Both stood still on the street for several seconds, each recognizing the awkwardness from the other.

  Celene composed herself, cleared her throat, and spoke.

  "You must have some subordinates by now, right?"

  Nathan understood what Celene was implying. Building a power base was quite common among core disciples of various sects, like Ben who followed Zeryn in Crystalton. This arrangement allowed disciples to focus on more important matters while still handling minor tasks.

  He hadn't considered this yet due to the recent time constraints.

  "Oh," Celene exclaimed, "so you don't have anyone at all."

  Her face lit up with renewed vigor. This was an incredibly rare opportunity. While one could have many followers, the first would always be unique and special. If she bet correctly on this young man's future, her returns would far exceed all others.

  Little did Celene know that this position had already been claimed by a certain white-furred monster.

  "You must need someone to help you?" Celene probed.

  "Yes," Nathan replied.

  "For example, with the upcoming wine transactions. You'll need someone to handle transportation or conduct negotiations while ensuring your interests are protected. Am I right?"

  "That's correct."

  "I can handle that. Along with some side operations."

  "Such as?" Nathan found himself intrigued.

  "Such as manipulating your wine supply a bit. Meeting The Amber Path Coalition's quota on one side, while selling on the side. Profit isn't the main concern; it's about pressuring the guild. We wouldn't be violating the contract since I'd be the one doing it."

  Nathan's eyes widened at her analysis and willingness to backstab the very organization she worked for.

  "That makes sense," Nathan commented.

  Hearing this, Celene's brows furrowed even deeper. She looked around, realizing their current location wasn't suitable for such a conversation. She didn't want to leave a poor first impression.

  "Would you like to try one of the popular restaurants here?"

  "Not a bad suggestion. Lead the way."

  So the two walked forward in silence. Celene was likely calculating everything, while Nathan took in the sights of the city.

  After several turns at intersections, Celene led him to The Essence and Spice restaurant.

  While the restaurant's structure followed the local angular style, it had its own distinctive decorative elements. At its center, a crystal hearth glowed brilliantly, radiating warmth. The service setup was eye-catching, with just one circular table surrounding the kitchen like a bar counter. The chefs stood on one side, their hands dancing skillfully with meat and ingredients. The other side was reserved for dining guests. Private tables were available upstairs for those who preferred them.

  "Shall we sit down here?" Celene asked, already guessing Nathan's preference.

  Nathan nodded. He wanted to observe the chefs and evaluate their skills.

  The girl beside him hesitated slightly. She took a deep breath and exhaled to steel her resolve.

  Celene got a Standard Mana Stone for the receptionist. The staff member, dressed in neat and tidy purple attire, smiled and bowed deeply, inviting them both inside.

  Once they were settled at the counter surrounding the kitchen area, Nathan finally spoke up.

  "The entry fee is that high?"

  Celene concealed a pained look, her lips still trembling slightly as she spoke.

  "This is one of the most renowned restaurants in Maelivar. I assume you'd want to scout a bit before actually hosting dinner parties."

  Nathan nodded thoughtfully. That had been his initial plan. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you'll win every battle. Sun Tzu said that, if he remembered correctly.

  Celene took charge of ordering instead of letting Nathan do it. She figured this young man would order everything on the menu.

  Nathan gave a wry smile at being misunderstood like this. However, seeing that Celene had already ordered the most expensive dish, he didn't comment further. He only needed to evaluate the restaurant's proudest dish anyway.

  While waiting, Celene returned to the main topic.

  "You didn't say 'No.'"

  Nathan smiled. This girl was actually applying his own negotiation method.

  "You must be thinking that you don't need to decide right away because with your position," Celene continued, "you can find other candidates."

  A flash of surprise crossed Nathan's eyes. That was exactly what he'd been thinking. Celene might have sparked his interest in finding someone to work for him. But she wasn't necessarily the candidate he had in mind. George was a promising option. Nathan could invest in helping this guard rise higher in the city's power structure. From there, he could obtain breakthrough information.

  Celene was a girl who, by his assessment, was resilient and eager to learn. Those were good qualities. However, her current potential wasn't enough. Asking him to spend time observing or evaluating her during his limited time was unthinkable.

  Nathan suddenly realized this was the same view Verdant Spire Sect had of him before the tournament. Despite possessing other admirable qualities, results were what people aimed for more. He felt a twinge of discomfort.

