**********
—One Year Later—
Blue Grill,
Inside the Infinity Castle Restaurant, the establishment Lev had built in Blue Grill, Lev could be found working in the kitchen alongside numerous clones of himself. The restaurant remained bustling with customers throughout the day, and thanks to his clones, he was able to keep up with the constant stream of orders.
Even Alpha and the others had begun helping out, taking on the roles of waitresses and assisting with the restaurant's daily operations. Dressed in their uniforms, they moved between tables, serving customers and ensuring that everything ran smoothly.
At present, however, Lev was completely focused on something else.
He was on the verge of a breakthrough.
Standing in the kitchen, he continued to cook with unwavering concentration, carefully preparing each ingredient as though his entire world revolved around the food before him. It had been quite some time since he had established his restaurant on this continent, and throughout that period, his cooking skills had continued to improve. Now, after a year of constant practice and learning, it was finally approaching another evolution.
This had become one of the main things occupying his time during their stay in Blue Grill. While running the restaurant allowed him to familiarize himself with the civilization and its culinary traditions, the opportunity to learn from some of the continent's finest cooks had also helped him make tremendous progress.
"Master, Old Man Ichiryu and Jiji have come to visit again. Should I take them to the VIP room?" Alpha suddenly appeared at the kitchen entrance and reported.
"Tell them I'm in the middle of something. I can't entertain guests right now," Lev replied without even turning to look at her.
"Understood, Master."
With that, Alpha acknowledged his order and left the kitchen.
Meanwhile, at the counter near the entrance, Ichiryu and Jiji stood waiting with a smile on their faces as they observed the bustling restaurant.
It had been some time since their last visit, and they couldn't help feeling impressed by just how popular the establishment had become. The restaurant was packed with customers, all eager to taste the dishes prepared by Lev and his clones.
Of course, they both knew better than most just how incredible Lev's cooking was.
The moment they recalled the taste of those dishes, their mouths began to water, and they found themselves struggling to contain his anticipation. They had come here hoping to enjoy another delicious meal, but now they could only wait impatiently for the moment they would finally get to eat.
"Old Man Ichiryu, my master is on the verge of a breakthrough in his cooking skill. He said he won't be entertaining any guests for the time being," Alpha explained as she returned to the counter.
"Ohhh! His cooking can still get even better? That's wonderful!" Ichiryu exclaimed, his eyes widening with surprise and excitement. "Hahahaha! All right, then. We'll come back once he's finished. Just make sure you tell us when it happens!"
If Lev's cooking was already this incredible, Ichiryu could hardly imagine how delicious his dishes would become after his skill evolved. The mere thought of it was enough to excite him, and he could practically feel every cell in his body anticipating the feast that awaited him.
"You're the first person we'll inform," Alpha assured him.
"Hahahaha! I'll be looking forward to it!"
With those words, Ichiryu and Jiji finally left the restaurant, already looking forward to their next visit.
Not long after his departure, Ghislaine and Shion approached Alpha.
"Alpha, we've run out of ingredients. Shion and I will head out for a while to gather some more," Ghislaine informed her.
"Go ahead, but be careful," Alpha replied, turning her attention toward the two.
Over the past year, their daily lives had consisted of more than simply eating and helping out at the restaurant. They had also taken the initiative to train whenever they had free time, unwilling to remain idle while staying on this continent.
At first, the harsh environment had made things difficult for them. The dangers and unfamiliar conditions of the Gourmet World had left them struggling to adapt, but as time passed, they gradually became accustomed to their surroundings.
They had even received occasional guidance from Ichiryu, who would sometimes join them in their training.
His presence had only reinforced what Lev had told them from the beginning: Ichiryu was undoubtedly one of the most powerful individuals on the planet. Although he rarely revealed the full extent of his abilities, the ease with which he faced the harsh environment of Area 6 spoke volumes about his strength.
To someone like Ichiryu, the dangers that made others struggle for survival seemed little more than an inconvenience.
With that, Ghislaine and Shion left the restaurant to gather the ingredients they needed, leaving Alpha, Tomoe, and Shizuku behind to maintain order and attend to the customers.
As for Lev, he remained in the kitchen, completely absorbed in his cooking.
With his Cooking skill standing on the threshold of its next evolution, he had no intention of stopping until he finally reached the next level.
**********
—Two Months Later—
Infinity Castle Restaurant,
After another two months of relentless effort, Lev had finally achieved his goal.
