novelraw Chapter 172
Chapter 172
Leon nodded, then picked up the grilled fish and took a big bite. There was no trace of fishiness—only the crispy, aromatic skin that stunned his taste buds.
The flavor seemed simple—just salt and a hint of wasabi’s sharp spice—yet the overall taste was incredibly rich and layered. Still, Leon couldn’t figure out what other ingredients had been used beyond those two. It was a special flavor, one that couldn’t be described with words, and unlike any seasoning Leon had ever known.
“Old man, aside from salt and wasabi, what else did you use?”
Following his principle of asking whenever he had a question, Leon looked to Linus.
“A friend once gave me a seasoning. Add just a little, and it can elevate any dish to another level. It’s pretty handy,” Linus replied.
“Can I take a look at it?” Leon pressed.
“You… curiosity really is your biggest problem.” Linus chuckled, but still went into his tent. When he came back, he handed Leon a small flask filled with a multicolored powder.
“Qi’s Seasoning: Just a pinch can turn any dish into a gourmet feast.”
The moment it was in his hands, Leon saw the System Prompt, and instantly recognized where it came from.
He knew this stuff—it was sold at Mr. Qi’s Walnut Room. Just one jar could take a dish from ordinary quality straight to Gold-star Quality.That meant Linus’s “friend” was none other than Mr. Qi.
“Sounds like you have a pretty good relationship with this friend,” Leon commented as he returned the seasoning.
“Mm, not bad. He’s always looking for fun, and I rather appreciate his outlook. Aside from having a lot of odd hobbies, he’s a decent guy,” Linus said.
“What does he do? He must be pretty strong, right? People like him—without strength—they’d be dead already.”
“He? Well, his business covers a lot. As for strength… I’ve never seen him fight, but I doubt he’s weak. Half the City of Elements belongs to him, and that place is notoriously chaotic. To hold so many assets in a place like that, you can’t be someone easy to mess with.” Linus thought for a moment before answering.
“I keep hearing about the City of Elements. Must be an interesting place. When can I go see it for myself?”
Leon wasn’t certain how strong Mr. Qi was, but he suspected he was no weaker than Rasmodius—and probably stronger. As for the City of Elements, which had come up several times already, Leon’s interest was piqued.
“You want to go there?” Linus’s expression turned strange.
“Of course,” Leon said without hesitation.
“Then wait until you find your grandfather’s secret chamber and inherit the gift he left for you. Only then should you consider it. With your current strength, you’d probably die there,” Linus said, setting the condition for taking Leon to the City of Elements.
“My grandfather’s secret chamber? What’s inside?” Leon asked curiously.
“How should I know? You’ll have to find it yourself.” Linus waved him off. “That old fellow made it just for you, so naturally it’s hidden well. I’d guess he even asked Rasmodius to help guard it. You’d be better off asking Rasmodius than me.”
“Oh.” Leon didn’t push further. As for asking Rasmodius… he abandoned that idea quickly. Knowing the wizard’s temperament, he’d just send Leon to explore instead of giving a straight answer.
Leon had a pretty good idea where the chamber was. Back in the game, he had explored most of the Easter eggs. The chamber was most likely that inaccessible room on the cliff wall where Robin’s lost axe was found.
In the game, it couldn’t be entered due to settings, but now that he was actually in Stardew Valley, he planned to search for it when he had time.
The thought had crossed his mind last time while foraging green onions, but the abundance of green onions had distracted him. Now that he remembered, next time he was in the area, he’d search carefully.
After finishing the grilled fish, Linus stood up, doused the fire, and said, “Leon, you should head back. The northern mountain slopes aren’t safe at night. Be careful on your way.”
“Not safe? Because of monsters?” Leon asked.
“No, because of wild animals,” Linus said, shaking his head. “They probably won’t attack you—you have Forest Magic’s protection. As long as you don’t harm them, they won’t bite you.”
“Then there’s no real danger,” Leon teased.
“You forgot how many cliffs and steep slopes are around here?” Linus reminded him.
“Oh, right. Even with moonlight, visibility’s not great at night.” Leon nodded in understanding. After bidding Linus farewell, he made his way along the northern slopes toward the edge of the forest, stopping briefly to check the tree tapper he had set up earlier that day.
The bucket had already collected a shallow layer of resin, but it would take a long time to fill. Leon left it alone and returned to his farmhouse. After a shower, he went to bed.
The next morning, as the sun rose, Leon washed up, grabbed a quick breakfast, and went outside with his watering can to tend to the crops. He had only gotten halfway when he saw Demetrius approaching from the eastern entrance of the farm, looking rather displeased.
“Well, well, Mr. Demetrius, here so early? That’s dedication.” Leon greeted him warmly. Demetrius’s arrival meant the Fruit bat–mushroom cave upgrade was finally happening, so Leon naturally welcomed him.
“I’ve brought everything I need for the renovation. The truck’s parked outside. I just need your permission to come in,” Demetrius said.
“Come right in, make yourself at home,” Leon replied cheerfully.
“Heh.” Demetrius gave a short, humorless laugh, then left the farm. When he returned, he was behind the wheel of an old pickup truck.
“Go on with your work. I’ll head straight to the cave. Please don’t bother me while I’m working. Once it’s done, I’ll leave. If the renovated cave has any issues later, you can contact me directly,” Demetrius instructed before rolling up the window and driving toward the cave area.
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