Perry gathered his thoughts and said to Fido, "Oh, it's about Chef Rona."
Fido raised an intrigued eyebrow, his face lighting up with interest. "Chef Rona? What about her? She's the most talked-about rising chef this year. Everyone's been buzzing about her." He paused, then added, "She's also Chef Dyram's protégé. I've heard he holds her in exceptionally high regard. Gaining such praise at her age is no small feat. So, what's the story? Did something happen?"
A spark of excitement flashed in Perry's eyes, and he couldn't hold back his enthusiasm. "Do you know about dual- element cooking?"
"What? Dual- element cooking?" Fido's head shot up, his eyes wide with disbelief. "You mean dishes that can contain and balance two types of energy element at once? That's the breakthrough Chef Dyram recently achieved! I heard it took him nearly a decade of research to succeed. Are you telling me… Chef Rona has already mastered this technique?"
Fido frowned slightly, his face a mix of shock and skepticism, as if struggling to believe the news.
Perry scratched his head, his tone firm yet tinged with excitement. "Well, it's highly likely! I recently met an elderly man named Mars. While Mars was analyzing an ingredient with another man, they discovered it was a dual- element ingredient, and the conversation shifted to Chef Rona. Apparently, she's been searching for a special ingredient needed for dual-element cooking. The man was hesitant about giving it to her, and Mars even tried to persuade him, saying that Rona could maximize the ingredient's value."
"Were you eavesdropping?" Fido asked with a raised eyebrow, his tone carrying a hint of playful mockery.
"Sort of," Perry admitted sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "I was curious about how Mars could determine an ingredient's attributes, so I stayed close and overheard their discussion. When I heard them mention dual- element cooking, I couldn't help but pay extra attention. Mars eventually noticed me, and I thought he'd be angry, but he wasn't. He was surprisingly calm and even chatted with me. He's a really nice guy, not only did he not scold me, but he also explained more about Chef Rona and dual-attribute ingredients."
Fido tapped his fingers on the table, his brows furrowed as if deep in thought. "Mars… Mars… That name sounds so familiar. I feel like I've heard it somewhere before. Could it be…" He muttered to himself, trying to piece together fragmented memories.
Perry noticed Fido's reaction to Mars's name and found it odd but decided not to press further. Instead, he continued, "I'm not entirely sure if I'll get to see Chef Rona in action, but Mars promised to help arrange something. If all goes well, we might get a chance to observe her creating dual-attribute dishes up close."
Fido nearly jumped out of his chair in excitement. "That's amazing news! If we get to witness her making dual- element dishes, it'll be a feast for the eyes and the mind! I've heard she has an unparalleled mastery of ingredient attributes. Supposedly, she can balance two conflicting attributes in a single dish so perfectly that they don't repel each other at all. That's no ordinary feat!"
Seeing Fido so thrilled, Perry couldn't help but smile. "Looks like you know quite a bit about Chef Rona yourself."
Fido nodded enthusiastically, speaking at lightning speed. "Of course! I've done plenty of research on her. Did you know that during the last Chef's Conference, even though she was just an observer, the suggestions she made impressed even the most seasoned chefs? This year, she officially became a chef after passing the certification exam, and I'm sure she'll deliver even more spectacular surprises!"
Suddenly, an idea seemed to strike him, and his eyes gleamed with excitement. "Speaking of which, I've heard rumors about a big culinary competition being held in the city soon. Have you heard anything about it?"
Perry shook his head, his expression puzzled. "I heard Mars mention something briefly, but I don't know the details."
Fido waved his hand dismissively and continued, "These kinds of events are usually kept under wraps, known only to top-tier chefs and special invitees. I picked up the news through some back channels. Apparently, this competition isn't just a platform for chefs to showcase their talents——it's also a way to attract the attention of merchants and nobles. Since you mentioned Chef Rona, I'd bet she'll be one of the invited participants. Everyone's keeping an eye on her!"
Perry pondered for a moment, frowning slightly as he spoke hesitantly, "If this competition is real, do you think we can watch it? Or maybe… does it have anything to do with dual- element cuisine? Could the competition be themed around it?"
Hearing this, Fido chuckled softly and shook his head. "That depends on our luck. The exact rules and details haven't been released yet, but you know how these competitions work—high barriers to entry and mostly by invitation. Only chefs and special guests usually get in. Regular folks? Not a chance." He paused deliberately, as if trying to build suspense.
