As the first wave of dishes hit the tables, releasing waves of sizzling, herb-infused aromas across the Vast Ocean Courtyard, gasping reactions and sounds of ecstatic chewing echoed under the leafy pergolas.
"This looks delicious." Gary looked very intently at the food in front of him as he swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
At the middle table, Gary lifted a piece of the Smoked Forest Mushroom Crostini to his mouth. The bread gave off a crisp, satisfying crunch, yielding instantly to butter-sautéed wild mushrooms, rich garlic, and a delicate drizzle of forest honey.
"Mhm?!" Gary froze. His eyes widened in pure disbelief, his jaw working slowly as the complex harmony of earthy, savory, and sweet flavors exploded across his palate.
"This..." He slowly turned his head to Jillian, completely speechless.
Jillian simply leaned back, crossing her arms with a triumphant, 'I-told-you-so' smirk. "Well? Still think I was exaggerating, Gary?"
"This... this is unbelievable!" Gary finally gasped, his voice raspy with awe as he stared at the half-eaten crostini in his hand. "The crispness of the toasted sourdough... the woodsy depth of the mushrooms... How is a simple appetizer this delicious?!"
"Just wait until your main course arrives," Jillian chuckled, twirling a generous forkful of her Szechuan Spiced Duck Dan Dan Noodles. "I told you this place was magic!"
A few tables over, the atmosphere at the Food Critic Society's long trestle table was one of reverent, ecstatic madness. The dignified gentlemen who usually dissected meals with icy, mechanical scrutiny were currently leaning over their plates like excited apprentices.
Elder Frank sliced into a tender cut of the French Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb. The knife glided through the meat effortlessly, revealing a perfectly rosy, succulent interior beneath a golden, herb-flecked crust.
"Mon Dieu..." the Society President breathed, his golden monocle slipping right off his eye and dangling by its chain. He placed a slice into his mouth, closed his eyes, and let out an uncharacteristic, shuddering sigh. "The crust retains the bright, sharp notes of fresh garden rosemary, yet the meat itself is so tender it practically dissolves on the tongue! Frank... you weren't praising this boy enough!"
"I told you!" Elder Frank declared proudly, hastily wiping a speck of sauce from his chin before furiously scribbling on his parchment scroll. "Observe the balance! This unique form of mustard cuts cleanly through the rich gamey fat of the lamb, while the sourdough crumbs provide a structural crunch that anchors the dish! Write this down, gentlemen! 'A masterclass in culinary balance and textural harmony!'"
"Brilliant! Absolute genius!" another critic muttered, his ink pen blurring across his notebook between eager bites of Jamaican Jerk Spiced Duck. "The bold heat of those bonnet peppers paired with timber smoke... It's wild, uncared-for brilliance!"
At the far end of the courtyard, Darren's gang members were practically roaring with approval as they tore into the Argentine Asado Beef Tomahawks.
"Boss! The meat! It's so juicy!" one thug yelled, wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve. "That green sauce, what did the weird-eyed guy call it, Chimichurri? It makes the beef taste ten times richer!"
"Shut up and eat before I take yours!" Darren laughed heartily, taking a massive gulp of his cold, herbal-infused ale.
Dylan also served Jake and the others since they were working in his house's renovations since this morning.
Outside the archway gate, the waiting guests sat along the wooden benches Dylan had provided, listening to the clinking of plates, the boisterous laughter, and the groans of pure satisfaction floating over the wooden walls. The mouthwatering smoke drifting from the courtyard chimney carried scents of charred oak, roasting garlic, and caramelized honey right into the street.
"Ahhh, smelling that makes my stomach ache!" a waiting merchant groaned, clutching his midsection with a wide smile. "Did you hear that elder in there shouting about lamb?"
"I did," the lady beside him replied, adjusting her posture on the wooden chair with determined eyes. "I don't care if I have to sit here until sundown. No one is taking my spot in this line!"
Surrounded by the pleasant hum of dining guests and the intoxicating scents of his kitchen, Dylan stepped back out into the courtyard, adjusting his apron with a quiet, satisfied smile as the second wave of orders began to roll in.
...
Around three in the afternoon, Garden Ford's lunch had all been served. In just lunch, they had already served a little over one hundred fifty customers!
This was already double the amount of customers they had served the entirety of yesterday. And, they still have not served dinner time!
