By the time the commotion over the Death Sea Serpents had subsided, it was finally time for lunch.
Wispy clouds drifted across the sky, tempering the sun’s rays. With the sea breeze light and pleasant, Jin decided to host the luncheon in the front yard of the Jade Pavilion. The golem maids bustled about, arranging tables and chairs and unfurling sun umbrellas and tarps.
"My, quite a grand sight."
"Indeed, it truly is."
Amidst these admiring comments, the preparations were completed.
Jin sat at a table with Elsa and Maquina. For this meal, he had arranged about twenty round tables for four, grouping the guests by their respective nations. As for the center of attention—the meal itself...
"...Is this bread?"
"It certainly looks like bread."
Baskets filled with sliced bread were carried out. To those listening, the guests sounded a little underwhelmed. Jin stepped forward to offer an explanation.
"This is no ordinary bread. It incorporates several unique innovations. Please, give it a try."
"Hmm. If Jin-dono recommends it, we should certainly sample it."
"Quite right."
The guests each picked up a piece.
"Oh? This is..."
"It’s remarkably soft."
They began to eat.
"T-This is incredible!"
"What an indescribable aroma!"
Voices of surprise rose from the tables.
"There is something in this bread... it’s sweet, with a faint, pleasant acidity..."
"Why is it so delicious even without any butter or oil?" someone asked, a sentiment that seemed to speak for everyone present.
"I’ve prepared three varieties this time," Jin explained. "First, I used yeast to ensure the bread baked up light and fluffy. Bread made this way has a wonderful natural flavor even when eaten plain."
The attendees nodded in silent agreement.
"Using that as a base, I created one variety scented with maple syrup and another mixed with dried bitis—otherwise known as passa."
"Oho, so this is passa?"
"Is maple syrup a sweetener gathered from the maple tree?"
Jin answered their questions as they came.
"Yes. The methods themselves are not particularly difficult to replicate."
"So, each individual element is refined, but it is the combination that is truly novel?"
"Exactly."
To achieve such fluffy bread, bakers usually had to employ various tricks. One common method was using water drawn from specific regions. Unbeknownst to the bakers, that water often contained small amounts of dissolved baking soda, which acted as a leavening agent. When heated, baking soda—sodium bicarbonate—decomposes into sodium carbonate, carbon dioxide gas, and water. The resulting gas is what makes the dough rise.
It was also well known that the results varied depending on the type of flour used. This was due to the varying levels of a protein called gluten, which changed how much the bread could expand. Currently, bread baked with yeast existed only on Hourai Island and Kunlun Island, so the guests’ shock was understandable.
Furthermore, while some breads used a walnut-like nut called ornut to add flavor, no one else used the generally unpopular passa. Even maple syrup had only just entered production in the Randol Territory, where Reinhard’s family lived; it was not yet available on the general market. Given this background, even "just bread" was more than enough to delight the guests' palates.
"Now that you have enjoyed the bread, let us move on to the accompaniments."
At Jin’s signal, several jars were brought to the tables.
"We have citran and ramon marmalades, as well as jams made from Wylie, brule, frape, and Lamber. You may recognize some of these; brule and frape are mountain staples in the Kingdom of Elias, while Wylie is commonly found in the northern parts of the Klein Kingdom."
"Oh, this is a flavor I’ve never experienced before!"
"It tastes strangely nostalgic."
"Hmm. I always thought Wylie berries were too sour to be worthwhile, but prepared like this, they are surprisingly delicious."
Whether it was a taste of home or a new discovery, every guest seemed satisfied, much to Jin’s relief.
"Jam tends to be better when the base fruit has some acidity, as the sweetness can be balanced with sugar."
"I see, I see. So sweetness alone isn’t the goal."
Nearly ninety percent of the bread was devoured, a testament to its popularity. The various fruit juices were also a hit, with the lightly carbonated citran juice taking first place in popularity, followed by the Airbeil juice.
"Now, for those who might still feel a bit hungry, I have one more thing for you to try."
Jin gave another signal, and the 5-Color Maids arrived with trays.
"And this is?"
"Something sandwiched inside the bread. Vegetables and... meat?"
"Please, just bite right into it," Jin encouraged.
Though slightly taken aback by the suggestion to eat with their hands, the guests took their first bites.
"...!?"
"This is—!"
"It isn't just a slab of meat! It’s so tender, and the juices are incredible!"
Jin had served hamburgers—or more accurately, sliders. Following Elsa's advice that full-sized modern burgers would be considered uncouth by royals and nobles, he had made them small enough for a lady to finish in two bites.
"That was a true delight."
"Indeed. To find such staggering variety in bread alone... the culinary arts are deep indeed."
"I feel as though I’ve seen a glimpse of the Lord of Kunlun’s true capabilities."
"I quite agree. It is said that food is the mirror of a culture, and the depth of the culture behind the Lord of Kunlun is seemingly bottomless."
The final comment came from Prince Arthur of the Klein Kingdom.
"Brother, what do you mean by that?" asked his younger sister, Princess Lieschen.
"Well, Lieschen, food is rarely a focus for refinement unless a people have achieved a certain level of prosperity. Regardless of where the Lord of Kunlun actually hails from, the sheer diversity of this meal suggests he comes from a society with a remarkably advanced civilization."
"I see. That is very insightful."
Prince Arthur was quite sharp. The golem maid Ruby 34 overheard this exchange and relayed it directly to Laojun.
There is no inherent harm in people knowing My Lord's origins, Laojun mused, but the chaos and unnecessary prying that would follow would be a nuisance.
Laojun decided that it might be necessary to pay even closer attention to Prince Arthur's words and actions from now on.
As the world leaders enjoyed a leisurely afternoon, Jin was already looking toward his next move.
"Now then, everyone, I have prepared a little entertainment for you to help you enjoy Kunlun Island further."
"Oho?"
"I wonder what sort of entertainment the Lord of Kunlun has in store?"
"This should be fascinating."
"Yes," Jin said, and he began to explain the afternoon's festivities.