Holy Terra, Imperial Palace District.
The golden-haired beauty Inquisitor Amberly was walking through Terra's commercial district, her black woolen coat, dark skinny jeans, and over-the-knee boots perfectly showcasing her impressive figure and fashion sense.
Behind her, our imperial hero Commissar Cain, dressed in the Department of Military Affairs' newly issued standard Political Commissar uniform, followed, laden with various large and small bags, as he had been dragged out by the Miss Inquisitor today to be her shopping assistant.
The pair's combination, if placed on any other planet, would attract countless eyes. An imperial hero Political Commissar and an Inquisitor—this pairing would undoubtedly draw attention anywhere... But this was Holy Terra, where a brick thrown randomly could hit a dozen individuals more powerful than them. However, the two of them quite enjoyed not being noticed.
Because doing so meant they wouldn't encounter waiters trembling in fear due to the Inquisitor's identity, or a crowd of people surrounding the imperial hero Political Commissar requesting photos and autographs.
Now, the two could enjoy their date. They chose a restaurant on Terra, one recommended by Sanguinius to her new best friend. It was said that Sanguinius occasionally had the Custodes invite the chef from this Chinese restaurant to provide in-home service at the Imperial Palace.
It was said that even the Custodes in the Imperial Palace learned their Peking Duck skills from here because Lord Li Feng and Sanguinius preferred the taste of this restaurant's Peking Duck over another centuries-old establishment.
Although the duck meat wasn't as tender as the old restaurant's, Lord Li Feng and Sanguinius loved the crispy skin of this restaurant's "5.0 Peking Duck." Eating it with white sugar was simply divine.
When Amberly and Cain saw the name of the restaurant before them, they immediately sensed it must be good... "Xiao Dong."
As they stepped through the entrance, the server at the door paused momentarily upon seeing the Inquisitor's rosary beads and the Political Commissar's insignia on their chests. "Are you two guests? Do you have a reservation?"
"Amberly Veil. Someone from the Imperial Palace should have called to make a reservation for us yesterday."
"Alright, please follow me, both of you..."
Soon, the server led them to a private room, and Cain placed Amberly's numerous shopping bags to the side. Accompanying a woman shopping was a first for Cain, and the feeling reminded him of his days hauling artillery shells in the Valhalla 12th Field Artillery Regiment.
After they were seated, the server immediately brought a pot of tea to their table from outside and said:
"Miss Inquisitor, Political Commissar, this pot of Jin Jun Mei tea was prepared for you by Lord Li Feng. The tea leaves were personally delivered by the Custodes yesterday. As the temperature drops, drinking Jin Jun Mei can ward off the cold." (Malcador's inventory: -1)
Amberly quickly began ordering from the menu given to her by her best friend, while Cain, looking at the menu, started to sweat... This wasn't just a meal... this was eating gold!
Listening to Amberly continuously call out dish names to the server, Cain's expression, hidden behind the menu, became exceptionally pained... His eyebrows furrowed as he looked at the dishes Amberly ordered... A large yellow croaker from Terra's artificial lake for 30 throne gelt! And that didn't even include the processing fee! 30 throne gelt was enough for a bottom-dwelling Hive City commoner to eat for a lifetime... "Can you handle this?"
He definitely couldn't handle this!
"Political Commissar? Are these dishes enough?"
Hearing Amberly's words, Cain slowly lowered the menu in front of him... His expression remained as suave as ever:
"Is there anything else Miss Inquisitor would like to order? I'm worried you won't have enough to eat..."
That's right, even if his heart was bleeding, he was a man! He couldn't lose face... His little savings might go bankrupt, but his dignity could not be lost!
Soon, the ordering was complete, and the server withdrew. Amberly, sipping her tea, carefully examined Cain's new uniform.
It had to be said, Lord Li Feng's aesthetic sense was indeed on point. The Imperial Guard under Lord Li Feng's command had their uniforms collectively streamlined with minimalist aesthetics, while also retaining the unique styles of their respective regiments.
For officer uniforms, Lord Li Feng had the Department of Military Affairs discard all those flashy and impractical decorations: sashes, aiguillettes, Gothic double-breasted buttons... all were abolished.
