Knuckle was a straightforward person, finding it difficult to hide his thoughts.
He rarely lost his composure, but this time he truly couldn't help it.
He didn't know how to describe that flavor.
Should he say he'd never tasted anything like it, or use some adjectives to express it?
The flavor was like fine shreds of meat being meticulously peeled apart, then slowly building a towering skyscraper on the tongue.
The most astonishing thing was that the saliva flooding the mouth made the flavor released by the meat shreds even more profound.
His rows of teeth, like monks with too little porridge, chased after the bouncing, elastic meat shreds as they chewed.
Every tooth seemed like a crazed fan, scrambling to make contact with the meat shred.
'No wonder... Dafifi was willing to pay ten million jenny just to buy such a small piece of jerky.'
'One truly couldn't bear to swallow it.'
Morel and Shoot thought similarly.
Dafifi also tore off a shred and put it in his mouth, then carefully stored away the remaining jerky.
Thus, the four of them resembled a gathering of smokers, standing in the cold winter wind, each savoring their own 'cigarette'.
As the 'cigarette' gradually shortened, a faint sense of desolation seemed to emerge.
Perhaps because Dafifi still had some left, he was the first to snap out of it.
He looked at Law, who was patiently waiting nearby, and asked curiously, "Law, what exactly is this jerky made from?"
"Insect meat," Law replied.
"I-insect meat?" Dafifi wore an expression of disbelief.
Law smiled, offering no further explanation.
It was a type of carnivorous insect not found on the Six Continents. Providing a proper explanation would undoubtedly be troublesome.
Dafifi thought Law was joking, his curiosity growing. He pressed, "Is it really insect meat?"
"Yes."
Law nodded.
Dafifi immediately looked conflicted and asked again, "Can you tell me what kind of insect?"
"Damo insect."
Fifteen minutes later, the five of them were seated in a restaurant in the local town.
Gathered around a table, broth bubbled in the hot pot, sending up wisps of fragrant steam.
On the way to the restaurant, Dafifi kept wondering what a Damo insect was. He'd never heard of it.
Unable to figure it out, he decided to look it up properly when he got back.
In reality, [Damo Insect] was a name Law gave it himself. It was a type of insect that not even the White Smoke Font provided a name for. They were about the size of a calf and had a near-insatiable demand for meat.
Even more terrifying, Damo insects had migratory habits.
If such creatures existed in any of the magical domain across the Six Continents, without human control or natural predators, they would soon cause severe damage to the ecosystem.
Only a place like the Dark Continent, which defied normal logic, could sustain such insects.
Perhaps due to their particularly powerful digestive systems, Law had personally witnessed a Damo insect devour a creature as tall as a six- or seven-story building within a minute.
Possibly because of their insane consumption of various meats, jerky made from Damo insects had a richly layered flavor even without added spices.
If there was a drawback, it was that the texture wasn't entirely satisfactory.
Morel wanted to ask Dafifi for a few more shreds but was coldly refused.
They finally realized the jerky was an absolute rarity, not something money could easily buy.
So, regarding the origin of the Damo insect, they also made a mental note, planning to investigate thoroughly when back. If possible, they'd try to hunt one.
They were all fond of drink, so the table inevitably held many bottles.
After several cups of wine, conversation flowed more freely.
"You're really out of touch with the news."
Dafifi looked at Morel with disdain.
During the earlier chat, he had pointed out Law's other identities, including Toxic Cuisine Scientist and the Monkey of the Zodiacs.
Morel didn't mind. He frequently toasted Law, his words carrying no hint of flattery, making it clear he wanted to befriend him.
Knuckle and Shoot, considering themselves juniors, spoke little at the table, only listening as their master chatted with Law and the others.
After several rounds, the topic somehow turned to the sea.
"In the last two months, there have been multiple unexplained tsunamis far out at sea. They didn't affect the near shore but capsized twelve ships."
"The death toll reached three hundred and sixty-five. Not a single body was recovered."
Morel put down his cup, his tone somewhat heavy.
"Any cause determined?" Dafifi asked.
"No. Earthquake activity and submarine landslides have been ruled out. The specific cause of the tsunamis is still unknown," Morel shook his head.
Dafifi looked at Morel with sympathy. "So this landed on your plate?"
"Yes," Morel affirmed.
"Any leads?" Dafifi asked.
"I think... it might be some kind of sea creature causing trouble. Of course, that's just my personal opinion, without any basis," Morel picked up the wine bottle and refilled his cup.
Listening beside them, a flicker of shock and doubt passed deep in Law's eyes.
He couldn't help but think of the old turtle.
'Were the frequent tsunamis possibly caused by it?'
But he had explicitly instructed the old turtle, once in the ocean, to keep a low profile when not necessary.
With the old turtle's racial talents, it could stay at the bottom of the sea for half a year without needing to surface.
With its immense size, every time it surfaced, it would naturally create tsunami-like disturbances.
Dafifi and Morel continued discussing this topic.
One was a Beast Hunter, the other a Sea Hunter.
These two professions shared some common ground to a certain degree.
Exploring and discovering new, unknown species was also part of their duties.
Law didn't join their conversation. Instead, he chatted with Knuckle and Shoot.
Compared to Shoot's restraint, Knuckle was more open.
By the end of the meal, Law had exchanged contact numbers with them.
At parting, Morel repeated the same line.
If you need help, just ask.
Law smiled and agreed, then saw them off.
He hadn't expected implementing the [Beach Project] would attract Morel and the others, leading to this unexpected acquaintance.
Morel's bold and unrestrained personality was very similar to Dafifi's.
Knuckle had a rough appearance but a kind heart, and a straightforward nature. Upon deeper conversation, it was clear he was someone who genuinely cared for his friends. In that way, he resembled Law.
So, Law took a liking to Knuckle.
Shoot was very reserved, spoke little, seemed particularly introverted, and didn't quite fit in with Morel and the others.
In short, Law didn't dislike these people and thought they were worth befriending.
All the stations were now built and operating continuously.
Three months had passed, and the new Hunter Exam was about to begin.
Law already had his Hunter License, couldn't participate again, and didn't pay it much attention.
Time passed.
In the blink of an eye, another two months went by.
On a certain calm stretch of sea, a black figure bobbed up and down.
From afar, it seemed like a person. Up close, it appeared to be an unknown creature with a build quite similar to a human.
To put it bluntly, it looked more like... an ant.