After the stone fortress gates closed, the old man did not lead them any deeper.
At the end of the corridor was a banquet hall.
As soon as the doors opened, Milluki poked his head inside. But after taking only a few steps into the hall, he stopped.
A long table stretched from the entrance to the far end of the hall, its surface piled high. Roasted root vegetables, bean cakes, berries, several plates of sliced mushrooms, and bowls upon bowls of steamed tubers. Most of the tableware consisted of wooden bowls and ceramic plates, while knives and forks lay tucked beneath the tablecloth, their metal edges exposed.
Bai Zhu swept his gaze over the room and did not sit down immediately.
Milluki had already flipped through the menu beside the table twice, and the flesh on his face sagged along with his expression.
"Where's the meat?"
A waiter stood at the side of the table, both hands hanging in front of him.
"The capital is observing a clean diet today."
Milluki looked up.
"This is supposed to be a state banquet. Why is everything a cold dish?"
The waiter lowered his head.
"A clean diet contains no meat or fish."
"Not even eggs?"
"Eggs will be supplied tomorrow."
Milluki slapped the menu onto the table.
"I'd say your general isn't very sincere."
Bai Zhu pulled out a chair, sat down, picked up a bean cake, and took a bite. His words came out muffled around the food.
"At least they didn't charge us for the meal."
Gela Jiang sat down beside him and added in a low voice.
"You packed off dozens of boxed meals from the Zoldyck estate. You still care about this one?"
Milluki turned to stare at Bai Zhu.
"How many did he take?"
Bai Zhu