Standing in the kitchen, he stared at the system interface floating before him, his eyes fixed on the skill he had worked so hard to advance.
[Skill: Cooking]
[Tier: 9 (Progress: 0%)]
[Type: Passive]
[Add-on Skills:]
[Ingredient Connection (Passive): The host will be able to communicate with any ingredient, allowing the host to prepare it with exceptional precision and bring out its finest qualities.]
[Taste Encyclopedia (Passive): Every food the host tastes will allow him to understand its exact recipe, as well as alternative recipes for the same dish. This ability is powerful enough to allow the host to recreate the taste of even a raw ingredient by combining it with other ingredients.]
[Gourmet Fate (Passive): The host's Food Luck has transcended ordinary fortune. The host's culinary journey begins to influence the probability of encounters within the Gourmet World, causing ingredients, creatures, locations, and individuals connected to the host culinary objectives to gradually converge upon his path.]
"Finally."
Lev let out a quiet murmur as he examined his newly upgraded Tier 9 Cooking skill. After countless hours of practice and unwavering perseverance, all his efforts had finally borne fruit.
For the past two months, he had barely left the kitchen, immersing himself entirely in the pursuit of this breakthrough. He had pushed himself to his limits, experimenting with ingredients, refining his techniques, and exploring the possibilities of his Cooking skill until he finally achieved the evolution he had been working toward.
And now, he had succeeded.
"Gourmet Fate, huh? Interesting."
Among the three abilities listed on the interface, this was the one that caught his attention the most.
Unlike Ingredient Connection and Taste Encyclopedia, whose functions were relatively straightforward, Gourmet Fate seemed to affect something far beyond his own cooking abilities. It could influence the probability of encounters throughout the Gourmet World, drawing things connected to his culinary objectives toward him.
In other words, the more he pursued his goals, the greater the possibility that the things he needed would eventually cross his path.
Of course, he would need time to discover the full extent of this ability.
With that thought in mind, Lev dismissed the system interface and turned his attention toward the world beyond the kitchen.
It had been two months since he had last properly interacted with the outside world. He was curious about what had happened during his absence and whether anything noteworthy had changed.
After tidying up the kitchen, he left his clones behind to continue their work before finally making his way toward the exit.
Click.
The kitchen door opened, and Lev stepped outside.
For the first time in two months, he was greeted by the familiar, bustling atmosphere of Infinity Castle Restaurant. Customers filled the tables, happily enjoying their meals while the staff moved between them, ensuring that every order was served promptly.
The sight brought a faint smile to his face.
At the same time, his appearance did not go unnoticed.
Several customers immediately recognized him. Surprise spread across their faces as they realized that the restaurant's owner, who had been absent from the dining area for quite some time, had finally made an appearance.
However, their surprise quickly gave way to excitement.
After all, Lev was the person responsible for the incredible dishes that had made Infinity Castle Restaurant the most popular establishment in Blue Grill. Seeing him again was an unexpected pleasure for many of them.
"Master. Congratulations."
Alpha, who happened to be the closest to him, approached with a smile and offered her congratulations.
Although she had continued seeing Lev during his time in the kitchen, they had barely exchanged a word over the past two months. She knew how completely absorbed he had been in his training, and his appearance now could only mean one thing.
He had finally accomplished what he had set out to do.
Soon afterward, Shizuku and the others also gathered around him after learning that he had finally emerged from the kitchen.
"What is the current situation with the restaurant, Alpha?" Lev asked, turning his attention toward her.
"Everything is running smoothly, Master. As you can see, Infinity Castle Restaurant has surpassed the other establishments in Blue Grill and has become the most popular restaurant in the city," Alpha answered promptly.
"Hmm. Good."
Satisfied with her report, Lev shifted his gaze toward the others, briefly observing them.
"Looks like you've all grown stronger over the past two months."
His eyes carried a hint of approval. Their continued training had not been wasted, and he could see the results of their efforts.
"Prepare yourselves. The time for us to leave this continent is drawing near."
His words immediately caught their attention. Although they had known that their stay in Blue Grill would not last forever, hearing Lev say that their departure was approaching made the matter feel much more real.
Without waiting for their responses, Lev walked past them.
"I'll be going out for a while. Look after the restaurant for me."
Having said that, he vanished from the spot, using Instant Transmission to travel to his destination.
"We'll be waiting for your return, Master."
Alpha and the others bowed respectfully toward the place where he had disappeared.
