Nina, who had been looking forward to the trip to Breeze Harbor and the delicious food of the Elf City-State for a long time, finally faced the cruel reality.

She now sat in front of the table with a dull look in her eyes, looking at the pile of black substance on the tabletop that gave off an indescribable smell - over-baked muffins piled with fermented beans that were bubbling and pulling. Even without tasting it, one could imagine how shocking the combined taste was. This was beyond Nina's understanding of "food" and was more like some kind of abstract work of art.

Shirley, who was sitting across the table, was obviously not in a much better situation. In front of her was a pile of "elf localized version" of sweet pancakes. The smell of fermented cheese made her face turn a little green.

After a long while, Shirley raised her head and looked at Nina sitting opposite her. She then raised her hand and pointed at the food on the table: "They said this is a sweet pancake..."

“How can they insult sweet pancakes like this…” Nina looked like she was about to cry, “This is obviously my favorite thing to eat since I was a child…”

"But this is indeed the sweet pancake from Breeze Harbor," said Taran El, who was sitting at the other end of the table. This great scholar who was quite famous in the Academy of Truth seemed a little nervous at the moment. It was unclear whether it was because he "neglected Captain Duncan's family" or simply couldn't face the two girls' almost resentful gazes. "From what I know, many outsiders don't seem to be able to adapt to it... but there are also some who like it very much after getting used to it..."

Nina was horrified: "But these beans are smelly! Not only are they smelly, they're even stringy! The mucus is even bubbling!"

"But it tastes delicious, really," Taran El tried to explain sincerely, "and there is absolutely no health problem - on the contrary, it is very beneficial to the digestive system..."

Nina and Shirley listened to the great scholar's explanation, both of them looked as if their souls were out of their bodies, as if their minds could no longer keep up with the logic of the real world.

When Duncan rushed over, what he saw was this expected scene.

This made him laugh uncontrollably, and he stepped forward to ruffle Nina's hair: "Didn't I tell you that you might not be able to adapt to the food in Breeze Harbor - the elves have made many adjustments to these local specialty foods based on their tastes."

Nina murmured to herself: "But I can't imagine how they will adjust..."

"I'm sorry, I was inconsiderate - I should have recommended some foods that are not so 'local' first." Taran El subconsciously became nervous the moment he saw Duncan appear, but at least he had adapted to this journey and quickly adjusted his state. He said to the two disappointed girls with an apology, "The bread and bacon rolls in Breeze Harbor are no different from those in other places. Let's get rid of these things."

But what was unexpected was that after hearing what Taran El said, Shirley suddenly pursed her lips and picked up the "pancake" in front of her that exuded a strange smell.

Lucrecia, who was watching the excitement nearby, was a little surprised when she saw this: "Shirley?"

"This is food," Shirley just muttered, and then, as if she had made a great decision, she closed her eyes and stuffed the pancake into her mouth, chewing hard while making a vague sound, "It's not that bad..."

Nina looked in astonishment at her friend who was trying hard to swallow her food across the table. After a moment of silence, she seemed to have thought of something, and then picked up the food on the plate without saying a word.

The two girls almost devoured the food that Taran Eyre had brought back.

Then they wiped their mouths almost at the same time, looked up at each other, and grinned.

The living room suddenly became quiet.

Duncan smiled, patted Nina on the shoulder, and walked over to wipe the "sauce" off Shirley's face.

Taran El reacted after being stunned for a few seconds, breaking the silence with a little embarrassment: "Few outsiders can adapt to them so quickly... Oh, by the way, if you are not used to the fermented food in Breeze Harbor, we actually have many foods that retain the taste of their origin. In addition to the bread and bacon rolls I mentioned just now, there are also cream stews in the Central Sea style, orchid grass stew, mushroom stew in northern cuisine, and red cabbage custard..."

Nina listened and her eyes widened. A little bit of anticipation seemed to return to her eyes. "So you have food that tastes normal?! Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Taran El spread his hands: "Because now is not the time for dessert..."

Nina's bright expression suddenly became dull again: "...dessert?"

"Yes," Taran El nodded, "the ones I just mentioned are all desserts - we usually beat them into a paste and use them as a dip for honey cakes."

This time, not only Nina, but even Duncan was shocked.

Shirley, who was sitting across the table, hugged her head and murmured weakly, "Fuck it, I want to go back to the ship... What the hell is this subspace execution ground? Fuck..."

Duncan thought about it and said that no one in the Warp ate this - but in front of Taran Eyre, the native elf, he was too embarrassed to say it out loud.

At this moment, the sound of an electric bell from the direction of the door suddenly interrupted the conversation in the living room.

