Chapter 162: Double Yolk Egg?!
At this moment, Tony Stark's mood was a tiny (billion) bit complicated.
He sat on the stool, nursing his glass of non-alcoholic champagne, watching the domestic scene unfold a few feet away. To think he was also a playboy, a philanthropist, a man who had been through countless flowers without a single leaf sticking to him. He was the definition of suave. He was Iron Man.
But now, sitting in this inter-dimensional diner, he finally knew what it felt like to be force-fed a five-course meal of high-grade dog food.
Isn't this too much? Tony thought, swirling the liquid in his glass. Queen of Hell, can you have some dignity or not? Do you have to show affection in front of a mortal like me?! This is too much!
Lucifer was practically hanging off Ren, pouting about fruit and movies while Ren indulged her with the patience of a saint. It was sickeningly sweet. It was disgustingly wholesome.
When I go back, no matter what, I have to make time to relax, Tony promised himself. Maybe a spa day with Pepper. Or building a new suit. Building a suit is relaxing. (Cough cough cough...)
So, Tony Stark decided to turn his grief into appetite. He turned his attention to the plate Ren had placed in front of him. Looking at the alluringly fragrant A5 Kobe steak, Tony Stark had to admit, he was truly hungry. The brawl with Ren—or rather, his brief flight lesson—had burned more calories than a session in the gym.
He first took a sip of the non-alcoholic champagne. Tony Stark had truly thought of it as just a beverage—fancy grape juice at best. But as the liquid washed over his tongue, his eyes widened.
This...
The effervescence was perfect, dancing on his palate with crisp, clean bubbles. The flavor profile was complex—notes of pear, citrus, and a hint of brioche. He realized he was wildly mistaken. This glass of wine, surprisingly, was no different from real champagne. In fact, if he didn't know better, he'd say it was a vintage Dom Pérignon.
This made him even more expectant of the steak in front of him.
Meat is graded, and A5 is the highest grade. The entire piece of meat was as beautiful as a snowflake, the marbling so intense it looked more like white marble with red veins than muscle tissue. The sear was perfect—a dark, caramelized crust that promised texture.
Tony picked up his knife and fork. The knife slid through the meat with zero resistance, as if he were cutting through room-temperature butter.
He took a bite.
Oh.
The texture was exceptionally soft, rich but not greasy, melting in the mouth instantly. It wasn't just meat; it was umami in solid form. The fat rendered on his tongue, coating his mouth in a savory, beefy richness that made his salivary glands go into overdrive.
Tony Stark, a man who could be said to have grown up eating money, was now amazed by something he often ate. He had dined in the finest steakhouses in New York, Paris, and Tokyo. But this? If it weren't for the fact that the texture and taste vaguely suggested A5 beef, he would even suspect it was a steak from some creature from Another World. Maybe a dragon? A celestial cow?
"Hmm... Boss!"
Ren, who was discussing Nakiri Mana with Lucifer, was startled. He turned his head and asked in confusion, "What's wrong, Mr. Tony Stark? Is the steak not to your liking?"
Tony Stark stared at the small pile of crystals on the side of his plate. "This... this salt! Boss! Tell me, the fleur de sel in your world is just ordinary table salt, otherwise I'd be amazed!"
Even when using salt for A5 grilled steak, it's usually just common sea salt or sea salt with garlic or pepper flavors. It hasn't reached the point of using fleur de sel—the "flower of salt"—which can be said to be the most precious salt in the world.
This salt possesses a supernatural aroma. Upon tasting a crystal on its own, Tony realized it wasn't just salty. It was fragrant. A distinct, floral scent, almost like violets, bloomed in his nasal cavity. Its texture was delicate, crunchy yet dissolving instantly, and just a tiny sprinkle on a dish brought an amazing flavor, elevating its taste and adding a delicate and clear sensation to the heavy beef.
If you haven't tasted this salt, you might not believe that salt isn't just salty, and even less that salt can taste elegant.
Tony Stark could easily afford it—he could buy the salt mine—but he was truly surprised because, in a sense, true fleur de sel of this quality is even rarer than A5 meat. Eating it this way could be considered the perfect combination.
Ren smiled, wiping his hands on a towel. "It's a very precious salt elsewhere, but here it's quite common, Mr. Tony Stark. You really tasted it, huh? It seems like this is something very familiar to you~"
Tony Stark nodded vigorously. "Familiar? Yes. But usually, chefs hoard this stuff like vibranium. You're just... sprinkling it on like it's Morton's."
No matter how precious fleur de sel and A5 meat were, they were technically available to him. However, this was his first time eating such a delicious steak prepared with such casual perfection.
The supernatural taste brought by the violet aroma of the fleur de sel, combined with the fragrant yet not greasy, tender and soft texture of the A5 beef, made Tony Stark feel somewhat unable to stop eating. His precisely mechanical brain seemed to be losing control.
Just one more bite, he told himself. Okay, maybe two.
