The cheerful voices of people resonated throughout the air, creating an atmosphere of joy. Wherever we turned, families rushed happily from one attraction to another. Scenes of happiness unfolded around us, constantly uplifting our spirits. Some children, captivated by everything they laid eyes on, persistently asked for things and would cry until their families consoled them and gently led them away.
Families found delight in shared dinners, accompanied by the pleasant melodies played by the dining music band. Meanwhile, children reveled in the excitement of a jumbo train ride, and adults experienced the thrill of a rollercoaster, their screams blending with the vibrant ambiance. Various bakeries and pastry shops were bustling with an unending stream of people.
Frequently, people's attention was drawn to the sky, where mesmerizing drone performances unfolded, a spectacle that was both spectacular and pleasing to the eyes. As night fell, holographic performances adorned the sky, causing many to crane their necks in awe. Security personnel diligently watched over the crowd, ensuring order and safety. The air was filled with a sense of longing as if the security personnel wished to partake in the carnival festivities with their own families.
Three figures strolled along the bustling lane, flanked by shops on both sides, where the sweet aromas of various delicacies wafted through the air, tempting the passing crowd.
"Guys, don't you feel hungry?" inquired Lucas. "We haven't had our dinner yet. Let's find a good place to eat."
Both Sai and Sara nodded. Soon, they stumbled upon a small shop offering a variety of foods—a recommendation from Sai.
"I heard there are many new delicacies available in this shop. Miss Hannah suggested I should try them," Sai mentioned.
Lucas eyed him suspiciously and said, "You'd better just eat here. Don't start your research and spoil our good mood."
The trio entered the food shop and found a secluded table. As they settled in, a waiter approached and greeted them.
"Welcome, our esteemed customers. Kindly make your selections from our menu."
On the table, a button awaited. When Sara clicked it, a screen displayed above the table, presenting a list of available food items along with their prices. Many dishes were not native to Peturia. As a food expert, Sai was eager to try these new offerings. Clicking on each item provided detailed information. In the end, Sai selected three dishes, while Lucas and Sara placed their orders. The waiter took note and left them to savor their meal. Despite the convenience of ordering through the menu screen without the need for waiters, most hotels and patrons still preferred human interaction, with staff greeting customers and delivering food.
"Hey, you need to control your curiosity. Are you a child? Look at how you're acting," scolded Sara, observing the excited gaze in Sai's eyes. As a food lover, he always relished figuring out the combinations of various dishes.
"Boss, you didn't even eat half as much as I can, yet you're ordering three dishes. Let's see if you can finish them. Anyway, I'm getting a free treat today. Thank you, Boss," Lucas blabbered with a foolish smile.
"Dream on," Sai ignored him and patiently waited for the food to be delivered.
The food shop was crowded, as expected. Many people waited outside due to the unavailability of seating. The trio was lucky enough to secure a table without waiting.
Finally, the expected dishes were delivered. Sai curiously opened the tureen in front of him, and a sweet smell wafted before him. It was seafood, prepared with a type of fish found only near Madagascar, named fairy mullet. Two centuries ago, during the war, Madagascar made significant efforts to preserve the livelihood of these sea creatures, ensuring their lineage still exists today. They were prepared with a mixture of several spices. Sai tasted it while pondering over something. Lucas and Sara had strange gazes in their eyes as they looked at Sai.
"Not bad. They prepared this well. The way they blended spices with the fish is really good," Sai said.
"Whatever... give me the food once you have tasted it, boss," Lucas eagerly said, starting to eat his food.
Sai tried his next dish, a dish made with beef and cheese. He was somewhat satisfied with this dish as well. He tried his last dish, but his brows furrowed.
"Waiter!" Sai exclaimed.
The waiter immediately rushed over.
"Esteemed customer, what's the matter? Anything wrong?" the waiter asked politely.
"I have some suggestions regarding this saucy meatball," Sai continued, "If you had steamed the meatball after adding some spices like..."
Sai started giving his suggestions to the waiter.
Without caring about what was happening, both Sara and Lucas indulged in their food. Occasionally, they looked at him and wanted to say something but finally ignored him.
"Wait here, esteemed customer. I'll inform this to the chief chef. He will come and see you," the waiter left once he said this. Soon after, a stout man walked over with some indignation in his eyes and reached the trio's table. A person with good attire followed him behind.
Finally, the stout man stopped in front of the trio. On his chest, a badge adorned with a toque and six glistening stars caught Sai's eager gaze. He was well aware of the chef ranking system prevalent worldwide, where esteemed chefs proudly displayed their achievements. These badges were verified and provided by the World Chef Council, comprising a total of nine stars. Each star increase signified the chef's skill in handling ingredients and their efficiency in creating delicious food. Moving beyond the fifth star was notably challenging, requiring professional expertise.
In Sai's case, the badge indicated a 5-star rating, signifying his prestigious position in every restaurant where he had worked. The Twin Birds Cafe boasted a rank 6 chef, Miss. Hannah. However, for Sai, lacking citizenship meant that his culinary skills were yet to be officially recognized and classified.
"Who's the one who found a mistake in my preparation?" That burly 6-starred chef exclaimed at the three of them. Many other customers turned their heads toward the trio's table due to the loud voice of the chef.
"Our respectful Chef, please cool down," the manager following the chef had an anxious look and continued to the Trio, "Children, he is one of the most famous chefs all around the world. If you want to find a mistake in his food, you must be qualified to do so."
"What's wrong with you? If we liked the food, we would say it's good; otherwise, we wouldn't say that. It's based on personal taste. By the way, Sai did not say anything wrong. He simply gave some suggestions. He is also a Chef," Lucas supported Sai.
Now, a surprised expression blossomed on the manager's face.
"Yes, he is working as an assistant Chef at Twin Birds Cafe," Sara further authenticated Lucas's words.
The Chef, who was looking at Sai all this time, suddenly asked, "Where is your batch?"
Now, the trio went silent. Finally, Sai stood straight. He could not accept the fact that he had yet to receive the citizenship, fearing they would be mistreated. He finally opened his mouth.
"I am a trainee at the Twin Birds Cafe. I have yet to apply for the batch."
"A mere trainee dares to give suggestions to a great chef. Boy, you are daring." A guy beside the burly chef mocked him.
The Chef remained silent, pondering for a moment, and then said, "It's okay; you are a trainee, but you don't deserve to give suggestions to professionals. If you think yourselves worthy, I'll give you a chance. Mei, come here."
A petite young girl, with fair skin, walked over to the side of the Chef. She was around the age of Lucas and Sai and exuded an arrogant air, suggesting that she considered herself the best.
The Chef continued, "This is my disciple, Long Mei'er. She must be around your age. I will give you a chance to compete with her. If you can defeat her, I will give you the recipes for all three dishes you tried, along with covering all the bills you incurred. In case you are defeated, you should bow your head in front of all the people and accept you are wrong." The Chef's voice resonated boldly throughout the hotel, and all the customers looked on with curiosity, expecting an exciting event.
"Do you have that much confidence in your disciple? Prepare to console her once she starts crying," Sai thought to himself.
After pondering for a long time, Sai nodded slightly.
"Once you finish your food, come and meet us at the back of the restaurant."
The 5-starred Chef walked away with his disciple after saying this. The trio looked at each other and smiled. Lucas and Sara weren't too worried because they were the only ones who knew how many customers were attracted to the Twin Birds Cafe due to Sai's food recipes. The only things he lacked were his citizenship and his official chef badge.
The trio didn't care about what had happened previously and enjoyed their food. After finishing their meal, they proceeded to the back of the food shop.