"Say, everyone..."
Keith Nucadia wore an exceedingly smug grin on his monkey-like face.
He snapped the folding fan in his hand shut with a swish.
He pointed into the depths of a distant neighborhood dotted with lights.
Putting on an air of gravity, he deliberately lowered his voice.
"To celebrate our safe arrival on the Central Continent..."
"Tonight, I, your resident know-it-all..."
"Will take you to taste the most authentic, most distinctive food Donglai Port has to offer."
The moment Alice heard the words "delicious food"...
Her fiery red eyes lit up.
It was as though two tiny flames were dancing within them.
Alice licked her lips.
But she looked Keith up and down suspiciously.
"It had better be delicious."
"If you dare lie to me, you swindling monkey..."
"If you try to fob me off with something disgusting..."
"I won't let you get away with it!"
"Rest assured, young lady."
Keith snapped his folding fan open again with a swish.
He waved it with a knowing air, concealing half his face.
Only his gleaming eyes remained visible.
"My reputation-the great Keith's reputation..."
"Is second to none wherever I go. You have nothing to worry about."
"As far as I know, the Dragon King Kingdom's cuisine..."
"Is unlike that of any other Humanfolk nation. It's in a class of its own."
"I guarantee it'll... open your eyes and make this trip worthwhile."
With Keith mysteriously leading the way...
The group passed through several bustling streets hung with red lanterns and filled with an exotic charm.
After winding through turn after turn, they arrived at a restaurant called the Dragon's Cry Pavilion, tucked deep inside an alley.
Unlike the Western-style restaurants in Millis, built from enormous white stones to convey solemnity and sanctity...
The Dragon's Cry Pavilion before them was an