  Seeing Nathan's expression, Celene tried to maintain her composure.

  "I'll take your silence just now as a 'No' from you? What I lack must be something to prove my capabilities to you."

  Nathan absently looked elsewhere, getting a headache from this issue. He had helped her because he empathized with being pressured by superiors, but he wasn't foolish enough to just accept anyone. Poaching an employee from their partner, The Amber Path Coalition, wasn't a wise choice at all.

  At this moment, the chef had finished preparing their appetizer. Two beautifully decorated square porcelain plates were placed before them.

  "Enjoy your meal," the female chef said warmly.

  Nathan stared intently at the dish before him. Though he couldn't judge the taste yet, its visual appeal was undeniable. True to its name 'Moonlight Pearl Scallop', the shell reflected white spots of light, dancing in the air like they were playing. The meat was carefully placed in the center, garnished with perfectly round pearls.

  [Cooking] hadn't emphasized this aspect. The skill focused purely on cooking and ensuring flavor and nutritional effects. Decoration was quite limited unless it affected the taste.

  Nathan didn't think too much about it and picked up his utensils to eat.

  Celene beside him was somewhat surprised. She had thought someone who wanted to cook for fame would know the dining etiquette for nobility rather than being so casual. She kept quiet though. After all, she wasn't in any position to criticize.

  After a while, Nathan let out a breath, feeling both disappointed and pleased. The dish would be delicious by his standards before receiving [Cooking]. From aroma to taste to texture, everything reached an impeccable level. However, it stopped there. The nutritional effects were almost completely lost due to the ingredient preparation methods and the added vegetables. The chefs' focus was on making food taste good, not on [Cooking]'s aim of not only pleasing the palate but also making a person stronger.

  This was understandable; one could use medicine to become stronger. Dining was, after all, just an experience. From Tier 3 upward, a person no longer needed to eat. They only needed to supplement essence and mana for long-term energy. Even Tier 2 could manage with Nutrition Pills. Enjoying meals mostly served social and business purposes.

  "You seem unsatisfied?" Celene finished her portion and ventured to ask.

  "It's acceptable," Nathan gave a noncommittal response.

  "If I can prove my worth to you, will you consider taking me on?"

  Nathan tilted his head, his face showing some weariness as he asked back.

  "Why are you so persistent with me? I think your career path at The Amber Path Coalition could lead to other opportunities."

  The flow of people coming to trade at the store was enormous. Nathan didn't believe he was special enough to warrant this attention.

  Celene pressed her lips together, hesitating between whether to speak or not. Finally, she decided that having chosen this path, she should see it through.

  "To truly change one's life, someone like me must follow a young master from prominent families, or disciples, distinguished students from various places. Only then can the future find its way out."

  "Way out?" Nathan wondered.

  "Out of this city," she said, her eyes shining. "I come from a long-established merchant family. By my generation, the business had declined. The debt burden now rests on my shoulders."

  Nathan swallowed hard, feeling sympathetic. His mother had also struggled with various expenses after his father passed away. All the debts for housing, or money borrowed from friends for his medical treatment, had to be repaid in full.

  "My brother was evaluated as having cultivation potential," Celene seemed lost in her thoughts as she continued. "So my parents didn't want to place financial burdens on him. Instead, they hoped I could help. Things might have been manageable if my brother hadn't offended an inner disciple of Obsidian Fang Sect. Now the money I earn isn't enough."

  "So the family's hope was your brother, but like that, he just added to the existing burden."

  "You could say that."

  Nathan finally understood the hidden reason behind Celene's targeting him. His status. Just establishing this connection would make that disciple think twice.

  "My reputation isn't as good as you might think," Nathan reminded her.

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  "I know," Celene said quickly, her voice sincere. "Please forgive me for investigating your information."

  "It's fine," Nathan said dismissively, "that's normal."

  "However, I reassessed everything rather than jumping to conclusions. You're only Tier 1 now, that's very clear. But in that outer disciple tournament, you proved your ability. I believe there must be a reason why an elder who has lived for hundreds of years chose you as a direct disciple, a level above inner disciples."

  Nathan smiled, his view of Celene changing somewhat.

  "So why me? You could find others."

  "Who would accept a mere employee like me into their service?" Celene said bitterly. "I've tried for years, and you're the only one I could get close enough to approach."

  "That harsh?"

