"Bilbo Baggins?" Garrett was stunned.
Could it really be such a coincidence?
Well, that settled it, no wonder that wooden chest looked familiar.
That was his mother's dowry chest, wasn't it?
He couldn't help but glance at Bilbo. This poor hobbit had no idea what his home was about to go through in the coming years. Nor did he know that his mother's precious dowry chest would one day be used by a certain dwarf to prop up his feet.
At that moment, he suddenly felt a bit playful. He stepped back to the doorway, gave a proper bow, and said, "Garrett, at your service."
This was the traditional way to announce a formal visit in these parts. Apparently not expecting such courtesy, Bilbo looked momentarily surprised, then instinctively straightened his waistcoat and replied, "Bilbo Baggins, at your service."
Only after completing this little ritual did Garrett duck down and step properly into the cozy hobbit-hole.
He had to admit, perhaps all hobbits had a bit of a hoarding instinct, because with one sweeping glance, he could see an impressive stockpile of food and drink stored throughout the pantry.
Enough to feed thirteen hungry dwarves, and that was no small feat.
"Please make yourself comfortable anywhere you like. Afternoon tea is usually at four, though it's not quite time yet, I don't mind starting early. What sorts of things do you enjoy eating? How about some fried sausages with fresh bread?"
Hobbits were renowned for their hospitality, and certainly lived up to their reputation.
Even though Garrett's arrival had been rather unexpected, now that he was inside, Bilbo was treating him with the warmth usually reserved for old friends.
"Of course, anything is fine. I'll go along with whatever you suggest," Garrett nodded appreciatively.
"Whatever I suggest? Right then, excellent."
Bilbo scratched his curly head and brought out a string of plump sausages and a plate piled high with crusty bread. Then, under Garrett's interested gaze, he began slicing the sausages and arranging them beside a well-seasoned frying pan.
As the fire heated the pan, Bilbo stepped away briefly to gather a few other items.
Garrett, driven by curiosity, stood up and moved closer to examine the small cooking area. It was a perfectly ordinary little stove and frying pan, just built lower to the ground, sized perfectly for hobbit height.
"Interested in cookery?" Bilbo's voice came from behind him.
Garrett politely stepped aside, allowing the hobbit to resume his place at the stove.
"This pan's been in the family for ages, we Bagginses have always used it. A proper good pan, this one."
Sizzle.
The sausages hit the hot pan, sending up cheerful little spatters of oil and filling the air with a savory aroma. After a few moments of comfortable silence, perhaps sensing the quiet might be awkward, Bilbo, still watching the sausages with his hands on his hips, remarked:
"I do take some pride in my cooking, whether it's frying, baking, or boiling... learned it all from my dear mother, I did." As he spoke, Bilbo deftly flipped the sausages.
The other side was now beautifully golden brown, releasing an absolutely mouthwatering scent.
Rumble...
Garrett's stomach betrayed him with an audible growl. He swallowed hard, trying to maintain some dignity.
A few moments later, Bilbo placed the perfectly fried sausages on a plate and gave them a light dusting of black pepper.
Just as Garrett was about to stand up and politely inquire if he might try one, a notification suddenly appeared before his eyes:
---
[Feature Unlocked: Crafting Menu]
[You have learned a recipe: Fried Sausages]
[You can now check what items you're able to craft. The crafting menu will dynamically update based on recipes you've encountered.]
---
What?
A crafting menu?
Clink.
The plate of sausages landed in front of Garrett, snapping him back to the present moment.
"I imagine you've been rather peckish for some time now." Bilbo was as thoughtful as ever.
"Thank you." Garrett spoke simply, though he was practically salivating at the sight and smell.
In just a few quick bites, he had completely cleared the plate. It happened so fast that Bilbo barely had time to turn back toward the stove.
Hunger +2 (out of 10 total).
"Bilbo," Garrett said suddenly, "can I try? I mean, cooking."
Bilbo looked genuinely surprised, clearly not expecting such a request.
"Oh, certainly! By all means, please do."
He stepped back courteously to make room.
Garrett immediately bent over and positioned himself in front of the pan. Just as he grasped the handle and began to feel slightly uncertain about the process, a helpful tutorial appeared:
[Cooking Process: Select Recipe → Prepare Ingredients → Secure Tools → Begin Cooking]
Real cooking was certainly a skilled craft, it involved countless variables, and a good cook had to precisely control things like heat, timing, and seasoning. But for him, who apparently had some kind of system assistance, it felt more like a detailed version of crafting, he just needed to follow the prompts.
Sizzle.
Fresh sausages went into the pan.
Garrett stood perfectly still in front of the skillet, as motionless as a statue. He barely seemed to breathe.
He looked like he was in some kind of trance.
Just as the sausages began to turn that perfect golden color, Bilbo, who had been watching quietly with growing concern, was about to offer some gentle guidance, when suddenly Garrett's wrist gave a precise flick, and with one smooth, confident motion, the sausages flipped perfectly through the air and landed neatly on their other sides.
A master!
Bilbo couldn't help but marvel silently.
Could this man possibly be a professional cook of some sort?
He wasn't entirely sure, so he kept watching with fascination.
Flip.
A moment later, another perfect turn. The sausage, now beautifully golden and glistening slightly with rendered fat, slid onto the waiting plate. But Garrett wasn't finished, he then carefully measured out a precise pinch of fine salt and sprinkled it evenly across the surface.
The salt dissolved into the sausage as the steam rose around it. The flavors melded into perfect harmony. For some reason, just looking at that sausage made him unconsciously swallow in anticipation.
[Cooking Complete]
"Thanks for waiting." Garrett set the plate before Bilbo with a slight smile.
Bilbo cut into the sausage and aromatic steam escaped from within. The interior was cooked to absolute perfection.
He took a careful bite.
The explosion of flavor was extraordinary. The taste of the perfectly cooked meat, the subtle spicing, and just that hint of salt burst across his palate. Even though the heat made his eyes water slightly, he simply couldn't bear to open his mouth and release all that wonderful warmth and flavor.
The doneness and seasoning were so flawless, it hardly seemed possible that mortal hands could have achieved it. That tiny addition of salt had perfectly balanced what might have been a touch of blandness, such a small adjustment, yet it elevated the entire experience to something transcendent.
Absolutely perfect.
His eyes went wide. He stood up so abruptly that his chair scraped backward several inches.
He practically stood at attention.
"Master Garrett, I do solemnly swear, this is the finest fried sausage I have ever tasted in all my days!"
"You flatter me," Garrett replied with a modest nod, somewhat puzzled by Bilbo's intense reaction.
From his perspective, wasn't food made with system assistance basically like having a perfect recipe guide? But in truth, skill was skill, no matter how it was achieved...
"No, I'm not being kind at all, I'm speaking the absolute truth! I've been eating sausages just like these for years and years, but today feels like the very first time. I had no idea they could taste like this!"
"Really?" Garrett raised an eyebrow, sensing something intriguing in the hobbit's enthusiasm.
Well then, let me try some myself.
Sizzle.
A few more sausages emerged from the pan and onto his plate.
He took a bite.
He took another bite.
Garrett calmly set down his knife and fork, smiled pleasantly at Bilbo, and nodded with apparent composure. But the corner of his mouth was twitching uncontrollably.
Holy shit, this is absolutely delicious!!
I actually made this?!