[The chapter got deleted for no reason, sorry for the trouble.]
+ + +
After a grueling battle, Jun Hao finally set down his utensils. He exhaled, feeling the slightest hint of satisfaction.
It hadn't been enjoyable, but he'd kept his word to finish the entire dish.
Belfast's face carried a trace of apology as she bowed slightly.
"Master, I sincerely apologize for making this meal so difficult..."
Jun Hao lifted a hand, gently stopping her.
"I already told you, this isn't your fault. Instead of focusing on that, why don't you hear my thoughts and suggestions for improving it?"
He looked at Belfast, his expression turning serious.
"Yes, Master. Any opinion from you is of the utmost importance!"
Jun Hao pointed to the remains on his plate.
"First of all, the issue isn't the taste. If we look at the ingredients individually, every one of them was handled very well."
He paused for a moment, carefully arranging his thoughts.
"How should I explain it? The real problem lies in two areas. First, the combination of flavors. The fish, the pie crust, and the mashed potatoes didn't blend together very well. If I had to describe it, they feel like several socially anxious people forced into the same room, each standing awkwardly and not knowing how to interact."
His description was so accurate that even the professionals such as Belfast, Dido, and Sirius nodded in agreement.
"And the second point, my honourable Master?" Sirius asked softly.
Jun Hao's gaze drifted to the two remaining fish heads on the plate, his expression turning somewhat complicated.
"The second issue is the presentation. I know this is part of the tradition and what makes the dish unique. The name 'stargazy pie' truly suits it. But for someone eating it, the appearance can create a certain psychological burden. Do you see what I mean?"
Dido slowly lowered her head. When she assisted the Head Maid earlier, she had carefully chosen the fattest fish available.
She never imagined that decision would end up making him uncomfortable.
'Just as I thought... someone like me shouldn't be here.'
Jun Hao immediately noticed the gloom surrounding her and spoke gently.
"Dido, don't misunderstand. The ingredients you chose were excellent. My comments were only about the dish itself, not your effort. It wasn't criticism. I simply thought there might be a way to improve it slightly."
"Improve it?" Belfast raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, improve it. For example, we could keep the core ingredients but adjust the presentation. The fish head and meat don't need to be placed in whole. They can be cut into smaller pieces and paired with other ingredients that won't overpower the fish's natural flavor."
Jun Hao's voice carried a hint of excitement.
"Or we could go a step further and separate the fish entirely, turning it into two independent dishes. The pie could become a combination of bacon and potatoes, while the fish could be grilled and served on its own."
When he finished speaking, the dining room fell completely silent. Belfast, Dido, and Sirius all stared at him in stunned silence.
Their eyes were filled with admiration, along with an indescribable sense of emotion.
They had expected him to politely say, "You did well, but let's not make this again."
But they never imagined that after finishing the dish, Jun Hao would carefully analyze its problems and even propose clear, practical solutions.
He wasn't simply being polite. He was genuinely thinking about them and the Royal Navy Faction's restaurant, hoping they could finally shake off the title of "Worst Cafeteria in the Port."
Faced with such unexpected sincerity, Dido's eyes grew moist. The guilt and fear inside her heart were completely replaced by overwhelming happiness.
'Master... he's even seriously guiding me.'
Such a Master deserved her absolute loyalty. Belfast quietly watched Jun Hao, firm conviction slowly taking shape in her heart.
Her voice became softer than ever before, yet it carried a solemn tone that had never been heard before.
"Thank you very much for your guidance. The Royal Navy Kitchen will immediately improve the stargazy pie based on your suggestions. I believe the next time it appears on your dining table, it will truly satisfy you."
Jun Hao smiled and waved his hand.
"No need to be so serious. They're just a few small, immature suggestions."
He stood up and stretched his arms.
"Alright, I've finished eating and I'm feeling a little tired. By the way, where is my room? Please take me there."
"Certainly, Master."
Belfast then looked toward Sirius and Dido.
"Dido, Sirius, the two of you will escort Master safely back to his room. Can you complete this task?"
Both Dido and Sirius were stunned. After causing so much trouble earlier, they had assumed the Head Maid would no longer trust them.
However, Belfast's face carried a confident smile.
"I have certain preparations to make. These are matters only I can handle; no one else may assist. As for the two of you, I suspect Master would like to offer you an opportunity to redeem yourselves."
Upon hearing this, Jun Hao nodded along with Belfast's assessment. She was likely planning to begin refining the stargazy pie recipe.
'She's really good at providing emotional support. As expected of the Head Maid.'
Comparing her to the awful clients and bosses from before his transmigration was like comparing heaven and earth.
A warm sense of comfort rose in Jun Hao's heart, and he spoke directly.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Belfast."
"It is my honor to fulfill my duties for my Master."
Belfast bowed once again, then turned and left the dining room with elegant yet swift steps.
Once her figure completely disappeared, Jun Hao withdrew his gaze and looked at the still somewhat nervous Dido and Sirius standing before him.
"Well then, I'll be in your care."
"Yes! My honourable Master!" Sirius immediately straightened her back and responded loudly. "To... to be able to guide you is my honor..."
Dido's voice was still soft, but the fear and unease from earlier had mostly faded.
Soon after, the two of them walked on either side of Jun Hao, guiding him through the long corridors until they stopped in front of an equally magnificent door.
"Master, this is the room prepared for you. Here is the key card."
Dido handed him the finely crafted card.
Jun Hao nodded and said, "Alright. You both worked hard today as well. Go and get some rest early."
"Yes, Master!"
The two replied in unison, bowing deeply before turning to leave. Even as they walked away, they couldn't help glancing back every few steps.
Jun Hao watched their figures gradually disappear down the corridor before finally letting out a long sigh of relief. He swiped the key card and pushed the door open.
Before he could even properly take in the room, a heavy wave of exhaustion suddenly washed over him.
His vision blurred, and he barely managed to step inside before collapsing onto the nearest bed.
He walked straight toward the massive bed that looked incredibly soft, and with a thud, his entire body sank deep into the velvet bedding.
Originally, he wanted to close his eyes and fall asleep just like that. But just as his consciousness was about to blur.
[Ding!]
A crisp electronic sound rang in his mind.
[Detected that the host successfully maintained Port Area harmony today. Harmony Level assessment in progress...]
[Harmony Level: 88/100 -> Excellent!]
[Reward settlement in progress...]
Jun Hao's consciousness was forcibly pulled back.
'It's here!'
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining 88 Bond Points.]
[Total Bond Points are currently 148.]
[Ding! Detected that the host's total bond points have exceeded 100 for the first time!]
[System new function unlock conditions have been met!]
[Would you like to unlock the new function "Attribute Point Function"?]
-+ + +-
-> To have access to more than 15 extra chapters, go to:
[-p -a -t -r -e -o -n . com/DysFiction.]
-> To make a don@tion go to:
[ ko - fi .com /dysfiction ]
-+ + +-
Novels Available:
-> Zenless Zone Zero: The Almighty Incubus of Sixth Street. (Translation)
-> Azur Lane: Don't Fight! You're All My Wives! (Translation)
-> Zenless Zone Zero: Death in White. (Original - Patreon Only Until It Reaches 30 Chapters)
-+ + +-