“That’s perfectly fine too. So long as you’re happy, you should have a say in the kind of life you want to live.” Kaze would not tell Leah what to do because it was her life. Leah was the master of her own destiny. “You’re the best. I feel relaxed around you. You won’t judge me.” Maybe Leah had lost her sense of self, being controlled by her mother. She would fall back to her usual habits when confronted with challenges. Eventually, she would lose her identity and the will to change everything. Every little thing would become an obstacle to her, but she would want to break free. “To be honest, we just met. I don’t have the right to tell you what to do. This is the way it should be. I’d be overstepping to ask more of you.” Kaze felt that Leah was being too strict with herself. “You’re right. My experiences shaped my personality.” Leah believed she should not be trivial. Kaze had a point about enjoying life. She should learn to say no. Leah was too afraid of hurt
“What do you want to eat?” Since Leah already understood the situation, explanation was no longer necessary. Kaze asked her another question instead. “I always had steak but I’ve grown tired of it. Why don’t we go somewhere else?” Leah was not a fan of the restaurant despite the menu frequently changing. She no longer enjoyed dining at the place because she had been eating there for as long as she could remember. “Then let’s go have a stroll. Maybe we can stumble upon a new restaurant or something.” Kaze liked strolling around the city. The dishes prepared by a grand restaurant were nothing short of delicious but they lacked sentimental value. Whenever he was away on a trip, he preferred to visit stalls or smaller restaurants operated by individual owners to enjoy the warmth and hospitality that one could never experience in a large establishment. The emotional value he felt when dining would certainly make the food taste better. “Sure. I have never really been outside
“Have you experienced something similar? Otherwise, why would you say something like that?” Leah was curious. Kaze always maintained a frosty demeanor that could push people away. However, his frosty demeanor was precisely what piqued her curiosity. She wondered what had happened in his past to shape him into the person he was today. “I’ve experienced my fair share of humanity and I can’t possibly put them all into words. It’s just some experience I gained from old times.” Kaze did not want to disclose his past. Whenever he thought of Riverbank, that woman would appear in his mind. Unfortunately, not everyone was reliable. Kaze did not want to dwell in the past but it was difficult to erase it. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pick on your old scars. I’m just curious. I promise you I won’t ask again.” Leah apologized immediately when she noticed the changes in Kaze’s eyes. She wondered if it was something she said that made the air around him grow heavier. “It’s okay. It’
People who had the courage to travel were capable in their own way. However, not everyone could be a reliable figure. Kaze simply gave a piece of reminder but he did not want to terrorize her, so he had to make it clear so that the girl knew what she should do. “Sounds complicated. If I could travel, I would want to go on a solo adventure. Too bad my mother won’t let me do it. Besides, she has plans for me…” Leah was determined to break free from her mother’s control but she also knew that it would be difficult. The upcoming birthday party was a chance for her mother to showcase her to other families. Even if she ultimately did not marry someone from the Viper’s Den, she would marry into another powerful and wealthy family. In short, Katie would never spare her daughter, let alone allow her to travel the country alone. “Don’t think so much. Look, there’s still a stall open.” Kaze saw a well-lit signage at the alley, wondering if it was a place where they could get somet
The reason why the chief opened up a restaurant in a secluded alley was because he had stepped down from his previous position. To maintain the chance to practice his culinary skills, he set up the restaurant that targeted the wealthy and powerful. He might even meet customers who could appreciate his skills. The restaurant might not be well-known, but since it only served a selected audience, a reservation was mandatory. Walk-in customers were unlikely to get a seat at any time of the day. The signage in front of the alley served as a reminder but not many people knew it was actually a restaurant. Kaze walked inside because he saw the Viper’s Den symbol. Without the symbol, he would not walk into a secluded alley. Standing outside the opened wooden door, Kaze knocked on the brass knocker. Two knocks later, footsteps came rustling from within. He then took a step back; Leah did the same as well. The alley was secluded but the front of the restaurant was not exactl
“Here for dinner? What would you like to have?” The elderly man, Master Fuller, was surprised to see Kaze. He thought after stepping down from serving government officials, it would be difficult for him to meet powerful figures anymore. To his surprise, someone powerful arrived at his little establishment. “We’re hungry. We are just looking for something simple to eat,” Kaze said as he simply sat down at the table. The table was part of a big circular formation, surrounding a huge cooking space in the center, where hungry patrons could watch the chef cook. Kaze sat down at the outer ring of the table, granting him a clear view of the chef’s cooking station. Leah sat right beside him. The girl had been scanning the room from the moment she entered. The room was surrounded by many wooden sculptures coupled with old drawings. All the sculptures and drawings looked interesting. She wondered if they were all real. “This place feels great. I can visit whenever I have the ti
