Primordial Draconic Incubus With A Gourmet Chef System

Chapter 196 Unraveled Mystery Blossoms Another

"It must be my mind playing tricks on me." Zar'x was convinced he was too tired.

But immediately after, he realized that although he was tired and in desperate need of sleep, he was still sane.

One after the other, Netherbane Chive after Netherbane Chive began disappearing…

Bewildered and slightly scared of the strange phenomenon, Zar'x was unsure what to make of the situation as he watched the Netherbane Chives disappear into thin air.

"Who… Who's there!? Show yourself! This is Ravenscroft Family's territory!"

Like any rational person, Zar'x shouted, believing it was someone who was stealing the Netherbane Chives from under his nose.

But…

Not a single reply was given. Instead, as if to mock him, the Netherbane Chives' rate of vanishing slowed to a crawl.

However, Zar'x was too spooked by the situation to care.

"I have to inform the Overseer about this!"

Summoning his sword, Zar'x bent his knees, ready to jump on his Artifact, but stopped.

His eyes glanced at the small house, belonging to Kaida.

Sighing lightly, Zar'x unsummoned his sword and walked over to the house. He used his hands and Mana Sense to examine the Runic Symbols.

There were two sets of Runic Symbols inscribed into the building. One was an Anti-Detection Runic Formation for the gardener's privacy, while the other was recently inscribed and unique to only Kaida's home — Hell's Prison Runic Formation. As long as the Runic Formation was active, Kaida had no chance of escaping her home.

Upon inspecting the still-active Hell's Prison Runic Formation, Zar'x realized that Kaida could not be responsible for the stolen Netherbane Chives.

The formation was known for its impenetrable security and would have activated an alarm if Kaida had attempted to break it.

Her innocent face and personality were not a facade, but the real her.

She was innocent.

In the beginning, he, like many of the gardeners, did not actually believe Kaida had stolen the Netherbane Chives. They knew her well enough to understand her personality.

The reason why they pushed the Overseer to imprison her and investigate the Netherbane Chives' disappearance was a simple case of jealousy.

They were jealous of her close relationship with the Overseer.

Jealous that she was close to obtaining the biggest, life-changing achievement — the Overseer's favor. Thus, winning the Ravenscroft's Family Garden for her faction.

That was the driving force that led them to force the Overseer.

But…

Despite his own jealousy of Kaida, as part of the same faction as her, he knew once she obtained the Overseer's favor, he would win as well.

Even if he could not savor the delicious steak, a few drops of the steak's mouthwatering juice would last him a lifetime.

Even his future children and future progeny would flourish.

With that in mind, finally, Zar'x resummoned his sword and flew off to the Overseer's home.

—-----------------

Sometime later, Zar'x arrived in front of the Overseer's home, reached his hand out, and knocked against the wooden door.

*Knock*

*Knock*

*Knock*

He waited…

Waited a few more seconds… and knocked again.

But… what he expected to happen did not occur.

'Why is the Overseer not opening the door? Heavy sleeper or not open the door. It's important!'

As Zar'x reached out to knock on the door again, it was then, he realized the issue…

Colorful Runic Symbols swam on the surface of the building's walls.

'A Soundproof Runic Formation. Damn it… '

Breathing out a depressed sigh, Zar'x shook his head and sat down on the cold stone tiles.

He had no choice, but to wait until the Overseer woke up and deactivated the Soundproof Runic Formation. Only then could he tell the latter the truth behind the Netherbane Chives' disappearance.

However, that also brought up a couple of questions.

If it was not Kaida, then who?

And why were they only stealing Netherbane Chives?

—---------------- Continue your adventure with empire

As Zar'x contemplated the mystery behind the Netherbane Chives' disappearance, Lucian and the others arrived at the Dragon Phoenix Auction Auction.

But instead of the front, they were led to the back by Mei.

Confused, Carlton glanced at Mei and asked, "Miss Mei, why did you bring us to the back of the Dragon Phoenix Auction House?"

Without even turning her head around, Mei replied, "The back is connected to the staff kitchen."

She then summoned a key, unlocked the door, and entered, followed by Lucian and the others.

"Master hasn't plated the poached Siren's Melody Eggs yet." Duan Mu added.

Carlton blinked.

'Master? Why did Duan Mu call Senior, Master? And that respectful tone and expression he said it in. What happened in the kitchen in those short few hours?'

While Carlton was left to his thoughts, five anxious chefs with beads of sweat rolling down their faces heaved a deep sigh when they saw Mei.

