The sashimi on the plates had vanished, leaving only the savory aroma of seaweed soy sauce to punctuate the aftertaste. It was then that the Coordinator began the next stage of the meal.
"Here’s the next course. Try it and see how the soy sauce changes under the flame."
The man lit the tabletop grill and began arranging his catch. He laid out sliced Crystal Salmon belly meat alongside a whole, cleaned Azurite Snapper—a white-fleshed fish draped in shimmering blue scales—onto the wire mesh.
"The snapper possesses fine muscle fibers and a high collagen content," Lucia observed, watching the grill closely. "I predict its texture will transform significantly upon heating."
I watched the cooking process alongside her.
With practiced ease, the man moved the salmon belly meat over the high flame. A violent sizzle erupted as the golden fat rendered out and spat into the heat source. He then took a brush and painted a single, deft stroke of Seaweed Soy Sauce across the meat.
The soy sauce evaporated the moment it touched the heat, filling the room with an intoxicating fragrance of charred sauce and rich fish fat.
"Oh, Akito! That smell... I’m getting so hungry!"
Mina leaned forward, her eyes wide. The Coordinator held out a piece of the Seared Crystal Salmon Belly Meat. Its surface was grilled to a crisp and stained a dark, rich brown by the caramelized sauce.
I took a bite. Following the sharp crunch of the skin, hot fat flooded my palate. The flavor was far more intense than it had been raw, elevated and sharpened by the smoky depth of the charred soy sauce.
Next, the whole Azurite Snapper, which had been slowly salt-grilled to perfection, was placed on a plate.
The moment I pressed my chopsticks into it, the skin popped with a satisfying snap. The meat inside was surprisingly juicy and plump. As I took a mouthful, a sophisticated white-fleshed umami filled my mouth—reminiscent of Earth’s red sea bream, but with far more power. The meat flaked apart with every chew, a delicate, heat-activated sweetness sliding down my throat.
"The Maillard reaction from the heat, combined with the seaweed-derived amino acids binding to the fish lipids, has vastly increased the flavor's complexity," Lucia said. She spoke as if she had forgotten to even blink, stunned by a level of deliciousness her database couldn't account for. "This is... a logical composition, yet the flavor is profoundly stirring."
While we were occupied with the grill, another dish was brought out from the back of the kitchen.
It was Simmered Azurite Snapper. The white flesh had been braised in a liquid infused with Seaweed Soy Sauce and a sugar-like sweetener also derived from seaweed.
"This is so tender..." Emma murmured, breaking the meat apart with her chopsticks. Unlike the grilled version, this fish had absorbed the simmering liquid, allowing it to melt away on the tongue. The deep richness of the soy sauce and the clean, sharp sweetness provided a heavy foundation for the snapper's natural flavor.
The next course was a decadent fry made from thick cuts of the salmon.
"The crunch of this breading is the best! The meat is so thick but so soft—I feel like I could eat this forever!"
Mina’s ears flicked back and forth in delight. Lured by her enthusiasm, I added a few drops of Seaweed Soy Sauce to my own portion and took a bite. The breading gave way with a satisfying crunch, revealing meat that had been steamed to perfection inside its golden shell. The aroma of the soy sauce cut right through the richness of the oil, making me feel like I could keep eating indefinitely.
Finally, to bring the meal to a close, a bowl of clear fish soup made from the snapper’s remains was served.
I sipped the transparent broth. The pure essence of the fish bones had been extracted into a dashi that warmed my stomach from the inside out. Drinking this after the fried food washed my palate clean, making the quality of the ingredients stand out even more.
A fleeting thought of how perfect this would be with a bowl of freshly steamed white rice crossed my mind, but I pushed it aside. I needed to focus on the "real thing" in front of me. Being surrounded by such fresh seafood and authentic soy sauce felt like a dream, especially compared to the days when I was reduced to gnawing on those Sashimi Cubes just after my arrival in this world.
"It’s delicious, Akito. Really, everything is incredible."
"I’m amazed... To think the same fish and sauce could show so many different faces."
I nodded at Mina and Emma’s satisfied comments. The Coordinator began clearing the empty plates, letting out a grunt of approval.
"You guys are used to eating all sorts of things, which is rare these days. I didn't even have to serve it for you. It was so little trouble, I should be the one thanking you."
I savored the lingering saltiness of the soy sauce one last time and cleared my throat with a drink of cold water.
"It was the best meal I've had. Now... let me ask you something."
I looked the man straight in the eyes.
"The fish, this Seaweed Soy Sauce, and the sweetener... can I handle these on my ship? To be blunt—will you sell them to me? I want to take this flavor with us as we continue our journey."
At my question, the man's gaze sharpened just a fraction.