  "You think other talented young people are as easy to talk to as you?" she smirked, her large round eyes flashing with deep-seated resentment. "I'd get scolded or reprimanded just for speaking a few extra words."

  Nathan looked at the plate being taken away by the server. He finally understood why Celene was willing to spend such a large sum for him to dine at this restaurant. A Standard Mana Stone wasn't a small amount, even in a place with high living standards like Maelivar. Knowing she was in debt made this amount even more precious. He couldn't help but recall a difficult time on Earth. The pandemic and economic upheaval could really push a person to the brink.

  Just as he was about to speak, Celene stopped him.

  "I said those words earlier to get you to give me a chance, not hoping for immediate acceptance. Although getting a chance is already pity, I still don't want it to be more pathetic."

  Nathan chuckled, taking wine from his spatial pouch, asking the staff's permission before pouring it into the glasses before them. He clinked his glass first to ease Celene's hesitation.

  "Cheers for the lower class."

  Celene relaxed, picking up her wine glass to drink. She had been hoping to try it since seeing Thomas's praise. The taste and aroma of the wine left her speechless, further strengthening her faith in this seemingly approachable young disciple.

  The next dish was called Symphony of The Sea, using fish and various seaweeds to create an unusual but still distinctive mixture. One could smell the fresh ocean breeze emanating from the broth.

  After eating this most expensive dish, Nathan lost all interest in the two remaining courses. He had made a preliminary assessment of the quality, feeling more confident in his direction. After all, his approach was quite unique and would surely bring the desired effect.

  "You said you wanted to get out?" Nathan asked absently.

  "Yes," Celene wiped her mouth with a napkin, smiling. "Maelivar is wonderful, but my history with it makes me uncomfortable here."

  "And only by leaving will you feel liberated?"

  "That's right. You sound like you understand this. How strange."

  Nathan rested his hand on his chin, his eyes gazing distantly at his life. If he could pinpoint a moment that changed everything, it would be when his mother decided to leave their old city for a new place. He had reacted very strongly then, having to leave his childhood friends behind. Only later did he understand a bit about the geographical imprisonment each person feels.

  Verdant Spire Sect might have become such a thing if he hadn't received the system. So partly, this was why he didn't want to take on a staff role in the sect.

  "I think I'll have use for you in the next few days," Celene said firmly. "During that time, please accept a PsiLink friendship with me."

  Nathan confirmed his agreement as soon as he received the invitation.

  Just as he was about to stand up to leave, a message from Celene arrived. It was the contract she had drafted. He blinked at the girl before him, wondering when she had found time to complete this.

  "I prepared it beforehand," Celene smiled proudly, "in case the opportunity presented itself."

  Nathan skimmed through it for ten minutes, concluding that Celene must be crazy. Was this what people called 'selling yourself to capitalism'?

  The contract terms had almost nothing in Celene's favor. The required salary was low, and the profit sharing from transactions could be considered negligible, only 0.1% or less. Moreover, he had full authority to terminate the contract if he felt like not maintaining it. Of course, Celene could use his name to benefit herself in one way or another. However, this was truly a contract no different from slavery.

  "We'll have to discuss these terms again," Nathan said, raising his hand to prevent any objection.

  He stood up, paying for dinner instead of letting Celene take out her purse again. He tried to endure the pain of spending such a large amount on eating. A Standard Mana Stone was enough for people in Crystalton to live comfortably for several years.

  This extravagant city is frightening, Nathan silently cursed.

  He convinced himself that if city dwellers were willing to spend money to eat at places like Essence and Spice, they would want to attend his dinner party.

  Outside, Celene remained silent, feeling she might have upset Nathan.

  "Does The Amber Path Coalition have any hotels in the city?" he asked.

  Celene raised her head, adjusting back to her professional demeanor, moving forward to lead the way.

  "That's certainly the case. We want to enhance customer experience as much as possible."

  Nathan followed her, returning to the old route. The city was now moving towards night, with lights being lit.

  Maelivar would truly make Nathan miss its noisy and radiant beauty. During the day, it was no different from a heavy industrial zone, but at night it had a certain allure. The city's square architecture, once lit up, made everywhere look like lanterns floating in the air. The passing vehicles and transport equipment became spots of light decorating the night. The flow of people remained bustling, but couldn't obscure the city's brilliant glow.

  While still looking around, Celene had led him to a hotel right behind The Amber Path Coalition store. No sign was displayed.

