Chef Oliver stood behind Perry, observing his movements with a sharp and probing gaze. Perry's grip on the knife was skilled, his cutting rhythm steady and fluid, each slice precise and powerful. Chef Oliver raised his eyebrows slightly and couldn't help but ask, "Your knife skills don't look like those of a beginner. Where did you learn this?"
Perry almost blurted out that he had handled a lot of fish before but stopped himself just in time. He remembered that he was now supposed to be Henry, and Henry wasn't the type to be familiar with cooking. This new identity required him to carefully hide his previous habits. After a brief moment of thought, Perry replied, "Oh, I've just watched others handle food, so I picked up a few things." He tried to sound casual, downplaying his answer to avoid suspicion.
Chef Oliver's gaze flickered with doubt, but he didn't press further. He merely gave a faint smile, as though he saw through Perry's vague response but didn't care to investigate. "Well, seems like you've got a bit of talent," he said meaningfully. "Keep at it." This subtle scrutiny made Perry a bit uneasy. Although he knew Chef Oliver wasn't truly suspicious, it served as a reminder to be even more cautious.
At that moment, Fido excitedly called out, "It's ready! My soup is done!" With a thrilled expression, he lifted the pot lid, and a rich aroma filled the entire kitchen. Perry, who had already noticed the alluring scent, couldn't help but lean in, curious about what ingredients could create such a unique and intense fragrance.
Noticing Perry's curiosity, Fido chuckled and explained, "This is my special recipe—Burrower Chicken Soup! I used all the ingredients I carefully gathered last night, plus a few special spices. The flavor is definitely one-of-a-kind!" Perry looked down to see the soup, surprised by its dark red color, which appeared both mysterious and a bit intimidating. He frowned slightly and muttered, "The color of this chicken soup… it's really unusual."
Fido laughed, pleased, and explained, "There's a reason for that! Most of the ingredients are red, like the Laughing Pepper. It's green when raw, but once cooked, its juices turn a deep red that infuses the entire soup. Plus, many of the ingredients have dark attributes, so the soup naturally turned darker. It might look scary, but the taste won't disappoint you."
Perry nodded, half-understanding. "So that's it, huh? Fascinating…"
While he was marveling at the red soup, Chef Oliver smiled slightly and pulled out a transparent board about the size of an A4 sheet. Perry watched, puzzled, unsure of what Oliver was planning. Chef Oliver carefully dipped the board into the soup, his expression serious and focused. As the board submerged, it began to emit a faint glow. Perry was amazed to see that it absorbed some of the soup without leaving any residue.
After a moment, Chef Oliver slowly withdrew the board. Perry's eyes widened as he saw tiny lines of text and data appear on the board:
[Water: 5%
Earth: 5%
Fire: 2%
Dark: 40%
Light: 0%
Wind: 0%
Overall Grade: D]
Perry blinked in surprise, astonished that this small board could analyze the elemental composition of the soup and even assign it an overall grade! Chef Oliver examined the data carefully, then nodded, and said to Fido with a hint of approval, "Not bad, Fido; you've managed to create a Grade D dish, quite an improvement."
Fido blushed, scratching his head with a shy smile, clearly pleased that his efforts had been recognized. However, Chef Oliver wasn't done with his assessment. He pointed at the data and explained, "The dark element could be higher. Since the focus is on dark-attribute ingredients, other attributes shouldn't dominate, or it'll affect the flavor. Try reducing the fire and water attributes to below 3%—that way, the elements won't interfere with the dish's effect."
Fido listened intently, nodding with determination. "Understood, Chef! I'll make sure to adjust the elemental balance and meet your standards next time." His eyes shone with resolve, clearly taking Chef Oliver's guidance to heart.
Seeing this, Chef Oliver nodded in satisfaction and added, "This attempt is impressive, especially the soup's aroma, which makes you crave a taste. Next, try finding ingredients that can further enhance the dark attribute. The overall flavor will become richer." With that, he patted Fido on the shoulder, showing his encouragement.
Fido's smile grew even brighter upon hearing the compliments, unable to conceal his excitement and pride. However, just as he was basking in the praise, Chef Oliver shifted the conversation, pointing out other areas Fido could improve. Staring intently at the ingredients in the soup pot, Oliver spoke seriously, "But your knife work could use a little refinement. While your cuts on the chicken and bones are clean and precise, leaving them a bit too bare makes the bones look plain. Next time, try leaving a little meat on the bones. This will enhance the richness of the broth and add more depth to the soup's appearance."
