It has been 4 months since the plague and 3 months since the plague has been cured, July 1st.
There was no one in the empire who wasn't aware of the hero, 'Hand of God' Chef John. The whole empire considered him as a hero, so much that a ceremony was held publicly honouring him by the emperor, 10 commandments, nobles, the magi association and the merchant association, on July 1st.
During the ceremony the emperor tearfully declared he was proud to have a son like John and declared him as his heir.
Now the empire and 3 heir: Crown Prince James the 3rd, 2nd prince Jack Luminity and finally the beloved, saviour and hero 3rd prince Jack Field.
The emperor appointed 7 soldier as Jacks special bodyguards, led by captain Seban, who used to work as the emperors bodyguard. The special bodyguard were also in the past led by John's mum Stella Field, who passed away, while protecting the emperor in the past.
John's food was now famous all throughout the empire as everyone had tasted it at least once, when they had to eat his food to cure the plague, along with his restaurant 'Luxury Meals'.
Whenever John walked in the street the crowds would bow and thank him not out of fear for his title as a royal prince, but genuinely as their saviour.
Ez remembered from the message he had received from Dexter and co, that there was someone out there with white hair that is capable of also curing his plague. So he was always on lookout for that person.
1 week after that as John was walking towards his shop amidst the thanking people, he saw a person, walking along the female district without any care for in the world.
He had long black hair, a well-maintained body and a face so attractive that no women could resist touching it.
Ez walked towards him as Seban and his team followed John, who seemed to be looking much younger and better.
"Did you just see anyone turn around the corner Seban?" John asked Seban
Seban shook his head.
John suddenly started laughing as he ran towards the direction the man he saw went, while Seban and his team followed. He soon caught up with a man, with black long hair and tapped his shoulder. The man turned around, with a shocked face as he turned to see who it was that tapped him.
As soon as he saw John his face darkened as he said, "What do you want?"
"Sir I was attracted by beautiful face and wanted you to come with me to have a tea." John politely said while smiling.
"Stop acting with me. Don't think I don't know that it was you who caused the plague for your own benefit. I won't be involve in your politics and in your schemes so go away." The man replied in a disgusted voice, as if standing near John was the worst thing he could do.
"Oh, you want me to stop acting. How about I reveal to the agents tailing me, that you are the guy with white hair that they are all looking for. Your disguise doesn't work with me dude." John came closer to him as he whispered in a serious voice while smiling.
The mans face twisted for a moment before he agreed to follow John. They walked towards Johns shop and asked him to take a seat. John went inside to cook while Seban and his team made sure the man never left where he stood.
The man was shocked at the fact that someone was capable of noticing him, along with seeing through his disguise. So, he came here to find out how John was able to do that.
John soon came out with a trolley filled with trays of food for Seban and his team along with for the man.
Everyone helped themselves to a tray of Rank 2 beast ingredient food that John cooked. As everyone kept eating the food, the man observed John.
"Start eating, we will talk after breakfast." John said as he pointed to the tray in front of the man.
After they were finished eating, the man asked, "How did you notice?"
John smiled as he replied, "What if I don't want to tell you?"
"Then I am leaving." The man said as he got up. Seban became on guard, but John waved his hand for them to let him go. As soon as the man took 3 steps, he turned towards John saying
"You asshole." Before fainting.
Seban and Flint carried the man into the storage room, where flint casted a tier 4 ice magi spell, that encased the whole body of the man other than his head in ice.
After 10 minute he woke up to notice he couldn't move, and he was trapped in ice. Facing 8 people.
"Flint if you could be kind enough could free up his fingers please?" Asked John to Flint, who nodded as the ice covering the mans fingers melted off.
John then asked Seban "Can you cast a rank 4 pain amplifier please?" Seban nodded as he casted it to the man. The man struggled to get free somehow, as John took few needles with him to the man.
"Wait I will tell you anything you want. Stop." Realising what John was about to do he begged John. But John ignored him as he stabbed a needle through his fingers. The man screamed out loud, but no sound went out of the storage room.
This carried on for 30 minutes before John stopped. "Why?" He asked as he was regaining his breath, amidst his tired face.
"Seban can you guys give me few minutes please, also Flint release him?" requested John
"But.." said Flint
"It's ok I know what I am doing." Seban and his team went out as Flint released the man.
As the man lied among the melted water, John walked up to him and start kicking him. The man could do nothing as his body was still paralysed from being frozen for 30 minutes. John punched and kicked him for 5 minutes before he was done.
As John sat there smiling happily as if he finally vented his built up frustration for the past 7 months, the man regained his strength. He got up tiredly with anger and indignation plastered in his eyes.
"You bastard I am going to rip you to shred. Hope your friends come in to protect you." He said.
"Don't worry they won't come in. And I know you won't even hurt me as it is against the heaven protocol for angels on holiday, Zel."
Suddenly hearing those words Zel's face turned into shock. "How do you know that? Who are you?"
"Ez" Ez replied.