  "The hotel only serves customers coming to trade with the guild," Celene explained. "Priority is given to partners. Thomas has already booked a room for you."

  Nathan nodded, walking past Celene to enter the lobby.

  He paused, tilting his head to speak to her.

  "Underselling yourself isn't always good. You should have more faith in yourself."

  With that, he disappeared under the guidance of the hotel receptionist.

  Celene stood there, her eyes unblinking until that back was no longer visible. Only when her eyes were dry did she let out a breath. It seemed she had overdone things today.

  The room Nathan received left him shocked for several minutes. It was more luxurious than anything he'd ever seen before. Everything was covered in either bright gold or pristine white. The tiled floor was cool to the touch. Above, chandeliers were evenly distributed, emitting a warm, gentle light. Glass surrounded the room, allowing him to see the floating lanterns both near and far.

  Most notably, the room had a system for condensing ambient mana, helping guests adjust their spirit through breathing exercises and replenish energy.

  Too exhausted, Nathan threw himself onto the bed that seemed to want to embrace him, swallow him into the depths of comfort. In just a moment, he had dozed off, truly sleeping soundly since arriving at Moirath Forest.

  The next day, he was called to The Amber Path Coalition through Celene's notification.

  The girl had been waiting for him outside the hotel since early morning. Seeing his sleepy expression, she showed no reaction, just happily welcoming him.

  She led him upstairs at the guild, but instead of the first room, they went further. When they were nearly at the end of the hallway, she opened the left door, gesturing for him to enter.

  What greeted him was every chef's dream paradise. A kitchen with every type of equipment from simple to the most advanced was laid out scientifically before his eyes. The gleaming metal surfaces made him blink several times to adjust.

  On this side of the kitchen area, a group of people was gathered together, including Thomas. Three men and three women, ranging from middle-aged to elderly, were engaged in quiet discussion. When they saw Nathan enter, Thomas signaled them to be quiet. He stepped forward, shook hands with Nathan, then proceeded with introductions.

  "Ladies and gentlemen," his voice loud and clear, "this is Nathan Reed. The one I mentioned for this event."

  The other five people smiled lightly, merely nodding in greeting rather than being as warm as Thomas. They had received payment to be here. Since this business deal had already gone to Thomas, their hospitality wouldn't yield much benefit.

  "As I said," Thomas continued once the formalities were done, "Nathan wants to cook for us today. Then each person will make their own assessment of whether The Amber Path Coalition should proceed with the intimate dinner event."

  "We have about two hours," a woman wearing thick glasses stepped forward, her voice somewhat authoritative. She was primarily addressing Nathan rather than Thomas.

  "How does that sound?" Thomas asked Nathan.

  "Should be enough."

  Hearing the certainty in the young man's response, Thomas felt even more assured. He was currently in charge of this matter, so he didn't want any unexpected situations. He gestured for the other senior managers to sit at the table prepared in the room. Then turning back, he patted Nathan's shoulder.

  "Good luck. That is, if you need it."

  Nathan smiled as he stepped into the kitchen area. The aroma of the materials he had requested hit his nose straight on, invigorating him. Celene followed behind as ordered by her superiors to assist him if needed. Nathan didn't mind and began taking inventory of the materials to check their quality.

  The six senior managers of The Amber Path Coalition only watched indifferently, either discussing other work matters among themselves or monitoring through PsiLink. They were somewhat bored seeing Nathan showing no urgency or worry; fifteen minutes had passed, and the young man was still wandering around the ingredients rather than starting to cook.

  Just as they were about to reproach Thomas, all the switches in the kitchen were turned on, not just one at a time, but completely. That action made everyone present turn to look, wondering what the hell was happening. From the oven to the stoves, everything blazed with fire. Their mouths gaped when they saw Nathan's movements.

  With his physical condition, he moved through the kitchen spaces dizzyingly fast, sometimes washing vegetables, sometimes evenly chopping meat. What made him radiate an inexplicable attraction was that everything seemed to follow a rhythm, precise to the second. When the oven had heated for ten minutes, it was also when he put the pressed meat rack in. Right after that, he turned to put vegetables into a pot at just the right boiling point. Before his hands could rest, a sizzling pan was already being thrown with spices. As if not busy enough, he proceeded to mix eggs with a specially prepared cream.

