"Even though the great nobles don't fancy mages, masters like Plato are an exception. A single visit from the old master would take the reputation of the Dolphin River up a notch. However, how are you going to accomplish that?" Kaerton asked.
"I will try to do it." Su Ye's voice was bright and brilliant.
"I have already tried." Kaerton had a faint smile.
"That is the second reason why I came to find you. Student Kaerton, I had heard that you once studied at Plato Academy for a short period of time. With your foresight, you should be well aware of the promising futures that mages have," Su Ye said.
"You sure know how to change the topic. Return to what we were talking about before," Kaerton replied, attempting to regain control of the conversation.
"This is what we were talking about," Su Ye responded. "I wish to say that what is happening between us isn't merely a transaction of money, but a transaction of value. The value of the friendship with a mage-to-be is worth more than a thousand Golden Eagles. Any wise man with foresight would be able to look past the money."
"Three Golden Eagles, then. I believe that you are also a wise man with foresight." Kaerton once again had a gentle smile.
"I will definitely be a wise man in the future, but I only have foresight now." Su Ye's expression didn't change as he spoke.
The middle-aged manager looked at Su Ye in disbelief. He hadn't expected Su Ye to hold his own against Kaerton despite his young age. Even he wouldn't stand a chance of negotiating with Kaerton like this.
Kaerton raised his arms. Two maids immediately leaned toward him and adjusted his long white robes.
He raised his head and said, "You are very interesting. Tell me the recipe, and I'll give you a reasonable price."
"Eight hundred Golden Eagles, I can't go any lower." Su Ye let a pained expression cross his face.
"Thirty," Kaerton said.
Su Ye was silent. It seemed like Kaerton was a little more impressive than the rumors had claimed.
Kaerton flailed his arms and the two maids stepped back.
"Fifty Golden Eagles, and you have to help me deal with someone when your abilities get strong enough," Kaerton said.
In a respectful tone, Su Ye immediately retorted, "Alright, fifty Golden Eagles, and you have to help me deal with a person today."
Kaerton laughed. "What a silver tongue. As long as your recipe can satisfy me, I am willing to give you a satisfactory price. Furthermore, my patience is wearing thin."
"Then let us sign the Four God Contract," Su Ye said.
The middle-aged manager looked furious, and he was about to step forward when Kaerton stopped him with a look. The manager trembled in anger, but he didn't move from his place.
"Sure. Men." Kaerton looked at Su Ye, a little interested.
Su Ye simply nodded, but inwardly, he heaved an enormous sigh of relief. All that had happened just now had revealed Su Ye's value.
Kaerton would never offend a murderer like Lawrence for a recipe for some delicacy he hadn't even tasted. However, it was a different story if Su Ye himself, a valuable future mage, became part of the bargain.
A sixteen-year-old child who displayed characteristics not congruent with his age would definitely be valuable in the eyes of others.
A few minutes later, a maid brought over a piece of vellum and charcoal pens. Su Ye and Kaerton signed the Four God Contract and wrote down the names of the four related deities at the end of the contract.
The first deity was the Divine King, Zeus, who witnessed everything.
The second deity was the Goddess of Justice, Themis, who witnessed the contract.
The third deity was the guardian deity of Athens, the Goddess of Wisdom, Athena, who witnessed everything that happened within the city.
The fourth deity could either be the God of Trade and Messengers, Hermes, or the God of Fire and Forges, Vulcan. Su Ye chose the latter, and Kaerton didn't object.
The contents of the contract were simple. As long as Su Ye's delicacy satisfied Kaerton, Kaerton had to satisfy Su Ye's request, within reasonable limits. If Kaerton refused, he would invite the wrath of the gods.
Any contract that involved the gods could take effect within Greece. To this day, no one had dared to go against a contract that involved four deities.
Thus, Su Ye wasn't worried that Kaerton would try to scam him with clever wordplay. He could get the priest from the Four Deities Divine Temple to settle things for him. If that time came, the situation wouldn't be resolved with money alone.
"This delicacy will have to be amazing. I'm not easily impressed." Kaerton's voice was full of confidence.
Su Ye placed the vellum carefully to the side and said, "I do not wish to lie. I do know about the recipe for this delicacy, as well as the method to produce the dish, but I cannot guarantee that it will work every time. Of course, if we can make multiple batches at the same time, and we can guarantee that at least one will come out correctly. However, I need five men with nimble wrists. In addition to being loyal, they also have to be willing to stay in the Dolphin River until the recipe is leaked to other places."
"It looks like you understand why I wouldn't offer a high price," Kaerton said.
Su Ye smiled. "Unless someone uses the powers of a Legendary Archmage or a Divine Temple Priest, the secret behind this delicacy won't be cracked anytime soon. Besides that, I have a personal request. In the future, I would like to be allowed to purchase this delicacy from your shop at cost."
"As long as I'm satisfied, all of this is not a problem. Hark, choose five people that we can trust," Kaerton said.
Soon, Hark brought in five muscular men.
"In order to ensure secrecy, please get us a solitary room," Su Ye said. "It would be best if it is close to the kitchen. Of course, as the person who will name this delicacy when we are done, you also have the right to be present, Mr. Kaerton. At the same time, I need a lead chef to be responsible for the appraisal. After all, I only wield the recipe, and I will still require the help of a chef if we want to achieve perfection. After this, I will tell you about the specific items we need to prepare."
"Alright." Kaerton glanced at the middle-aged manager.
The middle-aged manager immediately went ahead to prepare things as Su Ye had asked.
Soon, Su Ye, Kaerton, the lead chef of Dolphin River, and the five assistants entered a room close to the kitchen. Hark stood guard outside the room.
Su Ye scanned the room. Four tables were placed side by side and covered with ingredients, seasonings, dishes, and utensils.
Kaerton had hung a magic chandelier from the ceiling. It was a luxury item that used magic crystals as fuel, each one of them costing fifty Gold Eagles.
Su Ye chose a position and stood there, while the five assistants followed suit and found places to stand along the tables.
In front of Su Ye, Kaerton and Maester, the lead chef, sat on chairs as they silently waited.
Lead Chef Maester was a dour man with fair skin and a thick black mustache with ends that curled slightly upward. He looked a little over forty, and his clothes were clean and neat.
His hands were eye-catching. They were clearly covered in cut scars and old callouses, but they still held an indescribable sense of delicacy and cleanliness. It was as if every nail on his fingers had been trimmed perfectly, only showing a faint arc of white at the very end.
Cooks in ancient Greece were called "lead chefs," and aside from cooking, they were also responsible for butchering and sacrifices. They had considerable status.
Maester was the only person in the Dolphin River Restaurant who could make important decisions without getting Kaerton's approval.
Kaerton would accept Maester's advice regarding anything related to the kitchen, and there was a good reason for that.
Although Maester wasn't the most exceptional cook in Athens, he had the most foresight and the most astute sense of smell. Any dish that he praised would definitely be highly popular, while any dish that he didn't like would never catch on.
Kaerton had been praised for every new dish the Dolphin River developed. If there was a competition for tasting dishes in Greece, then Maester would be the undisputed champion.