YM778.TV Chapter 84: The Unknown Meat
"So it is Master Shane… You can call me Mr. Wadsworth…" The old butler replied, accepting the handshake with a firm grip.
"It seems I am to serve once more, in a capacity quite different from what I am accustomed to..."
He muttered while looking to his left, where a couple of Crawler Zombies were dragging their bodies to reach their estate.
Shane just smiled at this as he allowed Gene to kill those Zombies and loot them as well.
Shane simply introduced him to everyone in the Shelter, and soon, he learned more about Mr. Wadsworth. The man was actually in his fifties already, but aside from some wrinkles and his silver hair, he still had a decent physique for his age.
It seemed that he trained his body really well.
"Right… Let me show you the skills I\'ve learned."
[ Elegant Service (Lv10 - Max): Mr. Wadsworth\'s years of impeccable service have honed his ability to cater to the needs of others with grace and precision.
+40% efficiency in attending to guests\' requests or needs.
+40% effectiveness in organizing events or gatherings.
+40% chance to uncover hidden information through discreet observation. ]
[ Antique Appraisal (Lv10 - Max): Having managed a nobleman\'s estate, Mr. Wadsworth developed an eye for valuable artifacts and antiques. It grants the following benefits:
+30% accuracy in identifying the historical significance and value of ancient items.
+30% chance to recognize enchanted or magical objects.
+30% speed in assessing the authenticity of art and collectibles. ]
[ Loyal Retainer (Lv10 - Max): Mr. Wadsworth\'s unwavering loyalty makes him a steadfast companion. It grants the following benefits:
+40% resistance against mental manipulation or betrayal.
+40% effectiveness in inspiring trust and camaraderie among allies.
+40% chance to rally others during critical moments. ]
"Ohh… You surely possessed the qualification to be the best butler out there, Mr. Wadsworth…" Shane commented after seeing the man\'s skills. The Elegant Service was quite expected of a man with a lot of experience, but the Antique Appraisal skill was something that surprised him. This would be very useful!
After all, he hadn\'t fully explored the Manor yet before it felt as if it would collapse anytime as one of its foundations was destroyed. He would have to consider making a few posts for it to ensure that it wouldn\'t collapse before thinking of fully exploring the Manor.
Anyway, Shane could only hope that he gets a great structural engineer next time.
As for the Loyal Retainer, Shane liked this skill as well. After all, it could also affect others through its passive effect! This person was certainly the best one to lead the Shelter while he was out exploring!
"I\'m honored…" Mr. Wadsworth replied with a smile, seeing that Shane was happy about his skill set.
The thought of having a man with such refined talents by his side filled Shane with a sense of reassurance.
After some thought, Mr. Wadsworth\'s offered to prepare drinks for everyone. After all, he could see everyone working hard, and in terms of labor work, he wouldn\'t be as efficient as Cassius and Mara, who could probably lift five of him with one hand.
Of course, the offer was met with gratitude.
Shane nodded appreciatively. "That would be wonderful, Mr. Wadsworth. These guys have been working tirelessly, and a warm drink would lift our spirits."
Shane then asked him to visit Anna to help with this.
Well, Shane remembered Anna\'s herb collection. She had been diligent in scouting the area for useful plants.
He decided to have the butler seek her out and inquire about the herbs she had found that could be used as tea. That\'s right, perhaps they could brew some herbal teas to soothe their nerves and boost their energy.
Anna was near the edge of the orchard, her hands stained with soil as she tended to a row of young apple trees. Her eyes brightened when she saw Shane and Mr. Wadsworth approaching.
"Anna, you\'re not with Alexa?" Shane greeted her.
"Oh… She\'s already preparing the meat you showed us. It\'s a good thing that I gathered enough herbs, spices, and mushrooms. She said she can make us something good." Anna replied.
"T-that\'s good." Shane replied as he turned to the butler.
"Right, Mr. Wadsworth wants to prepare some drinks for everyone. Do you have any herbs we can use for that?"
