As a chef, Bela quickly got the hang of it. Under Zeke's tutelage, he cleaned the chicken with efficient speed, coated it in batter, and began to fry it.
Using fresh chicken for deep frying was a bit of a waste, but Zeke just loved this stuff. Zeke also took the opportunity to cut some potatoes into strips to make fries.
While the food was frying, Zeke stepped outside, summoned a soldier, and contacted Magos Klein via radio.
Fried chicken and fries were still missing something; a glass of cola would make it perfect.
"Magos Klein, do you have soda water there? It's a type of water infused with carbon dioxide to give it a unique zest."
Zeke spoke into the radio.
"Some Cadian soldiers seem to favor that beverage. If you want it, I can acquire some for you," Magos Klein agreed.
The environment around Klein was noisy; Zeke could vaguely hear sounds indicating that the battle lines were expanding and the situation was favorable. There were requests for more potions, Golden Apples, and Pilots.
"I'm counting on you, then." Zeke hung up the radio.
After the call ended, the Servitor beside Archmagos Klein voiced a query, "My Lord, what is the use of this water?"
Archmagos Klein glanced at the Servitor. "Zeke has chosen to do this, so there must be a logic to it."
Zeke's Golden Apples and magical potions were now known to everyone in Cadia.
His style of doing things was eccentric, but the results were genuine. No one would question a man who had repeatedly rendered such meritorious service.
"This item will definitely play a crucial role in the upcoming Cadian war."
"One hour. You, along with Servitors 3 and 4, complete this task for me."
"As you command." The Servitor retreated.
Archmagos Klein stood before his podium, lost in deep thought.
So, what exactly is the utility of a beverage made by flushing carbon dioxide into water?
–
"It's naturally for drinking." Zeke asked Bela for a bit more sugar and began to make a syrup base for the cola.
What Zeke wanted was the sense of ritual. He didn't need to recreate the flavor of cola one hundred percent; getting it somewhat similar was enough.
When Archmagos Klein's Servitor delivered the soda water, Zeke lightly mixed it with the syrup.
Then, he arranged the french fries, fried chicken, and cola on a single platter.
[Fried Chicken and Fries Set (with Cola)]
[Provides 8 Hunger, 6 Saturation, 30 minutes of Happiness I]
He never thought there would come a day when he could eat fried chicken and fries in the Warhammer universe. Zeke drooled uncharacteristically.
"Don't just stand there, try some." Zeke invited Bela to taste it with him.
A bite of chicken paired with a sip of homemade cola—if only there was ketchup for the fries, it would be even better.
The sinful pleasure brought by the golden, crispy fried chicken and fries, combined with the cloying sweetness of the cola, whipped up a storm in their mouths and stomachs.
[Happiness I] appeared in the buff bar.
Zeke swept the junk food before him clean.
He calmed himself to carefully savor this buff.
He wasn't doing anything, yet he felt happy for no reason, the corners of his mouth turning up uncontrollably.
Beside him, Bela sipped the cola with small mouthfuls, a faint look of delight on his face. "I don't know why, I just feel very joyful."
Trazyn and the Silent King would definitely love this set meal, Zeke thought.
Their race, having been transformed into Necrons, had long since lost the ability to experience various emotions.
"Bela, I see you've managed those farmlands quite well," Zeke said, his mouth still stuffed with the last bit of chicken. "How about I hand these chickens over to you to raise as well?"
Bela was startled. "Me? No, no! The value involved here is too great. I'm just a small cook, how could I..."
Bela wasn't brainless; he could see the terrifying value hidden behind these chicks, capable of generating frightening profits.
If not handled properly, it could even stir up a storm of blood.
"I remember Ratlings are natural-born merchants, right?" Zeke said. "Experts at making deals."
"Those are just petty trades. I'm completely unskilled in this kind of massive, interstellar commerce. Besides, this is too precious. I am just a nobody." Bela looked at the egg in his hand.
