'Haah. How do I use the recipe starter pack again?'
After not being able to remember, Lucian checked his status screen and quickly followed the instructions.
'Novice starter recipe.' Lucian said in his mind, and suddenly, a spin wheel appeared in his mind.
The wheel displayed fifty options, and from the name of the item that he used, he understood each recipe would be noob friendly.
[Would the host like for the drawing to commence?]
The System's robotic, solemn voice sounded within Lucian's mind.
[Yes.] Lucian affirmed with a nod.
[Commencing random drawing…]
*Clackety-Clack*
The wheel began spinning, and a rhythmic clicking and rattling was produced.
As the wheel spun, Lucian exited his room and made his way downstairs.
[Drawing is in progress. Please continue to wait patiently.]
*Clackety-Clack*
After a brief moment, the wheel stopped spinning, [Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Siren's Melody Poached Egg recipe. I hope you use it well.] The System announced in its mechanically solemn voice.
—-------------------
Recipe Added: Siren's Melody Poached Egg
—-------------------
Lucian paused his footsteps, nodded, and called out the status screen before mentally clicking on the newly added recipe. Then, he continued walking downstairs.
—-------------------
Recipe Name: Siren's Melody Poached Egg
Ingredients:
1 Siren's Melody Egg
1.5 Liters Of Low-Grade Mana Water
1 Tablespoon Of Starlight Vinegar
1 Pinch Of Dragon Fly Flake Salt
1 Twist From Frostfire Black Pepper Grinder
1 Pinch Of Chopped Netherbane Chives
—-------------------
"What the fuck!?"
Lucian lost his composure, utterly shocked by the names of the ingredients. He stood completely still with his right leg still raised, but he did not pay it any attention.
Suddenly, while Lucian was shocked, streams of information rushed into his head: the selection and processing of ingredients, the cooking method, and the precise timing of each step.
In an instant, Lucian had become a master of the dish. It was as if he was the creator of the Siren's Melody Poached Egg recipe.
Cheating!
It was an absolute game-breaking cheat that needed to be patched!
Chef Lucian had tirelessly learned and practiced the art of cooking for years. However, within seconds, Lucian learned the art of poaching an egg.
It was absurd!
From the memories, Lucian had also confirmed that he was not hallucinating.
Somehow… someway, the System was able to acquire ingredients from different worlds.
If the ingredients were only from the same planar world, Lucian would not be shocked; however, the System was able to acquire ingredients from the three planes: The Mortal Plane, The Immortal Plane, and the Divine Plane.
Even Ancestral God Lucian was not able to cross planes.
The Laws that governed the Universe would not allow the descent of a powerful Being into a weaker plane.
After a while, Lucian finally lowered his foot and began making his way downstairs.
[How are you able to bypass the Universal Laws?] Lucian questioned the System as he entered the kitchen.
The System did not answer. It stayed silent as it watched Lucian wash his hands before drying them with a nearby cloth. It also did not know how it was able to bypass the Laws set by the Universe.
Meanwhile, as Lucian waited for the System to answer, he began familiarizing himself with his new kitchen.
[The System does not know how it is able to disregard the Universal Laws. I only know that once the Host acquired the Siren's Melody Poached Egg recipe, I was given access to a storage system that contained ingredients for the Siren's Melody Poached Egg. I believe once the Host upgrades the System Rank I will obtain the answer. For now, I am as clueless as you are.]
As Lucian was rearranging the pots and pans according to his preferences, the solemn voice of the System resounded in his mind.
After hearing the System's explanation, Lucian's lips twitched before his face was replaced with indifference.
'Honestly, what did I expect?'
It was a common trope. As trashy and overused as it was, readers still devoured it like a Kobe A5 Wagyu beef with a BMS grade of 12.
Lucian felt like a pig being stuffed before the inevitable occurred… his death. His life, strength, experience, everything was simply for the sole purpose of someone's benefit…
It was a hard pill to swallow, but that was how the universe worked.
