After a long time, William saw a smidge of miss Anderson in Mi-Yung again, who was like a fierce tigress pouncing at the enemies while playing with her friends as she liked. William couldn't understand it, but he surely didn’t dislike someone like that.

  Dragging him around a few corners, she tossed him onto a soft cushion. Further back, there were smaller, more intimate seating areas for fewer people, offering more privacy. They were designed rooms for special events and occasions, such as this one.

  Ellie and Celeste came as well, since Mi-Yung chose the biggest one out of pride. There was a huge table between a pair of couches. Mi-Yung took her seat, rested her chin with her hand on the table, and waited for her massage to bear its results.

  Ellie took a seat beside William and Celeste, who sat beside him without thinking. This left Mi-Yung alone on one side, but she didn’t mind this since it was exactly like this on the upper floors as well. Without glancing at William, she knew how to deal with this place and wondered what she should offer.

  “Ehm.” William coughed, trying to catch her attention. “What sort of food is here? I would rather rest and have a quick meal. Spending too much unnecessary time isn’t my style, even if I appreciate your offer and how you said it is on you. It looks expensive too. Vendors are fine and...” William tried to excuse himself and looked at her smiling face.

  He saw prices by the counter. Dozens of credits for the simple feast and set of meals for one person. Dozens!? That was very expensive for him at the moment.

  Unlike him, Mi-Yung couldn't give a shit about it. She owned this.

  Ellie caught on to his wonder and forgot she hadn't said a word to him about it at all. So she whispered to him. “This is Mi-Yung's influence. She is a patron and part-owner of most Korean establishments. Some parts are in name alone. It’s great! Meals and all, it is famous in the Federation!”

  That didn’t sound simple, though Ellie mentioned patronage and the social statuses of people and Walkers quite a lot of times before. It was about patronism, heroism, and a bunch of other nonsense. William didn't like to keep favors or debts. When someone forced something way too good upon him, he felt strange, awkward, and unusual.

  Frankly, she wasn't offering him anything incredible. It was just a really freaking great meal and pride.

  “Oh,” William said to Ellie, who turned and whispered the same thing to Celeste, who was impatiently hugging Hound. He sniffed everything and shook, wanting to fly, cry, and run like a lunatic. Anything. Anything will do!

  But she won’t do shit because she was supposed to be a good girl.

  “What are you whispering about?” Mi-Yung inquired, estimating that Rose might be a bit busier than she thought. “Here I thought I was generous enough. Is my Pit not to your liking? Ellie, I get. But you? We have the best beef, pork, chicken, and even exotic fish, styles, and spices.” She explained, sounding as if she were discussing the most significant topic of the day.

  Growling sounds from William's stomach betrayed him once more, and he made no further excuses. He accepted her words and waited with no malice, but with a curious acceptance. No one else had any other choice, though Mi-Yung should've at least provided a menu. It had pictures and prices, as well as great services. It should give Celeste a fright for sure.

  After a while, a red-headed woman walked towards them. She stopped, posture straight, arms folded on her ample chest, and her eyes looked a bit annoyed. She was wearing a large white hat and a tight, thick apron around her working attire.

  William found her young for a chef, but her stern face checked her experience, and she was also quite tall, almost like Mi-Yung.

  “Hm. I said busy is busy, but guess what? When Songs come, should I sing? Who do you drag here this time around, Mi-Yung?! No Luke, gracious god. Kids this time around sounds kind of funny. Is the apocalypse starting again, or is the end of the world nearing?” Rose spoke fiercely, like a fine Korean. Her English was quite good, and she had no politeness whatsoever.

  “I hadn't come in a long time, and that is how you treat me? I will turn sad if you continue to treat me like this, Rose.” Mi-Yung said to her in a sweet, bewitching voice.

  “You... I swear I would never treat you without kindness. The same as usual, I guess? I will let you eat the best meals until you moan with satisfaction. You as well, bunch of... kids?” Rose paused, taking a sight of that close Hound as a rather shaking message.

  Rose yelped, screaming like a girl. “W-what? Woooat?”

  “Read the label. It is not for sale or grilling. Maybe? Well, I wouldn’t recommend it.” Mi-Yung joked and pointed to Hound’s collar.

  That didn't help her one bit, but the Academy insignia was important, just like the overall message of the collar.

  “A tamed Dark dog? In gods, this is freaky. We don't accept pets but...”

  “It's fine, Rose.” Mi-Yung insisted, and Rose couldn't refute her in the slightest.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Rose adjusted her hat and stepped to her left, taking Hound for a poison and a dog that would bite her head off at any given moment. Celeste also looked at her oddly, oozing in curious sniffs, and her eyes were horny.

  “What's up with your guests this time around? What is this getup? Who is this little guy?” Rose leaned to Mi-Yung, teasing her with a smile and pointing at William, who had no time or mind for yet another terrific lady who gave him a teasing smile since he sat aside two nice girls his age.

  Even while sitting, William found her large and menacing, almost towering over him. She must be taller than six feet.

  “Greetings, miss Rose.” William greeted her out of politeness and was unsure about her gaze. Was she picking on him, or did she dislike him from the get-go? What about Ellie or Celeste?

  “Polite lad, eh? I see. Let this be then. What else do you want, Mi-Yung? Something special? I am busy and clear and busy. Have I mentioned busy?” Rose turned to her and regained her professional bearing. Wearing a big smile, Mi-Yung was a much more interesting person than a little boy.

  Mi-Yung leaned backwards, rubbing her lips with her fingers.