"You mean the soul who annoyed God for 20 years with the same prayer every single day?"
Ez nodded, "The flip I thought you were in heaven, I swear I saw you in heaven 2 millenniums ago."
"I was until God decided to send me here before his holiday." John explained to the angel in front of him how he ended up here and what happened to him so far.
"Ahahahaha, you vs the empire. That is really unfair even, ahaha, with your handicap, for the empire." The angel laughed as he rolled on the floor trying to talk amidst his laughter, as John sighed.
"Hey if you realised it was me then why the hell did you torture me?" The Zel suddenly asked, after he finished his laughter.
"Because that was meant for Juliet and God. Not only has my power not reached me, but I would have had to survive in this shithole for 25 years, with a defect body. I am living with a Sword of Damocles, hanging over me." I shouted at him, using my soul to communicate.
"Hmm it is indeed true that you have the so-called soulless condition." The angel confirmed John's worry
"But you body seemed to be stable. You should be able to live for 10 years before you die. It seems to be the effect of your cooking." He theorised
"I don't need to do that can you get that sorry excuse of a God on line please." I asked him as he nodded.
He closed his eyes as he joined his hand. Soon a screen appeared as time froze, "Was sup Zel? I told you to only call me if it's important. Wait, hang on I thought you went for holiday in that forsaken world 50 years ago?" God appeared while riding on top of what appeared to be a great white shark, in underwater.
"It is important for me." I said as I stood next to Zel.
"Ah Ez, so you both met ... shit time dilation I presume?" He asked as he guessed my situation, before he closed his eyes.
"Hehehe, sorry about that it would have reached you 7 years later. There I sorted it out for you. But remember it is not an award so you would still be afflicted of your soulless condition as they call it." He said as I finally felt an energy enter my body. Finally, my power is here.
"Are you kidding me? If you had already gave me the power I wouldn't have went to awaken an award. It is your mistake. Rectify it yourself." I said as I screamed at him
"Meh, don't wanna. Currently quite a few citizens and angels are watching your struggle as some sort of entertainment programme. If I cure you were is the thrill in that. How about making some modification in your power so that you can use it to cure your affliction?"
"Seriously my life is entertainment for them now?" I raised a middle finger to all those watching me.
"Fine do whatever you want." I said as I resigned to my fate.
"Oh, by the way, John told me to say, 'thank you' for avenging him, he is amongst the lot watching your struggle right now." God said as I could feel my power surging in me as he made changes to it.
"Part of you soul shell limitations has been removed to use your power. You will understand more after you use your power. Have to go bye." He said as the screen disappeared.
Zel sighed as he shook his head "I have to now clean up this mess." He said as he was about to wipe the memory of everyone who were listening to their conversation.
"I guess this world is screwed up now till you pass away huh?" He asked me.
I shrugged as I said "Who know? Maybe someone will actually kill me before my 25 years are up as my power is useless for combat."
"Did you know there is also another form of power in this world besides magi and award?"
I stared in shock at Zel. "Just how many power are there?" I questioned him.
"The power of magi is pretty common that everyone knows about it.
But unlike what John thought and you were led to believe the power of award is only known among the nobles and emperors and those who they reveal it to.
Most common people, don't even have access to awards or even know what award is Ez. When someone uses award people in this world are misled to believe its an application of magi.
Its bit like the stories you read in earth about secret magic society, how magicians cover up their magic by saying it was all science. "
I was awed by the information. That means there must be a reason why all the nobles are trying to cover up the power of Award for. Wait could it be because of ..
"Yes, just as you guessed 'Memorial Stone'. I am not allowed to say anything more about it, as all your viewers are bombarding me with messages saying, 'stop spoiling'.
But let me tell you this there is a form of power that even the nobles aren't aware of that only the emperor and the 10 commandment nobles know of that power.
They swore an oath of secrecy to any information relating to the power, except to the ones who take up their seat." He informed me.
"What kind of power is it?" I asked him intrigued by the power
"Do you want the name of the power or what kind of power it is? Any more information and they will probably complain to God to cancel my holiday." Damn those assholes.
It was a really hard choice as knowing the name I can trick an answer out of those commandments but knowing what kind of power it is can make me be aware of its powers and be on guard.
"Actually neither, just tell me who has the highest chance in the empire to awaken it, or get it?" I asked, because once I know who it is I can just use my power to observe how they achieved it, what kind of power it is and know the name of the power.
"Are you sure?" He asked me, almost as if he didn't want me to ask that question. But I still nodded.
"No one knows it yet but it's you, Ez." He said as he pointed to me. Great, so that is why he wanted me not to ask this question.
"And great. Now, I have been told by everyone to not meet you from now till the end of my holiday, otherwise, they will file a complaint to cancel my holiday early on. So hopefully this is the last time we meet, here, see you in heaven." He said as time went back to normal, and he disappeared.
I am also pretty sure also those guys who have been listening onto our conversation or recording our conversation will probably return back empty-handed.
Finally, time for me to use my power and also understand why I have the highest chance in awakening that power.