Oki nodded, looking a shade more somber at the first. "I could not say which of my duties brings me greater or lesser happiness. Truly. I do my best to keep my emotions from affecting my work, but that's not always cut and dried, in what I do."

She gave a shrug. "Lifetime professional, after all."

At the change of subject, her manner softened. "Smoking, frying, even treating the meat like cutlets. There's even a condiment made from a long fermentation of it. Smoking brings out its own kind of flavor, and it can be a true delight."