Perry curiously examined the magic book in his hands, finding it more extraordinary with each passing moment. A magic circle emitting a shimmering water-blue light adorned the cover, with runes flowing and flickering as if they were breathing, exuding a mysterious vitality and profound power.
In the center of the formation, an ancient inscription bore the name "Henry," hinting that he was once its owner. The light from the magic circle rippled softly under Perry's fingertips, warm to the touch, making the book feel almost alive, as if it was responding to his curiosity.
The book was remarkably thick, yet surprisingly light, as though some magic was reducing its weight. Every time Perry raised his hand to turn a page, the pages seemed to sense his touch, gently lifting as if eagerly welcoming him. Each open page contained meticulously detailed entries, organizing spells by attribute—so vast in number that they dazzled him at first glance. Most notable, however, was the prominence of water magic.
It seemed this book was inseparably connected to water spells; many incantations were written in wave-like script, as though awaiting only the chant to transform into real power. Perry couldn't help but imagine what kind of enchanting scenes these spells would create if spoken aloud.
Just as he thought about finding a specific spell, the pages suddenly began turning on their own, smoothly stopping at the page for the "Water Shield" spell. The incantation was elegantly inscribed in water-patterned script, emanating a sense of graceful yet sturdy protection.
Perry was pleasantly surprised, thinking, "Oh, this is just the spell I needed!"
Seeing the lengthy spell incantation made Perry's head spin a bit. He mentally murmured "healing," and the book immediately flipped to the page recording a healing spell. The incantation, written in a mix of holy light and water patterns, was even longer than the previous one.
Without any skill assistance, Perry would have to recite the entire incantation to cast the spell. At this moment, he felt very grateful that Henry himself had skills.
[The magic book automatically opens to the relevant pages based on the holder's needs.] System's blue orb explained, floating near the book.
Perry murmured admiringly, "That's really convenient." He couldn't resist touching the page's texture, sensing a faint but distinct flow of magic.
[This book's spells were all personally recorded by its owner. Henry documented a total of 150 spells, most of them being water and plant-based magic, with some basic spells of other attributes. ] System continued to analyze.
"If you can analyze the contents of this book, can you also help me copy Grandpa Harden's notes?" Perry wondered. Having detailed records of those plants would greatly aid his study of their properties.
However, when the system approached Harden's notes beside Larkin, it was repelled by a powerful blue magic barrier covering one of the small notebooks.
The system calmly returned to Perry's mind and reported, [It seems the notes are protected by a strong magical barrier. I can't bypass it to copy or analyze the contents; this barrier must be intended to prevent others from easily peeking inside.]
"What a pity," Perry thought with slight disappointment.
At that moment, Toto skillfully flipped the fish over, and the fish began to sizzle on the charcoal grill, emitting a fragrant aroma. The combined scent of Lanla Grass and the fish, kissed by the flames, created a mouthwatering fragrance that perfectly blended the subtle aroma with the fish's savory flavor. The smell lingered in the air, catching everyone's attention.
Rufus, unable to resist the enticing aroma, approached curiously and asked, "What is that smell? I've never smelled anything like it before."
Larkin chuckled and replied, "It's grilled fish with Lanla Grass, a seasoning method Perry found in Grandpa Harden's notes."
Rufus's eyes widened in amazement as he leaned closer to the fire, taking a deep breath as if trying to inhale the delicious aroma, "Oh, Henry, you're a flavor genius!" he exclaimed.
Toto, too, was drawn by the scent, his eyes sparkling as he stared at the grilled fish, swallowing a bit in anticipation.
"Oh man, it smells incredible!" His gaze was fixed entirely on the fish, clearly eager to dig in.
Larkin, meanwhile, couldn't help but recall Harden's notes, and she said thoughtfully, "From what I remember, Lanra grass is usually used to make magical potions, enhancing their potency, and sometimes even in explosives. I've never heard of anyone adding it to food, let alone fish."
She looked at Perry with admiration, clearly impressed by his bold innovation.
Perry gave a slightly helpless smile and muttered, "I only learned this stuff for the mission; who has the free time to study cooking..." But then, with a half-joking tone, he added, "Though honestly, I might just consider becoming a chef."
"What?" The three of them paused, all staring at Perry in surprise.
Toto looked at him in disbelief, "Wait, Henry, are you serious? Being a chef isn't an easy job! In fact, it's one of the most restrictive careers. Plus, chefs face all kinds of dangerous experiments, and while the pay is decent, there's no free time at all."
Larkin shook her head repeatedly, also stunned, "Exactly, being a mage or mercenary is so much better than being a chef! Mages make good money, and once you're successful, you can enjoy fine food without having to make it yourself."
Rufus quickly chimed in, "Yeah! You clearly have a bright future as a talented mage. With enough earnings, you can treat yourself to delicious food. And besides, being a chef is exhausting day after day; what's the point?"
Looking at their exaggerated reactions and enthusiastic advice, Perry found it quite amusing. They didn't understand his reasons, but he didn't explain. Instead, he just said calmly, "Heh, maybe I just feel like it suits me."
Hearing Perry's answer, the three exchanged glances, gradually falling silent.
With a hint of respect, Larkin said sincerely, "If you're truly willing to pursue being a chef, that does take courage. There's nothing easy about being a chef."
Rufus scratched his head, adding, "True, being a chef takes a lot of patience and resilience, and chef exams aren't easy either. Have you really thought it through? But if you just like ingredients and flavors, maybe you could consider being a flavorist."
"A flavorist? What's that?" Perry asked, curious as he kept tending to the grill.
