Mystery: Mr. Witch and Ms. Hunter

Chapter 68 Dinner
Altaïr was busy in the kitchen.

Loen's traditional food culture could be said to be quite poor. However, for a long period of time after the Twenty Years' War, Loen achieved preliminary cultural exchanges and integration with its colonies and other countries, which fortunately included food culture.

Due to time constraints, Altaïr did not make complicated Intis dishes, but chose traditional smoked fish with Loen-style beetroot, served with fondant potatoes, lemon cream and pickled cucumbers. Of course, considering Sophie's hard work and growing stage, he also prepared plenty of white bread and milk.

"You know, I think you're becoming more and more like a cook."

When Altaïr brought the seared cod fillet as a side dish to the table, Vinata said with half surprise and half admiration.

"Your compliments are becoming less and less pleasing."

Altaïr brought the last course to the table, then sat down at it and said his customary prayers.

What a coincidence, the three people at this table believe in three different gods... This thought came to Altaïr's mind. He is a believer of the goddess, Venata believes in the Earth Mother, and Sophie is a follower of the Lord of Storms like her father.

Well, actually it should be four gods. After all, I have recited the name of the Fool and received a gift inexplicably...Altaïr's face turned bitter, but he put the idea behind him.

If Sister Vespa is here, there will be believers from five different faiths at this table. I hope they won’t have any conflicts during the prayers before the meal…

Altaïr was startled again, shocked at how disrespectful his thoughts were to the gods, and quickly repeated the goddess' name several times in his mind.

Really, after experiencing so many high-level events, my reverence for the gods is growing weaker day by day... I always feel that this is not a good thing.

Altaïr shook his head. The three men had finished praying and began to deal with the food in front of them.

"I just read the letter. Mr. Harris from the newspaper told me that I passed the interview and asked me to start working at the Herald on Wednesday. The letter also included a press card."

Venata spoke to Altaïr in a casual tone, sandwiching a pickle between pieces of white bread.

"I don't know, but is your journalist hiring process always so quick?"

Altaïr asked with some curiosity. If she was an instigator, it would be fine, but she was a "provocateur". Altaïr felt that it was a great success for her to give the interviewer the middle finger before she even entered the room.

"Of course, I used some other means..." Vinata said vaguely, "Anyway, the men who competed with me were not gentlemanly enough and were asked to leave by the security guards."

Since Sophie, an ordinary person, was present at the table, she could not explain it too clearly, but Altaïr understood it immediately.

It is estimated that Vinata secretly "provoked" those competitors, causing them to make a fuss and dragging herself into it. In this way, the interviewer had no choice but to hire her out of sympathy for her who was "innocently involved" and because other people were also eliminated because of this.

"Although I know that with your bachelor's degree from Feysac National University, those competitors would not be your opponents even if they competed normally, but isn't this a bit..."

Altaïr sighed. This was the first time he had heard of "provoke" being used in this way.

"You know, even if they compete normally, those guys can't beat me. I just saved myself some unnecessary trouble."

Vinata nonchalantly picked up a piece of fish with her chopsticks and put it to her mouth. After Altaïr's subtle influence over the past few days, she had also learned how to use these two small wooden sticks to pick up food, but her movements were still a little clumsy.

"Besides, based on my experience in Feysac, in similar fields, some old stubborn people will discriminate against women to a certain extent. For example, they worry about whether female reporters can go deep into the East District. This is all for your safety."

Vinata curled her lips and then took a bite of the fish fillet.

"Where do they think I live, Queens or Hillston?" (Note: In the original work, Queens and Hillston are the two best residential areas in the west of Backlund. The former is where the aristocracy gathers, and the latter is where wealthy businessmen gather.)
Altaïr nodded in approval.

Although women in Loen, who mainly worship the goddess, have a more equal status than men, there are still Storm believers who believe that women should stay at home and take care of their husbands and children. Moreover, the aristocratic system formed by the primogeniture system is deeply rooted in Loen and other countries, and it is almost impossible for foreign women to break through this class system.

"Yes, Sophie."

Altaïr reached out to help Sophie wipe the lemon cream off the corner of her mouth. "Mr. Statham, have you ever served in any army in the kingdom?"

"Well, Dad is very capable!" Sophie was obviously proud when she mentioned her father, "It's just that the name of the legion is too long, I can't remember it. He fought in the south before and won many medals, but later when the Feysac people attacked the capital, he sold all those medals and exchanged them for black bread..."

As if she had thought of something, her emotions that had just risen up deflated like a punctured ball, and Altaïr quickly gave her a small piece of candied pineapple to comfort her.

Fighting in the south... the Southern Legion of Loen. Altaïr nodded. "The 32nd Mixed Legion of the Southern Colony of King Augustus", because the name is too long, it is abbreviated as "Southern Legion" or "Colonial Legion". This legion composed of Loen locals is a rare elite force in the Loen Army, and has not been seriously eroded by the nobles who bought military ranks to gild the gilded gild. There are many veterans with more than ten years of military service, and their combat effectiveness is quite outstanding.

Although Mr. Statham didn't say it, judging from his injuries, it seems that he was ambushed by one of the bodyguards, most likely the guy with the short stick. Otherwise, with his skills, he should be able to deal with those guys.

Altaïr said nothing more, and began to concentrate on his portion of smoked fish. Although there was a fireplace in the house, this kind of roasted meat without any sauce still cooled quickly, so for the next period of time, the three of them ate very seriously and no one spoke.

After dinner, Altaïr asked Sophie to go to Venata's room to rest, then waved to Venata to come to his room. He wanted to discuss the matter of finding the "craftsman" with Venata.

(End of this chapter)