Visiting Randolph!

More than a month later.

Luo Ge and his group finally left the Millis Continent, crossing the ocean on a passenger ship to the superpower in the southern part of the Central Continent.

They disembarked at the eastern port of the King Dragon Kingdom.

The sea breeze, carrying a salty, fishy smell, swept over us. The dock was bustling with noise; laborers unloading cargo, hotel staff soliciting customers, and fishmongers squatting by the roadside were all crammed together.

As Nanahoshi dragged her suitcase down the gangway and stepped onto the stone pier, she took a deep breath and stretched out her arms in a big yawn.

"... I really miss those days."

She glanced back at Luo Ge, a rare, relaxed smile playing on her lips.

"Come to think of it, we were here about two years ago, weren't we?"

Luo Ge nodded, looked around, and the dock looked much the same as he remembered, even the mooring post with a missing corner was still in the same place.

"Yes."

"Are you all a little hungry?"

He suddenly remembered.

Randolph's restaurant was nearby, run by that guy whose cooking skills were atrocious, yet he insisted on making dragon stew.

Although he almost died on the spot from the last meal, he is still an old friend, and since I'm passing by, I should pay him a visit out of courtesy and courtesy.

Let's go.

"I'll take you somewhere to meet an old friend."

Apart from Nanahoshi, everyone here was quite curious about the identity of the old friend that Luo Ge was going to meet next.

So Luo Ge led the group through the dockside market and into a familiar alley.

But when they arrived at the location of Randolph's Restaurant that they remembered, they saw several wooden crates piled up at the entrance.

Randolph himself was bent over, stuffing pots and pans into a box, wearing an old apron, his forehead covered in sweat.

They saw Luo Ge and his large group walking towards them.

Randolph was taken aback at first.

He then straightened up and grinned.

"What a rare treat! Aren't you and your family supposed to be on the Millis Continent? What brings you here as guests?"

It's a long story.

Luo Ge shrugged. "I was just passing through on my way to take my two younger sisters to Ranoa University of Magic."

"I see."

Randolph wiped his sweat and pushed the box aside.

Luo Ge glanced at the empty tables and chairs in the shop, then at the luggage piled up by the door, and frowned.

What's wrong with this store?

Randolph sighed, plopped down on the doorstep, and spread his hands.

"It's on the verge of going out of business."

"Why?"

"Sigh... A while ago, someone ate my signature dish and then started swearing at me."

Randolph looked somewhat dejected. "Sigh, maybe I, Randolph, really am not suited to be a cook!"

"Well..."

Luo Ge considered his words carefully. "Well... to be honest, your cooking isn't actually that bad... why... don't you consider changing your signature dish, stewed dragon meat?"

"No."

Randolph shook his head, his tone resolute.

"Braised dragon meat is the soul of this restaurant."

"If we change this signature dish, this restaurant will lose its reason for existence."

Luo Ge looked at him, unsure what to say for a moment.

Honestly, knowing it's awful but still insisting on making it taste bad, they deserve to go bankrupt.

On the other hand, he also admired this kind of person.

Once you've set your mind on something, you won't turn back; even if you hit a brick wall, you'll keep trying to break through it.

"Anyway... I've decided to give up running the restaurant... there's nothing more to say."

Randolph sighed.

Luo Ge and Nanahoshi exchanged a glance, unsure how to comfort him.

Randolph, on the other hand, cheered himself up. He waved to everyone and smiled again, "By the way, you guys haven't found a place to stay yet, have you?"

"Why don't you stay here? There are plenty of empty rooms anyway."

"Is it really okay? Will it bother you?"

"Anyway, nobody's coming."

Randolph picked up his suitcase and carried it into the store. "I think I'll leave tomorrow too, to find another job."

"Okay, thank you for your help."

Luo Ge nodded in agreement.

Randolph tossed his luggage into the corner, rubbed his hands together, and said, "Hahaha, since you're staying here, let me cook you my signature dish tonight!"

Upon hearing the words "this signature dish again," Luo Ge's expression visibly stiffened.

"No need for that."

"No trouble at all! Just wait!"

Randolph was so enthusiastic that Luo Ge couldn't even find a way to refuse.

With some hesitation, the group sat down at the table.

Soon, after a while of busy work,

Randolph then brought a large pot out of the kitchen and placed it in the middle of the table.

The pot lid was lifted.

Steaming hot.

A familiar scent, so familiar it sent chills down your spine, filled the air.

"Stewed Dragon Meat"

It tastes exactly the same as before.

Everyone sat around the table, tacitly refraining from touching their chopsticks.

Aisha and Norn, the two little girls who had never been beaten, were staring at the pieces of meat in the pot, sniffing them curiously.

Nanahoshi Xing leaned back expressionlessly.

