Chapter 3: Fish & Chips & the Factory Manager
The Industrial Revolution that began in Briticia was sparked by the increasing demand for cotton textiles.
Far to the east, across the sea, lay the country of Indio.
Cotton products made there became wildly popular, leading to the development of machinery for domestic production.
The rapid progression of mechanization marked the beginning of it all.
“That’s why… you’re slow at your job.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Make sure you meet the shipping time next time. There are plenty of other factories that can replace you.”
“I’m truly… sorry.”
The coachman spoke coldly as he drove off the wagon loaded with goods.
“…Says the one who forces impossible production quotas.”
After confirming the wagon had disappeared, Oliver clicked his tongue and kicked a stone at his feet.
With neatly parted hair and a gray vest over his shirt, he was the head of the weaving factory.
Today’s production was finally over.
“Anyway, the important thing is not letting the hallucination fade…!”
“Yeah, I get that…”
Hearing the strangely energetic voices of the two younger workers lately, Oliver felt a slight irritation as he returned to the workshop.
He was the only one capable of maintaining the machines.
That meant he still had to stay behind and adjust them alone.
“Ah, good work today.”
“…Yeah.”
He briefly responded to the mid-level workers around his age and headed into the workshop.
He immediately began adjusting the looms.
“What’s with that bad attitude?”
“Yeah, he’s always on edge. I’m thinking of quitting this factory.”
“Let’s gather everyone and move somewhere else. There’s plenty of work out there.”
The growing dissatisfaction among the workers didn’t reach Oliver’s ears.
Unaware of the looming crisis in the factory, he finished his final task of the day.
At last, his work was done.
“I’m hungry…”
As he stepped out of the factory alone, his stomach growled as if it had been waiting.
Come to think of it, he hadn’t eaten all day.
“…On a day like this, it has to be fish and chips with ale.”
For intense hunger, nothing beat the combination of fried food and ale.
In the workers’ district, ale was considered food.
Its heavy texture filled the stomach, making it perfect for quickly restoring energy.
“Alright, let’s see what’s available today.”
Oliver walked through the streets in search of dinner.
The first thing he saw was a row of food stalls.
Fish and chips, a dish born in Briticia, consisted of cod fried in flour batter with a side of potato fries.
He soon spotted a stall selling it.
“…This place reheats leftovers from lunch, so the batter is too thick. And over there, the fish is old. They fry it until it turns dark to hide it.”
Since proper food preservation methods weren’t yet established in Londor, such practices were common.
But they significantly reduced the quality of the food.
“How about some fish and chips?”
A vendor called out to him.
Without even looking at the food, Oliver responded.
“Is your oil on its third day? Or fourth? The awful smell of old oil gives it away.”
“W-well, I’m not sure…”
The vendor awkwardly looked away.
“Don’t tell me it’s even older!?”
“…I don’t recall.”
The vendor turned aside and started whistling poorly.
Oliver quickly lost interest and moved on.
Many stall vendors and cheap diners had never studied cooking and relied on their own methods.
Some didn’t even know what preparation meant.
That was one of the reasons there were so many bad restaurants in Briticia.
“I’m picky about fish and chips.”
In a workers’ district where meals were simply fuel for labor.
But Oliver genuinely loved fish and chips.
That was why he couldn’t just settle for anything in this situation.
“Damn it… what is this?”
And yet, his craving for fish and chips had already taken over.
His frustration reached its peak as he passed the stalls with a loud click of his tongue.
“…Hm?”
Ahead of him, he noticed a shop he had never seen before.
Kitchen Mikeneko.
Drawn in by its atmosphere, he opened the door.
“Welcome.”
“Welcome!”
A smiling maid immediately rushed over.
He sat down as instructed, and she promptly took his order.
“What would you like to order?”
That was already decided.
“I’ll have fish and chips. And ale.”
“Understood! Please wait a moment!”
Soon after placing the order, he heard the sound of oil sizzling.
Fortunately, there was no unpleasant smell of old oil.
At least that was reassuring.
“Well, even if it’s bad, I can drown it in vinegar and mask the taste.”
Still, this was a workers’ district.
He deliberately said it out loud to keep his expectations low.
After a short while, Emma the maid returned.
“Thank you for waiting! Here’s your fish and chips!”
