Kael walked up to the entrance of Wanmin Restaurant and saw a girl standing in front of the tightly shut doors. She wore a red outfit, glasses perched on her face, and had sleek black hair framing delicate features.
She kept glancing around anxiously.
Kael approached her.
"Excuse me, do you need something?"
The black-haired girl turned toward him.
"Why is Wanmin Restaurant closed?"
"Sorry. Chef Mao isn't feeling well today, so we're closed for the day."
"Ah?"
Worry immediately filled her expression.
"But Lady Ningguang reserved a full banquet with Chef Mao yesterday. She's hosting a luncheon for Liyue's merchants this afternoon. What are we supposed to do now?"
"There's no time left. If we switch to another restaurant, they won't be ready in time."
Baishi looked completely distressed.
A banquet prepared for Lady Ningguang was always extravagant—something that absolutely had to be started a day in advance.
There was this too?
Chef Mao's collapse had been so sudden yesterday that neither Kael nor Xiangling knew anything about this arrangement.
Ningguang was Wanmin Restaurant's behind-the-scenes investor. Any request she made had to be fulfilled.
And backing out at the last minute… In Liyue, the nation of Contracts, this was no small matter.
It could even affect Wanmin's reputation.
Kael made a quick decision.
"How many guests is Lady Ningguang entertaining today?"
Chef Mao might have collapsed, but there were still two chefs left in Wanmin Restaurant.
He and Xiangling together could definitely handle a single banquet.
"A total of five people."
"Alright." Kael nodded. "Don't worry. Lady Ningguang won't be delayed. We'll have the banquet ready on time."
Kael walked into the back courtyard of Wanmin Restaurant and found Xiangling tending to Chef Mao.
"Xiangling, come help me. We need to prepare a full banquet and deliver it to the Jade Chamber before noon."
"Huh?"
Xiangling blinked in confusion until Kael explained everything Chef Mao had agreed to.
Sure enough, she thought exactly the same way he did.
"Since Wanmin Restaurant gave its word to Lady Ningguang, we absolutely can't break the Contract. With the two of us, it'll be enough."
Still talking, Xiangling followed him out. "Mona, can I trouble you to look after Dad for now?"
"Of course."
---
Kael rummaged through the pantry for anything usable.
Since Chef Mao had already promised Ningguang, the ingredients had to be prepared ahead of time.
Sure enough, he found a stash of high-end ingredients tucked away in the corner.
Kael counted them. "The abalone's already been soaked… we've got crabs, lobster, Matsutake…"
The moment he saw the ingredients, dish after dish took shape in his mind.
Adeptus' Temptation, Boiled Cabbage in Broth, Almond Tofu, Golden Crab, Golden Shrimp Balls, Bamboo Shoot Soup…
---
He assigned tasks with practiced ease.
"Xiangling, shred the tofu into thin strips, marinate the Raw Meat with the seasonings, and score the abalone…"
"…Alright!"
Kael handled the rest of the ingredients himself.
Baishi followed them inside.
Even though Kael had promised to finish the banquet before noon, the situation was too serious and Chef Mao's absence left her uneasy.
But after watching Kael and Xiangling work for a while—and seeing how smoothly and professionally they handled the ingredients—she finally began to relax.
Xiangling was famous enough; Baishi knew she was Wanmin's head chef and her skill was unquestionable.
But the other man… judging from how he worked, he was clearly an experienced chef as well.
Before long, dish after gorgeous, fragrant plate came out of the kitchen.
Only the Adeptus' Temptation simmering on the stove still wasn't done.
Normally, Adeptus' Temptation had to be stewed for at least six hours so every ingredient could soften and soak up flavor.
It was the kind of dish you always had to start in advance.
But time was running out.
Kael lifted the lid and checked the pot.
Looks like he'd have to resort to special methods.
He activated his Pyro Vision and cranked the fire to maximum. At the same time, he used his Anemo Vision to apply wind pressure inside the pot.
A Teyvat-style pressure cooker—an idea he'd just come up with.
Wind pressure wrapped evenly around every ingredient, softening them through sheer force.
The fire blazed violently beneath the pot, locking in all the flavor.
Baishi had spent a long time by Ningguang's side. She'd seen many things.
But this was her first time witnessing someone use two different elements at the same time.
More importantly, she knew that using Elemental Power for cooking was far harder than using it to fight Hilichurls.
Anyone with a Vision could channel elemental attacks.
But controlling Elemental Power with this level of precision? That was something no one could do.
He was using a simple clay pot.
Channeling Elemental Power inside a clay pot—one slip and it could explode.
Watching Kael maintain perfect control without a hint of strain, Baishi's shock slowly shifted into curiosity.
A man who wielded two different kinds of Elemental Power…
There was no way he was just an ordinary chef.
She had to report this to Lady Ningguang.