Perry furrowed his brows deeper, unable to resist pressing further. "So, you're saying we basically have no hope?"
Fido's eyes sparkled as his smile grew wider. "Not necessarily! Our teacher, Chef Oliver, will be attending this competition. As his special students, there's a chance he might save us a couple of spots. After all, opportunities to observe such high-level competitions up close don't come around often."
"Really?" Perry's eyes lit up instantly, but he hesitated. "But I've only just joined and don't know Chef Oliver very well. This kind of opportunity is probably more suited for you."
Fido couldn't help but laugh as he patted Perry on the shoulder, half-encouraging, half-teasing. "Don't sell yourself short! Even if we can't get in, I'll record the whole thing for you! Then you can study it at your own pace——it won't be a total loss."
Perry scratched his head, feeling somewhat reassured but still slightly unsatisfied. "Watching a video is great, but it's not the same as experiencing it firsthand. Especially being able to observe other chefs' cooking processes up close, that could inspire so much more."
Seeing Perry's determination, Fido grinned and gave his shoulder another pat, his tone warm and comforting. "You've only just started. Don't rush things. Take it step by step and focus on what's in front of you."
Perry lowered his head in thought, acknowledging the truth in Fido's words. But the weight of his three-year deadline pressed heavily on him, and his expression grew increasingly somber. He lifted his head, unable to hide his frustration and anxiety. Three years… That's all I have. He thought bitterly. Right now, he couldn't even master the basics, his cooking techniques were rough, and he still struggled to control the heat. Forget about dual-element cuisine; even the fundamentals were far from polished.
Fido noticed Perry's darkening expression and felt a bit at a loss. After a moment's thought, he decided to change the subject to ease the tension. "Don't dwell on it too much. Worrying won't solve anything. By the way, since Mist Market is your current goal, you'd better pay attention to its rules and details. That place is full of hidden talents, opportunities, and, of course, traps."
At that moment, Perry glanced at the card Fido had handed him earlier and suddenly asked, "Fido, I've been wondering, why are you so willing to lend me so much gold? Twelve thousand isn't a small amount. It'll probably take me forever to pay you back…"
Fido raised an eyebrow, looking genuinely confused. "Wait, did you forget about the form you filled out earlier? It clearly explained everything in black and white, the money we spend or the ingredients we sell all belong to Chef Oliver. These coins aren't mine. They're part of the budget Oliver gave us specifically for buying ingredients. As for the ones you just bought… well, those are all for me to use."
Hearing this, Perry's eyes widened in realization. Memories of hastily signing the form flashed through his mind. Sure enough, there had been a clause like that, but at the time, he hadn't paid it much attention.
"Ah, I see." Perry nodded and pulled out the five ingredients he had just purchased from his backpack, handing them to Fido. "Here's what I got. I'm not sure about your cooking plans, but I hope these will be useful."
Fido took the ingredients and carefully inspected them, nodding in satisfaction. "Not bad. The quality's decent. I'll need to head back and put these in the fridge for storage. If they spoil, it'd be a real waste."
He picked up his cup, finishing the last drop of coffee like he was performing an important ritual. As he set the cup down, he meticulously wiped the rim with a handkerchief. Then, with practiced ease, he pulled out some coins from his pocket and placed them on the table, the smoothness of his actions resembling the finesse of crafting a dish.
"Alright, I'd better get going. These ingredients can't sit around for too long." Standing up, he stretched lazily before waving at Perry, a familiar easygoing smile on his face. "You've got a busy day ahead too, right? Don't slack off!"
Perry stood as well, nodding slightly in response. "Got it. You'd better hurry back, or the ingredients might spoil."
As Fido's figure disappeared into the distance, Perry felt a complicated mix of emotions welling up inside. Fido always has this reassuring and reliable aura about him.
He glanced down, quickly tidying up his belongings to ensure he hadn't left anything behind. Then, he muttered softly to himself, "Next, I need to buy a contact bead. That's the key to getting in touch with Mr. Mars."
Stepping out of the café, Perry looked around. The market wasn't far, and it was even busier than before.
He took a deep breath, adjusted the straps of his backpack, and started walking toward the town market. The faint echoes of his footsteps tapped against the cobblestone streets. Vendors on both sides of the road were enthusiastically calling out to customers, the lively chatter and shouts filling the air.
