A Small Token of Thanks

"This is lunch too?"

"This is an extra meal," Great Strength Creates Miracles said with a smile. "Deputy City Lord Edmund just sent word that you did nearly ten people's worth of work by yourself this morning. You get an extra serving of nuts, and there'll be more tonight."

Mike Long lowered his head to look at the lunch on his tray. Aside from the extra meal, the food itself was excellent too.

A large bowl of razor clam kelp soup, a golden bun as big as a fist, and a serving of stewed radish.

The razor clam meat was outrageously plump, each piece like a short seafood sausage. The broth was so fresh it looked pale, and the kelp within had been stewed until soft, silky, and flavorful.

Mike Long took a huge gulp of soup first, immediately feeling so comfortable that his eyes narrowed.

Then he picked up the golden bun. It looked like an ordinary steamed bun on the outside, but when he bit into it—

Mike Long froze.

It was stuffed full of tender minced fish!

The fish had not been minced too finely, mixed with sea scallions, pepper, and a little fat. The savory juices instantly soaked into the soft dough.

"Damn..."

He looked down at the bun in his hand.

"This is for laborers?"

A native Citizen sat beside him. Hearing that, the man laughed.

"Never had one before, huh? It's called a Golden Seafood Bun."

"When we fled Bright City and City Lord Ling rescued us aboard the Ghost Ship, head chef You made these Golden Buns on the ship. The first time we ate them, we had the exact same expression you do now."

The Citizen pointed at the fish filling inside the bun.

"Later, everyone learned the recipe and adapted it