"Miss Mei, you're finally here. The guests are becoming anxious. We need to hurriedly serve them!"

Mei glanced at the staff's chef and responded, "Calm down. I understand. But we can't rush Chef Lucian."

The chef in question frowned. The guests were almost half done with their meal. Even the 553 people who paid for the Siren's Melody Poached Eggs were eating.

"B-but what if they ask for a refund?" Beside him, a young woman asked stutteringly. "At the rate they are eating, if we don't serve them soon, our reputation will be as good as gone."

Being an employee of Dragon's Phoenix Auction House was a glorious achievement that every employee took pride in. Thus, she did not want to see the auction house's downfall. Even if it was just a branch.

Lucian gave the young woman a side-long glance and snorted.

"Even if they eat a year's worth of food, once they smell my Siren's Melody Poached Egg, they'll become hungry," Lucian said while feeling a sudden wave of coldness wash over him.

[It was the Title Chef's Pride.] The System explained the unusual phenomenon Lucian had just experienced.

'He's comparing himself with the Dragon's Feast Restaurant's chefs? No… from his words, he believes himself superior. How arrogant!' The chefs could not help but frown.

If he compared himself with them, they would not have thought much about it. They were above-average chefs.

However, the Dragon's Feast Restaurant's chefs were elites amongst elites.

They were chefs that they respected and looked up to.

Seeing their expressions, Mei furrowed her brows. She was dumbfounded. 553 people ordered a dish priced at 5 Low-Grade Mana Stones. If that was not a testament to his skills, then what was?

Yet, these people were doubting Chef Lucian's skills.

"Foolish," Mei muttered bitterly, remembering the heavenly smell, so potent that she could see it.

'They'll understand soon enough.'

Suddenly, a rich and soothing aroma spread throughout the kitchen, enveloping everyone in a warm embrace.

The aroma was intoxicating, unlike anything they had ever experienced. It was sweet, salty, and fishy all at once.

A dish that emitted such a tantalizing aroma could not be ordinary.

"Help me plate the Siren's Melody Poached Eggs," Lucian said to Duan Mu, even though he could have done it himself. But since he was stuck with a disciple, it was best he put him to work…

*Cough*

… It was best he taught him.

After all, he was Duan Mu's Master…

"Yes, Master." Duan Mu excitedly nodded his head.

A second later, beautiful white plates with golden rims appeared on the countertop. There were twenty in total.

After that, Lucian opened his Inventory and summoned twenty perfectly poached Siren's Melody Eggs.

Each poached egg perfectly materialized at the center of the plate.

With that done, Lucian pointed in a certain direction.

"Use my serving of Siren's Melody Poached Egg as a reference."

Following his Master's finger, Duan Mu's eyes narrowed, and his nostrils flared.

It was the direction where the mouthwatering aroma wafted from.

On top of a countertop, was a single plate. The source of the aroma. A perfectly poached egg lay in the middle of the plate garnished beautifully with unknown dark red chives, meaty-smelling salt…

'Or is the meaty smell from the poached Siren's Melody Egg? … No, that wouldn't make sense. The poached egg has a sweet, salty, and fishy aroma. The taste should also be the same. …I can't wait to eat it.'

*Cough*

'Focus. Duan Mu. Focus. You can't screw up, or your only chance of rising will be gone.'

Just then, Duan Mu heard his Master's voice, [The dark red chives are called Netherbane Chives. It is a Grade 2 Ingredient grown only in Hell, under the Crying Ember Tree. Add one pinch to each poached egg.]

Duan Mu blinked, turning to his Master with surprise and confusion. His explanation threw him off completely.

'Hell… as in THE HELL? The Hell that dead people go to? … NO! No! No! The Hell that despicable people go to after death?'

Shaking his head, Duan Mu thought better of it, realizing he must have made a mistake.

After spending over thirty minutes with his Master, he was confident he understood the latter's personality.

An indifferent person like his Master probably did not even know what a joke was.

With that being the case, the Hell his Master mentioned must be a place on Arcadia — a cruel, dark place infested with criminals.

Assured of his guess, Duan Mu's expression… slightly eased, but surprise and confusion could still be seen on his face.

Despite seeing his surprised and confused expression, Lucian acted oblivious to it and continued, [The almost translucent flakes of salt are called Dragon Fly Flake Salt. It is also a Grade 2 Ingredient. Made out of finely crushed Dragon Fly wings. Add one pinch to each poached egg.]