chapter 104

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Come and Try It

"First, put the pork belly in cold water to skim off the blood foam. Then, bring me real water, Oliver—I want to use the best ingredients. Just buy me a whole bucket!"

Karl commanded while heating the wok on the induction cooker.

"Blanch the meat and remove the floating residue. Wait a second… why is the smell so strong? Wasn't this pig bled when it was slaughtered? What? It wasn't even castrated? My god!"

David, lounging on the sofa in the apartment, stared at Karl. Normally calm, even in cyberpsychotic situations, Karl now looked utterly frustrated. For David, this was a revelation—a completely different side of Karl than he'd ever imagined.

"Damn, damn, damn! This thing stinks…" Karl muttered to himself. "Forget it. I'll add more seasonings to mask the smell. Cut the pieces smaller, stir-fry them well, and let the seasoning seep in. As for the bloody water? Forget boiling it just yet."

He glanced over his shoulder. "Jack, grab an empty pot. Fill it with cold water and white vinegar. I'm soaking this thing to get rid of the blood smell, then rinsing it thoroughly. Hopefully, that'll do the trick."

Jack hesitated but followed the order. "Why go through all this trouble, Karl?"

"Why not!" Karl snapped before suddenly pivoting. "By the way, didn't I buy some corn? Bring it over. My pot's free—let's cook the corn first."

He turned to David. "David!"

"Y-yeah?" David stammered, standing instinctively under Karl's sharp gaze.

"Fetch the small spice bag I bought. It has cinnamon, star anise, and bay leaves. Be careful with it!"

"Got it."

Under Karl's strict instructions, the group worked like a makeshift kitchen brigade, bustling around the apartment.

Oliver watched from a corner, scowling. "Karl, you're too lazy! You've got us doing everything while you just supervise!"

"Of course," Karl replied nonchalantly, his tone suggesting it was obvious. "I'm in charge of serving the dishes. You'll all do the rest. Oh, and after dinner, you're washing the pots and plates."

Jack chuckled. "At home, I only helped my mom cook on birthdays. Now I'm doing this, and it's not even my birthday!"

"Don't worry," Karl said confidently, "the food will be worth it. You won't be disappointed. After all, it's not just about you. I wouldn't let Mrs. Wells or Misty eat bad food."

"I don't want to be a guinea pig…" Oliver muttered, secretly hoping the meal would live up to the hype.

"Once the prep's done," Karl explained, "heat some oil in the pan. Add cold oil, then the spices, and fry them slowly."

The aroma wafted through the air as Karl expertly worked the pan.

"Bring me the pork belly," he ordered.

Jack handed it over, and Karl began stir-frying. The fat sizzled, releasing rich, savory scents. Next, he added soy sauce, salt, and rock sugar.

"There are many ways to make braised pork," Karl remarked. "Some people cook the sugar first, then add the meat. I prefer the reverse—meat first, then sugar."

The mixture turned a beautiful caramel color as the sugar melted and coated the pork.

"Pour in the boiling water," Karl instructed, adding the final touch. "Reduce the heat, cover, and let it simmer."

Jack peeked over his shoulder. "That's it?"

"I could add wine or tea for extra depth," Karl admitted. "But we don't have those, so this will do."

"Can I give it a shot next time?"

"Braised pork is a flexible dish. Some even use cola. Why not?" Karl replied with a shrug.

Meanwhile, Oliver checked on the corn in another pot. Steam billowed as he lifted the lid, revealing plump, golden ears of corn.

"They're ready!" he announced, grabbing one eagerly.

"Careful, it's hot!" Jack warned, but Oliver ignored him and nearly burned his hands.

Oliver waited for the corn to cool, then broke it into pieces. He handed one to David and another to Jack. "Come on, try it. Aren't you the most excited about this?"

David hesitated. "Can I really eat first?"

"Relax," Oliver said. "There's plenty. If it's bad, we'll add salt and cook it again."

Jack didn't wait, already nibbling on his piece. David followed suit, eating carefully. The sweet, soft kernels practically melted in his mouth.

"It's so sweet," David murmured, surprised by how different fresh corn tasted compared to processed corn products he'd had before.

"It gets sweeter the more you chew," Karl said, joining them. He took a bite, and his expression softened.

For a moment, Karl looked lost in thought. "I feel like crying," he admitted. The familiar taste brought back memories from a simpler time, long before 2075.

Finally, he unveiled the braised pork. The glossy, caramel-coated meat glistened as he served it with fried rice.

"Come and try it," Karl urged, taking the first bite himself. The rich sauce seeped into the rice, creating a perfect harmony of flavors.

"Mercenaries really can't survive on vegetarian food alone," Oliver muttered, watching Karl devour his plate.