NOVEL NEXT Chapter 891 Their Little Discussions
Now that she had served both the spiritual rice and the spiritual dish, Kisha noticed an intense glow radiating from the food on the table. The brilliance of the light indicated just how rich in spiritual energy both dishes were, prompting her to instinctively open their status windows to check their properties.
[Spiritual Rice]
[Description: This dish was crafted from Grade B spiritual rice that absorbed a refined amount of spiritual energy from the heavens and earth. Cooked over a spiritual flame, its quality and energy were greatly enhanced, transforming its usual pearly-white, glassy appearance into a lustrous jade hue. It now emits a divine, captivating fragrance, fit for the emperor of heaven himself.
Quality: SSS
Additional Effects:
Mental Capacity: +15
Charm: +5
Leadership: +15
Mental Attack Resistance: +20%]
...
[Stir-Fried Baby Octopus in Oyster Sauce]
[Description: A deceptively simple stir-fried dish made from a Spiritual Baby Octopus, harvested from a sea brimming with spiritual energy. It is combined with vibrant vegetables no lower than Grade C in quality, and infused with a rich oyster sauce processed from rare spiritual ingredients. Cooked under a pure Spiritual Flame, the dish radiates an abundance of spiritual energy despite its humble appearance.
Quality: SSS
Additional Effects:
Luck: +30
Spiritual Energy Boost: +100 (Duration: 30 minutes)
Water Resistance: +30%]
...
Kisha and Duke didn't wait long before diving back into their meal. Once they started eating again, they couldn't stop; the dish was just that irresistible. It was both nourishing and delicious, clearly enhanced by its spiritual properties. Within ten minutes, they had polished off the entire pot of rice and the Stir-Fried Baby Octopus in Oyster Sauce.
Now completely stuffed, Duke leaned back and rubbed his stomach with a satisfied groan. Kisha, meanwhile, was already brewing some indigestion medicine to help ease their digestion. They had definitely overeaten, but thankfully, the spiritual nature of the dish worked in their favor.
Despite the surge of spiritual energy, four times the usual amount, it didn't cause any harm or imbalance. Instead, the energy circulated gently through their bodies, eventually settling into their Energy Cores. Remarkably, even with excessive intake, there were no signs of energy deviation or spiritual backlash. It was a dish that satisfied both the body and the soul.
"Wifey, this Spiritual Cuisine is incredible," Duke said thoughtfully. "It could be a real game changer if we eat it before heading into a big fight. I can already feel my physical prowess increasing… and there are other effects too."
Kisha couldn't help but marvel at how sharp his instincts were. Even without any mental abilities, like her own 'Eye of Truth,' which could analyze and reveal detailed information, Duke could still keenly sense the benefits on his own. His natural awareness never failed to impress her.
"Mm, I was thinking the same thing," Kisha replied as she thoughtfully stirred the medicine in the pot. "If only we could find a way to mass-produce this, we could definitely use it as support items for our people heading into battle."
With Spiritual Cuisine, she wouldn't need to rely on typical boosters or enchantments like stamina boosters. Instead, they could bring a variety of dishes, each offering different additional effects tailored to specific situations.
And with her vast supply of spiritual ingredients, they wouldn't lack raw materials. The real problem was manpower. She didn't have enough people to help with the cooking. Even if she spent the entire day inside her territory space preparing meals, it still wouldn't be enough.
On top of that, each ingredient had to be meticulously prepared, no shortcuts, no equipment like shredders or peelers, which significantly slowed her progress. And to make matters worse, she also needed to inscribe Magical Scrolls and concoct Stamina Boosters to stock in her Sales Channel.
"Can't a Cook-type awakened ability user handle these things?" Duke asked, his eyes on Kisha's back as she worked.
Kisha nodded slightly but replied with a thoughtful tone, "In theory, yes. But it's not that simple. Every ingredient and condiment used has to be a spiritual ingredient, and the entire cooking process requires constant tempering with spiritual energy. On top of that, there has to be compatibility between the ingredients and the cook."