"First, I need to find a shop that sells contact bead," Perry planned silently, "then I'll head back to that tent to meet Mr. Mars."
As he walked, his eyes swept over the various stalls, some selling fresh fruit, others displaying handmade trinkets, and a few offering strange and curious items. The vibrant colors of the stalls were dazzling, but Perry knew he didn't have time to linger. Suppressing his curiosity, he quickened his pace toward his goal.
"Contact bead… They should be fairly common. Hopefully, they're not too expensive…" he muttered under his breath, his gaze darting between shops. In the distance, a sign reading "Magic Item Emporium" caught his attention, making his eyes light up.
"Got it!" he exclaimed, his pace quickening. The opportunity to witness dual-element cooking lay ahead, and he had to seize it.
Perry walked briskly towards the small shop with the sign that read "Magic Item Emporium," his footsteps echoing lightly on the cobblestone road. He pushed open the wooden door, and a faint, pleasant fragrance greeted him, carrying a hint of incense and aged wood.
Inside the shop, the lighting was soft and warm. The walls were adorned with all kinds of magical items: crystal balls shimmering with a faint glow, feathered quills floating in mid-air, and various bottles of different sizes filled with liquids in a spectrum of colors, making it hard to tell whether they were mere decorations or actual magical tools. Behind the counter stood a middle-aged shopkeeper in a deep green robe, carefully polishing a pale blue crystal ball. Upon seeing Perry enter, he set down the object and greeted him with a friendly smile.
"Welcome, young man," the shopkeeper said in a low, soothing voice. "Is there something special you're looking for?"
Perry stepped closer to the counter, doing his best to sound polite yet firm. "Hello, I'm looking to buy a contact bead."
"A contact bead?" The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow, seemingly not surprised. He pointed to the right side of the counter where a row of display shelves held beads of various sizes and different gleams, each one glowing with a faint aura. "You can take a look at these. Our contact beads are of great quality, easy to use, and durable."
Perry walked over and carefully examined the beads. Some were transparent, others glowed with faint blue or purple light, and each one seemed to hum with magical energy. He picked up a blue bead, feeling its cold surface, sensing the faint energy flowing through it.
"How about this one?" Perry asked, looking up at the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper nodded slightly. "Good choice. This contact bead not only allows for long-distance communication, but it also stores a single conversation's record for later playback. Normally, contact beads are sold in pairs, but this model is a bit pricier, two for 50 gold coins."
Perry did a quick mental calculation. The price was acceptable, and the functionality was clearly useful. He nodded. "Alright, I'll take these two."
"Wise choice," the shopkeeper said with a satisfied smile, placing the beads in a small velvet pouch and handing it to Perry. "I hope they help you."
After taking the pouch and paying with gold coins, Perry furrowed his brow, suddenly remembering something. He turned back to the shopkeeper and asked, "How do I use the contact bead? I've never used one of these before."
The shopkeeper looked up, surprised by Perry's curiosity, but quickly smiled and patiently began to explain. "Oh, this is your first time with one? It's quite simple. First, just hold the contact bead in your hand and remain still for a few seconds. After that, seven numbers will appear in your mind. These numbers represent your contact number. By silently reciting these numbers, you can activate the bead, you give your contact bead to other and the other person can use your contact bead to reach you."
Perry listened intently, nodding in understanding and mentally noting the steps. After a moment's thought, he asked, "What if I want to replay a previous conversation? Is that also done through the contact bead?"
The shopkeeper smiled slightly. "Yes, replaying a conversation is also very easy. You just need to hold the contact bead again, and the seven numbers will reappear in your mind. After waiting for about a minute, a new option will appear——'Conversation Record.' Select it, and you'll be able to listen to the previous conversation. Quite convenient, isn't it?"
"Mmm, very convenient." Perry nodded, more convinced of the contact bead's practicality. However, another question arose. "But this seems to consume quite a bit of energy. If I keep in touch with many people, wouldn't I need to buy several as backups?"
The shopkeeper chuckled lightly and shook his head, looking unconcerned. "Need to buy backups? You don't have to go through all that trouble. The contact bead itself can be replicated. If you have two contact beads, hold them both in your hand at the same time and gently release them, and you'll find that a new contact bead has appeared in your hand."
