The Blue Flame Tavern stood majestically in the heart of Nocturne's End. The red-haired woman stared at the building in awe.
"I never expected you to work in a place like this!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.
"This is a famous tavern! Only nobles and the wealthy elite can enjoy meals here!"
Leon raised an eyebrow, looking surprised. "I had no idea you worked somewhere this luxurious."
Kazan simply smiled mysteriously and opened the door. "Come on in."
As soon as they stepped inside, a thick-mustached man with a sharp gaze immediately blocked their path.
"Where have you been all this time, rookie?" His voice boomed with anger.
The red-haired woman instantly recognized his face. "Wait… Are you Chef Elliot Williams?!"
The man's expression changed drastically—from furious to roaring laughter.
"HAHAHA! That's right! I am the living legend himself!"
Everyone present was stunned by his sudden shift in demeanor.
Kazan bowed his head, his eyes fixed on the floor in guilt. "I had important business earlier, Boss. It won't happen again," he said.
Elliot studied Kazan with a sharp gaze but eventually nodded. "Fine, I'll let it slide. Now, what do you plan to do with them?"
Kazan immediately lifted his head and met Elliot's eyes. "Can I use the kitchen to cook, Boss?"
Elliot glanced at Raina, who was still trembling in fear, then back at Kazan. "So you want to cook for them? Alright… but I want to taste your cooking too," he said with a faint smile.
Kazan grinned and nodded eagerly. "Of course, Boss! I'll make something delicious for all of us!" With enthusiasm, Kazan dashed into the kitchen and began preparing the ingredients.
Once in the kitchen, Kazan stood in front of the stove, eyeing the ingredients laid out on the table. He picked up a knife with his right hand and stared at the onion on the cutting board.
With swift, precise movements, he sliced the onion into thin, uniform pieces. Then, he switched the knife to his left hand and diced the carrots into evenly sized cubes.
His motions were quick and efficient, with not a single piece wasted. Kazan then cut the chicken into small chunks before tossing all the ingredients into the pan.
He heated oil in the pan over medium heat. Once the oil was hot, he added the onions and spices, frying them until fragrant.
Next, he tossed in the meat and carrots, cooking them until tender. Then, he added rice to the pan, stirring it with a spatula until everything was well mixed.
Kazan seasoned it with soy sauce, salt, and other spices, adjusting the flavor to perfection. Once done, he removed the pan from the heat.
With a proud smile, Kazan served his creation—Guardian's Fried Rice—onto the table. "Please, try it. This is Guardian's Fried Rice!"
Everyone present stared at the dish with wide eyes, amazed.
Leon gazed at the fried rice in awe. "This isn't just food… it's a high-level work of art," he murmured in admiration.
He picked up a spoon, scooped a small portion, and took a bite with a broad smile.
Elliot and the red-haired woman followed suit, savoring the dish with satisfied expressions.
When it was Raina's turn, she took a small bite, and her eyes instantly welled up with tears. After so long, she could finally taste food again, and the feeling overwhelmed her with happiness.
Kazan and the others smiled warmly at her, and Kazan even gave her shoulder a gentle pat.
"This… this is incredibly delicious! I've never tasted anything this good in my entire life, bro!"
Elliot nodded in satisfaction. "I wasn't wrong to hire you, Kazan."
The red-haired woman, curious about Leon, asked, "Do you never take off your mask?"
Leon lowered his head slightly, his voice heavy as he replied, "No. My face is covered in ugly scars."
The red-haired woman looked at him sympathetically. "Oh… I'm sorry for asking."
Leon gave a faint smile. "It's fine. I'm used to people asking."
After the meal, the red-haired woman excused herself. "I have to go now. May I know your names?"
Leon answered, "Zero."
Kazan added, "I'm Kazanian."
The red-haired woman smiled. "I'm Celestia. See you again."
Leon and Kazan nodded in unison. "Yeah, see you."
Kazan approached Elliot. "Boss, can Raina work here?"
Elliot studied the little girl. "Do you want to be a waitress here?"
Raina nodded eagerly. "Yes! I want to work here, sir!"
"Alright. Come with me, I'll show you what the job entails."
When only Leon and Kazan remained, a serious conversation began.
"Zenless Mammon… he's one of the guards for our potential new member?" Leon asked.
Kazan nodded. "Correct. There are two guards—Zenless and another noble demon whose identity we don't know yet."
"So my job is to catch Zenless' attention and make him interested in my abilities?"
"Exactly. And you've already started succeeding."
Leon clenched his fist. "Alright. I'll show a bit of my power tomorrow."
The day of the match arrived. The atmosphere in the Bloodsport Arena was electric.
The announcer roared, "IT'S TIME FOR AN EPIC BATTLE! TEAM 1 VS. TEAM 3!"
"Two uniquely powerful teams have formed. Team 1 consists of Forest Guardian, Voice, Mysterious X, Zero, and Stone Sentinel."
"Team 3 consists of Iron Knight, Keen Observer, Fire Keeper, Water Master, and The Swift."
The crowd erupted. "TEAM 3 WILL DEFINITELY WIN!"
"ZERO? HE JUST GOT LUCKY YESTERDAY!"
Leon calmly glanced at the audience, while Team 3 smirked confidently.
However, a surprising voice rang out. "I bet 10,000 coins on TEAM 1!"
The crowd gasped, murmuring among themselves, while the other participants looked on in shock.
Zenless Mammon, the one who placed the bet, smiled confidently from his VIP booth.
Leon locked eyes with him, then drew his sword.
"ALRIGHT, LET THE BATTLE… BEGIN!" The announcer's voice echoed, and the contestants from both teams took their positions.
The crowd roared, the tension thickening. This battle would determine who advanced to the finals.
=== BAB 21 END ===