Chapter 403: A Culinary New World
Vi was struggling to hold back a fit of laughter. When had she ever seen her partner so completely flustered? It was priceless. 'So this is what happens when little Miss Caitlyn lets her imagination run wild,' Vi mused. Usually, anyone who got that creative around the Sheriff of Piltover ended up with a bullet through their head.
Vi leaned forward, a wicked grin spreading across her face. Caitlyn had ducked her head, her fingers twisting the hem of her uniform skirt, the tips of her ears a tell-tale crimson. "C'mon, Cupcake," Vi purred playfully. "Say 'bad man' for me one more time. I wanna hear it again~"
"I'm going to kill you! Just stop talking..." Caitlyn muttered, her voice muffled. Desperate for a distraction, she grabbed a piece of fruit from the platter and popped it into her mouth. Her frustrated expression immediately melted into one of pure shock. "Hmm? What kind of fruit are these? They're... incredible!"
Caitlyn's sudden shift in tone made Vi pause. Curious, she picked up a toothpick, speared a slice of the same fruit, and tasted it. The next moment, her own eyes widened, her chewing slowing to a stop. The flavor was unlike anything she'd ever experienced—sweet, complex, and utterly delicious. She could say with certainty that she had never eaten anything like it before.
A brilliant idea suddenly struck Vi, and she grinned. "Yo, bro!"
"Yes? Is there something you need?" Ren replied.
"Yeah," Vi said, her smile widening. "Is there some way we can learn more about all the food and fruit in this world? Like a menu or something? With pictures would be great, 'cause next time, I wanna try ordering for myself."
Caitlyn remained silent, keeping her head turned away as she methodically ate another piece of fruit. She wasn't just being a glutton; she simply didn't dare to look at Ren. His earlier comment had been so unexpectedly bold. Back in Piltover—or anywhere else they came from, for that matter—no one would ever say something so direct. Who could possibly withstand that kind of charm?
Ren considered her request for a moment. "One second." He disappeared upstairs and returned a minute later with a sleek laptop, placing it on the table in front of them. "By tomorrow, you'll be able to search for videos and pictures online just like this," he said with a smile, demonstrating a quick search. "If you want to watch movies, just use the player over there. You can choose by genre."
"Mhm, got it. Thanks, bro~"
"No problem," Ren said, then glanced at Caitlyn. "And, little police officer, be careful not to get your hair in the bowl."
Vi was no longer in the mood to tease Caitlyn. Instead, she was completely engrossed, mimicking Ren's earlier demonstration to start her own search. Caitlyn, sensing it was safe, finally looked over. Seeing that her partner still wouldn't risk looking at Ren, Vi scooted closer to share the screen.
"Holy... How many kinds of food are there?!" Vi breathed, her jaw slack.
"Vi! The sheer number of fruits and vegetables... it's staggering!" Caitlyn exclaimed. "There are hundreds, maybe thousands of types we've never even seen before!"
"Cupcake, snap out of it! Look at this!" Vi pointed a trembling finger at the screen. "They call this... an octopus. And this—steak! Oh, and look at this hotpot and barbecue! The way it's all sizzling... Caitlyn, I'm serious. Next time we're here, we are trying all of this."
"Alright, I admit... some of it looks quite appealing," Caitlyn conceded, her eyes wide. "But... wait. Absolutely not the octopus. I refuse. Did you not see the video footage? It's all tentacles, no skeletal structure, and it's... slimy. I simply can't." Her composure cracked as a new video played. "Wait! What is that man doing?! He's... he's eating it raw?! Ugh!"
The two women were like explorers charting a new continent. They scrolled from poultry to vegetables, from common livestock like pigs, cattle, and sheep to the vast world of seafood and exotic fruits. They journeyed through the diverse regional cuisines of China and then to the strange and unique delicacies from every corner of this new world.
They found their mouths watering at the sight of perfectly cooked dishes in documentaries, gasped in disbelief at certain culinary practices, and even expressed a morbid curiosity about some raw food preparations. Of course, not everything was appealing. The octopus was one thing, but then they stumbled upon...
Caitlyn slapped a hand over her eyes, letting out a horrified shout. "Vi, stop scrolling! What in the world is an 'insect feast'?! They're eating them! And... and they burst when they bite into them?! Ugh!"
Vi stared at the images of stir-fried, roasted, and deep-fried insects on the screen. Many were completely alien to them. Even her own eyelids twitched at the sight, especially since the videos often showed the creatures squirming and alive just moments before being cooked. The sight nearly made Caitlyn throw up.
Vi swallowed hard. "This world is really something else... But, I bet they're pretty crunchy... and probably taste good..."
Caitlyn's eyes shot open, wide with horror. "Vi! If you ever eat that, don't you dare say you know me!"
From the side, Ren added calmly, "Actually, most edible insects are very high in protein, collagen, and various trace elements. They're quite good for your health and even have beautifying properties."
"I don't believe you!" Caitlyn shot back, aghast.
Lucifer, who had been looking it up on her phone, chimed in. "He is, in fact, correct. Though I can't say I find it appealing myself... I imagine Beelzebub would have no issue with it."
"Does Beelzebub know you talk about her like that?" Ren asked.
"No," Lucifer replied coolly. "But who cares?"
Ren let out a quiet sigh. The dynamic between Lucifer and Beelzebub was certainly... unique. It reminded him of the complicated bonds between Kurayoshi Rino and Sōryūin Shion, or the strange triangle between Sonoko, Momobami Kirari, and Atobe Keigo. And now, looking at the two women in front of him, he could add Vi and Caitlyn to that list of fascinatingly complex relationships.
Vi sighed, closing the browser tab. "Let's save it for next time. If I keep looking at this stuff, I'm gonna get hungry again. I already finished all my ribs."
Caitlyn considered this for a moment. "Then let's watch one of those movies he mentioned..."
"Sounds good to me," Vi agreed. "So, what are we watching?" She handled to the movie player, and a list of categories appeared on the screen. "Whoa. Police and Gangsters, Martial Arts, Sci-Fi, Horror... Huh. What's sci-fi?"
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