After all, when that rich, fragrant bite fills your mouth and leaves a lingering taste, with its soft and delicate flavor and texture, there's no way to resist it. High-grade ingredients are called high-grade not simply because they look good. They command the senses.
Lucifer looked at Ren in confusion. This was the second time she had heard of fleur de sel. It seemed Ren always used this salt when making those seemingly special grilled steaks for himself.
Ren seemed to notice the confusion in Lucifer's eyes. He leaned down, whispering so only she could hear, "We'll use this for breakfast tomorrow too~"
"Anything is fine with me~"
Although Lucifer's eyes were full of anticipation, she still maintained her tsundere image in Ren's eyes, crossing her arms and looking away. Ren just shook his head at this; there was no trace of arrogance left in Lucifer. She was completely domesticated.
While only Tony Stark's sounds of enjoying his delicious meal filled the quiet Restaurant, the WGO headquarters on the other side of the world was much livelier.
At this moment, the four Executive Officers—Anne, Lanterby, Courage, and Decora—stood behind Joichiro Yukihira, their faces full of anticipation. They were buzzing with energy, fueled by the prospect of a miracle cure and, more importantly, a new culinary adventure.
Lanterby, the already lively girl with the perpetual energy of a squirrel on espresso, directly shouted at Joichiro Yukihira, "Mr. Saiba! That Mr. Ren seems very easy to talk to! Is he really that chill?"
The others also nodded, leaning in.
Joichiro Yukihira thought for a moment, rubbing his chin stubble. "If I had to describe it, that kid has a natural warmth about him. Very healing. Entering his Restaurant makes you feel calm. It's like... stepping out of a storm into a warm cabin."
Courage, her sharp eyes widening, said in surprise, "Wow... Is this the magical Restaurant and magical cuisine that Director Nakiri mentioned? Just entering the Restaurant has this effect?"
Nakiri Mana wasn't even working at this time. She sat in her chair, the IV drip still attached to her arm, but her eyes were alert. She was just listening to Joichiro Yukihira talk about Ren. She was now very interested in this magical Mr. Ren.
Joichiro Yukihira also said with a hint of nostalgia, "The quietness of his Restaurant isn't a quietness of sound, but of spirit. Even if someone is noisy—like my son—you only feel a sense of warmth. It absorbs chaos."
Nakiri Mana rested her hand on her face, a faint smile gracing her pale lips. "Oh? If that's the case, then Mr. Ren is indeed an amazing person. And I heard Saiba-senpai mention before that Mr. Ren is very young and handsome?"
At these words, Courage and Decora's eyes lit up.
What they said earlier about someone being pretty but single and unwanted wasn't a joke; they had genuinely been single all this time, never even having been in a relationship. They were career women at the pinnacle of the gastronomic world.
Before, it was because they didn't have time; now, not only do they not have time, but their standards have also risen to stratospheric levels. They don't care about money; they are genuinely rich and beautiful women. Uh... Decora is a bit darker in her aesthetic, but beautiful nonetheless.
As Food Executive Officers, their criteria were strict. First, they need to find a chef with superb culinary skills to satisfy their absolute taste buds. Then, he needs to be handsome. And his temper needs to be good. And he needs to be interesting. It was a whole list of demands that basically ruled out 99.9% of the male population.
While individually these demands aren't excessive, when combined, such a person is impossible to find. That's why these two have always been single. Now, they are truly very interested in this Ren.
Joichiro Yukihira chuckled, seeing their eager expressions. "Hmm, but Lanterby, what are you doing?"
Lanterby, who was furiously scrolling on a phone, said without looking up, "Whether he's handsome, we'll know when we see him. Whether the Restaurant is cozy, we'll also know when we get there. But that Restaurant doesn't have a menu! And I don't want to eat a meal so casually. Of course, I'm looking to see what to eat..."
Everyone was stunned.
Then, almost in unison, they also pulled out their phones and started searching. Even Joichiro Yukihira did the same.
For a moment, looks, atmosphere, romance—everything fell before the might of good food.
"Eh?! After being an Executive Officer for so many years, I just found out there are so many kinds of cuisine?!" Lanterby exclaimed, scrolling through a wiki on regional Chinese dishes. "And I haven't even tried many of them!"
"Don't even say it! I want to eat them all!" Decora added, eyeing a photo of Dongpo Pork.
Meanwhile, back at the Restaurant.
Tony Stark was still enjoying his delicious meal, savoring the last few bites of steak. He felt rejuvenated. His mind was clear, his stomach was happy, and his worldview had been sufficiently expanded.
But he suddenly felt something was off.
A subtle shift in the air pressure. A hum that wasn't electronic.
He instinctively turned around and saw the door light up again.
Tony became excited. Another one?
Lucifer glanced at the door, bored. "Are they coming more frequently today..."
Ren also nodded in agreement, wiping down the counter. "It seems so. Maybe it's a holiday somewhere in the multiverse."
But before the door even opened, they heard a very youthful voice shout from the void.
"Don't run off!"
Ren paused. The voice was overlapping with the sound of rapid footsteps.
Was this a double yolk egg? Two guests at once?
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