The Tholus Culinarius dome's lights blazed down, a stark contrast to the dimmed exits where the defeated contestants had vanished. On the vast stage, four groups now stood, resolute. Sixteen cooks in black and gold uniforms, the survivors.
Lady Seraphina stepped forward, the weight of the arena's silence pressing down before she even spoke. Her gaze, sharp and deliberate, found the unblinking lens of the Light Box.
[ Ladies and gentlemen, the first round of this year's ICC has ended!] Her voice resonated, clean and cold as polished steel across the hushed dome.
[ That's right—from the thirty-two contestants we initially had, these are the ones who did not break. The sixteen who passed the first trial… and earned the right to face the next. ]
As she spoke, the contestants stood firm in their groups, each a unit of four.
[ This year's contestants didn't just pass their round; they passed it with some of the highest results we have ever seen in a first round!
The first group to pass, with a score of 26.5, includes Cook Liang, Cook Hans, and Cook Maribel from the de Clein Guild, alongside last year's top-ten finalist, Cook Isaac! ]
As their names were called, the contestants stood strong, and the Light Box shifted to display them. Ji Hoon looked them over. 'So those are from de Clein...' He noted each one. 'And I see Isaac managed to make it...'
[ The second group, passing with a stellar 27 out of 30, is led by the current Chief Royal Cook, Albian, himself! With him are Royal Cooks Helene, Gezele, and Tobias! ]
The Light Box shifted to them. 'Woah,' Ji Hoon thought. 'That group is literally all active royal cooks. Their entire team has already passed the ICC once!'
[ But the last two groups have truly surprised us! The third group, a team of unknown cooks who came from nowhere, managed to gather a 29—a near-perfect score, achieved after mastering the legendary Sea Sugar and thoroughly satisfying our judges.
Let's give it up for Cook Cassian, Cook Lior, Cook Ansen, and Cook Yuna!]
Ji Hoon's group stood straight as the screen showed them. They smiled for the audience, with Lior beaming widely and the others managing confident looks for the camera.
[ And this group didn't just acquire a near-perfect score, folks. No! For the first time in ICC history, we have a group that received a full mark in a group round!
I present to you: Malak Grace, the other Grace Twin, and the three prodigies from the Northern Continent! Cook Ixchel with his unique purple hair, and the Frost Twins: Cook Eira and her twin brother, the one who led their team to perfection—their leader, Lucius Frost! ]
Ji Hoon's eyes snapped to the contestant leading the group. The boy had soft blue hair and eyes of cold indifference. His very aura was chilling, as if he didn't even want to be there. Ji Hoon saw that all his teammates stood behind him, including the purple-haired boy and Malak.
'Lucius Frost... huh? So, he was their leader?' he wondered. 'I wonder what they made to get a full mark. And did she say they're from the north... does that mean they've mastered—that—technique?'
While Ji Hoon was thinking, Lady Seraphina continued speaking.
[ Look at these contestants, folks! This year, we truly have a roster of formidable talent. Who do you think will reach for the top from these fellow cooks?
Do not miss the second round, which will commence in one week's time! Until then, may the stars follow you and our kingdom! ]
* * *
As the sound of the crowd leaving echoed from the top of the Tholus Culinarius, down in the labyrinth of the waiting room stood the sixteen contestants.
Clerks in green uniforms spread papers to the contestants, one by one, until one reached Ji Hoon's group. Meanwhile, another clerk—the one in the blue uniform who had guided them into the arena earlier—bowed and spoke.
"Thank you for your time, contestants, and congratulations on passing the first round. As you might know from our past tournaments, the ICC has five rounds in total, with four still to come.
We have given you the details for the next round, including the time and date for Round Two on those papers. We hope you continue to succeed until the very end."
He bowed again before moving off, the green-clad clerks following behind him. The contestants began to make their way out.
Ji Hoon glanced at the paper for a second before tucking it into his pocket. He turned to see the other groups leaving.
"I can't believe it. The first round ended, huh?" Lior said. "That was fast."
Just then, Yuna bowed toward them. "I was glad to work with you. I hope we meet again, but I must go now. See you in the next round." Her eyes lingered on Ji Hoon for a second before she turned away.
"It was nice to meet you—" Ji Hoon began, but she was already moving toward the door. "...too. I guess she left."
"I must go as well. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your team, Sir Cassian. And you, Sir Lior," Ansen said, bowing before he too took his leave, leaving Ji Hoon and Lior alone.
The two of them stood for a moment, looking at each other before smiling. Lior broke the silence first. "Looks like we're the only ones left, brother."
Ji Hoon and Lior talked for a while as they walked toward the gate before finally separating.
"Goodbye, brother. I hope we meet again," Lior said, heading toward the eastern gate.
Ji Hoon waved back at him as he stepped out of the dome. He stretched a little, the cool air a relief after the heat of the arena. He looked up at the vast golden sky. It was getting late.
'I can't believe all that just happened,' Ji Hoon thought, a slow smile spreading on his face. 'It was such a wild day.'
The crisp evening air of Aurelia—the Capital of Valeria—was a welcome change from the stifling heat and roaring noise of the dome.
