Chapter 1245 - 993: New Talent

If possible, Elsa really hoped to help the Okaman people find ways to improve their lives. That way, she could assist them and help herself.

Unfortunately, the Okaman people were simply too clumsy. Yes, to put it bluntly, their clumsiness was downright exasperating. They couldn’t even manage some of the most basic tasks, and aside from fighting, their understanding of everyday logic was a complete mess.

Elsa prepared to take her leave, having learned of the Celestial Clan Emperor’s plans. There was no need for her to stay any longer, especially since she was still considered somewhat of an enemy.

However, Elsa underestimated these simple beings. Having defeated an Okaman Elder in battle, she now held a significant position in the hearts of the Okaman people, especially among the few Okaman Vanguard members who had originally brought Elsa here. Usually, these members were looked down upon within their tribe, but now, their association with Elsa, who had defeated an Elder, made them feel as if they had won themselves.

Just as Elsa and Suolin were preparing to leave, a few Okaman Vanguard members stopped them. The leading Okaman Vanguard member, with a hopeful look, invited Elsa to taste the food he had personally prepared. Elsa was very surprised by this because she had no idea that Okaman people had anything resembling culinary skills. In her mind, Okaman people simply grabbed whatever animal they came across and ate it directly.

Hearing Elsa’s confusion, the good-tempered Okaman Elder by her side chuckled, "Princess Elsa, although we Okaman people are clumsy, we are not so clumsy that we can’t handle basic food preparation."

Elsa blushed and apologized.

The Okaman Vanguard member lived on the outskirts of the city, in one of those chaotic stone huts Elsa had seen. However, his living space appeared somewhat tidy, showing he had taken some care in arranging it.

Then, the Okaman Vanguard member grabbed a small beast from his hut and cleaned it right in front of Elsa. Looking around, there were many such huts of the Okaman Vanguard, and from the food in their hands, Elsa could tell that the food prepared for her had been especially cleaned.

After that, the Okaman Vanguard began to light a fire, preparing to grill the meat.

Speaking of grilling meat, Elsa had a deep understanding of it from Long Yi’s influence, and she found it hard to imagine what kind of food an Okaman Vanguard could make. Even Elsa herself admitted that this was definitely arrogance and prejudice, but it was likely the truth.

"I really want to know one thing—why do you insist on having me taste your food?" Elsa asked the Okaman Vanguard.

"Because I think I’ve discovered a new way of eating, but my comrades all laugh at me, saying my taste is broken. So this time, I hope that a Princess from the Celestial Clan can taste my food. If you also think my taste is broken, then I must accept it," said the Okaman Vanguard.

Elsa was somewhat surprised, as the way this Okaman Vanguard answered did not seem like a typical Okaman person but more like a frustrated ordinary young man. However, looking at the arrangement of his hut, it seemed he might have suddenly awakened some talent, although not much.

"What is your name?" Elsa asked. From the first time she grabbed him until now, Elsa still didn’t know his name.

"I am Asa, Princess!" Asa said excitedly. In fact, even among the Okaman people, unless they had close relationships, they might not know the names of those around them.

"Alright, Asa, I will judge fairly with my own taste," Elsa said seriously.

Suolin wanted to laugh on the side because even during the recent battle, Elsa hadn’t shown such seriousness, yet she was serious about this?

After a while, the grilled meat was ready.

To be honest, Asa’s cooking skills were very average. Parts of the meat were charred, and some parts still had blood. Then, he awkwardly cut the grilled meat and took out a fist-sized fruit from his personal space. The fruit was dried, with a tough skin and a hole capped with cloth. Asa removed the cap, and from inside the fruit, he sprinkled some pale yellow powder onto the grilled meat. Instantly, flames burst forth from the meat!

The flames came quickly and disappeared just as fast. Once the flames vanished, Asa, with a look of expectation, handed over the now even more charred grilled meat.

Elsa took out a knife and fork from her personal space, put a piece of meat to her mouth, and was just about to speak when a strong, pungent aroma surged up!

This aroma! Elsa had never encountered it before!

Carefully, she placed the piece of grilled meat in her mouth, and the moment it touched her tongue, a fiery sensation immediately spread. It felt as hot as scorching stones, but this sensation lasted only for a brief moment. After that, a special fragrance mixed with various spices emanated from the tip of her tongue!

