Dungeon of Niflheim-Chapter 788: High class dining (2)

"Is that your way of offering me your chef uncle?" No longer feeling like a spectacle Frost asked in a half joking manner.

Unfortunately his joke wasn't taken very well. "…Haha not a chance in hell Frost." Shivali who had been warmly smiling the entire time now sported a frown and his tone was cold, harsh even, catching Frost by surprise.

He didn't know how to react towards such an unexpected reaction.

"Uh Frost, little tip my father is quite defensive when in comes to his chefs." Khione chimed in from the side with a shake of her head.

The Primordial Ice King rarely got offended, highly regarded as easy going and generous to even the most common of guests. The only things he tended to overreact over were those involving his family, the defences of Niflheim and finally his source of high quality food. He was a gourmet, a man who greatly enjoyed the endless flavours Nova had to offer and by extension those who could bring out those flavours.

"Really?" 'Guess everyone has their own vice, even high ranking Gods.'

"Yeah, the only governmental department in Niflheim with a limitless budget is the culinary branch." Khione further explained in a dissatisfied tone, clearly not agreeing with her father's decision when it came to the allocation of departmental budgets. Even the war department had a limit, a substantial one but still a limit.

"My husband likes his food, so he chooses to not restrict the creativity and personal growth of those who prepare it with a mundane concept such a money." Strangely Freyja supported Shivali wholeheartedly in his culinary endeavours despite knowing exactly how much of the so called mundane concept it devoured each month.

After being with her husband for many, many years, becoming a God in her own right and a living a life without suffering she had long gotten used to such luxuries. Now she was every bit as much of a gourmet as Shivali and held no desire to change thus she adamantly defended him whenever this topic arose even if it meant disregarding the opinions of those in charge of running the Realm.

"That's easy to say when you're in a position that has no need for mundane concepts." Khione annoyed by the solidarity shown by both her parents on this subject snapped back with contempt.

A God had no need for money, they could create life and conjure aspects of near limitless power with just a few tendrils of their divine energy. A God was a cheat, a being no longer bound by the laws of Nova, free from its restraints.

If they wanted something they could either make it themselves or if that wasn't possible they could create something unique of their own which could then be used to trade with another God or things fashioned by mortals. Rarely if ever did these transactions require an exchange of coins thus money was akin to a foreign concept to such beings. Even S-ranks rarely engaged in such primitive practises, preferring to barter with equivalent goods rather than useless coins.

For those still regarded as mortal however money was still an important factor when it came to their daily lives. The soldiers of Niflheim would be given a monetary salary every month as did all government officials. This salary could be used to exchange for goods in the city, pay bills, rent, utilities and even for trade outside of the realm. For the weak or rather the masses money was a fairer and more manageable system than direct bartering. And although Khione played little part in the running of Niflheim she often had to listen to the moaning of her elder siblings as they complained about the lack of tangible funds available.

"So you'd be fine with it if we have the chefs stop making you storm dragon steak, phoenix pilaf, braised Niflheim sturgeon and Sovereign penguin dumplings." Freyja asked with a knowing smile. Each of the dishes she mentioned were Khione's favourites as well as some of most difficult to supply.

Storm dragons were powerful monsters, hard to take down and not exactly easy to come across. Although just one could provide a hefty amount of meat, hunting it required going into the depths of the storm mountains, one of Yangmir's four major danger zones, a place no less perilous than the Glacial mountains. A job that was both distant and dangerous thus requiring a great deal of capital to complete.

The same could be said for phoenixes, regardless of their element they're not easy foes to take down nor can the be found in any random place. The local mana needed to be dense and high in their natural element otherwise they'd struggle to survive.

The Niflheim sturgeon and the Sovereign penguins didn't require travelling great distances, both could be found here in the realm of Niflheim but not in abundance nor without a high degree of management and costs. They were also known as some of the most temperamental ingredients to prepare, just a single mistake in the preparation could spell disaster, making the entire dish inedible.

