HLM – Chapter 184 Noble Comrade-in-Arms

With no other choice, Wang Bo had to step up himself. The fish looked thick and meaty, so he cut it into chunks and made some fried fish bites. This method wasn’t as tasty as braising, but it suited New Zealand palates.

Of course, the batter he used for frying was specially crafted—it included ginger powder and a bit of beer to remove the fishy smell. After frying, he tasted it—the fish was tender, the batter fragrant and crispy. The flavor? Pretty darn good.

As the sun dipped behind the mountains and the temperature in the yard dropped, Bowen went to the convenience store and brought back several kegs of beer for dinner.

The beer wasn’t low-end either—packed in wooden mini-kegs, each holding five kilos. Wang Bo had tried it before; it was mellow and aromatic.

The inner courtyard was spacious with few people around, so they casually set up a table.

Once the table was covered in dishes, Wang Bo brought out a pot of fragrant chicken soup and started thinking about what toast he should make. Would someone tease him about Eva? If everyone praised his cooking, how should he respond to appear both modest and confident?

In the end, he overthought it.

As soon as the chicken soup hit the table, Bowen asked, “Can we eat now?”

Wang Bo nodded, and everyone dove in with forks, knives, and chopsticks—Charlie, the China enthusiast, even used chopsticks expertly. Dale, however, grabbed fried fish and meat with her hands. Wang Bo gave her a look—wasn’t it too hot for that?

No one responded to his internal dilemma, so Wang Bo had to speak up himself, “Hey everyone, I’ve got a few words I’d like to—”

“No time! Big brother, eat!” Dale interrupted.

“Say it later. Let’s eat first. Wang, your cooking just keeps getting better,” Bowen said with a mouth full of sweet and sour pork.

“Yeah, dig in. And remember: self-reliance is the way to go, Old Wang, I’m not going to serve you tonight. Shit, this soup is hot—and delicious!” Charlie exclaimed as he sipped on the chicken soup.

Wang Bo: “…”

Someone was tugging on his clothes. He looked down and saw Zhuang Ding staring at him expectantly, drooling a little, eyes sparkling.

Hugo had come to visit, originally to see Zhuang Ding and the Queen. Just as Wang Bo suspected, he really liked dogs—he even owned a well-known kennel in the UK.

But once he arrived at the castle, his attention shifted. First, he was awestruck by the majestic architecture. Then, he was blown away by the amazing cooking from Wang Bo and Kobe.

He didn’t realize that the exceptional taste of the grilled and stir-fried dishes came from the top-quality meats raised at Heart of the Pasture. He simply assumed it was pure culinary skill.

Eva, however, knew the truth. Sunset Pasture had gained fame in Oak City, and anyone with a bit of taste knew its beef and lamb were second to none.

These meats had even gained popularity through her charity banquet. Since she already knew all this, she didn’t feel the need to explain, so Hugo remained clueless.

By the time dinner ended, it was already nighttime. The winter wind howled through the courtyard, making people shiver just from the sound.

Zhuang Ding, full and satisfied, trotted over and lay next to Little Wang. Little Wang, feeling aggrieved, stared at him and tried to crawl away. But Zhuang Ding slapped a paw on his belly, startling him into stillness.

The other “princes” soon came over too, finding cozy spots to lie down. The lion-tiger beast’s fur was incredibly warm, and since it loved lying around all day, the whole area around it stayed toasty.

Wang Bo wanted to invite Eva and Del to stay the night at the castle. Dale was tempted and looked pitifully at Eva, saying, “Sister, Del has never slept in a castle before.”

But Eva refused. She pinched Dale’s chubby cheek and said, “How about I hold you while you sleep when we get home? We need to go back.”

Wang Bo really wanted to say, Why don’t you hold me instead—even if we’re sleeping on the grass, that’d be fine… Of course, he only thought it. If he actually said that out loud, he’d never get to see the beautiful teacher again.

Eva politely but firmly declined the invitation to stay the night. Wang Bo personally drove the siblings home. Hugo, on the other hand, was quite happy to stay—but Wang Bo wasn’t in the mood to host him.

It wasn’t that he was stingy. The problem was Hugo had brought along seven or eight people. Arranging accommodations for them would be a hassle. It was simpler to just send them all back to Oak City.

On the way back, Wang Bo drove the Marauder. Hugo gave him a thumbs up and said, “This car is badass. I drove one in South Africa—great performance, though the bulletproofing is weak. A .50 caliber round can punch through easily.”

Bowen glanced at Hugo’s outstretched fingers, then whispered, “He’s a skilled marksman. His fingers have layered calluses—new ones growing over old. Only veteran gunners have that.”

Wang Bo grew curious about Hugo’s background. Was this burly noble really built in a gym—or had his physique been forged on the battlefield?

The royal representative stayed in Oak City for two days. During that time, Hugo kept coming back to the pasture for food, eating both lunch and dinner there. He was straightforward and generous.

As they became more familiar, Wang Bo found himself liking him even more.

Hugo was part of the prestigious Lancaster family, one of the oldest noble houses in the British Isles. He had received elite education from a young age. After graduating high school, he entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst—one of the world’s top four military academies. He studied there for two years before joining the army and heading into battle.

Wang Bo’s earlier hunch was spot-on—Hugo’s physique was forged on the battlefield. Even his bodyguards were brothers-in-arms from war.

Thus, he carried the elegance of nobility and the boldness of a soldier. He was practically the perfect man—the best kind of buddy.

On the third day, before leaving, Hugo visited the town again—this time without bodyguards, driving a modest Hyundai sedan.

Wang Bo saw him and joked, “Hey, buddy, did my town charm you so much you can’t bear to leave?”

But Hugo didn’t joke back like the past two days. His expression was unusually serious.

He said, “Sunset Town is beautiful. These past two days, I’ve felt its unique charm. But today, I’m here to find an old comrade.”

Wang Bo immediately thought of Benjamin and Gerald—the only two in town with military ties.

Sure enough, Hugo met up with Wang Bo and went to the small rental house where the father and son lived. He honked the horn, and out came burly Benjamin.

Though it was afternoon, it was still winter. Cold mountain winds whipped through the air. But Benjamin wore only a desert-grey long-sleeved T-shirt, muscles bulging so much it looked like he had a bomb vest on underneath.

Hugo got out of the car, and when Benjamin saw him, he burst into a huge smile.

“Blades! Damn, it is you, you bastard! Ha! I saw the news saying you came to the South Island—I knew you’d show up.”

The two embraced tightly.

Hugo asked, “Instructor, how’s Trigger? I’ve actually been here for over two days but wasn’t sure if it was appropriate to visit.”

Benjamin paused for a moment and said, “You know what, Blades—we’ll always welcome you. But I think you were right to hesitate. It’s better to let Gerald draw a clear line from the past for now.”

Wang Bo stood in the back, listening to their cryptic exchange. It seemed Gerald had some kind of dark past.