The kitchen kept sending out plate after plate of steaming food.
After all, Mia certainly hadn't held back in the kitchen.
Though she said such money-grubbing things as, "As long as you have the money, I don't care if you tear the place down."
When it came to food, however.
She gave it her absolute all.
Not only were the portions frighteningly generous, each plate piled like a little mountain, but the speed was astonishing, too.
On the large table Haimo's group had pushed together.
All sorts of delicious dishes piled up in the blink of an eye, leaving hardly any room for a cup.
The two whole chickens, roasted golden and crisp, occupied opposite ends of the table.
Their skins still sizzled with fat from the heat, giving off faint crackling sounds.
Golden fat slid down the plump chicken breasts and dripped onto the white porcelain plates, instantly gathering into glistening beads of oil.
They gave off a powerful aroma of rosemary mixed with black pepper that went straight up everyone's noses.
Beside them was a mountain of fish and chips.
Golden, crispy batter encased tender white fish shipped straight from Meren's harbor, its grain clearly visible, with white steam still rising from it.
Paired with a special pickle tartar sauce, its sweet-and-sour aroma alone made mouths water, setting saliva flowing involuntarily.
There was also that huge pot of rich, creamy stew.
It bubbled away, steaming.
Large chunks of smoked bacon, obliquely cut pieces of red carrot, and plump diced button mushrooms rolled through the milky-white broth.
Every bubble released a rich, creamy aroma.
"Cheers!"
As Haimo raised his wooden tankard, everyone else raised their cups as well.
The wooden cups clinked.
They made a dull yet cheerful sound.
Ale splashed, and juice swayed.
"Wow!"
"What a feast!"
Enju