All the customers have left feeling satisfied and even assuring Dylan that they will definitely come back to visit once again.
Dylan had just carried Scarlet to her bed and made her sleep first since she was already exhausted from the work earlier.
"To think, they would be this captivated by Earth's cuisines. But I guess it's a palate that has been refined throughout the history of Earth's mankind. Thus, it may be more natural that this is their reaction, considering how their food isn't as advanced." As he walked down, Dylan made this comment as he recalled the continuous showers of praises from earlier.
"This town's President of Food Critic Society was really satisfied with his meal after all. He even wanted to personally hire me as his chef which I had to decline, of course." Dylan chuckled as he remembered the eager look of the Society President who was trying to recruit him.
"If this goes on, I really need to start hiring people." Dylan thought out loud as exited the house and saw a familiar figure.
"Hello, Dylan." Victoria could be seen waving at her.
"Hello, Victoria." Dylan approached the gate and allowed her in.
"Dylan, y-you have a cultivation now?!" Victoria did not expect this sudden turn of events. She had already accepted in her mind that Dylan was going to be a cripple for life but this was a pleasant surprise. She beamed a smile, "This is great news!"
"Thank you. It sort of just happened!" Dylan warmly smiled back. He was glad to have another person who was genuinely happy that he could cultivate as well,
"An awakening really is normally spontaneous unless stimulated. So it is understandable. It may be late but it's never too late for one to cultivate!" Victoria encouraged.
A martial spirit awakening is usually an unexpected natural occurrence since a person's Spirit Core maturity varies per person. However, the earlier it is for a cultivator to unlock their cultivation, the likelier it is that they are more talented and gifted.
Dylan nodded as he invited, "I'm sure you came here to eat. Come."
"Just let me know, if you need anything in terms of cultivation and training, I'll try to be of help to you to the best of my abilities." Victoria followed closely and mentioned.
"That's reassuring to know. Haha." Dylan laughed
"How were you able to advance so fast?" Victoria asked as she sat down
"Well, I simply just refined the low-grade Spiritual Stones that I got from my assassins after my awakening." Dylan explained curtly.
"I see." Victoria looking at him, not believing the entire story since she knew that those amount of low-grade spiritual stones would never be able to make a cultivator reach the Peak Stage immediately.
...
After a few minutes, there was another surprise visitor. This time, it was Sir Patrick who would usually come by in the evening to give Scarlet her daily cultivation resources.
"Hello, sir Patrick. What brings you here?" Dylan greeted.
"When I came by yesterday, I noticed the change of atmosphere here. It seems that I was right to believe that you did start a restaurant. I was hoping to share a meal with you and the young miss. Of course, my treat." Patrick suggested. It was his way of sincerely wanting to build a relationship with Scarlet.
"Unfortunately, Scarlet is asleep. But I can still offer to prepare a meal for you while you wait for her." Dylan suggested.
"Thank you, Dylan. That would be delightful." Patrick was pleased with Dylan's hospitality.
"Hm, it seems you've also gained cultivation? Did you..." Patrick noticed the change in Dylan's aura as he mentioned.
Dylan smoothly explained, "Don't worry, sir. I did not tamper with my little sister's stipends. It just so happened that I awoke my martial spirit and gained cultivation yesterday. If I did, you would notice in my aura one of the cultivation techniques that you've given me."
"Hm, I will give you the benefit of the doubt since an awakening is spontaneous in nature. However, your cultivation shot up immediately to the Peak of the Spirit Core Realm? I'm well aware that you were cultivation-less last night." Patrick interrogated.
"That was because I gave him a Spiritual Dew Pill." Victoria stepped in and interjected.
"P-princess Victoria. I see. A Spiritual Dew Pill, a pill that's extremely suitable for the advancement of a newly awakened Spirit Core. How w-wise of you!" Patrick panicked and immediately backed down.
He looked at Dylan and sat down obediently, "I'm sorry for my presumptuous words, Sir Dylan. It seems that you were rather fortuitous. No wonder you quickly reached the Peak Stage of the Spirit Core Realm."
Seeing Patrick acting timidly, Dylan chuckled and thanked Victoria with a nod to which she also responded with a kind nod.
'If it were up to me, I would chase you out since you've been so offensive. But I need to endure for Scarlet's future.' Dylan thought as he asked for Patrick's order.