Once Lev was gone, Alpha turned toward Shizuku.
"Shizuku, go and inform Old Man Ichiryu that Master has finally come out of the kitchen."
Just as she had promised two months earlier, she intended to notify Ichiryu as soon as Lev emerged from his self-imposed seclusion. Knowing how eagerly the old man had been anticipating Lev's breakthrough, she was certain he would want to hear the news immediately.
"Okay."
Shizuku acknowledged the order and promptly left the restaurant, heading toward the place where Ichiryu was staying.
Meanwhile, Alpha and the others exchanged serious looks.
Their departure from the continent was approaching, and they needed to prepare themselves for what lay ahead. They briefly discussed their next steps, considering what they would need to arrange before leaving.
However, they did not allow the conversation to drag on.
There was still a restaurant to manage, after all.
With their preparations in mind, they soon returned to their respective duties, ensuring that Infinity Castle Restaurant continued operating as smoothly as ever.
*****
Meanwhile, atop the Shell King, Lev stood gazing at the surrounding darkness, accompanied by Ishana and Indra.
Despite the near-total darkness that enveloped the area, he could see his surroundings with remarkable clarity. His enhanced vision was already more than sufficient, but with his third eye open as well, even the darkness of the deep sea posed little challenge to him.
Breathing was equally effortless. A force field surrounded his body, keeping the surrounding seawater from reaching him and allowing him to move freely beneath the ocean without any difficulty.
"Have either of you encountered Whale King Moon during the past two months?" Lev asked, his gaze fixed on the dark expanse before him.
At his question, Ishana and Indra shook their heads.
When they had first arrived on this continent, Lev had tasked them with searching for the king who ruled these waters. Yet, despite spending the past two months exploring the area, neither of them had managed to find even a trace of him.
"Hmm."
Lev considered their response and understood why they had failed. This continent was enormous, and locating a particular creature within such a vast territory was already a difficult task. Doing so in the harsh environment of the Gourmet World, where powerful creatures and dangerous currents could make exploration challenging, only made the search more troublesome.
Rather than dwell on their failure, Lev turned his attention back to the surrounding sea.
Even in the darkness, he could appreciate the beauty of this underwater world. More importantly, he could sense just how rich it was in ingredients. Countless possibilities lay hidden beneath these waters, waiting to be discovered by someone capable of finding them.
"Don't worry. We'll find him eventually," Lev said confidently.
From now on, he intended to search for Whale King Moon himself while exploring the surrounding waters for delicious ingredients. After all, there was little reason to limit himself to a single objective when he could accomplish several things at once.
"Let's look around for a while before heading back to Blue Grill."
With that, Lev moved away from the Shell King to explore the area, hoping to find something worth bringing back with him.
Ishana and Indra immediately followed.
However, even for them, moving through this region was no simple matter. The powerful currents constantly swept through the surrounding waters, making it difficult to move freely. Nevertheless, the three continued their exploration, determined to make the most of their time before returning to Blue Grill.
**********
—Night—
Infinity Castle Restaurant,
Inside the VIP room, Alpha stood beside the table, serving food to Ichiryu, who was eating with seemingly endless enthusiasm.
After learning that Lev had finally emerged from his seclusion, Ichiryu had immediately rushed to the restaurant. Unfortunately, he had been told that Lev had gone out for a while and would not be returning immediately, leaving him with no choice but to wait.
Now, several hours had passed.
"Is Lev still not back?" Ichiryu asked, glancing at Alpha.
It was already nighttime, when the Gourmet World became even more dangerous than usual. Even someone of his caliber could not afford to underestimate the threats lurking in the darkness.
Although Ichiryu trusted Lev's abilities, he couldn't help feeling a little concerned. The Gourmet World was full of unpredictable dangers, and no matter how powerful someone was, there was always the possibility of encountering something unexpected.
"Master sent me a message a while ago saying that he would be back soon," Alpha replied.
"Great! Hahahaha!"
Ichiryu burst into laughter, his excitement immediately returning upon hearing the news.
Fortunately, he didn't have to wait much longer.
Before long, a commotion erupted outside as news spread that Lev had returned.
Ichiryu and Alpha exchanged glances before promptly leaving the VIP room to welcome him.
Outside, the restaurant had grown considerably livelier following Lev's arrival. The reason was simple: he had returned carrying an enormous fish, one so unfamiliar that most of the customers had never seen anything like it before.
