Chapter 8: Cooking for Tashigi

"She actually… hit me…"

Doesn't she like me? {The way you said it...}

Vivian felt a bit aggrieved.

This was the first time in his life that a girl had slapped him.

Just then, a familiar voice came from behind. "Is that how you reject a girl?"

Vivian turned around and was surprised to see Tashigi. "Tashigi? You're back."

"The mission is complete, so of course, I'm back."

Tashigi adjusted her glasses on her nose, a slight smile on her face, looking quite pleased.

The two of them stared at each other for a moment.

Vivian was the first to look away, coughing lightly. "If there's nothing else, I'll be going."

Just as he was about to turn and leave, Tashigi quickly stepped in front of him, blocking his way.

"Uh… is there something you need?" Vivian asked.

"I… um… have you had lunch? I kind of want to eat your cooking."

[Option 1: "You want me to cook for you? Who do you think you are?" (Reward: Random Special Item)]

[Option 2: "Sure, let me show off my cooking skills today." (Reward: Random Skill Experience +10)]

[Option 3: "I've already eaten. You should go to the cafeteria." (Reward: Random Skill Experience +1)]

"Hmm?" These options seem a bit different from usual…

Skill experience +10…

If I choose option 2, it shouldn't pose too much danger, right?

The rewards and the level of danger are proportional, and this has been proven countless times over the past two years.

So Vivian thought for about five or six seconds, then nodded under Tashigi's expectant gaze.

"Sure, it's been a while. Let me show off my cooking skills today."

[You chose option 2]

[Follow-up task: Cook a delicious meal for Tashigi and receive her praise]

The prompt appeared again.

Vivian stroked his chin.

This follow-up task seems pretty simple.

An hour later.

In Vivian's single dormitory, Tashigi sat upright at a square wooden table, having placed her coat and sword on the bed. She watched Vivian's busy figure at the stove, lost in thought.

The last time Vivian cooked for her was about a year ago, right?

For some reason, ever since Vivian joined the navy, he had always kept his distance from her. Every time they trained at the base, he would pretend not to know her and quickly walk away.

This made Tashigi feel inexplicably disappointed.

After all, every other male marine at the base would eagerly approach her with concern whenever they saw her.

But Vivian never even glanced at her…

"What did I do to make Vivian dislike me?" she wondered.

After a while.

"Gong Bao Chicken, Twice-Cooked Pork, Mapo Tofu, Braised Chicken, Scallion Pepper Fish Fillets, Braised Bamboo Shoots."

Three Sichuan dishes and three Shandong dishes. Using his memories from his previous life and advanced cooking skills, Vivian managed to recreate the flavors almost perfectly.

Although it couldn't compare to the famous chefs from his previous life, it was more than enough to impress people in the world of pirates.

And indeed, after Tashigi took a few bites, she couldn't stop eating.

"How can it be so delicious?!" This was the only thought that flashed through Tashigi's mind.

It was even several times better than the food she had tasted from Vivian over a year ago.

If only she could eat Vivian's cooking every day…

This thought involuntarily popped into her mind.

"Is it good?" Vivian asked as he approached.

"Good… good." Hearing this, Tashigi slowed down her eating a bit, nodded, and said somewhat unclearly, "It's much better than the food in the cafeteria."

Vivian's cooking was naturally much better than the cafeteria food.

As for why he still ate at the cafeteria…

Firstly, because cooking for himself was too much trouble, and secondly, the food in the cafeteria was free.

The spirit of getting things for free had to be upheld.

"This is the best food I've ever eaten…" Tashigi weakly added.

[Successfully completed the follow-up task]

[Reward: Swordsmanship Experience +10]

Silence.

Vivian took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, walked to the window, and started smoking.

He felt something was off.

How could he complete a follow-up task so easily?

It didn't make sense.

He remembered that when he chose the first option to save people, he almost lost his life.

"Or maybe the system occasionally has a conscience and gives me some free benefits?" he speculated.

Meanwhile.

Downstairs at the navy base dormitory.

A navy soldier looked up at the smoke slowly drifting out of the fifth-floor window, his hands clenched tightly…

…

The next day.

"Set sail!"

Dressed in a suit, Papanov stood at the bow of the warship, raising his sword and shouting to everyone with great enthusiasm.

However, the response he got was a chorus of yawns: "Ah~~~~~!"

Vivian flicked away the sleep from the corner of his eye and looked at Papanov. "I mean, Lieutenant Papanov, it's only four o'clock. Isn't it a bit too much to wake us up this early to set off?"

Looking up at the pitch-black sky, the other navy soldiers nodded in agreement with Vivian's words.

Papanov: "…"

"What do you know? To capture pirates, we need to gain the upper hand. If we set off before dawn, they won't be able to react."

"Then why didn't you set off at midnight? We'd still arrive in the early morning and catch them even more off guard," Vivian said.

"But… I usually sleep from ten to four."

"Can't you sleep on the warship?"

"Oh, right!" Papanov suddenly realized and smacked his palm.

Vivian: "…"

Forget it…

He finally understood why this guy had been in the navy for almost thirty years and was still just a branch Lieutenant.

Soon, seven hours passed.

At eleven o'clock that morning.

The Giant Blade Pirate ship that Papanov mentioned appeared within their sight.

At the same time, three options appeared before Vivian.

[Option 1: Approach the ship directly and engage in a boarding battle. (Reward: Sword Technique from "Rurouni Kenshin" - Nine-Headed Dragon Flash)]

[Option 2: Maintain distance and bombard with cannonballs. After exhausting the ammunition, engage in a boarding battle. (Reward: Sword Technique from "Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice" - Secret Technique: Immortal Severance)]

[Option 3: Drop anchor and stay put, observing the situation. (Reward: Random Basic Attribute +1)]

"Vivian, what should we do now?" At the same time, Papanov excitedly ran over, grabbed Vivian's sleeve and asked.