My Evil System

Drying and smoking are two of the many excellent ways to slow the process of bacteria that spoils food.

I seriously considered making dried and pickled food. Knowing that I have preserved food that would last me for a lot of days to come would make me feel secure.

"Drying removes the water that is vital for the bacteria's reproduction and survival, and smoking has chemicals that slow bacterial growth. Sunlight and fermentation would transform the fats into an extremely energy-dense substance. They're an excellent way to preserve food," agreed Athena.

"Then, I'll leave it to you to tell Daedalus about constructing a smokehouse. Just a small one would do."

"What will you be doing, my lord?"

"I'll go to the river and see if I can catch a fish to roast and smoke."

"Then, you'll need a fishing pole. You can ask Daedalus to make you one, or he could also make you a fishing net that you can set up in the river. There are all sorts of fish, shells, and crabs there."

"Will do."

I left Athena and headed to Daedalus' location to inquire about the fishing pole and the fishing net. It only took me ten minutes to get what I needed, and I was on my way to the nearest river in the forest.

It took two hours before I found a suitable spot where I could easily reach both banks with a long enough line. The water was clear and cold, and I found several good spots to cast my line into the depths. There was also enough space for me to rest underneath the trees nearby.

After I finished tying both ends of the rope of the fishing net on the rocks, I sat down on the ground, leaning against the tree trunk.

I wasn't idle and started looking for something to use as bait. There was nothing suitable on hand, but fortunately, there were plenty of insects flying and crawling around.

I caught a few and put them in a small bowl that Daedalus made out of coconut husks.

From my inventory, I took out my fishing rod. After attaching bait to it, I cast the rod into the river.

The first hour passed without any luck, and all of a sudden, a large fish jumped out of the water. It was a freshwater Trout, and after a few tries, I managed to land it.
It made me very happy. After all, I didn't even know when was the last time I had eaten some fish meat.

I caught five or six more fish before I had to stop. My arms were sore from holding the rod for a long time.
I know. But we don't know what an entire week of rain can do.

It was better to be prudent and careful.