  “I would love something... delicious. Any kind of top supper feasts would suffice in three portions. Do you think it is enough, Rose?”

  Blushing, Rose cleared her throat while turning around. “Your wish is my command! It is our promise and your wish.”

  “She is quite easy,” Mi-Yung mumbled in a good mood and laughed after Rose left for the kitchen.

  “Do you know each other?” William couldn't help but ask.

  “You could say so. After all, this little restaurant is mine, as Ellie suggested.” She said it as if it were the most casual thing in the world.

  “I see. Owning it must be very hard, no? I mean, the Assembly and work and all.”

  “You heard me?” Ellie said, feeling awkward.

  “Don't think of it as a bad thing, William. Walkers are busy. I have provided a lot of money to many people thanks to the early years I spent in this place and with my family. I worked quite hard for myself, and people do the same. It is a family-owned and Korean-operated business, and part of our culture. It keeps striving. A lot of places in the Federation are like that. We don't want to forget what has been, so a lot of communities and workers have their little circle.”

  “I... I am not judging anyone. I like it,” William said resolutely and glanced around.

  It looked like an expensive place to make, let alone manage, and after days, he had fewer and fewer ideas about what it took to feed a million people, let alone how to run such an operation. William was curious, yet hesitant to ask about it, considering the whole day.

  As unexpected as Rose sounded and looked, the food took less than a couple of minutes to arrive. Rose personally attended this distinguished table, which was set apart from the others.

  Plates upon plates of cut meat lined the table’s side. There were also many side dishes that William only heard about. Rice was good and typical. Potatoes were even better, as they had dozens of ways of preparation.

  As for the meat, he had a fair share of experience taking care of animals, but eating them wasn’t part of it. There was pork belly, shoulders, and chops, followed by marbled and cut-up beef. Every one of them was raw, meant for cooking over the grill. Although it wasn't particularly difficult, someone had another idea.

  Celeste regarded them with curiosity and was ready to eat them raw. Once more, Ellie stopped her with her voice rather than her hands, reminding her of having some manners and listen to her.

  Such a table was a genius idea! William didn't think it would be so easy to set up. Rose made quick work of everything and revealed how the whole grill worked.

  There was even a place for a pot, but most of it was occupied by a metallic fishnet thing or flat, pan-like plates. William watched how Rose prepared it, started a fire with smoking hot charcoal, and arranged chunks of meat.

  William could no longer conceal his growling stomach, and Celeste didn’t even bother with hiding anything. She looked left and right, unsure of what to choose and what those raw meats would taste like.

  If it weren't for Ellie, she would snatch and try them raw. There was one unsurprising problem. They had to wait for the cooking, and the resulting smell was like a poison. Rose took charge of it and stood beside Mi-Yung, who had plenty of space. Knitting her hair, she looked at Mi-Yung with a strange look while waiting for the metals to heat up.

  “Y-you... promised me some things. Will you..” she mumbled.

  “I don't think I will keep this promise for today, or... in a while. Could you wait?” Mi-Yung said, caressing her cheek with her finger, while Rose looked more than pleased to be so close to her. Though she looked great, Rose was still a year younger than Mi-Yung.

  “I see... Later than. I will wait. I can wait,” Rose cheered up and glanced at everyone. “In the meantime, shall the feast start?”

  “No need. I will take care of it myself.” Mi-Yung refused her for the second time. Rose frowned in confusion, since this wasn’t an usual procedure.

  She hiccuped, sighed, and walked away after further incentives, learning and accepting that Mi-Yung's business today must be important. Just who were those kids?

  “This... We are cooking for ourselves?” William voiced his concern after Rose left, and no one else arrived. This little play between Rose and Mi-Yung wasn’t important. Thankfully, the meal before them was much more enticing.

  Ellie would agree if she could, but after so long, she fought with Celeste's hands and lost miserably. Celeste caught a cut of beef and ate it while Hound barked in approval.

  “Hey, just wait, Celeste. We cook them up in no time at all. They are thin and all. Wait, a…”

  “That’s fine,” Mi-Yung laughed and dismissed it. “Our meat is of high quality. Eating it like this is fine, but… do it again, and I will kick you out myself.” Smiling, she sounded pleasant and menacing at the same time. This was Korea’s pride. There will be no further mishaps.

  Grunting, Celeste shifted her ass and tossed Hound at her face. He howled and whimpered when Mi-Yung caught him, and hadn't done a thing afterwards. She simply stared at the beast, who was launched at her without his consent. He then landed on the table, jumped at Ellie, fell to her lap, and howled like a lost kitten.

  A diversion worked.

  Celeste grasped little strips of beef and munched them. Half fat and half lean, she chewed and swallowed this bliss. Even raw, the thin cuts broke down in her mouth, creating sparkle there and then in her eyes.

  “Some people eat it raw, but… I shouldn’t worry about it. No. Today is a peaceful day. Very peaceful. Amitabha certainty...” Mi-Yung added after sighing and figuring her words didn’t have much value anymore. She didn't plan to kick anyone today. It was a nice, peaceful day.

  “But this is still a barbecue, right?” William asked, pointing to the rising flames.

  “Of course. This one is a little savvy from South Korea. China had something similar, and I think Japan does it quite well as well. We had to remake it in the Federation, and there are dozens of our national dishes. It was a ton of work to make them great, but it was worth it in the end.”

  “How do we... cook it?” said an Outsider who probably used an open fire for all sorts of things. Alas, the ingredients this time pretty much exceeded every such moment of his life.