"Ye Xiu, have you eaten yet?" Gustave asked, his chef's instincts immediately assessing the newcomer's condition. The man's slightly hollow cheeks and the way he favored his left foot suggested someone who'd been walking for hours without proper sustenance.
Grumble.
Ye Xiu's stomach answered before he could, the sound echoing embarrassingly in the ship's quiet corridors. He'd been so focused on processing his abrupt termination from Excellent Era that dinner had been completely forgotten.
"Ah, sorry about that," Ye Xiu said with a sheepish grin, one hand reflexively moving to cover his traitorous midsection. "Guess I got distracted tonight and skipped a meal or two."
"No problem—I completely understand," Gustave replied with professional warmth. "Come downstairs and let's see what we can arrange. The pantry's a bit depleted after today's rush, but there should be enough for something satisfying."
As they descended to the main deck, Gustave gestured toward the ship's storage areas with apologetic efficiency. "We hosted quite a crowd today—the first real rush we've had in weeks. I'm afraid the selection is somewhat limited, but let's see what appeals to you."
The refrigerator's contents were indeed sparse compared to the usual abundance. A few vegetables, some preserved ingredients, and basic proteins remained after the day's culinary marathon.
"Do you have rice?" Ye Xiu asked, his practical nature asserting itself over any gourmand aspirations.
"Of course—rice we have in abundance!" Gustave confirmed with a smile. "As for preparation, leave that to me. I assume you're not much of a cook yourself?"
"Guilty as charged," Ye Xiu admitted with good-natured resignation. "My culinary expertise peaks at instant noodles and convenience store bento boxes."
Gustave studied the available ingredients with calculating eyes, his mind automatically assembling flavor profiles and cooking sequences. "How does fish-flavored shredded pork rice sound? It's a Sichuan classic—comfort food at its finest."
"Perfect," Ye Xiu nodded, relief evident in his voice. His remaining funds were modest at best, and he'd been silently worried about affording anything elaborate.
"Find yourself a comfortable seat," Gustave instructed with practiced hospitality. "Luffy, get our guest something to drink while I work my magic."
As the energetic boy scampered off to fulfill his assigned task, Gustave opened the refrigerator and began extracting ingredients with surgical precision—pork tenderloin, black fungus, crisp lettuce, bright carrots, and his own specially fermented bean paste.
Fish-flavored shredded pork represented everything Gustave loved about Chinese cuisine, one of the favourite food he learn on his culinary journey in China: complex flavors achieved through simple techniques, comfort elevated to artistry, and the kind of satisfying meal that could restore both body and spirit.
He began with knife work, his blade moving in precise, rhythmic motions as he transformed solid ingredients into uniform julienne. The pork tenderloin became silk-thin strands, while vegetables fell into matching dimensions with mechanical accuracy.
Perfect consistency is everything, he thought, using subtle electromagnetic pulses through his fingertips to enhance the blade's cutting edge. Each piece must cook at exactly the same rate.
The shredded pork went into a mixing bowl with its marinade—salt for seasoning, cooking wine for tenderness, oyster sauce for umami depth, cornstarch for that perfect silky texture, and oil to prevent sticking. His hands worked the mixture with practiced gentleness, ensuring every strand was properly coated without overworking the delicate protein.
While the meat marinated, Gustave retrieved jars of his own pickled peppers and ginger from the ship's stores. These homemade preserves represented months of patient fermentation, their complex acidic tang providing the "fish flavor" that gave the dish its name—despite containing no seafood whatsoever.
The sauce came together in another bowl: light soy sauce for salinity, black vinegar for brightness, and cornstarch to create that glossy, clingy texture that would coat every ingredient perfectly.
"The wok must be smoking hot," he murmured, his electromagnetic abilities heating the carbon steel to precise temperatures impossible with conventional stovetops. "No forgiveness for hesitation in Sichuan cooking."
Oil shimmered in the superheated pan as he added the marinated pork, the sizzle immediate and aggressive. His wooden spoon moved in constant motion, preventing any strand from overcooking as the meat transformed from pink to golden brown.
A spoonful of fermented bean paste followed, its deep red color bleeding into the oil as aromatics exploded in fragrant clouds. Then came the vegetables—lettuce and carrots adding crunch, black fungus contributing its distinctive texture—everything tossed together in a choreographed dance of high-heat stir-frying.
The prepared sauce went in last, hissing against the hot metal as it thickened instantly around the ingredients. Gustave's spoon moved with lightning speed, ensuring every element was coated in glossy, flavorful perfection.
"Voilà—ready to serve!"