“I see. So that’s how this restaurant operates. It’s something new and interesting. I can bring my friends here next time,” Leah said specifically. She did not expect a small establishment would have such a unique way of serving customers and it was refreshing. “Just tell them what you want and they will prepare for you,” Kaze said. “I’m not particularly into anything right now. I don’t really have an appetite, so maybe something light?” Leah never had any favorite food. “If that’s the case, let’s just go with something casual,” Kaze said, with a hint of urgency as he was hungry. Master Fuller knew Kaze’s identity but he did not engage in a conversation because of Leah. He simply smiled and nodded. Then, appetizers were served. Kaze forked the cucumber and took a bite. A sweet taste filled his mouth with every crunch. “How is this cucumber made? It looks like it’s not seasoned but it's so sweet!” Leah was amazed by the taste. She got used to the exquisite cuisine
“Tell me, what do you think I added inside the tofu?” Master Fully asked confidently, assuming that the girl would never know the answer. When he made the tofu, he did not know what to add yet and simply wanted an original taste of the soybeans. Suddenly when he was grinding the soybeans, he had a spark of a thought and believed he should add something to enhance the flavor. It would save him the work to cook it when the tofu was formed. “It’s simple. Other than some salt, you also added some sauce. I believe you made the sauce yourself. It’s the sauce that makes the tofu so silky smooth. It feels like I’m eating a piece of cloud. It also has a unique fragrance when bitten.” Leah expressed her thoughts and then looked at Master Fuller with anticipation. Master Fuller was slightly surprised but on second thought, it only made sense. “You are quite a bright child. You did your homework,” he said. “When I was younger, I always messed around with the ingredients in the kitche
Katie did not want to give up just yet. She lost her temper over her daughter’s matter but in order to prepare the perfect banquet, she had to get Master Fuller’s help. She knew how good Master Fuller was. The man used to be a chef at the national kitchen, serving high-ranking government officials, and also a member of the Viper’s Den, which explained his prestigious status. He always used his identity of the Viper’s Den to reject a certain job. However, being a great chef, the VIP customers he served fell in love with his food, which earned him more connections to many prominent figures. Therefore, making acquaintance with Master Fuller would also be making connections with his social network. Master Fuller retired from the national kitchen and settled down in Butterworth, and he was able to stay hidden in a small establishment because of his unusual dual identity. Most of the customers never knew his true identity. Katie knew because she was also backed by the Viper’s
Katie got angry. She already had a bad day for not being able to meet the guest at the penthouse. She was already embarrassed but due to that person’s identity, she was forced to endure the resentment and dared not voice her disagreement. Here, however, she did not need to hold back. Master Fuller was a member of the Viper’s Den but he used to be a normal agent, not someone extremely powerful. Katie was the CEO of Northborn Group. Her status and identity were far higher than Master Fuller’s, yet she was rejected by a mere waitress working at the restaurant. Master Fuller was simply being foolish. “I am the CEO of Northborn Group. Master Fuller is considered a subordinate to me. If I will it, you will go down with this entire place.” Katie thought that by revealing her identity, the waitress would be deterred and let her in. She quickly wore a smirk on her face and was ready to set foot in the establishment, but the woman refused to budge. “I’m sorry, we are not accept
The woman frowned. There were no reservations left for the day as it was already late. However, after Kaze and Leah dined in, someone else knocked on the door. She looked at Master Fuller. Master Fuller looked at Kaze and then shook his head at her. She then headed outside and opened the door while the knocks echoed. “Hi, do you have a reservation?” she asked politely. “I don’t have a reservation, but I’m here to see Master Fuller.” After the meeting, Katie dragged her exhausted body back to the hotel, hoping to rest while overseeing the preparation for the birthday event. However, after having a simple dinner, she realized she should prepare something special, as her daughter's birthday banquet was a significant occasion. She quickly found out about a retired chef who used to serve government officials at the national kitchen and there was a small restaurant of his nearby. Even though the restaurant currently only served the wealthy, if one paid enough, the chef wo
