Chapter 709: Borderland Feast
Chapter 709: Borderland Feast
Lindsey and Alice, surrounded by a group of guards, entered the camp.
Ordinary people still feared their powers.
However, the man in charge of the border, also a Fifth Stage Awakener, completely changed his attitude:
"Ladies and gentlemen, please, take a seat over here!"
"In this godforsaken place, we rarely have guests. Today, with the presence of two esteemed guests, we hope you will bear with us."
As he invited Lindsey and Alice to sit, the man gave a subtle signal to his soldiers.
They immediately understood and carried two large barrels from the storage room behind them.
"Hmm?"
Lindsey glanced at them, her keen perception catching the scent wafting from the wooden barrels.
It was a mix of alcohol and refreshing fruit fragrance.
"..."
"Is this the fruit wine you mentioned?" Alice asked.
The man promptly opened one of the barrels and poured the liquid into wooden cups.
The Righteous Maiden took the cup and drank it in one go.
She then nodded in admiration:
"Excellent!"
"The perfect blend of fruit and wine, a delightful balance of richness and freshness. Truly remarkable!"
Alice and the man chatted about the wine's qualities.
Meanwhile, Lindsey rummaged through her bag and laid out the reserve food she had prepared during the journey.
"Oh?"
"Roasted meat?"
"It smells amazing..."
Lindsey's telekinetic skill of summoning objects out of thin air caught the attention of those around her.
Some began speculating about her Awakener abilities, wondering if she was a Craftsman or a Spatial Mage.
Others stared intently at the steaming roasted meat on the table, their mouths watering uncontrollably.
The Awakener, who was drinking with Alice, couldn't hold back his excitement. He quickly smiled at Lindsey:
"My dear lady, I haven't introduced myself yet."
"I am Kanding, a Fifth Stage Warrior stationed here."
Lindsey pushed her hand on the table, indicating that he shouldn't be so formal.
"Thank you!"
Kanding expressed his gratitude, then took the initiative to pick up a roasted wolf leg and took a big bite.
Crunch!
Kanding's neck jerked slightly.
As a Fifth Stage Awakener, he didn't always have access to good food, but he did occasionally eat meat.
However, the dish Lindsey presented exceeded his expectations of what 'roasted meat' could be.
It wasn't overly seasoned or overcooked.
Though it was roasted, the meat fibers were perfectly cooked, with juicy, salty, and savory flavors.
The outer layer, in particular, had a crispy texture reminiscent of deep-frying.
Combined with the well-balanced seasoning, the roasted meat was elevated to a whole new level of deliciousness.
Kanding was lost in the flavor.
He forgot the flattering words he had prepared, simply chewing out of habit.
Crunch, crunch.
Glug, glug.
Kanding chewed and swallowed the roasted meat.
Seeing Kanding's reaction, Lindsey knew that the negotiation was as good as won, and there would be no further obstacles.
Appetite was one of humanity's natural physiological desires.
Food prepared with Awakener skills could easily achieve such results.
Meanwhile, Alice nudged Lindsey with her elbow:
"Lindsey, this fruit wine is truly delightful. Won't you give it a try?"
Lindsey offered a polite smile:
"Do you have fruit juice?"
"..."
The Righteous Maiden was taken aback for a moment before realizing:
"I was just joking!"
"You... don't drink alcohol?"
Lindsey gave a straightforward reason:
"I don't drink because it's not good for your health."
Alice was even more perplexed, "You're a possessor of Life Essence! Ordinary poisons are nothing to you, and you can drink them like water. What's the big deal with having some wine? Are you afraid of getting drunk?"
Lindsey responded in a casual tone, "A healthy lifestyle is cultivated through small daily habits."
"You may not believe it, but alcohol is something that can harm the body even in small amounts."
Lindsey's abstinence from alcohol was a habit he had maintained from his previous life, even in the most remote and secluded places. He rarely indulged in the wine prepared by Red Moon Granny, no matter how discreetly.
The conversation between Lindsey and Alice caught the attention of Kanding, who had been stationed at the border. He distributed the grilled meat to his other companions before joining Lindsey and Alice to continue their meal.
Regarding Lindsey's abstinence from alcohol, well, Awakened individuals often had their peculiarities, and Kanding didn't question it further.
Half an hour later, as the banquet was drawing to a close, Alice took the initiative to speak up, "Mr. Kanding, could you tell us about the current situation in the Dust Path World? We truly are from the outside world, and we'd like to hear a more detailed introduction."
Alice's inquiry snapped Kanding out of his enjoyment. He paused, his expression a mix of bitterness and helplessness regarding their current situation, "This world? It's just the same old mess."
"Fighting, resting, fighting again, and resting again. Everyone is struggling to stay alive, to survive, keeping a wary eye on each other, awaiting the day when all the dust settles."
Lindsey interjected, "Let's ask a specific question."
"On our way here, we encountered some Awakened individuals who called themselves 'One God Followers.' Do you know anything about their situation?"
Kanding nodded immediately, "Them? Of course, I know about them!"
"Or rather, in the Middle Ring World, everyone knows about this force. They absorb outcasts from various places, wandering between islands, and their strength is quite decent."
Alice pressed further, "If they act like this, don't the city-states in the Middle Ring World have any thoughts about them?"
Kanding scoffed, "In places like our border, we wouldn't dare provoke them."
"But as for the city-states—the leader of those followers is just a Sixth-Stage Awakened. He can't even achieve the shaping of a divine persona at the Seventh Stage, so naturally, no one pays much attention."
Alice described an even more specific situation, "But in the Outer World, they're constantly conquering and pillaging. Just from what we've seen on our journey here, the number of cities under their control is at least in the double digits!"
Kanding provided a response very much in line with Awakened common sense, "That's of no use."
"Without sufficient personal strength, even a large number of people is pointless."
This was the common knowledge among Awakened individuals and the reality of the world.
Due to the influence of his previous life's personality, Lindsey viewed ordinary people without the lofty attitude that many Awakened individuals held.
Alice, as a Righteous One dedicated to protecting the people, naturally wouldn't draw the same conclusion as Kanding.
The two exchanged a glance.
Although the Dust Path World wasn't the City of Law, it was right next door. On a world scale, it was considered a satellite city of the City of Law, which significantly increased the number of Seventh-Stage Awakened individuals here.
Persuading them to pay attention to the followers based on this reasoning was naturally unlikely.
Lindsey decisively changed the subject, "Then, the next question: do you have any news about Deviators?"
(End of Chapter)
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