"Akio, we've finished replenishing our supplies. We can set sail whenever you're ready," Beidou said as she walked over.
"Alright, let's get going then," Akio nodded, glancing at Yae Miko.
"Make sure to keep in touch," Yae Miko said, straightening Akio's collar.
"Will do," Akio replied, giving Yae Miko a hug. "I'll bring you some Liyue specialties when I return."
With that, Akio, holding Kitsune Saiguu in his arms, turned and boarded the Alcor.
Amid the shouts of the sailors, the Crux Fleet slowly pulled away from the shore and plunged into the vast ocean.
"Akio, we'll be at sea for a while. You can stay in this room for now. The conditions aren't great, so please bear with us," Beidou said, leading Akio to his quarters.
"It's fine, I don't mind," Akio replied, cradling Kitsune Saiguu. "Captain Beidou, there's no need to be so formal. Aren't we friends?"
"Hahaha!" Beidou was momentarily taken aback by Akio's words, then burst into laughter and nodded. "You're right, we're friends. Just call me Beidou."
"I'm going fishing. Want to join?" Beidou invited.
"Sure," Akio nodded. He had never fished before. "You'll have to teach me, though."
"No problem!" Beidou naturally didn't refuse such a simple request. She patted her broad chest confidently. "Leave it to me!"
Soon, half a day had passed.
Beidou stared at Akio with a numb expression. Wasn't this guy supposed to be a beginner? Why was he catching fish left and right while she, the seasoned fisher, was coming up empty? Why? Why?!
Was this the legendary beginner's luck?
"Ding~ Detected that the host has won their first fishing contest against Beidou. Unlocked item: Magical Kitchen. The kitchen contains all cooking utensils and can automatically prepare various dishes. The food made has a chance to grant special effects."
Akio saw a golden bracelet appear on his wrist. Was this the legendary Magical Kitchen? At the same time, instructions on how to use it appeared in his mind.
"Impressive!" Akio thought as he read the instructions. This was definitely a must-have for travel and home life!
"Looks like we're in for a treat at lunch," Akio said, satisfied as he looked at the large basket of fish. There was enough to feed the entire crew of the Alcor.
"Saiguu, do you want grilled fish or stewed fish?" Akio asked, scratching the little fox's chin.
"Grilled fish!" Kitsune Saiguu's eyes sparkled, and she was practically drooling.
"Alright," Akio nodded.
"Huh? Your little fox can talk?" Beidou's eyes widened as she stared at Kitsune Saiguu in Akio's arms. "I've heard that Inazuma is full of spirits. Is this little fox one of them?"
"Oh, she's just my little hand warmer," Akio said with a laugh, stroking Kitsune Saiguu's soft fur.
"…" Clearly, Kitsune Saiguu wasn't happy with this description. She jumped up and lightly smacked Akio's forehead with her paw. It didn't hurt—it was soft and comfortable.
"Good girl~" Akio pulled Kitsune Saiguu back down and buried his face in her fluffy belly, ignoring her shy struggles.
Kitsune Saiguu smelled sweet, was warm, and her fur was incredibly soft. It was impossible not to adore her.
After a while, Akio finally let her go. Her fur had turned a shade of pink from embarrassment, and she lay limply in his arms, looking utterly defeated.
Wuwuwu, this despicable man… she was no longer pure…
With the Magical Kitchen, things became much easier. The fish were thrown in, cleaned, prepared, and cooked in one seamless process.
"Everyone, it's time to eat!" Beidou called out to the sailors. "Besides the usual meal, try the fish Akio made!"
The Magical Kitchen had prepared fish soup, braised fish, and grilled fish!
"Wow!" One sailor took a bite of the grilled fish, and his eyes lit up. As someone who spent most of his life at sea, he had long grown tired of fish, but the fish Akio made was incredibly delicious!
"This is amazing! I've never had fish this good before!"
"Right? Lord Akio's grilling skills are even better than Wanmin Restaurant's!"
The sailors' praises were endless. Beidou raised an eyebrow. "Is it really that good?"
"Boss, you've got to try it. This grilled fish is truly something else," one sailor said.
"Alright, I'll give it a try," Beidou said skeptically. She picked up a piece of grilled fish and took a bite, then nodded. "Hmm! It's delicious!"
"Glad you like it," Akio said with satisfaction. The Magical Kitchen was truly a godsend for lazy people like him. Good thing he was a lazy person.
He picked up a piece of grilled fish and brought it to Kitsune Saiguu's mouth. She had been drooling over it for a while. Foxes love fish, after all, and in her fox form, she didn't need to put on any airs.
Kitsune Saiguu didn't hold back and devoured the grilled fish with gusto.
The scenery at sea was captivating for those who had never been on a ship before, but after a while, the unchanging view became monotonous.
Akio sat on the ship's railing, holding Kitsune Saiguu, who was sound asleep in his arms. He gazed at the ocean, which had turned dark under the night sky, lost in thought.
"Hey, Akio, what's with the deep thinking?" Beidou's voice came from behind, and soon she sat down beside him.
Akio casually set up a sound barrier around Kitsune Saiguu to keep her undisturbed, then turned to Beidou. She sat in a relaxed posture, one eye covered with a black patch, the other, a wine-red one, fixed on the distant sea.
"Nothing much, just thinking about Inazuma," Akio said. "But Beidou, running such a large fleet must be tough, right?"
"Not really," Beidou shook her head. "In this world, there's no such thing as easy or hard—only things you like and things you don't."
"I love the ocean. Ever since I was a child, I've wanted to conquer it!" Beidou said. "So I chose this path! Thankfully, no storm has been able to take me down yet."
"I've heard that Beidou, a mere mortal, once slayed the sea monster Haishan," Akio nodded. "That's truly impressive. An ordinary person would probably be too scared to move at the sight of Haishan."
"Ah, people tend to exaggerate when they talk," Beidou waved her hand dismissively. "I'm just a mortal. Without the efforts of my crew, I would've ended up in Haishan's belly long ago."
"I love the ocean, everything about it. I love sailing with my crew," Beidou took a swig from her flask. "Only on the ocean can I truly be happy!"
Akio looked at Beidou, this bold and unrestrained woman. She was rough around the edges, but her love for the sea was profound.
"What about you? What do you love?" Beidou asked.
"What do I love?" Akio pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "Beautiful women, maybe?"
"Hahahaha! Of course that counts," Beidou laughed heartily. She found Akio interesting and straightforward. "It's in a man's nature to pursue beauty. Who doesn't love that?"
A/n- Nothing to say :)