MMORPG: Birth of the World's Luckiest Player

Chapter 485: The Feast of Firestone Lobster

Jennifer quickly directed her staff to carry the high-grade ingredients into the kitchen and immediately began preparing the feast for the celebration. As soon as she left, Talia stood up and smiled. "Marcus, we’ll go help Jennifer."

Without waiting for a response, she headed toward the kitchen. Anya, Jade, and Amber followed closely behind, leaving the rest of the group to settle into their seats. Conversation flowed easily around the table as everyone waited for the food.

Although cooking mechanics in Dominion followed many of the same principles as real-world cooking, the process itself was far more efficient. With Jennifer personally directing the kitchen and all the ingredients already prepared, the dishes came together surprisingly quickly.

Before long, servers began carrying plates out one after another: Crystal-Clear Willow-Leaf Fish, Golden Pine Bear Paws, Sautéed Wild Mushroom Medley, and Roasted Rabbit. Each dish looked flawless, with rich colors and enticing aromas that immediately filled the room; the sight alone was enough to make everyone’s appetite surge. Even before tasting anything, it was obvious why Jennifer’s reputation as a master chef was so well known.

The centerpiece of the feast, however, was the Mythic-grade Firestone Lobster, which Jennifer had transformed into a dish called Crispy Drunken Lobster. Golden pieces of lobster meat were arranged neatly on large serving platters, releasing a fragrance that drew everyone’s attention. Seeing the curious looks around the table, Talia smiled and began explaining how the dish was made.

"Preparing Crispy Drunken Lobster isn’t actually that complicated, but the timing has to be perfect." She pointed toward the platter. "First, the Firestone Lobster is soaked in a specially prepared fragrant wine. Once the lobster absorbs enough of the aroma and flavor, it’s slowly cooked in the wine itself. After that, it’s simmered in clear water over low heat to remove any overpowering alcohol taste while preserving the freshness of the meat."

Talia paused briefly before continuing. "At that point, the lobster still keeps its natural sweetness, but it also carries a light wine fragrance. That’s the first stage."

"The second stage is where most people fail. The meat is cut into pieces and seasoned with a blend of spices including cardamom, star anise, cinnamon, fennel, cloves, Sichuan peppercorns, and prickly ash bark. After the flavors fully penetrate the meat, it’s roasted on cooled mountain stones until the outside becomes perfectly crisp while the inside remains tender."

She smiled and gestured toward the finished dish. "And that’s Crispy Drunken Lobster."

Once Talia finished, Anya picked up the explanation. "The way you eat it is simple." She lifted one of the golden pieces with her fork. "Give it a little shake."

As she demonstrated, the crisp outer layer separated slightly, revealing the tender meat inside.

"See? Because of the roasting process, the meat naturally loosens from the shell. If you enjoy lighter flavors, you can eat it exactly like this. The texture is crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, with just enough spice and a lingering wine aroma."

Then she reached for a small dish of seasonings. "Of course, if you prefer stronger flavors, you can dip it in chili, garlic sauce, sesame seasoning, or whatever you like."

After dipping a piece into chili seasoning, she placed it directly onto Marcus’s plate. "Marcus, try it. This is one of Jennifer’s signature dishes."

"Then I definitely have to." Marcus immediately picked up the piece and took a bite.

The first thing he noticed was the texture. The exterior was lightly crisp, but the moment he bit through it, the tender lobster meat released a burst of flavor. The sweetness of the meat blended perfectly with the spices, while the subtle wine fragrance lingered just long enough to enhance every bite without overpowering it.

The combination was surprisingly addictive. "That’s incredible." Marcus genuinely meant it, and without even realizing it, he reached for another piece.

The more he ate, the more impressive the dish became. The spices never overwhelmed the lobster’s natural flavor, while the wine aroma prevented the roasted meat from feeling heavy or dry. Every bite felt balanced.

After several pieces, Marcus looked toward Jennifer with sincere admiration. "This is amazing."

The preparation sounded simple when explained aloud, but actually executing it was another matter entirely. The roasting alone required precise control: too much heat and the meat would become tough, too little and it would lose the texture that made the dish special. Then there was the challenge of balancing the wine and spices without allowing either to dominate the flavor.

The result looked effortless, and Marcus knew it wasn’t. Jennifer’s skill had elevated the ingredient far beyond what it could have become in an ordinary kitchen.

"No kidding?" Tactical Drunkard and Invincible Strong looked at him as though he had just discovered fire. Neither of them even bothered looking up from their plates. Their fork moved nonstop as they continued attacking the lobster.

"Jennifer’s cooking is famous throughout the game. Everybody knows she’s ridiculously good. Though having Mythic-grade ingredients probably helps."

The two exchanged a quick toast with Marcus before immediately returning to the food.

Jennifer simply smiled, and after taking a small bite herself, she turned toward Marcus.

"Stone, Mythic-grade ingredients really are exceptional. The flavor purity is on a completely different level. In the real world, you’d need ingredients from an almost untouched environment to get anything remotely comparable."

Marcus chuckled; hearing praise from Jennifer herself was surprisingly satisfying. After all, even if she was the one responsible for the final masterpiece, he had been the one who provided the Firestone Lobsters.

Then another thought crossed his mind: beyond the flavor, Mythic-grade ingredients usually provided powerful bonuses. Curious, Marcus immediately checked the item’s details.

—

Crispy Drunken Lobster

Type: Food

Description: Prepared by Jennifer using the Mythic-grade ingredient Firestone Lobster from Millbrook Village. Exceptionally crisp and tender.

Effect: After consuming ten portions, permanently increases Strength by 10 points. This effect cannot stack. After receiving the bonus, consuming additional Firestone Lobster dishes provides no further attribute gains.

—

Marcus nodded to himself; ’as expected.’

A permanent ten-point Strength increase was a significant reward, and Jennifer had clearly extracted the maximum potential from the ingredient.

Looking at the amount of lobster on the table, he estimated that each Firestone Lobster had been nearly three feet long, and Jennifer had prepared three entire lobsters, producing enough servings for everyone present to receive well over ten portions. There was more than enough for the whole group to obtain the permanent bonus, and if ordinary players saw this feast, they would probably think the group had lost their minds. The sheer value of the ingredients was outrageous.

Marcus quietly made a mental note that the remaining Firestone Lobsters would likely sell for an impressive amount, but for now, money could wait. The celebration continued.

Glasses clinked together as conversation and laughter filled the room. Tactical Drunkard and Invincible Strong loved bragging about their drinking ability, but in reality, their alcohol tolerance was terrible; a few rounds in and their faces were already turning red.

Boss Blaze, DragonBlade, Cleaver, and Thunder were a different story altogether. Those four could actually drink. Every toast Marcus accepted was immediately matched by another from them.

As the alcohol flowed, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively, and before long the entire celebration was in full swing.