LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 198: Time's Up
It was an aura that could only belong to a Grade 2 Ingredient.
She was not the only one, everyone in the kitchen except for the cripple Duan Mu had sensed the aura.
"Ten seconds left," Lucian said.
The young female chef glared at Lucian, but he remained indifferent, which only infuriated the former.
In her eyes, his indifference felt like he was mocking her.
'Hundred Knife Technique.'
She swiftly employed one of her techniques, causing her kitchen knife to buzz.
Once her knife began trembling, she slashed down vertically, cutting deep into the chive.
Thin strips of chives flew up.
But… there was not a single flicker of excitement on her face. Although she managed to cut into the chive, and her cut was smoother than the others, it was not perfect. The edges of the chives were slightly jagged.
Furthermore, similar to her fellow chef, the pieces of chives had lost their Mana, a clear indicator that her approach, while clever, still lacked a deeper understanding required to chop the ingredient.
[It's useless. He was right. We can't chop the Netherbane Chives] The old man said to the other chefs.
The chefs glanced at each other, noticing the helpless and disappointed expressions on one another's faces.
Finally, after the last few seconds ticked by, Lucian let out a sigh as if he were genuinely disappointed.
"Time's up. You were so close."
The chefs froze. Slowly, their faces hung down at their chopping boards. Regrettably, the unconscious action only made their mood worse. On their chopping boards were uneven, poorly chopped chives.
After boasting arrogantly, not a single one of them managed to produce the fine, exquisite strands seen on the plated Siren's Melody Poached Egg.
Although the outcome was obvious to everyone, Lucian walked over to the countertop.
After visually inspecting the chives, he ran a finger through the crumbled chive of the old man's attempt and gave his analysis:
"It's poorly chopped, and there's zero Mana left in the ingredient. Even worse, your tactic of brute forcing your knife through the chive caused friction burn to it, burning it and wilting it. You ruined an ingredient worth more than your life."
Lucian was not joking when he said the Netherbane Chive was worth more than the old man's life, but the latter did not believe him, only feeling humiliated by his statement.
Lucian then inspected the young female chef's attempt.
"Same thing as the old man, poorly chopped, and there's zero Mana left. Though… I respect and admire the creative use of a Sword Technique to chop the chive."
Lucian was not mocking the young female chef. He truly meant what he said, and it was clear to her too, but she did not feel the slightest ounce of happiness.
She had failed, and that was all that mattered to her.
Shrugging, Lucian walked over to the youngest chef's chopping board.
"As for this attempt. Do I even need to speak?" He asked while looking at everyone.
In return, Lucian only received silence…
"Well, too bad. Today, I feel like talking. Using a saw in a kitchen, honestly, I'm quite impressed. I might have to add that to my arsenal of kitchen equipment."
This time, Lucian was truly mocking the young chef, and the latter knew it. Yet, in this situation, he remained silent, knowing any word he spoke would be useless. In fact, it might make his situation worse.
Without another word, Lucian walked toward Duan Mu.
Seeing Lucian walk away, the last two chefs breathed out a sigh of relief. Had he inspected their attempt and given his verdict, they might have lost their will to live.
[Do you see the difference now?]
Duan Mu nodded his head slowly. There was a thoughtful expression on his face. The chefs had relied on their past experience alone, assuming their skill would be enough. However, such skills would only work on normal ingredients. They lacked the information, experience, and knowledge, unlike his Master.
[Netherbane Chives aren't like Grade 0 chives. They require more than just regular techniques to cut them. First, learn to respect your ingredients and become patient. Only then will I teach you how to preserve the Mana in Ingredients.]
After seeing Duan Mu nod his head, Lucian glanced at the physically and emotionally defeated chefs. Waving his hand dismissively, he said, "Move aside."
Without a word, the chefs took a few steps back.
After that, Lucian summoned a Netherbane Chive on the chopping board. Simultaneously, his kitchen knife appeared in his loosely clenched right hand.
"Watch closely," Lucian said to no one in particular, but Duan Mu understood his Master's intention. He wanted to show him the correct way to chop Netherbane Chives.
Even the five defeated chefs craned their necks in Lucian's direction. Shame was temporary. It could not be eaten, but Lucian's food could be eaten. If they learned even one percent of his skills, it would transform their culinary skills.