She glanced back at him briefly, "As you saw earlier, even the slightest mistake can cause an explosion. The success rate of each dish also varies depending on the individual, and the quality of the outcome isn't always consistent."
She stirred the pot carefully before continuing, "I was also thinking about asking the Artisan-type awakened ability users for help with processing the condiments, like spiritual soy sauce, different types of oils, salts, and so on. But that still needs to be tested. If it works, it could definitely ease the burden on the cooks."
"Hmm, that definitely sounds like a pain in the ass..." Duke muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "No wonder it felt like it had such a powerful effect, something this heaven-defying item can't possibly be easy to mass produce."
"Still, even if we can't make it in large quantities, producing a few for critical battles could make a huge difference. We can just give them to those most compatible, amplify their strength, or provide much-needed support."
"Exactly my thoughts." Kisha chuckled as she ladled the hot medicine into two bowls, placing spoons in each before handing one to Duke and taking the other for herself.
"Then don't stress yourself too much," Duke said with a gentle smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'll come help you whenever I have time." He took a sip of the medicine, but the moment the bitter liquid hit his tongue, his face twisted in protest.
Kisha laughed at his reaction. "Big tough guy, taken down by a little herbal brew."
He gave her a mock glare but smiled anyway.
"Alright," Kisha said with a small sigh, "let's just see how far I can push the experiments with Spiritual Cuisine. There's still a lot to figure out. Besides, aren't you still caught up with the Biogas project? How's that coming along?" She subtly shifted the topic, easing them into discussing other pressing matters in a relaxed, domestic rhythm.
"So far, everything's coming along well. Thankfully, you brought the large water tanks from the Winters' villa before we left City A. They've been incredibly useful here as the central gas chamber. One side of 500 compost bins is already fully completed, and we're currently working on the remaining side. Once we finish connecting all the compost bins, we can begin the testing phase to check for any leaks."
"If everything goes smoothly, I'll have Hugo and his team start shoveling in the animal waste to fill the compost bins. But before that, once construction is complete, I'll need you to help connect the gas chamber to the outside line so Engineer Steel can hook it up to the main converter that transforms the gas into electricity," Duke explained in detail.
"Sounds like a solid plan. Then I'll leave everything to you while I keep myself busy in my little kitchen and lab," Kisha said with a smile, her eyes crinkling fondly.
She and Duke were both wrapped up in their own responsibilities, yet moments like this, sitting together, sharing a meal, chatting casually about their progress, felt incredibly soothing. Maybe it was because they were now husband and wife, true life partners. There was a comforting warmth in simply being side by side, doing ordinary things together. It just hit differently now.
Duke nodded with a gentle smile. Not long after their short break, it was time for him to return to Hugo and the others to continue the work on the biogas project. Before he left, Kisha handed him a few of the Spiritual Cuisine dishes she had finished cooking while they talked.
Just like earlier, Duke helped her wash the wok, ladle, and dirty dishes, and rinsed the vegetables while she prepared the other ingredients. Occasionally, he found himself simply watching her cook. Over time, he stopped being so tense whenever she was in the kitchen, he realized Kisha had nearly a 100% success rate, aside from that one mishap, and it put his mind at ease.
When he finally headed back to the work site, he brought the freshly made dishes with him, carefully storing them in his space ring to keep them hot until it was time to eat.
As it happened, Hugo and the others were just about to start cooking their meal when Duke arrived. Marcus, Mike, Gant, and Daisy were also there, joining in to eat together with the rest. Everyone preferred sharing a meal in one place rather than eating alone in their respective sections of the Territory space.
Seeing the timing was perfect, Duke called them over, urging everyone to grab their bowls and sit together. Fortunately, Kisha had prepared enough food, she had made a large batch of Shredded Pork with Cabbage, enough to serve two dozen people, along with several other Spiritual Cuisine dishes. Each dish was crafted to enhance strength, agility, and stamina, making the meal not only delicious but also incredibly beneficial.