LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 200: Ravenous Guests
'A bunch of ignorant fellows." Peng Ting smirked disdainfully.
His plates and bowl were mostly untouched, except for a few bites and slurps here and there.
He was not the only one who still had food remaining. The others, who had tasted Lucian's Garlic Butter And Herb Popcorn, were in the same situation.
Meanwhile, in the second VVVIP Room, Su Kuan was wildly smiling.
"Finally, it's about to happen. James, this is what you get for stepping into my territory. You're a merchant and should have stayed as a merchant. This is my realm. You can only blame yourself."
Beside him, Su Bei excitedly kicked her feet up and down, impatient to see the chaotic scene unfold before her.
"Quickly bring out the dishes."
As the guests' excitement reached a peak, Meng Ruo's voice sounded out again. "Without further ado, bring out the Siren's Melody Poached Eggs."
With her words as the cue, the four grand doors swung open, and a wave of fragrant aroma washed over the room.
The fragrance was like a raging tsunami as it crashed into the faces of the guests and enveloped the entire first floor.
Collective gasps echoed, their mouths opening as the intoxicating aroma overtook them.
Within the time it took to blink, the fragrance flooded every corner of the auction house, creeping through the halls and up into the second and third floors, even finding its way through the crevices of closed doors.
Rivers of saliva flowed from the mouths of the dazed guests, some audibly gulping as they stared transfixed at the dishes being brought in by the attendants.
Dignity, poise, and manner — none of it mattered anymore.
All that existed in their minds was the overwhelming desire to taste the dish.
With countless hungry pairs of eyes staring at them… no, staring at the plates in their hands, the attendants meticulously moved in unison toward the guests who ordered the dish.
Unlike the guests, they were calm, unfazed by the aroma wafting from the Siren's Melody Poached Eggs. Not even a dribble of saliva or a twitch of their nostrils could be seen.
Yet, appearances were deceiving.
Inwardly, the hundred attendants were fighting their own battles.
[This is torture. What did Chef Lucian put into these poached eggs?] One of the attendants screamed.
[The same thing happened outside of the Wang Manor.] An attendant muttered.
[Thank the Gods Chef Lucian's disciple warned us, or we would have made a fool of ourselves.]
A female attendant blinked and tilted her head at the man who spoke. [Did you forget what happened in the kitchen?]
Gritting his teeth, the man quipped back, [... Thanks to you… now I do.]
He was forced to remember a few seconds ago when he was subjected to the intense aroma in the kitchen.
He was not the only one, as all the attendants had experienced the same feeling.
Their minds had been dominated, their senses screaming at them to devour the dish they now held in their hands.
Every breath vital to life was filled with the rich fragrance, which had caused agony as they had to resist the urge to indulge.
Droplets of sweat could still be seen on their faces, while some less in control of their emotions felt their hands twitch, desperate to have a taste.
Just then, a voice sounded in their heads, [All of you, focus. How can you lose your professional composure so easily?]
Startled, the hundred attendants glanced up at the third floor. There, on the balcony, they saw two women, both beautiful.
They were none other than the Branch Leader and the one who had just spoken, their superior, Head Attendant Mei.
[Use more Mana.] Mei instructed simply.
The attendants quickly complied, thickening the thin layer of Mana covering their noses, ears, and other orifices, effectively shutting off their sense of smell.
[Good. Now quickly serve them, and return to the kitchen, there are still more plates to be served.]
With a collective nod, the attendants began placing the plates before the hungry guests, then returned to the kitchen to bring more servings of Siren's Melody Poached Egg.
Meanwhile, as soon as the dishes were placed before them, the two hundred guests practically lunged at their food.
Forks pierced the delicate, poached eggs, spilling the blue yolk within.
With manners long forgotten, they shoved the pieces of yolk-covered egg into their mouths. While some, more ravenous than the others, shoved the entire poached egg into their salivated mouths.
Following that, expressions of pure bliss covered their faces.
"It's so good!"
"Delicious!"
"I've never eaten anything as good before."
As the poached egg slid down their throat, at that moment, a sudden burst of Mana erupted from the poached egg, quickly transforming their expressions from pure bliss to horror.
The Mana as if it had a mind of its own, zoomed past their organs before diving into their Mana Veins.