  Celene had no choice but to step out of the kitchen area, limiting the possibility of collision with Nathan. Her face constantly showed amazement. What dazzled her were the ingredients requested by the young man now dancing and whirling around. A rough calculation suggested several hundred Standard Mana Stones for Shardscale Drake meat and various rare medicinal herbs. Nathan didn't seem to trust spices much as he mostly prepared everything himself. The remaining costs must have been for renting this high-end equipment. This was necessary as normal fire wouldn't create the desired effect for Drake meat.

  Clattering sounds echoed throughout the room. Nathan's movements were smooth and refined like an artist performing with their instrument. At some point, all six pairs of eyes were glued to the scene before them, completely immersed in both the skillfulness and the tantalizing aroma gradually spreading.

  Nathan spent more than two hours on his cooking process, but finally, no one spoke up or asked him to stop. They were all too busy swallowing hard, unable to wait any longer.

  When Nathan saw everyone's expressions, he just smirked.

  Everyone ends up like Argy anyway, he thought cheerfully while completing the final steps.

  When six plates of food were served, the observers couldn't wait any longer. However, they were somewhat wary seeing the ground meat that had been pan-seared wasn't decorated at all. The extremely simple dish with a dark brown color was placed in the center with sauce poured over it. No garnish with any vegetables or leaves.

  "Please, everyone," Nathan said cheerfully.

  He really didn't want to focus too much on a tasting session. After all, the effect he was waiting for didn't come from decoration.

  Several clinking sounds rang out as the six senior managers picked up their knives and forks. Nathan didn't stay to hear their opinions but returned to the kitchen to complete his pudding.

  He took out the Universal Root he had bought beforehand, chopped it into small pieces like grains, and proceeded to extract the juice. He could have requested The Amber Path Coalition to procure this for him, but for now, he had to pay for ingredient costs himself. Only when they truly approved would he feel comfortable requesting more Universal Root. Before that, save where possible.

  In the blink of an eye, he seemed to see seventy Standard Mana Stones being squeezed dry in his hands.

  On the other side, all the diners were eating in rapture. Celene only dared to stand still in one place, her mouth dry and tongue bitter with craving. Just the meat's aroma had made her stomach growl.

  The dining plates were quickly emptied. In each person's mind, they felt ecstatic, only wishing they could eat another portion. The spices blended together reasonably, creating an explosive reaction for the taste buds. The aftertaste carried a hint of sweetness from the broth. All six people briefly concluded that this was the best dish they had ever tasted.

  But that was all; their eyes carried appreciation, not the greed a businessperson should have.

  Nathan skillfully carried six small bowls, each containing a portion of pudding like any pudding, nothing too special. The surface swayed back and forth with his movements.

  With a click, all six bowls dropped in front of these temporary judges.

  At this point, one of them spoke up.

  "Your cooking is good," the man's booming voice carried a seemingly negative evaluation. "It would be wonderful to open a restaurant. Don't you think?"

  "Are you suggesting I should stop cultivating and pursue this profession?" Nathan coldly asked back.

  "This isn't a bad choice, is it?" He chuckled, making his mustache wiggle in an irritating way. "Given your condition."

  Nathan's eyes lowered, feeling annoyed. He came here with the status of someone proposing cooperation, not to be judged by things unrelated to business. The incident with Elder Nalani had made him more easily irritated in situations like this.

  Seeing both sides about to jump into a fight, Thomas stood up to intervene.

  "At least let Nathan complete his work, Robert!"

  Nathan acted as if he hadn't heard, withdrew the bowl in front of the person called Robert, and handed it to Celene.

  "There's still a portion of meat inside," he told her. "Eat the meat before eating this pudding."

  Celene was startled when she heard this. Perhaps Nathan hadn't prepared the portion for her but for someone else. But he wanted to put that talkative senior manager in his place, so he did this. Either way, she happily complied.

  "You..." Robert jumped up.

  Nathan acted as if he didn't see, spreading his arms to the other five people.

  "I'm confident I'll get enough five votes from everyone. Enjoy this dessert before it's too late."

  Hearing this, the other five immediately raised their bowls to enjoy. They had been waiting for a while now, their inner hearts somewhat displeased with Robert.

  Fifteen minutes later, each senior manager wore exactly the kind of look Nathan had been waiting for. Greed and anticipation.

  As he predicted, five votes in favor of this investment were cast.

  Tomorrow evening, Nathan would have a stage of his own.