At that moment, with his kitchen knife in hand, Lucian slashed out ten times. Each slash glided through the chive like he was cutting through silk, barely making any sound in the process. His slashes were fast and accurate, leaving the spectators in awe of his skills.
In what felt like an instant, ten perfect, paper-thin slices of chives could be seen on the chopping board.
While they were stunned by the knife work, Lucian began washing his knife. After drying his knife with a towel, he finally spoke, "That is how you chop a Netherbane Chive."
"Now, let's get back to plating. We have customers to feed."
Duan Mu smiled excitedly.
"Yes, Master."
"Don't get your hopes up. Even if you help me, you won't get a single Copper Coin, let alone a Low-Grade Mana Stone." Lucian said.
Duan Mu's excitement did not lessen. Inwardly, however, he cursed his Master. When did he ask for money?
Nevertheless, he sighed and nodded his head.
"I understand Master. I'm just glad that I can be your disciple."
"Good."
—--------------
After a short, but tiresome minute of constant chopping, Lucian was walking up the stairs to the second floor, escorted by Mei.
[My wrist hurts.] Lucian complained, feeling a burning and painful sensation from his right wrist.
[The left one or the right one?] The System replied cheekily.
Lucian rolled his eyes. [... Hilarious. I'm dying of laughter.]
After a few more steps, Lucian and Mei arrived on the second floor. Without stopping they proceeded down the hall to a familiar door.
"Here is the first VVVIP Room, Chef Lucian. Please enter. If there is anything you desire, please use the communication device built into the chairs, and I will return." Mei said with a bow before leaving to report to the Branch Leader.
Meanwhile, Lucian opened the door and entered the room.
However, before Lucian could even take a look inside the room, his field of vision darkened.
"Big Brother Lucian, Lily did it!" A beautiful, melodic girlish voice sounded out.
Moments later, a black-robed rocket slammed into his chest, forcing him to take a step back.
Looking down at the source of the voice, Lucian smiled tenderly. It was a girl physically the same age as him wrapped tightly around his waist as she beamed up at him. Excitement flickered in her mesmerizing pink eyes.
She hugged him with such force that it almost made him forget the pain in his wrist.
"Big Brother Lucian, Lily did it!" The young girl, who was none other than Lily, said again with pride as if she had just conquered the world.
Lucian chuckled and ruffled her pink hair, "First, put your mask back on."
Continue your adventure at empire
Lily contentedly nodded, feeling her Big Brother Lucian's fingers gliding through her pink hair.
It was only after a few seconds of enjoying her Big Brother Lucian's head pats, she summoned the Ethereal Mask Of Anonymity, which was gifted to her by James.
As the mask appeared, hiding Lily's beautiful face, Lucian became disappointed, wondering if it was the right decision to remind her to hide her face.
'Haah. What a pity. At least, there's something else… two things, in fact, I can still enjoy.'
It was at that time, while Lucian was enjoying Lily's dough balls squished against his chest, a sudden cough startled Lily.
The sudden cough snapped Lily out of her moment of pure joy. Quickly, she jumped out of her Big Brother Lucian's embrace and hid behind him.
Lucian, meanwhile, glanced at the source of the cough. Sitting in one of the chairs was none other than Garrett, Lily's older brother staring at him with a deadly glare.
"Hahaha, Captain, your brother-in-law is back just in time for the feast. Let's celebrate." Hervy said, never one to miss out on an opportunity to make his Captain's life miserable.
His eyes; however, remained plastered on another figure. His lecherous gaze danced between Meng Ruo's curvaceous figure and her twin peaks that left him hypnotized. Drool escaped his lips.
Garrett's eyes narrowed dangerously at the word, 'brother-in-law.'
Without uttering a word, Garrett summoned his massive battle ax. The weighty weapon soaked in the blood of his enemies shone like rubies under the light of the chandelier.
And before anyone could blink, he chopped down with deadly precision. A fierce brown arc shot toward the defenseless pervert.
The pervert in question shivered, feeling the full force of a Bone Tempering Realm Mage shooting toward him.
However, other than his initial fright at the sudden attack, Hervy remained focused on Meng Ruo's twin peaks.
The others in the room shook their heads at the two friends' exchange.