Naturally, curiosity spread throughout the restaurant. Everyone wanted to know what kind of ingredient Lev had brought back.
Fortunately, the Five 10-Shell Cooks and Jiji were present to provide an explanation. Having considerable knowledge of rare ingredients, they quickly recognized the fish for what it was: an exceptionally rare ingredient that was notoriously difficult to find.
Their revelation only intensified everyone's curiosity.
"Lev! I heard you've finally come out of seclusion. How about another cooking match?" Condor Window immediately called out upon seeing him.
"Condor, stop challenging me already. My cooking skills have reached a level beyond the ordinary, so let's not waste our time on another match," Lev replied, giving him a mocking smile.
It had been two months since they had last seen each other, yet Condor's competitive nature remained unchanged.
"Hmph! Don't get too full of yourself!" Condor retorted, clearly displeased with Lev's response.
Before he could continue, Asarudy stepped forward.
"Lev, why don't you let us taste your cooking instead? If you've really achieved a breakthrough, then let us be the judges. Of course, that's assuming you've actually improved as much as you claim."
Unlike Condor, Asarudy wasn't particularly interested in challenging Lev to another competition. What interested him more was the possibility that Lev's culinary abilities had advanced to an entirely new level.
Although he had acknowledged Lev's talent long ago, hearing that he had made another breakthrough naturally stirred his curiosity.
"Very well," Lev replied with a smile. "As it happens, I caught this fish while I was outside."
"Lev!! Hahahaha! It's been far too long since I've seen you! You'd better let this old man taste your cooking, or I'll starve to death!"
Ichiryu's loud, enthusiastic voice suddenly rang throughout the restaurant as he strode toward Lev, behaving as though the establishment belonged to him.
Lev glanced at him before raising a hand to stop him.
"Hold on. We can talk later. For now, let me prepare this ingredient."
He didn't have the energy to match Ichiryu's boundless enthusiasm at the moment. After spending so much time exploring the deep sea, he wanted to get straight to work.
With that, Lev took the enormous fish and headed toward his private kitchen.
Meanwhile, Ichiryu simply smiled as he watched Lev leave before turning his attention toward Asarudy and the others. He was equally pleased to see the Five 10-Shell Cooks and Jiji gathered there.
Judging by the circumstances, tonight was shaping up to be a feast worth remembering.
And Ichiryu had every intention of enjoying it to the fullest.
*****
Inside the Kitchen,
Lev had already begun preparing the fish.
Standing before the enormous ingredient, he examined it thoughtfully. What made this particular catch interesting was not merely its rarity, but the circumstances surrounding its discovery.
He hadn't actively searched for it.
He hadn't followed any clues or spent hours tracking it down.
The fish had practically found its way to him.
Thinking about this, Lev couldn't help recalling the new ability he had acquired after advancing his Cooking skill to Tier 9.
Gourmet Fate.
The ability seemed to influence the probability of encounters related to his culinary objectives, gradually drawing ingredients, creatures, and other things of interest toward him.
And now, he had encountered a rare ingredient without even trying to find it.
Coincidence?
Perhaps.
But Lev was beginning to suspect otherwise.
"If I stay here a little longer, I might even find ANOTHER."
A faint smile appeared on his face as he recalled one of the ingredients from Legendary Full Course.
According to the information he knew, ANOTHER was an extraordinarily elusive ingredient, one whose discovery demanded exceptional luck and the ability to follow even the faintest traces of its existence.
Finding it was no simple matter, even for individuals who had spent their lives exploring the Gourmet World.
However, with Gourmet Fate now at his disposal, Lev couldn't help wondering whether he might have an advantage that others lacked.
If the ability truly worked as he suspected, then perhaps he wouldn't need to search for ANOTHER in the conventional sense. Instead, by pursuing his culinary goals and exploring the right places, he might gradually increase the likelihood of encountering it.
Of course, he wasn't going to assume that the ability could simply deliver every ingredient he desired. He would need to test its limits before drawing any conclusions.
"Let's see how it goes."
With that, Lev turned his attention back to the fish before him.
A moment later, he resumed his work, carefully preparing the ingredient and considering how best to bring out its finest qualities.
After all, he wasn't the only one looking forward to tonight's meal.
Ichiryu and the Five 10-Shell Cooks were waiting outside, eager to taste the results of his breakthrough.
And Lev had no intention of disappointing them.
With a faint smile, he continued cooking, determined to create a dish that would showcase just how far his culinary abilities had advanced.