He paused, glancing around the kitchen setup, then continued, "Also, the color of the soup is a bit too monotonous. Dark red is certainly intriguing, but if you could add colors like green or yellow, the dish would be visually richer, with a more vibrant color profile that naturally enhances the appetite."
Fido listened attentively, nodding frequently, occasionally showing an expression of sudden realization. After hearing Oliver's advice, he muttered to himself, "I didn't realize color pairing could be so important. I always thought more dark-element ingredients would be better, overlooking the visual appeal."
Seeing Fido's thoughtful look, Chef Oliver gave a slight smile and said in a warm, instructive tone, "Cooking isn't just the art of taste; it's an all-encompassing experience of sight, smell, and even texture. Remember to consider these multiple aspects when choosing ingredients, so the dishes you create will not only taste good but also be pleasing to the eye."
Listening to their conversation, Perry's curiosity grew as he eyed the transparent panel in Chef Oliver's hand. Unable to resist, he asked, "Chef Oliver, what exactly is that transparent board?"
Chef Oliver glanced at him and explained casually, "This is a food analysis board, designed to evaluate the elemental balance of ingredients. Different elements impact the body in various ways, so this board helps us understand the balance of ingredients and aids in refining the dish's quality. Of course, the taste still requires the chef's own palate and sense of smell, especially when working with different elements." He paused, looking at Perry, "For your next test, you'll rely on your nose to distinguish the properties of these ingredients."
Without giving further instructions, Oliver gestured for Perry to thoroughly clean the knife and cutting board. Although Perry found it slightly over-cautious, he followed the directions carefully, ensuring every corner of the knife and board was spotless and free of any residue.
Once Perry finished the cleaning, Oliver spoke at a measured pace, "You actually made a small mistake earlier—after cutting the soft tofu, you didn't clean the knife before moving on to the next ingredient."
Perry paused, frowning slightly, puzzled by Oliver's remark. Cutting ingredients seemed like a straightforward task, and this didn't appear to be a major issue. Seeing Perry's confusion, Oliver smiled slightly and patiently explained, "Each ingredient has its unique flavor and attributes, and not all ingredients can be handled interchangeably. Especially with something as delicate as soft tofu, which easily absorbs other flavors, mixing it with other tastes could compromise its quality and flavor." He gestured to the now-clean knife and cutting board, "So, ensuring clean tools to avoid flavor cross-contamination is a basic professional habit. Keep this in mind at all times."
Realizing his oversight, Perry understood the importance of these details. He lowered his head slightly, his voice carrying a hint of apology and self-reflection, "I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Chef."
Oliver nodded approvingly, offering a gentle smile of encouragement. "Don't be discouraged. Your knife skills are good, and with continued practice, you'll reach even higher levels. Just remember, you need to deepen your understanding of ingredients."
At that moment, Oliver's gaze returned to the five ingredients on the table. Pointing at them, he said, "Now, your next test is to identify the scents of these ingredients and discern their flavors and possible attributes."
Raising an eyebrow, Perry looked intrigued. "You can tell an ingredient's attributes just by smelling it?"
Chef Oliver glanced at him and explained calmly, "This is a food evaluation board, designed to analyze the attribute ratios of ingredients. Different attributes have varying effects on the body, so this board helps us assess ingredient balance and improve the quality of dishes. Of course, a dish's flavor still requires a chef's personal taste and smell judgment, especially when dealing with ingredients of differing attributes." He paused briefly, his gaze settling on Perry. "Your next test is to identify the attributes of these ingredients by scent alone."
Chef Oliver didn't rush to give further instructions. Instead, he motioned for Perry to thoroughly clean his knife and cutting board. Though Perry felt a bit puzzled, thinking this might be an overreaction, he followed the instructions diligently, wiping every corner of the knife and board to ensure no residue remained.
Once Perry completed the cleaning, Oliver spoke slowly, "Earlier, you made a small mistake while cutting. After handling the soft tofu, you didn't clean your knife before moving on to the next ingredient."
Perry froze, furrowing his brow and looking at Chef Oliver in confusion. To him, cutting ingredients was a basic task, and this issue seemed trivial. Seeing the confusion on Perry's face, Oliver smiled slightly and explained patiently, "Each ingredient has its own distinct flavor and attributes. Not all ingredients can be processed together without affecting the outcome, especially something as absorbent as soft tofu, which easily takes on other aromas and tastes. Mixing flavors can compromise the dish's quality and taste." He paused, gesturing to the knife and board Perry had just cleaned. "So, keeping tools clean and avoiding flavor cross-contamination is a fundamental professional habit. Remember this always."