Horrified by what had just occurred, they quickly checked their Mana Veins, and to their disbelief, they saw their Mana Reserves had increased by a considerable amount — a boost that would have taken days, if not weeks, to achieve through Mana absorption alone.
"H-how… is this possible?" One guest stammered, his eyes wide with disbelief and excitement.
"My Mana increased!" Another gasped.
On the other hand, a few who could not believe the truth, circulated their Mana to confirm the strange situation.
Meanwhile, hearing their words, the other five thousand or so guests wore expressions of greed.
"Give me the Siren's Melody Poached Egg!"
"Me too!"
"Quickly bring it out!"
Peng Ting, much to his disappointment, was one of the 253 guests, who had yet to receive his Siren's Melody Poached Egg, smirked in disdain after hearing their words.
'Heh, now you all want to eat that brat's poached egg? Too bad.' Peng Ting had a belly fuel of anger for a while now. From the start of the intermission period, he had sensed countless pairs of disdainful eyes on him. Some had even resorted to openly mocking him for not eating the Dragon's Feast Restaurant's dishes.
But now… he felt his silence to their ridicule was worth it. He could watch and listen to the dogs barking.
'What a treat.' He laughed as his eyes narrowed into crescents.
In the second VVVIP Room, a deep frown formed on Su Bei's face.
"What… what is happening?" Su Bei turned to her Uncle and continued in disbelief, "Uncle, what is happening? Why are they all so happy? Shouldn't they be in pain? Screaming in horror with eyes bulging? Where are the tears?"
Su Kuan was calm, without even taking a moment to ponder, he explained, "According to the Ghoul Brothers, Lucian poached a total of 553 Siren's Melody Eggs in three batches. The first and second batches had 200 eggs each, while the last batch contained 153. It's the final batch that was poisoned. We just need to wait and watch the show."
"As expected of Uncle!" Su Bei cheered as her excited expression returned, just in time to witness the four doors opening.
The attendants came walking out with a plate in each hand. Once again filling the venue in a layer of rich fragrance.
'Maybe if you all bark enough times, this King will allow you to lick my plate. Hahaha.' Peng Ting laughed when he saw the drooling dogs, ignoring the fact mere moments ago, he was in the same situation as them.
Meanwhile, as the second batch of the Siren's Melody Poached Eggs was being eaten, anxiety began to creep into the Branch Leader.
Noticing the slight tremble of flesh beside her, Mei worriedly asked, [Branch Leader, what's wrong? Did something happen?]
Yoshiko glanced down at the second floor, specifically at the balcony of the second VVVIP Room. With a gloomy expression, she replied, [I'm worried about the Voidtear Essence.]
Mei's expression became weird.
[Does Branch Leader not believe what Chef Lucian said?]
Yoshiko frowned then glanced at Mei with a smile.
[I believe what I see.]
[Fair enough.]
[Though…] Yoshiko said. [I'm curious why you believe in him?]
[I believe what I see.] Mei cheekily said.
The two of them looked at each other before they broke out into laughter, only to suddenly stop as a loud clamor erupted on the first floor.
Fists banged on the tables, while chairs scraped against the wooden floors.
The sound was grating on the ears of those who were still sane.
"Bring me my dish already."
"Hurry up! What's taking so long?"
"I can pay extra!"
Meanwhile, seeing the way they were acting, Lily pouted. Her annoyance increased with each second.
"These people... They didn't believe in Big Brother Lucian's abilities, but now they are making such a ruckus. Humph! They don't deserve to eat Big Brother Lucian's food."
Lily had a perfect memory and on top of it was a vengeful person. Therefore, she had remembered the faces of everyone who did not believe in her Big Brother Lucian. So now that these people were clamoring, of course, she would be displeased with them.
Garrett smiled wryly. "Their reactions are only to be expected. Without tasting Chef Lucian's food, no one would believe food could enhance Mana."
Fenwick nodded as he turned to look at Lily, "Instead, it's your reaction that's unexpected."
"It's not unexpected." Hervy chuckled with his back to them
Sighing, Fenwick and Garrett nodded, followed by the others in the room.
"The doors are opening." Lucian suddenly said. "Which means the show is about to start." Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire
Lucian then looked at James and continued, "I'll be relying on you."