He scooped a generous portion of steamed rice into a deep bowl, then crowned it with the glossy, aromatic stir-fry. The colors were magnificent: deep browns from the sauce, bright greens from lettuce, cheerful orange from carrots, and the rich red undertones of fermented bean paste.
While Gustave had been cooking, Luo Luo had positioned himself beside Ye Xiu like an eager apprentice, absorbing every detail about professional gaming with the intensity of someone discovering a new world.
"Brother Ye Xiu, Glory sounds absolutely incredible!" the boy declared, his eyes shining with enthusiasm. "The way you describe the combat mechanics, the team strategies—it's like digital warfare!"
"Glory consumed most of my life for the past decade," Ye Xiu replied with fond melancholy, his hand automatically reaching out to ruffle Luo Luo's spiky hair. "Even cost me my relationship with my family, unfortunately."
The gesture carried weight beyond casual affection. At twenty-five, Ye Xiu had spent exactly half his life pursuing professional gaming excellence, starting with his dramatic departure from home at age fifteen. His wealthy family had never understood or accepted his chosen career path—how could established society embrace what they viewed as elaborate procrastination?
"I know exactly what you mean!" Luo Luo exclaimed with surprising passion. "I came in second place at our inter-school Robo-Troopers championship—would've won if I hadn't gotten unlucky in the final round! But my mother still thinks gaming is a waste of time."
"Ha! Even I'm lecturing you about focusing on studies when I ran away from home at your age specifically to avoid school," Ye Xiu said with self-deprecating laughter. "Do as I say, not as I did, right?"
"But you followed your dreams," Luo Luo pointed out with the direct logic only children could deploy. "Isn't that worth something, even if it got complicated?"
The question hit deeper than Ye Xiu expected, touching wounds still fresh from his forced retirement. Before he could formulate a response, Gustave's arrival provided welcome distraction.
"Fish-flavored shredded pork rice—hot and ready!" the chef announced with justified pride, setting the aromatic bowl before his guest.
"This looks incredible," Ye Xiu breathed, accepting chopsticks with grateful hands. "Thank you so much."
The first bite was revelatory. The pork was silk-tender, vegetables retained perfect crunch, and the sauce provided layers of flavor that evolved across his palate—sweet, salty, tangy, with just enough heat to awaken every taste bud. After a day of emotional upheaval, the simple comfort of a perfectly prepared meal felt like salvation itself.
After finishing every grain of rice, Ye Xiu prepared to depart. His remaining funds covered the meal with little to spare, and while Gustave had generously offered to waive accommodation charges, Ye Xiu's pride required maintaining some independence. He had plans for tomorrow that demanded immediate action.
"Brother Ye Xiu!" Luo Luo called out as they reached the Gate of All Worlds, his young voice carrying desperate appeal. "Can you take me to your world? Please? I just want to see what Glory looks like!"
The boy's eyes held that particular intensity that only true gaming enthusiasts understood—the burning need to experience something that had captured imagination completely.
"Luo Luo, I don't know if that's—"
"Just a quick look!" Luo Luo interrupted with practiced pleading. "I promise I'll come right back! Please?"
Ye Xiu's resistance crumbled under the assault of youthful determination. How could he deny someone else's curiosity about the passion that had defined his entire adult life?
"Fine, but only briefly," he conceded with fond exasperation. "One quick peek, then straight back to the ship."
"Yes!" Luo Luo pumped his fist in victory.
The transition delivered them into a winter night that immediately sent Luo Luo into violent shivers. The temperature differential between the perpetually pleasant Bamboo Staff and seasonal reality proved more shocking than anticipated.
"Too cold!" Luo Luo gasped, his breath forming visible clouds in the frigid air.
"Right—forgot about winter," Ye Xiu muttered, already steering them back toward the Gate. "Let's grab you a proper coat before we freeze to death."
After retrieving suitable outerwear from the ship's stores, they emerged again into the urban landscape of contemporary China. Neon signs advertised everything from electronics to late-night food, while the distant sounds of traffic created a familiar metropolitan soundtrack.
"There's an internet café," Luo Luo pointed toward a modest storefront displaying the characters for "Happy Internet Club." "Can we try Glory there?"
"They won't let minors—"
"Easy solution!" Luo Luo interrupted with the scheming grin of someone who'd clearly planned this conversation. "You go online, I'm just your little brother tagging along. Tell them our money got stolen and we need somewhere warm to spend the night. What café owner would refuse a sad story like that?"
Ye Xiu stared at the boy with dawning respect and mild horror. "Luo Luo, you're a natural manipulator. That's either impressive or terrifying—possibly both."
"Is it working?"
"Sigh... yes, it's working. Come on, you devious little schemer."
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