Michael was thinking about the first mission that the system had assigned him.
Although his father Jacob was a merchant, Michael wouldn't categorize him as an ordinary merchant who ran his business using wits and strategy.
Jacob's business revolved around transporting materials and people, earning profits by bridging distant locations.
Even though this world enjoyed relative peace, it wasn't free from conflicts. As the saying goes, humans can never live without conflicts. Moreover, there were many other races, so conflicts were bound to arise.
This is also why Michael was not keen on taking any hints from his father's business. Either way, as a man from Earth, he hated unnecessary conflicts. Of course, that doesn't mean that he will run from any problems it's just that he will not be the one who starts them purposely.
As Michael wandered through the bustling marketplace, his eyes were drawn to an obscure corner that led him to a small restaurant.
Michael's eyes gleamed. He immediately searched the system and discovered a MasterChef Beginner skill package in the skills section.
MasterChef (Beginner): Provides foundational cooking skills, including traditional and magical recipes, kitchen safety, and food preservation techniques. Prepare basic dishes with unique properties to enhance health and energy.
Price: 5 SP
There were many other skills related to hunting, crafting, and such but this was the most affordable one. He quickly converted his 5000 gold coins to 5 SP and bought this skill.
Ding! Congratulations host for buying your first skill. The system has decided to give you a free vial of Memory Enhancement potion as a bonus gift.
Memory Enhancement Potion: A potion created to help you absorb the system skill without affecting your regular brain activity.
Price: 25 SP
Michael was shocked to see the price.
"Thank You System, I knew you always had me in your heart."
"Host, you are overthinking. This is the reward for buying the skill for the first time. Next time you will have to buy it from the system."
Michael cursed the system for being a capitalist while keeping the vial in system storage. He decided to use it after he returned home. With that thought in mind, Michael continued towards the small restaurant.
He had an idea to buy this place and start his restaurant but before that, he decided to check it out.
As he stepped inside the dimly lit space, it became clear that calling it a restaurant was an overstatement. The room was cramped, and filled with mismatched tables and chairs, each bearing the marks of prolonged use.
Amidst the clutter of pots and pans, a figure stood behind a small counter, stirring a steaming pot. It was a demon, with skin that had a faint reddish hue and eyes that gleamed with an otherworldly light.
His long, slender fingers moved with practiced ease, and his curved horns gave him an imposing yet oddly serene presence.
The demon looked up as Michael entered, his eyes meeting Michael's with a welcoming expression. "Welcome," he said in a deep, smooth voice. "Can I help you with something?"
Michael nodded, still slightly taken aback. The two demon guards were also surprised to see a fellow demon cooking inside a kitchen. Cooking was a task that was not highly looked upon by the strength-loving demons.
"I was just looking around. Are you the owner of this... place?"
The demon smiled. "Yes, I am. My name is Raziel. This little eatery has been in my family for generations. We serve the best stew in town, or so I've been told. Feel free to sit and let me know if you have any questions. Meanwhile, you can look at the menu and order something from it."
Michael with his two guards sat on the chairs. He looked at the handwritten menu and his mouth twitched. There was only one item on the menu. Michael took a deep breath and ordered three soup bowls.
After a while, Raziel came out with three bowls of soup.
Michael's eyes scanned the contents of the bowl placed before him. The soup was a curious mix of big meat chunks and condiments floating aimlessly in the broth. It didn't look particularly appetizing, and he hesitated, unsure whether to try it.
Raziel watched Michael with an expectant gaze, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. Not wanting to offend him, Michael mustered up some courage and scooped a spoonful of the soup.
As soon as the soup touched his tongue, Michael's eyes widened. It felt like he had just swallowed a spoonful of salt.
"So, how is it?" Raziel asked with a hint of pride in his voice.
Before he could hear the answer, he saw Michael spit the soup out of his mouth.
"Damn what kind of soup is this, why is it so salty. Don't tell me you emptied your entire salt container in it."
Michael wanted to say more but stopped abruptly when he saw Raziel's face. The demon's imposing presence seemed to vanish, replaced by a puppy-like expression, as if he was on the verge of tears.
After a moment of silence, Michael felt bad for him. He stood up and placed his hand on Raziel's shoulder, forcing a reassuring smile. "It's okay, Raziel. Everyone has an off day in the kitchen. Maybe we can work together to improve the recipe."
"Work together? Can you cook?" Raziel asked him with a suspicious tone.
Even Tom and Jason were skeptical. Throughout these years, they never saw their Young master cooking any food.
Michael smirked, "What, are you doubting this Young Master? Okay, let's do this. I'll come tomorrow and cook some dishes for you. You eat it and judge it. If you like my food, then sell your restaurant to me."
Raziel's eyes widened in shock. "When did I say anything about selling my restaurant?" he stammered, taken aback by Michael's audacity.
"You didn't, but think about it. Isn't it better to sell me this restaurant instead of running it at a loss? And don't worry, I won't shortchange you. Okay, let's talk about it tomorrow."