Lucrecia frowned slightly, and a "male servant" dressed in waiter's clothes quickly walked out of the living room with mechanical and stiff steps. A moment later, the male servant returned from the hallway and bowed slightly in front of his mistress: "Visitor from the City Hall, Governor Sarah Meier invites you to come for a meeting."

Lucrecia frowned impatiently: "Tell the person who comes that I'm not going - I'm entertaining more important guests and don't have time."

"But the messenger said that what Archon Sarah Meier wanted to discuss was related to your 'distinguished guest,'" the servant said in a mechanical voice, "and this matter was witnessed by the four gods."

Lucrecia's expression finally changed slightly. She subconsciously raised her head and glanced at Duncan.

Of course Duncan heard the conversation between the other party and the servant, but the expression on his face did not care. He just waved his hand nonchalantly: "That's normal. I followed you into the city with a swagger. It may not matter in other city-states, but in the city-state of the elves, I, an 'adventurer' who was still active a hundred years ago, may not be considered a strange face."

"Then he should come in person," Lucrecia said with some dissatisfaction in her tone, "It's not a good etiquette to just send someone here casually."

"Think about Tirian's current schedule. The governor of the city-state is not so idle," Duncan laughed. He glanced at the "Sea Witch" who seemed indifferent and arrogant, but actually refused to go out because of fear of trouble and laziness, and said casually, "Let's go out and listen to what the governor has to say. I'm also curious about why he brought up the "Testimony of the Four Gods" - or should I go with you?"

"Ah, I can go by myself!" Lucrecia said quickly, then she sighed, nodded goodbye to the others in the living room, and prepared to turn around and leave.

Two or three pieces of colored paper flew out from beside her, but the next second, those pieces of paper returned to her body - Lucrecia suddenly stopped, turned her head to look at Duncan with a somewhat subtle expression, smiled stiffly, and walked out of the living room.

Duncan remained expressionless throughout.

After Lucrecia left, Taran El scratched his head in confusion and looked at the other people in the living room: "When she goes out alone, doesn't she usually use magic to travel? Why is she suddenly willing to walk today..."

Duncan crossed his arms and said, "How would I know?"

※※※

Sarah Meier looked at the "Sea Witch" who walked into her office with some surprise - she was not surprised that she arrived on time, but because the witch actually entered the City Hall from the main entrance today, took the elevator up, walked from the corridor to the door of her office, and pushed the door open and walked in.

"I've opened the window for you," the elderly elven archon raised his hand and pointed to the open window next to him. "I thought you would fly in as usual."

"Glass can't block phantoms. You don't have to open the window for me to come in." Lucrecia looked at him with a stern face, and her tone was a little unnatural. "But today... I just want to walk around."

"Oh, indeed, proper exercise is good for the body, especially for scholars like you who are devoted to research," said Sarah Meier. For some reason, he always felt that the attitude and way of speaking of this "witch" lady were a little strange today, and even the aura she exuded was a little different from the past. However, he soon put this incongruity aside and said, "Please sit down and take a look at the letter I left on the table."

Lucrecia had just noticed the opened letter with the striking emblem of the Church of the Four Gods. She nodded, sat down opposite Sarah Meier, picked up the letter and quickly scanned it.

Soon, the "witch" raised her eyebrows, obviously surprised by the content of the letter, and there was a hint of subtle "interest" in her surprise.

She raised her head and waved the letter in her hand: "This letter was sent to all the city-states on the vast sea?"

"Yes, the governors of each city-state should have received it in the near future," Sarah Meier nodded. "Although I am very interested in their reactions at that time, before that, I would like to hear your opinion first. As the descendant of Captain Duncan, and the descendant who has just reestablished contact with him, what do you think of the attitude of the Four Gods Church on this matter?"

Lucrecia thought for a moment and said, "...the church is more dedicated and 'enlightened' than I thought."

"Strictly speaking, the attitudes of the four pilgrims are very open," said Sarah Meier. "Many people have a preconceived impression of this, and always think that the popes and the 'pilgrim bishops' around them are the most rigid and stubborn representatives in the world who strictly abide by the law. But in fact, the situation is often contrary to people's common sense."

Lucrecia: "You seem to be unfettered by this 'common sense'?"

"After all, if you live long enough, you will understand more," Sarah Meier shrugged. "I was actually surprised when I first received this letter, but after thinking about what has happened recently and the recent activities of the Four Gods Church, I am not surprised by the content of the letter."

Lucrecia frowned slightly: "What are the recent activities of the Four Gods Church?"

Sarah Meier did not answer her directly, but suddenly asked a question: "...When was the last time you encountered a patrol fleet of the church at the border?"