Master Fuller chuckled helplessly. He then added a few more dishes for Kaze and Leah. “I’m too full. I can’t eat anymore.” Leah ate a lot. The restaurant looked plain and dull but the food it served was amazing. “If you like the food, do visit us again.” Reservation was mandatory to dine at Master Fuller’s place but he made an exception for Leah because of Kaze, trying to earn his favor. “I’m definitely coming back,” Leah said with a determined gaze. “Great. If you come often, it means my cooking skills are still up to standard.” Master Fuller glanced at Kaze as he spoke, trying to confirm the next meeting. “We will be here for a while. We are staying at the nearby hotel ten minutes away from here. We will certainly drop by more often,” Kaze said. Master Fuller nodded happily. “You guys still have space for dessert?” Dessert was made with sweet potato using the simplest method. Kaze and Leah were stuffed after the main course. Since the sweet potato was still
Leah was scared of the heat. She blew at the fish before taking a small bite. The tenderness of the fish surprised her. It was flawless. “It’s delicious!” The girl was amazed. “Eat more if it’s nice.” Master Fuller had seen his fair share of female customers pretending to be a lady while dining but ultimately finishing every dish he served. He was happy about it. “The ingredients are so fresh. Where did you get them?” Leah spent a lot of time at the hotel so she knew how the hotel kitchen kept their ingredients fresh. “Most of the vegetables are from my backyard. Our food is nice because the ingredients are fresh.” Master Fuller pointed at the backyard. Kaze was rather surprised that the ex-national chef had the time to plant his own vegetables. “How big is the backyard? Can it supply the entire restaurant?” “There are other farmers in the area where I buy from. All the vegetables I purchase are what the farmers eat, so fewer pesticides and artificial fertilizer a
Due to the busy environment at the national kitchen, the chefs rarely had any time or opportunity to develop new dishes. Their focus was to get better at what they were already doing. Most of the time, creativity was not necessary. However, when Master Fuller retired, he started to enjoy life to make up for the time lost. It also allowed him to add more flavors to his current cooking as his vision broadened. He tended to his vegetables in the backyard during the day. After a day's work, he cooked something nice for himself, enjoying the fruits of his labor with a grateful heart. Whenever he cooked, he would think of the hard work behind caring for the ingredients. With a grateful heart, his food carried gratitude and appreciation for the gifts of nature. Kaze had a piece of vegetable and it was indeed fresh. “Nice. This feels extremely fresh.” He did not have much thought about it as he was here just to eat. Master Fuller prepared the simplest dish that every family wou
“Tell me, what do you think I added inside the tofu?” Master Fully asked confidently, assuming that the girl would never know the answer. When he made the tofu, he did not know what to add yet and simply wanted an original taste of the soybeans. Suddenly when he was grinding the soybeans, he had a spark of a thought and believed he should add something to enhance the flavor. It would save him the work to cook it when the tofu was formed. “It’s simple. Other than some salt, you also added some sauce. I believe you made the sauce yourself. It’s the sauce that makes the tofu so silky smooth. It feels like I’m eating a piece of cloud. It also has a unique fragrance when bitten.” Leah expressed her thoughts and then looked at Master Fuller with anticipation. Master Fuller was slightly surprised but on second thought, it only made sense. “You are quite a bright child. You did your homework,” he said. “When I was younger, I always messed around with the ingredients in the kitche
“I see. So that’s how this restaurant operates. It’s something new and interesting. I can bring my friends here next time,” Leah said specifically. She did not expect a small establishment would have such a unique way of serving customers and it was refreshing. “Just tell them what you want and they will prepare for you,” Kaze said. “I’m not particularly into anything right now. I don’t really have an appetite, so maybe something light?” Leah never had any favorite food. “If that’s the case, let’s just go with something casual,” Kaze said, with a hint of urgency as he was hungry. Master Fuller knew Kaze’s identity but he did not engage in a conversation because of Leah. He simply smiled and nodded. Then, appetizers were served. Kaze forked the cucumber and took a bite. A sweet taste filled his mouth with every crunch. “How is this cucumber made? It looks like it’s not seasoned but it's so sweet!” Leah was amazed by the taste. She got used to the exquisite cuisine
“Here for dinner? What would you like to have?” The elderly man, Master Fuller, was surprised to see Kaze. He thought after stepping down from serving government officials, it would be difficult for him to meet powerful figures anymore. To his surprise, someone powerful arrived at his little establishment. “We’re hungry. We are just looking for something simple to eat,” Kaze said as he simply sat down at the table. The table was part of a big circular formation, surrounding a huge cooking space in the center, where hungry patrons could watch the chef cook. Kaze sat down at the outer ring of the table, granting him a clear view of the chef’s cooking station. Leah sat right beside him. The girl had been scanning the room from the moment she entered. The room was surrounded by many wooden sculptures coupled with old drawings. All the sculptures and drawings looked interesting. She wondered if they were all real. “This place feels great. I can visit whenever I have the ti