Without waiting for Raziel's answer, Michael walked out of the restaurant.
"Young master, do you know how to cook? If you want to buy the restaurant, why not offer him more gold? I'm sure he won't refuse," Tom suggested.
Michael didn't respond immediately. He had already thought about it thoroughly. Observing Raziel's work, he knew that while the taste of the food wasn't great, it was clear that Raziel just needed good recipes to turn his cooking into something extraordinary.
Michael planned to employ Raziel in the restaurant and have him manage it. After all, he had no plans to personally manage the place indefinitely, but he didn't want to give up on the idea entirely.
In his past world, Michael had seen many restaurant owners earn fortunes through good food and excellent service. He aimed to replicate that success here and expand into other profitable ventures.
The greater the demand for his products and services, the greater his power and influence. Although he doesn't want to rule the world, why not use this power to create a better place?
After reaching home, Tom had lunch with his mother and sister. He told them about his plan to open a restaurant. His mother had doubts, but Michael convinced her.
Next, he went to his room and drank the memory enhancement potion that he got from the system.
After drinking the potion, Michael felt an instant refreshment in his mind.
It was as if his thoughts had cleared and his brain had made room for new memories. Feeling excited, he clicked on the skill package without a second thought.
Immediately, a wave of knowledge surged through his brain, filling his mind with new recipes and skills. Michael now possessed the recipes to create dishes that were not only delicious but also filled with unique properties to enhance health and energy.
His mind raced with possibilities as he envisioned cooking soups that could heal minor wounds, bread that could boost vitality, and curries that could re-energize the soul.
The next day, Michael returned to Raziel's restaurant, ready to start preparing the food for the competition. Before coming here, he had consulted the system about opening a restaurant.
The system had agreed, revealing that it didn't charge for all questions. Whenever it saw an opportunity to make money, it would recommend things automatically.
In this venture, the system has agreed to supply ingredients for the restaurant business and provide other essentials like furniture at an affordable price.
For this competition, the system had provided the ingredients free of charge, with the understanding that when Michael started purchasing supplies for his restaurant, he would give first preference to the system's market.
Michael began his preparations with the high-quality ingredients provided by the system.
Michael decided to recreate the soup Raziel had given him making the competition more exciting. While the "MasterChef (Beginner)" skill was basic, learning and mastering mortal recipes was easy. Michael knew he could improve upon the soup he'd tasted.
He aimed to create a superior soup version, showcasing his newfound culinary talents and convincing Raziel to join him.
He started by selecting the finest cuts of meat and fresh vegetables: onions, garlic, carrots, and potatoes.
After washing and trimming the meat, he cut it into bite-sized pieces and seared them in a hot pot until browned, releasing a mouth-watering aroma.
Next, he sautéed the onions and garlic until golden, adding the carrots and potatoes for a hearty base.
Michael then tossed the browned goat meat back into the pot, seasoning it with bay leaves, thyme, salt, and pepper.
He added a special ground herb for energy and a pinch of a healing powder to give the soup a magical boost.
He poured a rich broth and let the soup simmer, allowing the flavors to meld perfectly.
The kitchen was filled with the tantalizing aroma of the bubbling soup, causing Raziel and the two guards to salivate eagerly.
When the soup was ready, Michael ladled it into bowls, the rich, savory aroma promising a delightful experience. Confident in his creation, he presented the soup to Raziel and his two guards.
Without saying anything, all three of them started drinking the soup. The room was filled with the voice of three of them slurping the soup and occasionally chewing the meat.
After the three finished the soup, they looked at Michael expectantly. Michael rolled his eyes and gave them a second serving. They completed this too.
But before they would ask for the third serving, Michael stopped them and looked towards Raziel.
"So Raziel, what do you think about my recreated soup?" Michael asked, eager to hear his response.
Raziel was quiet for a moment, then stood and approached Michael. "After I sell you my restaurant, will you teach me that recipe?"
Michael had been waiting for this. To avoid seeming too eager, he paused before answering, "Okay, I will teach you that recipe.
Not just that, but all the other recipes I plan to serve my customers. But you will have to sign an agreement first. I can't risk my hard work benefiting others."
"Okay, boss. I agree to sell my restaurant to you."
"Don't worry, you won't regret it. You'll thank me for giving you this wonderful opportunity," Michael assured him.
They signed an agreement scroll provided by the system. It cost Michael 1 SP but ensured Raziel couldn't share his restaurant secrets with outsiders. Michael also gave Raziel 2000 gold coins for the purchase, adding an extra 500 as a monthly salary.
Raziel was shocked; his restaurant's annual sales barely reached 200 gold coins.
"Boss, isn't this too much?" Raziel asked in disbelief.
"No, it's not. Your salary will only grow as our business expands. So work hard for that raise," Michael said with a laugh.
After settling the accounts, Michael asked Raziel to return in a week, as he planned a complete renovation.