Chapter 38: Seafood Feast

"Ta-da! Commander, the food's ready!"

Blücher, wearing a black and red Ironblood-style apron, came rushing out of the kitchen like a whirlwind, carrying two steaming plates of braised shrimp.

"Careful, don't spill everything on the floor!"

Seeing Blücher's energetic approach, Lin Lan was really worried she might trip and fall.

But as it turned out, the lively Blücher didn't make such a rookie mistake.

Soon, she had brought out all the dishes from the kitchen and placed them on the coffee table.

Lin Lan looked at the spread and was surprised by how much there was.

There were braised shrimp with lime, spicy grilled crabs, aromatic mint seafood soup, and tender grilled halibut with potatoes and vegetables.

And finally, five or six large fish burgers.

Seeing the coffee table full of food, Lin Lan was amazed.

He hadn't expected the three Hipper sisters to prepare so many dishes in such a short time.

"It's been a while since I last cooked, so I'm a bit rusty. Just make do with what we've got—no complaints allowed."

Hipper and Prinz Eugen came out of the kitchen, removed their aprons, moved the sofa closer to the coffee table, and took their seats.

Lin Lan picked up a fish burger and took a bite. The tender fish paired perfectly with the vegetables in the burger, surprising him with how good it was.

And he was relieved to find that the fish had been carefully deboned.

"Hmm-hmm, how is it? Not bad, right? This fish burger was made by Hipper herself. She even removed the bones for you."

Eugen smiled as she watched Lin Lan's surprised expression.

"Huh? Isn't removing the bones just part of cooking?"

Hipper blushed as she sipped a bowl of seafood soup.

"Commander, I've peeled the shrimp for you. Open up, say 'ah...'"

At this moment, the sweet Blücher, wearing plastic gloves, peeled a shrimp and offered it to Lin Lan.

He had to admit, being fed like this… wasn't a bad feeling.

"It would be nice if we had some beer now."

Eugen looked at the spread of food and sighed a little regretfully.

"I do have some, but are you sure you want to drink now?"

Hipper looked at Eugen with disdain.

"Oh, don't worry, I won't get drunk. It's been so long since I've had a meal cooked by big sis. It would be a shame not to have some beer."

As soon as Eugen finished speaking, Lin Lan felt a twinge of concern, remembering Bismarck's warning from earlier that morning.

But would it be rude to refuse Eugen now?

Thinking back to the journal he had just read, Lin Lan looked at Hipper, who was getting up to grab the beer, and opened his mouth, but couldn't bring himself to stop her.

"Don't worry, Commander, just a couple of beers won't hurt~"

Eugen smiled reassuringly at Lin Lan and offered him a piece of fish.

With the grilled fish in his mouth, Lin Lan silently considered his options.

With him and Hipper around, and this not being a public place like a restaurant, letting Eugen have two or three beers should be fine.

This thought vanished instantly when he saw Hipper return with a giant glass mug, as big as a kettle, that could hold the equivalent of three or four regular beer bottles.

"Wait, wait, wait, Eugen, when you said 'a couple of beers,' did you mean these giant mugs?"

Lin Lan's eyes widened. He had imagined a small glass like the ones used in Chinese restaurants, not these huge mugs.

Judging by Lin Lan's estimation, each of these mugs held at least two liters.

"Huh? Isn't this the kind of glass you're supposed to drink beer from?"

Hipper placed the four large beer-filled mugs on the coffee table, puzzled by Lin Lan's reaction.

"Eugen, I suddenly think you shouldn't drink after all."

Lin Lan immediately turned to Eugen.

"Commander, you already agreed just now~"

Lin Lan paused, then firmly said, "When did I agree? I didn't say anything just now…"

Before he could finish, his words were cut off by another shrimp that Blücher offered.

"It's just one glass of beer. Are you saying you can't even handle one? Not even as well as Blücher?"

Hipper sat down and looked at Lin Lan with a mocking expression.

"Exactly! The beer's already here, Commander. Don't spoil the fun. Come on, let's all raise our glasses~"

Eugen had already happily lifted her mug high.

Lin Lan sighed and reluctantly raised his glass.

He knew there was no stopping Eugen from drinking now. All he could do was hope that Hipper and Blücher might be able to hold her back later.

But unfortunately, that hope was destined to be dashed.

By the time they had finished all the food on the table, everyone was already on their second round of beer.

Lin Lan, who usually prided himself on holding his liquor, had overlooked one crucial detail: his tolerance had been built up over years of work, but now that he was back in his younger body, his tolerance had also reverted to what it had been when he was younger.

After two large mugs of beer, when he started to feel it hit him, it was already too late.

"Hehehe, Commander~ which one of us three sisters do you like the most?" Eugen, clearly drunk, asked Lin Lan in a teasing tone, raising her glass for a toast.

"Of course, I like all of you," Lin Lan said, holding his head as he clinked glasses.

He was really struggling. He couldn't believe he was getting this drunk from just beer.

"No, that's not good enough~ Commander, you have to give a straight answer today. Look at my snoring second sister over there. She's always trying to win you over. Don't you like her?"

Eugen pointed at Blücher, who was already sound asleep beside them.

"Little Blücher, full of energy and cuteness—of course, I like her…" Lin Lan mumbled as he looked at Blücher's adorable sleeping face.

Eugen covered her mouth, laughing as she continued to probe, "But what about my big sis? Flat-chested and tsundere, with a temper like a ticking time bomb. You like that too?"

"What? Are you trying to get yourself killed, Eugen?" Hipper, who was clearly handling her alcohol better than the others, was still blushing from the drinks. 

She shot Eugen a glare but also perked up her ears to listen.

Under the influence of alcohol, Lin Lan turned to look at Hipper and, without thinking, blurted out his true feelings:

"Of course, I like Hipper. She's great at arranging flowers, cooking, fixing machines, understands music, and even makes model kits. She's so caring toward her friends… only a fool wouldn't like her…"

"But big sis is flat-chested and has a bad temper, you know. Why are you only mentioning her good points?" Eugen persisted.

Hipper, who had been blushing and staring at Lin Lan with wide eyes, nearly threw her drink at Eugen after hearing that.

This sister is too much.

"Well, that's what makes her so endearing. I like Hipper just the way she is…" Lin Lan, under the effects of alcohol, spoke candidly, saying everything that was on his mind.

"You hear that, sis? If you don't make a move now, all my efforts will be in vain…" Eugen, seemingly satisfied with the answer, gave Hipper a meaningful look before finally reaching her limit and collapsing onto the sofa.

"Eugen, what did you just say? I didn't catch that… Hey, hey, why are you falling asleep…" Lin Lan, dazed by the alcohol, didn't catch what Eugen had said, but Hipper heard every word loud and clear.