This flavor!

Elsa spat the grilled meat out of her mouth.

Seeing Elsa’s action, Asa’s originally hopeful expression instantly dimmed, and some of the Okaman people in the crowd started laughing.

"Don’t be discouraged just yet!" Elsa said.

"What?" Asa looked puzzled at Elsa.

"Give me a piece of raw meat! I’ll give it a try!"

Honestly, it had been a long time since Elsa had grilled meat herself, but she was confident that the skills she had inherited from Long Yi had not faded!

Asa could hardly believe his eyes; the Princess of the Celestial Clan was grilling meat by herself right here! And indeed, that was exactly what she was doing!

To ensure that the meat cooked faster, Elsa had to sacrifice some flavor by infusing it with the Power of Light. Soon, the grilled meat was ready.

Then, Elsa took that strange fruit from Asa, preparing to sprinkle the powder inside it over the grilled meat. Before that, Elsa deactivated the air filtration. Since there had always been a peculiar smell pervading Okaman, Elsa had been using magic to breathe through air filtration. When she deactivated the air filtration magic, the atmospheric aroma was exactly the scent of the fruit’s powder.

"Be careful, this powder will burn upon contact with skin... it will cause burns," Asa warned.

Elsa carefully poured the powder onto the grilled meat, and flames burst out immediately. Then, Elsa meticulously cut the grilled meat into pieces and put a small piece in her mouth.

This time, she savored the flavor carefully, while everyone around watched her expression.

Finally, Elsa swallowed the grilled meat and gave a thumbs up, saying, "I think I know how to make you rich."

"What?"

The surrounding Okaman were stunned.

The fruit was from a plant that caused the air on the entire Okaman planet to be filled with this aroma. In many regions of Okaman, this plant grew into not very tall trees that became laden with such fruits every few years. When the fruits matured, they would burst on the spot, the flammable powder would burn the entire forest down, and the heat-resistant seeds in the fruit would regenerate in the ashes.

This was quite an extreme method of competing for resources; burning everything only to have its own seeds survive.

What was most astonishing was the flavor of these seeds. Once the flammable powder inside contacted the grilled meat, it would ignite in an instant, and the post-combustion ashes would keep the plant’s aroma on the surface of the meat. Some of the powder that didn’t burn would leave a burning sensation immediately upon ingestion.

This series of traits convinced Elsa that this must be a tremendous source of wealth!

"How many of these fruits do you have?" Elsa asked the Okaman Elders.

The Elders looked at each other: "Actually, if we’re talking about this planet, there are many, since it’s just about the time when the fruits are maturing. But we have never had the custom of harvesting these fruits. Hundreds of years ago, we used these fruits as fire-starting tools, but now we use Fighting Aura to start fires. After all, the flavor of this flame is too strong..."

Listening, Elsa laughed.

"Come now, Elders, let’s go back to the Council of the Great Elder and have a negotiation," Elsa said.

"Negotiation, what negotiation?" a few Elders asked blankly.

"About you providing me with these fruits, and me providing you with living essentials."

Several Elders listened dazedly as Elsa laid out many terms, including providing fabrics, building craftsmen, and even a food supply for the Okaman. The only thing Elsa asked in return was those seeds.

"Are you sure you’re not playing us, Princess Elsa?" the Elder who had lost to Elsa before asked incredulously.

"Look, I have no reason to lie to you. This is just how business works in the entire Plane; scarce resources are always the most valuable!" Elsa said.

The Okaman Elders didn’t understand what ’scarce resources’ meant, because these fruits could never be scarce. While they were negotiating, Asa had already gone with a few friends to pick some.

The fruits were relatively safe before they matured, but once ripe, any carelessness could lead to big trouble.

In front of Elsa was a box of fruits, but at this moment in front of Elsa, this was a box of money!

"These fruits will dry out completely within a day; before that, please drill a small hole here, otherwise, once it dries, it will immediately explode," Asa instructed Elsa.

"I understand." Elsa raised her hand, and a very thin light instantly punctured a hole in each fruit. Then the box was stuffed into her private space. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote or subscribe at qidian.com. Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com).