As Elias began collaborating with the Magician's Guild, rumors of his talents reached darker corners of the kingdom. One night, a cloaked figure approached the restaurant, carrying an ominous message.
"You've garnered much fame, young chef. Be careful—powerful people covet your gifts."
Elias frowned, but before he could respond, the figure vanished into the night.
The warning proved true when, a few days later, bandits ambushed a delivery of rare ingredients meant for the restaurant. With the help of his adventurer friends, Elias managed to fend them off, but the incident left him wary.
The king sent guards to protect the restaurant, but Elias couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of a larger threat.