The smile on Elinalise's face had become quite subtle.

Only Roxy.

She couldn't wait and was the first to start eating.

He picked up the bowl, filled it to the brim, blew on it twice, and then downed it in one go.

After finishing her drink, she put down the bowl and tilted her head in confusion, looking at everyone.

"Huh?! Why aren't you all eating?"

"???"

Luo Ge.

"???"

Nanahoshi.

"???"

The rest of the group.

Looking at Roxy's sincere face, Luo Ge couldn't help but ask, "Teacher, have you always been this brave?"

How does it taste?

"Well... it's alright, actually."

Roxy nodded earnestly.

Could it be... that Randolph has really improved a lot under Nanahoshi's tutelage?

Luo Ge scooped up a spoonful with some skepticism and put it in his mouth.

Pfft!

The mask of pain was instantly put on.

The taste remained unchanged.

It's still the original flavor.

It tastes as awful as shit.

But to be fair, after careful consideration, Luo Ge had to admit it.

Randolph's cooking skills weren't actually that bad.

At least the ingredients were of high quality, the cooking time was just right, and the salt was added correctly.

The problem probably lies with the dragon meat itself; after all, the taste of monsters in this world is... unpleasant to describe.

The more magic power contained in the meat of a top-tier magical creature like a dragon, the less palatable it becomes.

Actually.

If Randolph were placed in a place like the Demon Continent where food is scarce, he might actually become a master chef.

Just like Roxy, who was used to suffering since childhood,

Their requirements for food are shockingly low.

She ate while muttering to herself.

"Luo Ge, no picky eating."

"Food is very precious."

We should cherish food.

With each sentence, he stuffed a piece of meat into his mouth, his cheeks bulging out... like a greedy little hamster.

"..."

Luo Ge took a deep breath.

Now that Roxy has spoken, what else can he do?

He closed his eyes and, with a death-defying resolve, downed the second and third bites.

Then... he felt he couldn't bear this hardship alone, so he gave Aisha and Norn a look.

The two little girls thought their brother was encouraging them to eat more, and happily scooped out two full bowls.

After finishing the meal, he also showed a pained expression.

But seeing their brother eating, the two girls didn't dare to say a word and silently ate their food.

Nanahoshi held the bowl, chewing mechanically with a blank expression, his eyes vacant as if he were reading an obscure academic work.

Elinalise ate with relish, exclaiming as she ate, "It's good! Much better than the food at that funeral last time."

Luo Ge glanced at her, unsure whether to admire her sense of taste or pity her palate; no wonder she could be friends with Roxy.

Randolph stood to the side.

Seeing everyone eating the dragon meat he had prepared, a satisfied smile immediately appeared on his face.

"Mr. Randolph, thank you for your hospitality!"

After finishing his meal, Luo Ge was the first to stand up, quickly trying to distract himself before he vomited.

His gaze swept over Randolph's packing luggage, then suddenly stopped.

Inside the box.

At the very top is a sword.

The scabbard was simple and unadorned, but Luo Ge could tell it was ancient at a glance.

This is a fine sword.

In terms of quality, it is in no way inferior to his previous Phoenix Elegant Dragon Sword.

"Wait a minute, Mr. Randolph..."

"Um?"

"Could it be? Could it be... that you are also a swordsman?"

"..."

Randolph paused for a moment, then nodded, his expression calm. "Oh, you mean this? I trained at the North God Style dojo for a while."

Luo Ge's eyes lit up immediately.

He hadn't had a proper, satisfying fight in a long time since his battle with the Dragon God.

Since this person possesses such a fine sword, their swordsmanship must be quite good as well, right?

"Mr. Randolph."

Luo Ge's lips curled into a smile. "I have a favor to ask... how about we have a friendly spar?"

Randolph readily agreed, "Sure... no problem. Please come with me to the backyard."

Luo Ge followed Randolph into the backyard, and the rest of the group quickly followed.

The backyard was an open dirt field, surrounded by piles of wooden crates and discarded tables and chairs.

The place isn't big, but it's enough for a couple of moves.

Under everyone's gaze, Randolph suddenly raised his hand and smiled somewhat embarrassedly.

"Um, there's something I need to clarify beforehand."

"What is it?"

"I haven't practiced swordsmanship for a long time... I may have fallen behind in it. I hope you Sword King, will be merciful."

"Of course."

Luo Ge grinned, brimming with confidence.

He thought for a moment, then added another sentence.

"Mr. Randolph, you can rest assured, I will definitely be lenient with you and will never hurt you."

"How about this, to be fair, I'll give you a handicap with one hand, and then you can use the wooden sword."

Upon hearing this, Randolph seemed to finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Hey, if you could go easy on me, that would be wonderful."

"After all... you are the renowned Sword King, while I am just an unknown cook."