bruce carry the half-chewed rib bone, the man and dog prepared to leave.

As he walked near the bar, He Xi saw Grim picking up a quill, seemingly ready to cross out the second rule on the parchment.

He stopped and said, "Grim, I think... you don't need to remove that rule."

Grim's hand, holding the pen, paused in mid-air.

He Xi continued, "Protecting your employees is nothing wrong. Maintaining order in the tavern is the owner's responsibility. As for the two of them getting together in the end, that's their own choice and fate. You don't need to be troubled by it or change your principles, do you?"

"However," he pointed to the darkened bloodstain on the stage floor, "maybe next time you could be a little... gentler? After all, not all bards are jerks, right?"

Grim was silent for a moment, then finally put down the pen. He said gruffly, "Kid, you're right. Rules are rules, and they should be established when necessary. I was just overthinking it. Thanks, Galen."

[Half-Orc · Grim's Favorability towards you increased, Analysis Points +3]

He Xi smiled. "Alright then, goodbye, Grim. I'll definitely come back to try your other signature dishes if I get the chance!"

"You're always welcome! Next time, you can try the Stone Jaw Lizard meat pie!"

Leaving "The Orc and the Lute," He Xi found a seemingly affordable inn in a nearby alley—its sign depicted a squatting stone toad.

The bed board was hard, and the room was small.

However, the price was very fair, only 80 Copper Nails for one night.

He could even take a hot shower for free.

For He Xi, who had been traveling all day, this was more important than anything.

Lying on the creaking bed, He Xi began to ponder.

"Maybe after this commission is completed and I get paid, I should consider renting a place?" He Xi thought as he prepared hot water. "Living in inns isn't a long-term solution. I need to look for a place like a real estate agency in town..."

He shook his head, casting aside these distracting thoughts.

There were more important things to do right now.

With a hint of anticipation, he opened the interface in his mind.

[Race: Half-Orc]

[Analysis Points: 21]

[Trait Extraction: Requires 20 Analysis Points]

Enough!

"Extract Trait!"

[You spent 20 Analysis Points and extracted the trait -- Primal Feast -- from Half-Orc · Grim]

[Primal Feast]: A gluttonous feast of courage and luck! After consuming monster meat (raw or cooked), you will randomly gain one beneficial effect based on the monster's characteristics, lasting for a period of time. However, there is also a small chance of indigestion, resulting in a random negative effect.

He Xi's eyes lit up instantly!

"Great trait!"

The effect of this trait was very practical, especially for him.

He happened to have [Adamantine Stomach] on hand.

This meant he could almost be immune to the "indigestion" negative effect, reliably turning [Primal Feast] into a high-quality buff that provided random benefits!

However, he could only equip two traits at the moment, and he had to make a choice.

[Earth Affinity] was the foundation of his existence; he couldn't do without it for combat or Magic Power recovery. It generally needed to be active at all times.

But this didn't stump He Xi.

As a veteran game enthusiast, his mind immediately raced.

"I can completely swap out [Earth Affinity] before eating the monster meat, and temporarily equip the two 'eating-specific' traits, [Primal Feast] and [Adamantine Stomach]."

"After I finish eating, once the effect of [Primal Feast] triggers and stabilizes as a buff, I'll swap [Adamantine Stomach] back for [Earth Affinity]!"

This was practically exploiting a bug... no, how could utilizing game mechanics be called a bug!

Existence is reasonable!

With that thought, he immediately prepared to try it out.

Although he had already finished eating, theoretically, as long as the beef was still digesting in his stomach, equipping the traits now should still trigger the effects.

No sooner said than done.

He first unequipped [Earth Affinity], then equipped both [Adamantine Stomach] and [Primal Feast] simultaneously.

The instant [Primal Feast] was equipped, He Xi immediately felt a strange surge of energy in his stomach.

At the same time, [Adamantine Stomach] acted like a sturdy gate, completely blocking out any potential "indigestion" negative energy.

It was as if the Cracked Hoof Bull beef he had just eaten was reactivated, with some hidden power being drawn out and integrated into his limbs and bones.

He could even feel his muscles slightly swelling and his energy becoming more abundant.

Confirming that the buff effect had stabilized, He Xi nodded in satisfaction and quickly swapped [Adamantine Stomach] back for the steadfast [Earth Affinity].

After completing all this, he immediately opened his status panel to check.

[Name: He Xi Atreus]
[Race: Human]
[Level: 9]
[Class: None]
[Physique: 10+2]
[Strength: 6+2]
[Agility: 7]
[Intelligence: 11]
[Willpower: 10]
[Charisma: 16]
[Skills:
Earth Spike Technique Lv.2 (6/20)
Light Spell]
[Status:
Salamachis's Contract: Your bloodline power will be extracted in 2 days.
Mora's Blessing: You have received the blessing of the Stone Vein Speaker, permanently gaining +4 Physique. This buff effect ignores all curses or debuffs.
Cracked Hoof Beef Buff: Physique +2, Strength +2, Remaining Duration: 5 hours 58 minutes.]
[Equipped Traits: Earth Affinity, Primal Feast]
[Available Traits: Territory Scent Mark, Blush Trait, Adamantine Stomach]

Just as expected!