Chapter 35

The Calisto district turned out to be a much more relaxed place than expected.

The river spread wide like the sea, and the bird feathers that fell on the water surface drifted slowly.

The houses near the coast were all single-story, with an even more open design than those in the deepest part of the district.

The windows were large. Perhaps to serve as sunshades, double doors were attached outside the windows.

In front of the entrance, there was a wide terrace-like area with a canopy, where elderly people were chatting while looking at the sea.

"What a nice place! The color of the sea is like blue paint melted in water."

"Indeed. The sand is pure white. I've never seen a white sand beach before."

Bertine shielded her eyes from the sun with her right arm and looked around, while Dorothee looked around curiously.

Diego was talking to a resident near the dock using gestures. Diego had participated in Bertine's imperial language class every time and was now able to speak a few words of the Union's language.

"Miss, it seems there are no inns here. It looks like no tourists or business travelers ever come here."

"Oh. Then we'll have to find a place to stay. Ignacio told us to go to the chieftain's house, but let's go and greet them first."

Bertine spoke to the elderly people chatting on the terrace and asked for directions to the chieftain's house. The largest single-story house closest to the forest was apparently the chieftain's house.

"Go ahead, and you'll find the former chieftain," they said, and the three of them walked over.

"Diego, the luggage is heavy because of the glass bottles. We'll help carry them too."

"Miss, if the glass bottles are heavy, Diego should retire from being a private soldier."

"That's right. If necessary, I can carry you on my shoulders and run."

"Stop it, Diego. If necessary, I'll run myself."

Eventually, they arrived at the large single-story house of the chieftain.

"Hello! We've come from Ibito. Is anyone here?"

"Hey there."

In response to Diego's voice, a thin but energetic old man came out. He looked to be well over seventy.

"Sure. What brings you here?"

"We've come at the recommendation of Ignacio. I'm Bertine, and I work under Mr. Cecilio."

"Oh. Under Cecilio? A young lady?"

"Yes."

Technically, it was more like a contract job, but Ignacio had told her to say it this way to make a good impression.

"I see. You work under Cecilio. That boy is a tough boss, so it must be hard. Come in, come in. You must be tired. Have some tea. I'm Cecilio's grandfather, Emilio."

"Thank you, Emilio. I'll come in."

It seems that Mr. Cecilio is called "Cecilio" at home.

Inside the house, it appeared that only the old man lived. He went to the back, his back slightly bent, and the sound of tea sets being arranged could be heard. Dorothee quickly stood up and went to the back, calling out.

Soon, Dorothee brought out the tea on a tray.

"Ah, what a help you are, young lady."

Emilio smiled as he came from behind Dorothee.

The tea served had a faint citrus aroma and was refreshingly delicious.

"So, what brings you here?"

"I'm working for the Lord, bottling delicious things to sell in the Empire. I heard that there are many delicious things in the Calisto district, so I came."

"Hmm. Delicious things, you say. I don't think there's anything special around here."

"I've heard that the half-dried cobia and the oil-cooked razor clams are delicious."

"Ha ha ha. You, those are things we eat every day. They won't sell in the Empire."

The old man laughed as if it were a joke.

"No, no, the Empire has many regions far from the sea and many cold areas, so the delicacies from the southern sea are highly valued."

"Hmm. Well, if that's the case, I have some half-dried cobia. I'll grill it for you."

He arranged charcoal in the courtyard stove and built a fire with twigs.

"Wait until the charcoal is ready."

"Can I watch from nearby?"

"Sure, do as you like."

Eventually, the charcoal caught fire, the surface turned white with ash, and the inside became red-hot.

"Alright, it's ready."

He brought out large slices of fish on a sieve from the kitchen.

"Is this the cobia?"

"Yes. My son caught it yesterday. He thought he could finally retire as chieftain, but Cecilio went to Ibito. So, he's still working as chieftain. Is Cecilio doing well?"

"Yes. He said the Calisto district is a great place and he loves it."

"Haha. I see."

The old man's accent was quite strong, and even Bertine, who was fluent in the official language, had to listen carefully to understand.

When the slices of cobia were placed on the hot iron grate, they sizzled, and the skin began to shrink. The old man used a long pair of tongs to move the charcoal and touch the slices, and the cleanliness-conscious Dorothee watched anxiously, though she didn't say a word.

Fat dripped from the slices of cobia, and smoke rose from the charcoal.

"What a good smell."

"Isn't it? Cobia is fatty, so it's better to let some of the fat drop off when grilled this way."

The old man flipped the slices with the tongs and grilled them thoroughly. In between, he ground white seeds in a stone mortar and pestle. Dorothee watched the tongs with a wistful look, surely wanting to wash them immediately.

Eventually, the slices of cobia were grilled, and the flesh began to split.

The old man transferred them to a plate and brought a small knife from the kitchen to cut a green lemon from a tree in the yard. He cut it in half and squeezed it over the hot slices, sprinkling the ground white seeds on top.

"Here, have a taste."

"Yes! Thank you."

The grilled half-dried cobia was piping hot, and the squeezed lemon gave it a refreshing flavor. The aroma of the charcoal, the smoke from the dripping fat, the thick white flesh with a chewy texture, and the sweetness from the salt made it delicious. The occasional crunch of the white powder added a wonderful aroma.

"This is..."

"Miss, it's delicious!"

"No, I'm surprised. I've grown up eating fish in Sanlouan, but this is incredibly delicious. The fish is good, but the aroma of the white seeds is amazing."

The old man watched the three of them eat with a smile.

"Dorothee, can we bottle the flesh of this? Will it spoil?"

"I'm not sure. We'll have to try. Diego, you liked it too, right?"

"I want to take a lot of this back in bottles. It's incredibly delicious."

After finishing the grilled cobia, they drank more tea with a citrus aroma. A man who looked like Cecilio returned with a net full of catch. He was probably in his mid-fifties.

"Father, I'm back. Are these guests?"

"Delio, these are people from Cecilio's workplace."

The man was Cecilio's father.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Bertine de Juan. I work for the Lord, selling this country's specialties to the Empire."

"Specialties? I'm sorry, but there's nothing special around here."

"No! The grilled cobia I just had was the most delicious thing I've ever tasted."

"Grilled cobia? Everyone around here is tired of eating it."

"Then why don't you bottle it and sell it?"

"Will it sell? What if it doesn't?"

"It will sell. It will definitely sell. We'll buy it all, so there will be no loss for the people here."

Cecilio's father, Delio, looked troubled.

"As you can see, we're a household of two men. We don't have any women to help. I'll try to ask the neighborhood ladies, but if it doesn't work out, please understand."

"Understood. I'll explain and demonstrate. If it still doesn't work, I'll give up."

"Alright. I'll ask them. By the way, is Cecilio doing well?"

"Yes, the Lord is doing well. He works hard for the Union every day."

"Is that so. I thought Cecilio had finally found a lover, but I guess I was mistaken. He's well over thirty, but I don't understand why he won't get married. Is he planning to die for the country?"

Bertine, thinking it would be inappropriate to mention the compensation, replied cautiously:

"I love this country and moved here from the Kingdom of Sanlouan."

"I see. I thought Cecilio had finally found a lover, but I guess I was mistaken. He's well over thirty, but I don't understand why he won't get married. Is he planning to die for the country?"

Bertine couldn't say anything rash and replied with a smile, "I don't know."