Rufus explained with a grin, "A flavorist is an expert in using herbs and spices to make ordinary ingredients taste amazing. The best part is, flavorists don't need a chef's license, and just enhancing basic food isn't illegal. Plus, the pay can rival that of a chef. I've heard some flavorists earn over ten thousand a month."
Perry was slightly taken aback. "Sounds like a decent profession…" He glanced at the fish on the grill, secretly considering that if not for his mission, he might genuinely pursue becoming a flavorist. After all, he had a fair bit of confidence in his seasoning skills.
"Yeah, and flavorists can also create nutrient elixirs," Rufus continued. "You know, nutrient elixirs are really popular among regular folks, and they can substitute for daily meals. The flavorist exam isn't easy, but it's simpler than the chef's."
"Chef exams are that hard?" Perry asked nonchalantly, thinking that an exam was just an exam; he'd been through plenty and saw no reason to be intimidated.
"Extremely hard!" The three of them responded almost in unison, looking at Perry with deadly serious expressions.
Toto began explaining, "The chef's exam is open globally but only held once every three years, with very strict entry requirements. First, you must have a cooking license, which you can only obtain after studying under an experienced mentor for at least a year and completing ten standard dishes."
"Second," Larkin added, "you can't have a criminal record. And that includes minor offenses—like sneaking bites of ingredients, peeking around suspiciously, or even failing personal hygiene checks."
"The third requirement," Rufus chimed in, "is that you need at least one sponsor. A sponsor is someone who supports you financially to enter the competition. Cooking is an extremely expensive craft, and without a sponsor, it's almost impossible to afford high-quality ingredients. Unless you're a billionaire yourself, you have to find someone to back you."
Perry nodded thoughtfully, smiling. "Sounds fair enough."
Larkin chuckled lightly, teasing, "You almost got in trouble earlier! Luckily, young Lanla Grass has no attributes. Otherwise, you'd be headed to the cell!"
Toto furrowed his brow with concern, adding, "Exactly. This country is strict about illegal cooking. Even accidentally cooking with a magically enhanced ingredient can get you hauled away. See that black orb up there?" Toto pointed to a small black sphere floating above the camp.
Perry looked up and saw a dark orb hovering over their campsite. It circled above them like a mechanical eye before vanishing into the darkness.
"Is it really that strict?" Perry asked, eyes wide.
"Absolutely," Toto said with a mysterious tone, making a throat-slitting gesture, "especially if you're cooking advanced dishes without a chef's license. They'll hit you with heavy penalties!"
Perry's brows furrowed. He had been hoping to cook in secret where no one would see, but now he felt uneasy. Glancing back at the fish in his hands, he sighed with relief, thankful for Toto's timely reminder, and turned his attention back to the campfire to continue roasting the fish.
Finally, the fish was ready. Perry unwrapped the leaf covering, and the aroma wafted through the air, drawing everyone in. He carefully portioned the fish, and even he couldn't resist sneaking a taste. The mild spiciness of the lanla grass combined with the fish's natural flavors, creating a rich taste with a hint of pine and a delicate spice that lingered on the tongue.
"This is incredible!" Toto exclaimed, blowing on a hot piece before eagerly taking another bite.
Larkin, chewing thoughtfully, nodded in approval. "The subtle heat of the lanla grass complements the fish perfectly. I would never have thought they'd go so well together."
As Perry watched them savor each bite, a sense of satisfaction filled him. When they finished eating, he couldn't resist asking more about the cooking license.
Rufus took over the conversation and explained seriously: "The cooking license is actually open to everyone to participate, and the purpose is to discover the cooking talents among the people. With a cooking license, you can cook legally, but you can only eat what you cook yourself, and you can't give it to others at will. Only formal chefs are qualified to let others taste their own dishes."
Perry frowned slightly: "Is that so? Doesn't that mean that as long as you get this license, everyone can cook for themselves?"
"Yes, in theory," Rufus nodded, "but recently I heard that to get this cooking license, The rules of the license are going to change. It seems that an additional project will be added. Maybe the final assessment must be judged by three top gourmets. At least one of them must be satisfied with your dish before you pass. "
Perry's eyes flashed with surprise: "It's really difficult. Just satisfying the taste of top gourmets is challenging enough. Do you know where to apply for this license?"
Larkin spread his hands and shrugged: "In fact, we don't know. No one we know has ever obtained this license. After all, many people are unwilling to be bound by cooking rules. Even if they get a cooking license, they are often forced to sign a contract by some famous chefs, especially those with good skills will be forced to become a chef's assistant who specializes in handling ingredients, or even do odd jobs. "
Perry frowned, puzzled. "Really? That's a thing?"
"Oh, absolutely," Rufus replied with a wry smile. "Chefs are in high demand. Many of the famous ones are quite arrogant and only want skilled assistants. With so few skilled chefs around, the new cooking license rule is likely to help them screen for talented assistants and prevent others from cooking for themselves to level up."
"That's why we suggested you become flavorist," Larkin added. "Flavorist don't need a cooking license and aren't as restricted. The income's not bad, either."
Perry smiled appreciatively. "Thanks for the advice—I'll think about it." But deep down, he had already made up his mind. To complete his mission, he would have to get the cooking license first, and then pass the chef's exam to become a real chef.
At that moment, a clear notification sounded in his mind, interrupting his thoughts.
Ding-ding—
[Task 4: Cook 5 simple attribute dishes (0/5)
Reward: 10,000 gold coins
Deadline: Three months
Penalty: Being wanted all over the country]
Seeing the task details, Perry frowned deeply, thinking to himself, "This is going to be a tricky mission..."