"Yes! Gene found them. It seems that he\'s also experienced foraging in the forest. I believe it\'s during his days as a Paige." Anna replied.
She then wiped her hands on her apron and led Shane to a small patch of wild chamomile and mint. They had actually transferred the whole plant and not just taken them!
Shane didn\'t know about that since he rarely come to this part of the estate.
"These should do nicely…" She said.
"Chamomile for relaxation and mint for a refreshing flavor."
Shane thanked her and allowed Mr. Wadsworth to work on the task of preparing drinks.
It seemed that Mr. Wadsworth also planned to set up a makeshift kitchen outside to prepare the tea.
After some time, the aroma of brewing herbs filled the air as the butler worked his magic.
Soon, cups of chamomile-mint tea were distributed among the survivors, and the warmth of the liquid eased their fatigue.
The day passed swiftly as they continued expanding the wooden walls. Shane supervised the construction, ensuring that each section was sturdier than the last. They reinforced weak points, added extra layers, and even devised a clever system of hidden compartments to store emergency supplies. There were even a couple of hidden doors arranged in case they needed to escape this place stealthily…
This was the butler\'s suggestion as he recalled how his previous master escaped the Harrington Hall secretly.
After the walls were arranged, Gene was assisted by Mara in fortifying the gate, reinforcing it with metal plates that Leo provided. Most of them came from the metal that Shane had disassembled and the metals from the crashed plane...
Leo, on the other hand, contributed more by crafting sturdy iron brackets to hold the gate in place. Everyone worked in harmony, their skills complementing one another.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Shane surveyed their progress. The orchard was now partially enclosed, and the wooden walls stood tall, forming a protective barrier around their shelter.
Exhausted but satisfied, they gathered around a campfire, sipping the herbal tea Mr. Wadsworth had prepared.
The campfire crackled; its warmth was like a comforting embrace against the chill of the post-apocalyptic world.
They sat in a circle, their eyes reflecting both exhaustion and satisfaction for the day that had passed. Even Lucky joined them in circle.
Alexa, her chef\'s apron still stained from earlier\'s work, moved gracefully among them. They were about to experience her culinary skills, it felt like it was a beacon of normalcy in this chaotic land.
Previously, when she saw the mysterious meat, she raised an eyebrow but didn\'t question its origin. After all, as an experienced chef, she had seen many kinds of meat but the one she had to prepare was something first.
Nonetheless, she knew that she had to accept what they could get.
Currently, the Unknown Meat lay on a makeshift platter, its texture unfamiliar yet promising.
\'It looks good… It should be fine…\' Shane thought.
Anywayn, the system assured him it was safe. The only problem was his knowledge that it had been looted from a zombie. That was what troubled his mind.
Then, Shane immediately praised the chef.
"Alex…" Shane said, his voice was low… "This looked really great…"
"Yes… Just from the smell of it, I\'m already excited…" Leo added.
"That\'s true… Meat! We\'re finally having it!" Harper said with a laugh. He didn\'t care where it came from.
"Right, I think you should also prepare the last one. Let\'s finish them all tonight. We\'ll gather more meat later…" Shane said. In any case, they don\'t have a refrigerator to store it.
Apparently, from the three units of meat, Alexa had only cooked two of them.
"Alright!" Alexa answered.
And so, with deft hands, she seasoned the meat with herbs from Anna\'s collection, blending into a fragrant rub.
The fire danced beneath the makeshift grill, casting flickering shadows in the area.
Soon, the aroma of sizzling meat filled the air. The survivors couldn\'t help but lean forward, as their stomachs growling in anticipation.
As Alexa served the Unknown Meat to everyone, Shane noticed how she transformed the simple dish.
After taking a piece of it in on his plate, Shane took his first bite.
It was a burst of flavors that defied their grim surroundings.
The meat was tender, infused with hints of earthy herbs and a touch of smokiness. It melted in their mouths, and for a moment, they forgot about the horrors beyond the walls of their estate.