Ji Hoon stepped out into the designated carriage area, the weight of the day finally settling on his shoulders. He barely had a moment to orient himself before a familiar, energetic voice called out.
"Young Master! Over here!"
Haide was waving enthusiastically beside the familiar Ahn family carriage, his usual stoic demeanor completely shattered by a beaming, proud smile.
He rushed forward, bowing deeply. "Congratulations, Young Master! A score of twenty-nine! When the results were announced, I was so impressed I could scarcely believe it! But then again, with your genius skills I'm sure it was only a must."
"You flatter me, Haide. Where are the others, though?" Ji Hoon wondered.
"Oh, they returned to the estate ahead of us. The Lady said we shouldn't trouble you after your match and did not wish to overwhelm you at the gates," Haide explained.
"The entire manor must be buzzing by now! Madam Yuhwa, Beatrice, Cook Wood, and Ione... they all returned ahead to prepare a proper welcome for you. I just waited to take you back."
A warmth spread through Ji Hoon's chest, dulling the edge of his exhaustion. "Thank you, Haide. And thank you for waiting."
"Of course, Young Master. It is an honor." Haide quickly opened the carriage door, and Ji Hoon climbed in, sinking into the plush seats with a grateful sigh.
As the carriage wheels began to clatter against the cobblestones, lurching into a steady rhythm, Ji Hoon let his head fall back against the cushioned wall. The quiet solitude of the cabin allowed the day's events to wash over him.
'What a day...' he thought, a slow, genuine smile touching his lips. 'A near-perfect score. I actually pulled it off.' His mind drifted to the shimmering jar of Sea Sugar.
'That ingredient... it was incredible. To think something like that exists here. The flavor, the aroma... it was like cooking with captured moonlight. If they have that, what other impossible ingredients are out there waiting?'
His thoughts then shifted, the smile fading into a look of sharp focus. The image of a boy with soft blue hair and eyes of glacial indifference flashed in his mind.
'Lucius Frost... A perfect score. He and his team didn't even look excited. It was just... expected. Who is he? And what did he make that was deemed flawless?' The challenge sent a fresh, thrilling current through his weariness. He had a real rival.
Then, unbidden, another face surfaced. A mask covering the lower half, and sharp, intelligent eyes above it.
'And that girl... Yuna.'
He replayed their brief interaction in the waiting room. Her skill was undeniable, her movements precise. But it was more than that.
'Her features... and her name... it's... weird.'
It wasn't just the strange coincidence of her name being so close to a name from his past. There was an air about her, a self-contained intensity that felt out of place for a simple contestant.
The way she held herself, the way her eyes assessed everything—it spoke of a background far more complex than she let on. She was a puzzle, and Ji Hoon had always been curious.
'Yuna MacQueen... Just who are you, really?'
He shook his head slightly, the motion gentle in the rocking carriage. The mysteries, the rivalries, the ingredients—it was all a whirlwind his tired brain could no longer process.
'Too much for one day,' he decided, closing his eyes and letting the fatigue pull him under. 'I'll figure it all out later.'
Leaning his head against the cool glass of the window, the steady clip-clop of the horses' hooves became a lullaby.
The excitement and questions slowly faded into the background, and for the first time since stepping into the arena, Lee Ji Hoon allowed himself to fall into a deep, well-earned nap.
* * * * *
The Slums...
Deep within the city's underbelly, where the grandeur of the Tholus Culinarius was nothing but a distant rumor, the air was thick with the smell of stale ale and damp stone.
In the same tavern Alister had visited, the scarred man that was hired by him, sat at a shadowed corner table, not drinking ale, but sipping a cup of murky, over-steeped tea.
The door creaked open, and a brute with greasy bangs stepped inside, his frame blotting out the dim light from the street. He shuffled over to the scarred man's table.
"The big cooking show's finished," the brute grunted, sliding onto the rough-hewn bench opposite him. "Streets are startin' to clear out. The crowd's thinning."
The scarred man didn't look up, instead taking a slow, deliberate sip from his chipped cup. "Did you hear from our source about his movements?"
The brute answered. "Yes, boss. The sources from the Ahn manor have confirmed that the target will go to the temple like we planned tomorrow."
"And our guys?" the scarred man asked, his voice a low rasp. "Are they ready? What about the city guards on the route?"
A nasty grin spread across the brute's face. "The lads are sharp and hungry. And don't you worry about the guards. We've... greased the right palms. Their patrols will have a sudden, urgent need to be on the other side of the district when we make our move. Everything's set."
Finally, the scarred man looked up, a cruel glint in his eyes. He reached into his grimy tunic and pulled out the heavy leather pouch Alister had given him. He tossed it onto the table between them with a solid, metallic thud.
The brute with the bangs snatched it up, the weight of the silver coins a satisfying promise in his hand. He hefted it once, his grin widening.
"Good," the scarred man said, the word a sharp finality. "Then the plan shall commence at dusk tomorrow."
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A/N: Dear readers I have found that I haven't described the titles and status of my characters, so I went and edited some of the names. To recap what I edited: Lady Ahn and Lord Ahn [Cassian/Ji Hoon's parents] are Viscountess Ahn and Viscount Ahn. Lord Roswald has been edited to Marquess Roswald. Thanks for reading :)