Chapter 93
Seeing the mass of Blade Fish floating to the surface, Haruto immediately jumped into the water and began gathering them.
While he was busy, five fish-men suddenly emerged nearby, each gripping a gleaming steel trident and glaring at him with open hostility.
Haruto studied the newcomers.
They had humanoid upper bodies, fish tails, blue-gray skin, and rows of exposed fangs.
It was obvious what had drawn them here.
Blade Fish were one of the fish-men’s main food sources.
However, the creatures were fast and armed with razor-sharp fins, so the fish-men usually had to hunt in groups of three or five just to catch a handful.
Now an entire school was floating helplessly on the surface like a feast delivered straight to them.
Naturally, they had no intention of giving it up.
They were trying to drive Haruto away and claim the Blade Fish for themselves.
The only reason they had not attacked immediately was probably because they sensed the danger radiating from him.
"You’re trying to steal my catch?"
Haruto’s expression darkened as his cold gaze swept over the five fish-men.
Fighting them in the water would be troublesome, and more importantly, he had no interest in eating fish-men.
Instead, Haruto abruptly released his presence.
A terrifying pressure descended upon the five creatures.
They froze instantly.
Bone-deep fear swept through their bodies, stripping every trace of aggression from their eyes and replacing it with sheer terror.
To them, Haruto suddenly felt like a monster far more powerful than the Kraken that ruled this lake.
The moment he eased the pressure slightly, all five fish-men turned and fled in a panic, swimming as fast as they could as though even a moment’s delay would cost them their lives.
Haruto watched them disappear and gave a cold snort before withdrawing his aura.
With the would-be thieves driven away, he quickly collected the rest of the Blade Fish and returned to the ruined building where he had left the Sea Serpent.
He rubbed his stomach.
It was time to prepare dinner!
Now, in addition to the Sea Serpent, he also had fresh Blade Fish to work with.
Haruto took out several and scraped away their scales, following the natural direction of their growth.
He then slit open their bellies and removed the dark-red organs and black membrane inside.
After rinsing the fish clean, he mixed cooking wine, pepper, Man-Eating Plant fruit juice, and several other seasonings, then spread the marinade evenly over each one and left them to absorb the flavor.
While the Blade Fish rested, Haruto turned to the other main ingredient—the Sea Serpent.
Its flesh was rich red, firm, and plump, with a satisfyingly substantial texture.
He cut off a large piece and minced it finely.
Next, he peeled several Ivy Tentacle stalks, diced them evenly, and mixed them into the ground meat.
He added beaten Basilisk egg, followed by water infused with minced ginger, scallion, and Sichuan peppercorns.
Then Haruto inserted a pair of chopsticks into the mixture and stirred clockwise with steady force, making sure every ingredient blended together thoroughly.
Once the filling was evenly mixed, he slowly sifted in the right amount of flour and continued stirring until the mixture could hold its shape without losing its softness.
He took a portion into his palm and gently pressed it into a patty exactly one and a half centimeters thick.
The rest of the mixture was shaped the same way.
Haruto poured clear olive oil into a pan.
When it reached roughly seventy percent heat and fine ripples appeared across the surface, he carefully lowered the first patty into the oil.
It landed with a sharp hiss.
Hot oil surrounded the meat, and a rich aroma burst into the air.
Once one side had fried to a golden crisp, Haruto used long chopsticks to turn it carefully, allowing the other side to cook evenly.
The fragrance of hot oil mingled with the savory richness of the Sea Serpent meat, immediately stirring the appetite.
When both sides had turned an inviting golden brown and the crust had become firm and crisp, Haruto removed the patties and let the excess oil drain away.
Steam rose gently from them as they rested on the plate.
To finish, he spooned over a red sauce made from Man-Eating Plant fruit.
The glossy sauce flowed slowly along the patties’ textured surfaces, soaking into the crust and raising their flavor another level.
By then, the Blade Fish had finished marinating.
Haruto added a small amount of olive oil to a frying pan.
Once the oil reached the proper temperature, he held one fish in his hand and lowered the tail in first.
After it stiffened and curled into shape, he gently placed the rest of the fish into the pan.
The moment the flesh touched the hot oil, a pleasant sizzling filled the air.
The skin gradually tightened and developed a glossy sheen.
Haruto fried one side until golden and crisp, then carefully flipped the fish with a spatula so the other side could cook through while preserving the crunchy skin.
Once done, he transferred the fish to a plate.
Its body remained intact, the surface beautifully golden and carrying a mouthwatering roasted fragrance.
Haruto left a little oil in the pan and added scallion, ginger, and garlic.
Once fragrant, he added dried chilies and a spoonful of broad bean chili paste, then stir-fried everything slowly over low heat.
Red oil gradually separated from the paste, filling the air with a spicy aroma that rushed straight into the nose.
Haruto poured in a small amount of boiling water.
The water blended with the red oil and turned into a glossy scarlet sauce. He added a little sugar to soften the heat and light soy sauce for savoriness.
The sauce bubbled steadily, its fragrance growing richer.
He returned the fried Blade Fish to the pan and added enough sauce to reach most of the way up their sides, then let them simmer gently for three minutes.
The spicy, sweet, and savory flavors slowly penetrated the flesh, blending with the earlier marinade and creating even greater depth.
Just before removing them from the heat, Haruto scattered fresh chopped scallion and garlic over the fish.
He then scooped up a spoonful of the still-smoking oil from frying the Sea Serpent patties and poured it over the aromatics.
The oil struck with a loud hiss, instantly releasing an intense wave of fragrance.
Finally, he added a small garnish of fresh cilantro, brightening the dish with a touch of green.
His oven-free Grilled Blade Fish was complete!
Haruto placed the Fried Sea Serpent Patties and Grilled Blade Fish together on a flat stone platform, sat down, and picked up his chopsticks.
He started with one of the Sea Serpent patties.
The crust cracked loudly beneath his teeth.
The fragrance of fried oil burst across his mouth first, followed by the rich savoriness of the Sea Serpent.
The meat inside was delicate and juicy, with no unpleasant odor at all.
The crisp exterior contrasted beautifully with the tender center.
The Basilisk egg gave the filling a smoother, softer texture, its fragrance mingling naturally with the meat.
The diced Ivy Tentacle added a faint sweetness that balanced the richness of the meat and egg, leaving the entire patty fresh, layered, and deeply satisfying.
After enjoying the fried patty, Haruto reached for the Blade Fish.
He lifted a piece of flesh with his chopsticks.
The skin remained crisp, while the meat beneath was soft and juicy enough to separate cleanly from the bone with the slightest pressure.
Its natural sweetness spread instantly across his tongue, pure and intense.
The fish blended perfectly with the spicy, sweet, and savory sauce.
It carried plenty of heat without becoming harsh, while the richness never turned greasy.
The seasonings from the marinade layered with the sauce absorbed during simmering, giving every bite several distinct waves of flavor.
From the tip of his tongue to the back of his throat, it was nothing but pleasure.
Haruto found it almost impossible to stop eating.