It was a dog-eat-dog world.
Unless… the pig went against what it was created for and turned the situation around - eating its maker and turning them into its sustenance.
A cruel, bloodthirsty aura leaked from Lucian's body.
'We will see who devours who. For now, let me fatten up. Hahaha~!'
Suddenly, the small bells on the door rang.
Hearing the bells, Lucian regained his composure and calmly walked out of the kitchen.
—-------------
"Transcendence? What an arrogant name."
A tall and muscular Orc stopped outside the restaurant. He had broad shoulders that stretched the fabric of his leather armor. His muscular arms down to the tips of his fingers were adorned with black tribal tattoos. Jutting out of his mouth were two, five-inch sharp tusks. His dark green pupils, similar to his skin color, were looking at the building in surprise.
"How did this beautiful restaurant appear within a single night?"
Like any other day, Garrett was on his way to the Adventurer's Guild. He had taken the same route straight from his home, but who would have thought the dilapidated two-story building he had always steered away from, transformed within a single night?
If Garrett was asked what he remembered down to the very tiniest detail, his mother or the dilapidated building. It would be the building that had been on its last legs.
Ever since the rumors of the building spread in Thunderfall City, whenever he was passing by, he would hug the other side of the street. And his dark green eyes would always observe the building, just in case the rumored ghost happened to come out.
However, after a single night, the water-logged building had transformed. It had become a very beautiful two-story restaurant. Even Harmony City's four Noble Families mansions were outclassed.
The entire first floor's front wall extending to the side was replaced with a sheet of transparent glass. The water-logged wood that flew away with the breeze was completely gone. In its place was a beautiful, sturdy dark-brown mahogany wood.
Through the window was a sight that left him completely stunned. It was a sight that befitted the name 'Transcendence'.
Light brown mahogany tables lined behind the window. There were eight in total and twelve circular tables evenly placed within. Above each table was a beautiful golden, crystal chandelier.
But what caught his eye was the grand piano in the back left corner.
Even after a few minutes, his dark green eyes remained plastered on that beautiful masterpiece.
Sweet memories from his childhood began flooding his head.
"Haah." After a while, Garrett shook his head. The past was in the past. Now it was the present. As dreary as his present situation was, he could not change his past.
No one could change the past.
*Guruguru*
Suddenly, Garrett's stomach rumbled. He had not eaten breakfast. It was still morning, and barely anyone had risen out of their bed, let alone started going to work. His original plan was to eat at the Adventure's Guild like he did every day. The food they served was cheap, but the quality was dreadful.
Garrett's lips curled into a frown, and his eyes flashed with hesitation. He was hesitating on whether to enter.
His mind was telling him no, but his body… his body was telling him yes.
Eventually, Garrett gave into his stomach.
With a thought, a battle ax that was seven feet long, the same height as himself, coated in years of blood appeared in his hand.
After slinging it over his broad shoulders, Garrett calmly walked toward the restaurant and pushed the door open.
The ringing of bells startled him, and hastily he got into a battle-ready stance, with his battle ax drawn. He vigilantly looked left and right.
Through the transparent glass, Garrett noticed a white-haired, blue-eyed Human in the kitchen. As for the supposed ghost, there was no sight of it.
Then he looked above his head and chuckled embarrassingly when he saw two round bells, which were the source of his startlement.
After placing his battle ax back into his spatial ring, Garrett walked over to a nearby window table and sat down in the chair. Then, he looked at the restaurant while waiting for the Human.
The interior of the restaurant was clean. Even after he ran his finger across the table, his finger remained clean without a single speck of dust.
The ambiance of the restaurant was soothing and comforting. There was even a scent of jasmine that further relaxed his mind. He could not help but slouch in the chair.
The present Garrett felt unworthy of entering, let alone dining in this establishment.
Had it been five years ago, Garrett would not have felt such an emotion.