“!?”
Oliver’s eyes widened.
“What… what is this!?”
This was completely different from any fish and chips he had seen before.
The beautifully golden color of the batter looked almost radiant.
And covering about half of it was a creamy white tartar sauce.
His throat moved involuntarily.
“…L-let’s see.”
He cut off a piece with his fork and took a bite without any sauce.
“What!?”
A crisp sound rang out as he bit into it.
Then the mild umami and saltiness of the white fish spread across his mouth.
The flavor, enhanced by heat, blended perfectly with the oil from the batter.
“Delicious!”
His face filled with astonishment.
“The subtle flavor of the cod actually feels refined!? And to think it’s delicious even without any seasoning… that’s impossible!”
Now his attention turned to the white sauce.
A beautiful tartar sauce made with mayonnaise.
Excited by this new experience, he took a bite.
“Whaaa!?”
He immediately shouted in surprise.
“The creamy tang of the sauce blends with the fish’s flavor, transforming it into something richer! The boiled egg and the crunch of onions bring out the mild cod beautifully! And since the sauce isn’t watery, the crispness of the batter isn’t lost!”
Oliver spoke everything that came to mind out loud.
After enjoying the slightly stronger flavor, his throat naturally became dry.
“This is…”
There was already a mug of ale with fine bubbles waiting for him.
He grabbed it and drank deeply.
“Haaaaaa—!”
A loud sigh escaped him.
“This is amazing!! The refreshing ale cleanses the throat with its strong carbonation and sharp bitterness! And that makes you want something rich again! The drink and the food enhance each other perfectly! I’ve never had fish and chips this good!!”
What had he been eating all this time?
The fish and chips at Mikeneko were completely different from what he knew.
“…Hm?”
In his excitement, he noticed the fries.
He casually picked one up.
“Oh…”
Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside.
The simple flavor of the potato was elevated by perfect frying.
He dipped it into the red sauce on the plate.
“Oh…!”
The tangy flavor of ketchup, still uncommon in Briticia, paired wonderfully.
“Even though they’re both fried, they offer completely different flavors! Amazing… truly amazing!”
“That looks delicious…”
Emma was watching with sparkling eyes, clearly envious.
“Emma.”
“Ah! Ehehe…”
Tatsuya gently reprimanded her, and she shyly hid her face behind her tray.
Their friendly exchange made Oliver smile.
“…This really is fish and chips, right?”
“Yes.”
Tatsuya nodded.
“But no, it’s not!”
“Not…?”
“This—this is… King Fish and Chips!!”
Oliver finally shouted.
“Fish and chips were always meant to be delicious.”
“Of course.”
Tatsuya nodded.
“The reason they became bad is because of reused expensive oil, loss of freshness due to poor preservation, and the lack of proper knowledge among cooks.”
Since it was a simple dish of flour-coated fried fish, poor ingredients and methods greatly affected the taste.
“But this shop’s fish and chips are on a completely different level! It’s a king!”
A satisfied sigh escaped him.
“It was incredible… thank you. I’ll be back.”
“Thank you very much!”
Though his words were exaggerated, Tatsuya smiled slightly.
Even Oliver, who had found Emma’s smile annoying earlier, now smiled back.
“Like I said… you’re slow.”
The coachman threw his usual sarcastic remark.
“Well, sorry about that.”
But Oliver responded with a relaxed smile.
“I’m doing my best here.”
“…Tch.”
The wagon left with a click of the tongue.
Oliver waved it off casually.
The coachman’s sarcasm no longer bothered him.
“Ah, good work.”
One of the workers called out.
“Boss, you’re in a good mood again today.”
“What are you talking about? We barely met the deadline. I’m counting on you tomorrow too.”
“Yes, sir!”
“By the way… do you know about King Fish and Chips?”
“Huh?”
Thomas and Harrison.
Oliver asked the energetic young workers with a proud grin.
“…The boss has changed, hasn’t he?”
“Yeah. Guess there’s no need to quit this place after all.”
Even the mid-level workers began to say such things.
Meals that were once just a duty to keep working had become something to enjoy.
There was now a place that served his favorite food in a truly delicious way.
That alone made the world look a little different.
Freed from his constant irritation, Oliver had unknowingly saved not only himself, but also his workers and the factory.