This was an oasis on the verge of drying up. What was once a lake spanning tens of thousands of square meters had now shrunk to a shallow, small pond, emitting a foul, rotting stench.
With just one glance, Altaïr knew the spring beneath the pond had completely dried up. The water was stagnant and filthy; even after filtering and boiling, it wouldn't be safe to drink, as it could easily cause dysentery.
Dysentery meant dehydration, and in the desert, that was almost a death sentence. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, no one should drink from this pond.
If they had to fetch water, they would need to dig a deep pit several meters away from the pond, allowing the water to slowly seep through the sand and gravel for filtration. After letting it settle, they could then collect and boil it, which would significantly reduce the risk.
Fortunately, Altaïr had made thorough preparations before the journey. Their freshwater reserves were still ample, and even if they couldn't replenish supplies at this oasis, it wouldn't affect their upcoming travels. There was no need to go through all that trouble.
Nevertheless, they planned to take a brief rest at this oasis.
Though the water source was nearly depleted, some drought-resistant plants still clung stubbornly to life; Sajji, cacti, desert dates... These were all favorites of the woolly camels, ensuring the animals could at least enjoy a hearty meal here.
The low shrubs provided shelter from the wind and sand, as well as precious fuel, allowing the travelers to relish a long-awaited hot meal.
"Sizzle..."
A frying pan sat over the campfire, the food inside emitting an enticing, oily aroma. Isis, crouching nearby, couldn't stop swallowing her saliva.
Piscine Liver! Even though she had never tasted it before, she had long heard of this desert delicacy. Earlier in the day, when they were attacked by the Cephalos, she had thought they were unlucky. But now, she felt they had stumbled upon a stroke of luck.
The ingredients had practically delivered themselves to their doorstep!
Altaïr gently shook the frying pan. This time, he didn't refer to the recipe memo, as Karim's recipes weren't all-encompassing; they contained no instructions for cooking Piscine Liver.
But that was no problem. The grilled Piscine Liver feast hosted by the Desert Fins elders months ago was still vividly etched in his memory.
What could be grilled could certainly be pan-fried, and it was even easier to control the heat.
At the very start, just a tiny bit of oil was needed to grease the pan and prevent sticking. The Cephalos liver, rich in its own oils, would release ample fat during frying.
The first attempt was a failure. The Piscine Liver was cut too thick, resulting in a charred exterior while the inside remained undercooked. Prolonged frying caused excessive oil to seep out, almost turning it into deep-fried Piscine Liver.
He had intended to discard it, but Isis couldn't bear to waste it. She gobbled it up, and he started another batch.
The second attempt was much better, though the heat was still a bit too high. While the flavor was fine, the liver ended up overcooked and tough, losing the melt-in-your-mouth quality that made the ingredient so special.
Again, it went straight into Isis's mouth, and he began a third batch.
From the third attempt onward, success grew steadily. Having mastered the ingredient's characteristics and the required heat, Altaïr sliced the Piscine Liver into palm-thick pieces. Once the pan was hot, he added no oil, searing the slices directly with a sizzle. After frying for just over twenty seconds, he flipped them with a deft shake of the pan, gave them another ten-plus seconds, and then removed them; the entire process took less than a minute. The Piscine Liver was now slightly charred on the surface, its internal fat rich with umami compounds having melted but not yet seeped out. Placed in the mouth, it required no chewing; it simply dissolved into a rich, aromatic oil that flowed down the throat.
With just a sprinkle of salt, it became the most exquisite delicacy, arguably even more delicious than the Hammer user from Desert Fins had grilled.
Isis ate piece after piece, blowing on them briefly before stuffing them into her mouth. It was unclear what her tongue and stomach were made of; she seemed completely unfazed by the heat.
Even Erik, who had little interest in gourmet food, and the well-traveled Professor had a few extra pieces.
When Isis reached the point where she no longer swallowed saliva uncontrollably, roughly half-full, Altaïr brought out the dry bread he carried as rations.
He had always believed that greasy foods should be paired with staples.
First, he fried the bread in the remaining oil in the pan, then placed a grilled piece of Piscine Liver on top. After letting Isis try it, he received an enthusiastic "Super delicious!" review.
Altaïr tried it himself but felt something was missing. This time, instead of frying the bread in oil, he dry-toasted it directly over the fire, added a piece of grilled Piscine Liver, and finally drizzled a tiny bit of honey over it.
The resulting review was: "Super, super, super delicious!"
The Professor also sampled a small piece and remarked with admiration, "With just a slight improvement in presentation, this dish could grace the king's banquet."
Altaïr chuckled and recorded the recipe in his notebook.
It wasn't just Piscine Liver; many Monsters were edible and delicious. Perhaps one day he could compile his own cookbook?
By the time Isis had eaten to the point of rolling over contentedly, Altaïr took the remaining Piscine Liver and slowly rendered it into oil. The liver wouldn't keep long, and he didn't carry enough salt for preservation, so rendering it into fat and storing it in an empty clay jar was the best option.
It could serve as emergency rations or be used in cooking; more fragrant than butter, it could even make fried cabbage taste delicious.
The Professor watched his actions with keen interest, thinking this young man knew how to live well.
"At our current pace, how many more days until we reach Sun Worship Town?" the Professor suddenly asked once Altaïr finished his task.
Altaïr pulled out a map and checked it by the campfire's light. "According to the itinerary, we still have a rocky shore and a wind-eroded cave area to investigate. Including tonight, six days and seven nights."
"What if we skip those two areas and head straight to Sun Worship Town?" the Professor pressed.
Altaïr glanced at the old man, traced a few lines on the map with his finger, and calculated silently before replying, "Taking the shortest route, two days and three nights."
The Professor was taken aback. "That much faster?"
"Yes." Altaïr nodded and explained, "Desert travel rules dictate always reserving several days' worth of supplies, especially water. Investigating those areas would require detouring to nearby oases for replenishment, and the surveys themselves take time. Heading straight to Sun Worship Town, even without using reserve supplies, our current resources are sufficient. We can take a direct route, just avoiding sand sinkholes crowded with Cephalos and Delex."
"I see," the old Wyverian mused.
Erik leaned in. "Professor, are we skipping the rocky shore and wind-eroded caves? Why?"
"I've been to those two places before; they're quite desolate, without even a blade of grass in sight. The probability of encountering Vespoids there is very low," the Professor explained, adjusting his glasses.
"The reason I included those two locations in our itinerary was out of concern that our initial investigations might yield nothing, so I thought to cast a wider net by adding more spots.
However, over the past few days, we've already found several isolated Vespoids. After dissecting them, we've basically confirmed that their appearance isn't related to large-scale environmental changes or similar causes.
Given that, it's not particularly necessary to head to those two places anymore. The emergence of the Vespoid swarm is likely Sun Worship Town's own issue.
So, we should proceed directly to Sun Worship Town. If we still have no leads by then, we can always circle back to investigate those two locations later; it wouldn't be too late.
What do you think?"
This last question was directed at Altaïr. Erik was his student who had tagged along, so there was no need to ask him. Isis had overeaten and was lying flat on her back, hiccupping incessantly, making her equally unworthy of consultation.
Altaïr shrugged. "I have no objections. When the client proposes shortening the itinerary, what grounds does a guide have to object?"
"Then it's settled."
"No problem." Altaïr took out a charcoal pencil and drew a straight line on the map between their current position and Sun Worship Town.