"Urgh!" Khione was hit right where it hurts. She claimed to want to reduce spending but when it started affecting her own way of living she'd suddenly struggle to accept, often backtracking. Not a quality she was proud of but one which she shared with her siblings, it was hard to give up such delectable luxuries after all.

"If there's not enough money then I'll just make some more oddities for us to trade happy?" Shivali refused to relent on the limitless budget, but he wasn't a complete fool, he knew that other departments were struggling because of his own personal desires.

Khione reluctantly nodded her head. Shivali's method wasn't ideal, but it should lessen the officials' monetary burdens for a period.

Soon desert came and just like earlier Frost was unable to fully control himself after taking the first bite. He didn't even remember the process of eating it, recalling only a state of bliss.

After eating and after Khione received several warnings from her mother the meet and greet went rather well. Both Shivali and Frejya were fond of Frost, finding him to be a desirable son in law while Khione despite doing her best to hide it was already treating him rather fondly, a stark comparison to her usual attitude.

What the two parents enjoyed most however was the fact that Frost didn't shy away from challenging their little volcano. Despite her volatile temper and superior strength they still occasionally caught him whispering something to Khione in a teasing manner. And in response she'd either blush and respond with her own take or 'lightly' twist his side- an action that held no real malice or threat.

A heartwarming scene which both Shivali and Freyja did their best to foster, hoping to encourage feelings between the two youngsters.

Eventually however this little impromptu marriage interview came to an end. The meal was over, and Khione was reaching her boiling point, at her wits end from the leading questions, not so subtle hints and threats to bring up embarrassing childhood stories by her devil of a mother.

Recognising the signs Shivali placed a hand on his wife's shoulder and said. "Freyja dear why don't you take Khione away; it's been some time since the two of you last spent time together as mother and daughter. Plus I'd like to talk to Frost alone for a little while."

Frejya wanted to continue her pestering, but Shivali's words reigned her in. "That's a great idea Shiv; I'll have some girl talk with Khione while you have some guy talk with Frost." She playfully winked before eyeing up the suddenly frozen solid Khione. Girl talk could either mean actual girl talk, a topic Khione had no interest in, or it could be mean punishment and knowing her mother she concluded that it'd likely be the latter. She had been rather unruly recently after all.

"N…No…I don't…" Khione tried to refuse her mother's invitation preferring to get in some late night training but unfortunately she didn't have a choice.

"Nonsense Khione, we've got important things to discuss as mother and daughter hehehe." Freyja laughed eerily before teleporting to Khione's side. Before she could even try to struggle her shorter and much less muscular mother picked her up like she was a feather and bolted out of the room with her resting atop her shoulders. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

"NOOOOOO!!!!!" A moment later Frost could hear the wails of Khione getting further and further away. A small smirk grew on his lips, her desperate wailing being akin to music in his ears.

Even Shivali couldn't help but slightly smile, taking great satisfaction in the fact that his unruly daughter was finally getting her comeuppance.

"Frost, follow me there's a few things I'd like to discuss." He allowed himself to bask in his youngest daughter's misfortune for a few seconds before rising from his chair.

"Of course uncle." Frost acquiesced, quite keen to chat with the Primordial Ice King as well. Their earlier talk wasn't nearly long enough for him to get all the answers he sought.

Shivali led Frost through the halls of the palace, passing by dozens of silent guards each far stronger than your typical A-rank. By the time they reached his personal study however there was not a single guard in sight, a methodically structured void.

"Only my wives and my highest ranking children are allowed access to this study. In here we only discuss serious business." Shivali spoke in a serious tone, revealing the importance of this little rendezvous between a father and a potential son in law.

"Understood." Frost audibly gulped, feeling a shiver run down his spine. He felt as though he was willingly walking into a tiger's den. A common feeling among son in laws when their father in law requests a private meeting away from prying eyes.