Realizing his oversight, Perry understood the importance of such details. He lowered his head slightly, a hint of apology and self-reflection in his voice as he said, "I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Chef." He genuinely felt that he had overlooked a fundamental aspect of cleanliness, and no matter how skilled his knife work was, neglecting these basics could lessen the dish's impact.
Chef Oliver nodded in satisfaction, giving him an encouraging smile. "But don't be discouraged. Your knife skills are already quite good. With continued practice, you'll reach new heights. You just need to deepen your understanding of ingredients."
At that moment, Chef Oliver turned his gaze back to the five ingredients on the table and pointed to them. "Now, your next test is to use your sense of smell to identify these ingredients, discerning their flavors and possible attributes."
Perry raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise on his face. "Can you really determine an ingredient's attributes just by smell?"
Chef Oliver smiled mysteriously and replied, "Of course. Ingredients of different attributes also carry unique scent profiles. This isn't just a matter of experience but also a test of sensitivity to ingredients. Intuition, especially a chef's intuition, is crucial in this profession." He added meaningfully, "Over time, you'll find that certain subtle scents can reveal an ingredient's attributes, guiding you to create the ideal combinations."
Standing nearby, Fido nodded in agreement, his face full of anticipation as he watched Perry. Perry took a deep breath, focusing on the ingredients on the table, replaying Chef Oliver's advice in his mind, and trying to tap into his intuition to detect the nuances within each scent.
Perry decided to start with the soft tofu he had handled first. The delicate texture of the tofu wobbled slightly in his hand, emitting a faint, fresh fragrance. He carefully brought it to his nose, taking a deep breath, and was immediately enveloped by the gentle, bean-like aroma. The scent was soft, with a touch of sweetness, like a spring breeze. He tried to carefully analyze the layers of flavor within, feeling that the fragrance leaned more towards a sweet, smooth note. However, when it came to identifying its attributes, he found it hard to make a precise judgment. Perry furrowed his brow, aware that his understanding was still incomplete. He decided to record the bean fragrance for now and analyze it further later.
Next, he turned his attention to the second ingredient — the Laughing Chili. As soon as Perry approached, a powerful, spicy scent shot up his nose, causing him to instinctively step back, his brow furrowing and his eyes slightly watering. He held his nose for a moment to recover, then leaned in again, sensing that the spiciness carried a kind of burning heat, which reminded him of a blazing fire. "This is typical of a fire attribute," Perry silently concluded. Such an intense sensation could only be produced by a fire-attribute ingredient.
After he regained his breath, Perry picked up the third ingredient — a chunk of unknown sea fish. The fish meat was tender, emitting a strong oceanic odor. As he got closer, the salty, fishy smell made his mouth water, and he couldn't help but swallow. The salty scent reminded him of the sea, instantly evoking images of crashing waves and the damp sea breeze. However, strangely, Perry sensed a faint warmth from the fish's aroma, hinting at a fire attribute as well. This made him furrow his brow. Could a sea fish really have fire-attribute tendencies? The conflicting smells left him perplexed. Perry could only record the unusual scent for now, planning to confirm it later.
Next, Perry picked up the pale yellow, fruit-like ingredient. The fragrance it emitted was soft and refreshing, with a slight sweetness and tanginess, like a breath of spring wind mixed with fruit. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes to focus on the subtle changes in the scent. The sweet and sour fragrance relaxed his mind, but faintly, he seemed to catch a sense of earthiness, blended with a refreshing, wind-like quality. After some thought, he speculated that this might be a mix of earth and wind attributes, though he couldn't be certain. Perry noted the tangy, sweet taste for further analysis.
Finally, Perry's gaze fell on the deep red piece of leg meat. The meat carried a strong, fishy odor, even with a hint of a subtly pungent smell, making him wrinkle his nose. The scent of fishiness was reminiscent of lamb and pork, yet more intense, as if it carried a wild, untamed energy from the wilderness. He carefully brought his nose close, repeatedly trying to discern the scent, but he couldn't quite pinpoint the flavor or its attributes. The wildness and the unclassifiable quality of the smell made him ponder for a long time. Ultimately, he vaguely felt it might lean towards a wind attribute, though he wasn't entirely sure.
When Perry finally finished smelling all five ingredients and looked up, deep in thought, Chef Oliver was standing nearby, quietly observing his reactions. Chef Oliver smiled slightly and asked, "So, what did you discover about these five ingredients? Anything special?"
Fido, who had been watching intently, also wore an expression full of anticipation. His gaze was sharp with both admiration and curiosity, as though waiting for Perry's every analysis.