"Who made that necklace on Cow's neck?" Zeke asked.
Bela paused for a moment. "I did."
"You put heart into it," Zeke nodded. "That is why I chose you."
It didn't matter to Zeke who served as the promotional ambassador for the chickens.
Having a familiar face he found agreeable was the best-case scenario.
"However, regarding the money earned this time, you can't be as greedy as last time." Zeke's face turned stern.
He clearly remembered how miserably he had been ripped off during his first transaction with Bela.
"Zeke, you still remember that?" Bela laughed heartily. "But, even if you intend for me to do it, I'm afraid I cannot fulfill this function."
Bela picked up a wheat seed and held it in front of two chickens. The chickens didn't even spare him a glance.
"See, I don't have those miraculous powers of yours," Bela said. "Since you left, I could only harvest the crops on your farmland; I couldn't replant, nor could I expand."
[Mod: MineColonies, Unlocked]
[You can assign roles to the colony residents, including potion brewing, equipment enchanting, farming, animal husbandry...]
A book titled Resident Manual appeared in Zeke's inventory.
Opening the manual, the first page was a dynamic thumbnail sketching out the current overview of Zeke's camp.
Major buildings were marked, with basic data scrolling beside them: Population, Food Reserves, Security Status, Resident Satisfaction, etc.
Zeke's finger slid across the page, touching a chapter titled [Talent Market].
The page listed a clear roster showing all personnel currently settled in the camp.
Behind each name was the System-determined [Profession] and [Level].
His gaze first landed on Bela's name.
[Resident: Bela (Ratling)]
[Current Profession: Cook/Farmer (Level 0)]
[Abilities: None]
[Upgrade Requirements: Emerald x12, Experience x500]
Zeke looked further down. He could increase their profession level using Emeralds and Experience to unlock more abilities.
Upgrading Bela to Level 1 would grant him the ability to autonomously farm land and raise livestock.
Continuing to upgrade would improve crop quality and allow the growing of giant crops.
Zeke even saw content related to the Mods [Botania] and [Pam's HarvestCraft] further down the line.
High levels could unlock specific Mods—this was truly saving the world through farming.
Then there was his old acquaintance, Karmine. She had been holed up in the laboratory these past few days, still researching Cow's milk.
Karmine's profession was Apothecary. Upgrading would unlock brewing abilities.
Subsequently, she could refine potions, breaking through the original potion levels—Strength III and IV potions would no longer be a dream.
He flipped through more pages. There were mixture potions, creating new potions... many functions, but they required a lot of Emeralds and Experience.
And Dance. Just as he had told Zeke, he had been a blacksmith before, so his profession was Blacksmith.
His future path involved directed enchanting, breaking enchantment caps, and more enchantments.
Zeke even saw a god-tier enchantment Mod, [Apotheosis], in the blacksmith's future unlock path.
[More Enchantments], [Enchantment Compatibility], [Infusion Enchanter]...
Zeke revealed a smile of poverty. Emeralds—either you don't need them, or you need a sea of them.
He took out the dozen or so Emeralds from his backpack.
This amount was just enough to upgrade Bela to Level 1, allowing him to farm and raise livestock.
Zeke gritted his teeth and invested these Emeralds in Bela first. After all, having just made a promise, he had to keep it.
The Emeralds turned into green light. Zeke's experience bar dropped by a chunk as the light merged into Bela's body.
Of course, Bela was completely unaware of what was happening before him; he only saw Zeke holding a book up towards him.
In the instant the Emeralds turned into a stream of light, Zeke caught a fleeting glimpse.
Within every stream of green light, a blurry human face seemed to emerge, looking as if it were in prayer.
Emeralds were not as simple as they appeared.
Zeke understood in his heart. In the original Minecraft, Emeralds were the currency for villager trading, symbolizing commerce.
In the Warhammer world, they had become linked to things like souls.
--
Next Goal: 400 Powerstones
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