The uniforms for Soldier, Sergeant, and junior officers were standardized, while all uniforms from field officers upwards were custom-tailored.
Without any rank insignia, medals, badges, or service ribbons... these uniforms would be plain and rather rustic. But when adorned with those ranks, medals, and service ribbons, they would exude their charm.
(The military uniforms of the Soviet Union, America, and Germany are all like this; without those decorations, the uniform is just a very ordinary work suit.)
Cain's new officer's service uniform was precisely this: the collar tabs and shoulder boards representing a Political Commissar, the solid gold Imperial Guard badge on his chest, two rows of medal ribbons, and the Soviet-style woolen military overcoat that Cain particularly liked, draped over the back of his chair.
Amberly also smiled, but then she thought of the uniform Lord Li Feng designed for male Inquisitors... According to Lord Li Feng, it was called the "Gestapo" uniform.
All black, utterly hideous... But Amberly's male colleagues were all clamoring for it, each rushing to the tailor to have one custom-made. Although they usually wore plain clothes for field missions, they still ordered a set for themselves.
Just to display in their offices, or to wear for important occasions.
In the private room of the restaurant "Xiao Dong," Commissar Cain and Inquisitor Amberly were enveloped in the delicate fragrance of Jin Jun Mei tea. It was a rare, leisurely date, but for Cain, it was also a bitter battle between his inner self and his wallet.
Amberly sat opposite him, her golden hair cascading down, her black woolen coat and over-the-knee boots undoubtedly enhancing her elegant image. Cain sat upright, trying to conceal his inner turmoil, his mind still fixated on the heart-wrenching throne gelt figures from when they ordered.
"Political Commissar, your new uniform is very handsome."
Amberly took a sip of Jin Jun Mei tea, her gaze sweeping over Cain's new officer's service uniform, and she couldn't help but say with a smile:
"Political Commissar, this new uniform of yours is quite interesting. You should thank Lord Li Feng; this design seems to suit you very well."
Cain paused slightly at the compliment, his ears tinged with red. He tried to hide his discomfort, cleared his throat, lifted his chin, and put on a nonchalant expression.
"Ah, it's just the standard uniform from the Department of Military Affairs... I just wear it, there's nothing special about it."
However, Cain's flushed cheeks betrayed his true emotions. Amberly couldn't help but chuckle, finding his demeanor unexpectedly adorable.
"Hmm... To be honest, Political Commissar, you're much more handsome than those male Inquisitors in their black uniforms."
Cain was taken aback for a moment, then asked doubtfully, "That 'Gestapo' uniform? Designed by Lord Li Feng?"
Amberly put down her teacup and nodded gently, a knowing smile playing on her lips:
"That's right, the all-black one. The male Inquisitors love it to no end, even though it looks..."
Before long, dishes began to arrive at the table one after another.
Braised Yellow Croaker with Southern Tofu, glistening Amber Shrimp Balls, golden-yellow Crab Roe with Vermicelli, Mustard Duck Feet, and the legendary "5.0 Peking Duck," whose crispy, shiny duck meat was being expertly sliced by the chef right beside their table.
It had to be said, this duck was visibly juicy, with its juices practically bursting out, slowly flowing over the roasted duck, and the fragrant aroma of the crispy duck skin filled the air. Amberly felt genuine happiness.
Cain's gaze couldn't help but sweep over each dish, his heart tightening with every new arrival. Although he maintained his Political Commissar's calm expression, the abacus in his mind clattered away.
"The cost of this meal is enough for me to buy a villa on a Garden World..." Cain cried out in his heart, but a Political Commissar's smile remained on his face.
Amberly seemed to notice his internal struggle but deliberately pretended not to. She picked up a piece of crispy duck skin, dipped it in a little white sugar, and took a small bite, immediately showing a look of satisfaction.
"Political Commissar, the Peking Duck here is really delicious. You must try it!"
Cain forced a smile and nodded, picking up his chopsticks to take a piece of duck skin. As he put it in his mouth and savored the crispness and sweetness, his mood improved slightly.
"It's truly delicious... (masking a choked voice)"
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