Perry's eyes lit up, both surprised and intrigued. He immediately followed the shopkeeper's instructions. First, he activated his own number by holding one contact bead. After a moment, the number 186927 appeared in his mind. Then, he held both contact beads in his hand for a few seconds before releasing his grip. Sure enough, he was left speechless as a new contact bead appeared in his hand.
"Wow, it really come out a new one!" Perry couldn't help but exclaim, staring in disbelief at the three contact beads in his hand.
The shopkeeper, seeing his reaction, smiled and added, "Yes, the reason you need two is that two identical contact beads promote their replication. However, there is a small limitation. Each contact bead can only be used for two years. After that, you must purchase a new, empty contact bead and transfer the old number into it. If you want to use a number permanently, you'll need to buy a more expensive calling magic orb. The calling magic orb not only lasts indefinitely but also provides better call quality. However, it's larger and less convenient to carry. The cheapest calling magic orb costs around seventy thousand gold coins."
Perry paused, realizing this could be a problem. Seventy thousand gold coins was no small sum, and the size of the calling magic orb made it impractical. It seemed the small, easily replicable contact bead would better suit his current needs.
"I see. This thing really is quite useful," Perry mused as he placed the contact beads back into the velvet pouch, processing the new information. "Though the two-year replacement limitation is a bit of a hassle."
The shopkeeper chuckled. "Yes, but for most people, it's not a big issue. And with the replication feature, most people don't need to worry about running out of contact beads. After all, as long as you have two, you can make an infinite number."
He gently placed the contact bead back into the small velvet pouch and raised an eyebrow, a slight frown forming as he asked, "But if you keep receiving other people's contact beads, wouldn't it be hard to distinguish which one belongs to whom ?"
The shopkeeper, after a brief moment of thought, reached under the counter and pulled out an exquisite silver bracelet. The design of the bracelet was simple yet ingeniously crafted, with a central space that perfectly matched the size of two contact beads. This central area seemed specifically designed for holding contact beads, and the edges of the bracelet were etched with intricate runes, exuding a mysterious aura. The shopkeeper gently held up the bracelet and gestured for Perry to take a closer look, then explained, "This is called the 'Contact Ring.' It's designed specifically for collecting and managing contact beads."
"Contact Ring?" Perry repeated, a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes.
"Yes, that's right," the shopkeeper continued. "You can place your two contact beads in the middle section of the ring, and other people's contact beads can also be attached to it. The ring will automatically absorb them. The Contact Ring itself contains powerful magic that helps you organize and manage these contact tools. What's more convenient is that once a contact bead is stored in the ring, it will automatically be tagged and annotated, making it easy for you to identify which contact bead belongs to whom. When you need to contact someone, you simply press the silver part of the ring and think about the person you want to reach. The Contact Ring will automatically call up that number for you. It's very convenient."
Perry stood there, dumbfounded, completely captivated by this design. Not only did the Contact Ring solve the identification problem, but it also saved him a lot of hassle. If it worked as the shopkeeper said, and he could simply store the contact beads in the ring and initiate contact by thinking of the person, it would greatly increase his efficiency.
The shopkeeper smiled, "If you need to duplicate a new contact bead, no need to place two contact beads in your hand because the Contact Ring will create a new one for you. All of this can be done easily in your mind, very convenient."
Perry was astonished. This small bracelet could do so much, it was both magical and practical. He lifted his gaze, thought for a moment, then hesitated before asking, "How much does the Contact Ring cost?"
The shopkeeper smiled and replied, "Eight thousand gold coins."
Perry was taken aback. Eight thousand gold coins was much more than he had spent before, but considering the usefulness of the item, it seemed like a good investment if he ever needed to manage multiple contact beads. However, at this moment, his wallet didn't have that much gold. He shook his head, a bit disappointed. "Oh, I don't have that much money right now. It might take me a while to save up for it. Thank you for the information, though. I'll think about it."
The shopkeeper didn't show any displeasure at Perry's refusal. Instead, he nodded with a smile. "No worries, young man. You can come by anytime. The Contact Ring is indeed a very useful item that will help you manage multiple contact tools. When you have enough gold, feel free to come back and purchase it." His words were sincere, which made Perry feel warmly reassured.
"Thank you. I'll definitely come back," Perry silently decided in his heart. Once he had enough money, he would definitely buy the Contact Ring. This bracelet would not only significantly improve his efficiency but also prevent him from getting confused by too many contact beads. With that thought in mind, he smiled, bid the shopkeeper goodbye, and turned to leave the shop.