TWOD 10
Chapter 10: The Deal is Done
Throwing vegetables or beans into water to boil, then adding some herbs and eating it with barley bread—this was the staple food of ordinary Greeks, what they had eaten all their lives. The five servants were clearly hungry, but looking at the vegetable soup, which was much better than what they normally had, they had no appetite.
Kelton let out a long sigh. “With salad, no one will want to drink this vegetable soup anymore.”
“That’s why Su Ye is the Prometheus of the culinary world,” Master said with a happy smile.
Master looked at Su Ye and said with deep emotion, “I am a chef, but I have no interest in sacrifices or butchering. I only care about good food and the look of satisfaction on a customer’s face when they eat it. The reason I joined the Dolphin River is that Kelton gave me the most freedom. My greatest dream was to create a world-famous dish. As I’ve gotten older, that dream has seemed more and more distant, but today, you have helped me realize half of it! Thank you, Su Ye. Your generosity has earned you my lifelong friendship.”
“You’re too kind,” Su Ye said, bowing his head slightly with perfect etiquette and no trace of arrogance.
Kelton snorted. Su Ye had never shown him such respect.
Su Ye turned to Kelton, a hint of a challenge in his eyes. “Smells good, doesn’t it?”
Kelton glanced at the Four Gods’ Pact on the table and then at the two empty clay bowls. “It smells great,” he answered honestly.
Su Ye held out his hand. “One thousand Golden Eagles.”
What a tone! Kelton gave Su Ye a look of annoyance and said, “I’ll give you a satisfactory price, but based on my estimation, your bottom line is probably around 100 Golden Eagles, which is enough to pay off your debt. Besides, among all the people you know, I am the only one willing to pay you so many Golden Eagles.”
“Yes, my bottom line is indeed 100 Golden Eagles,” Su Ye said.
Kelton nodded slightly. The salad dressing recipe was valuable, but its secret could not be kept for long, as it would inevitably be figured out by others. Its useful life was short.
But Su Ye continued, “What about Ravens?” He then picked up a dried fig and put it in his mouth, chewing slowly.
Kelton stared at Su Ye for a long time.
“Even I didn’t think of that,” Master praised sincerely.
Kelton sighed helplessly. “You’re right. I underestimated you. I didn’t think you would consider that. Two hundred Golden Eagles, no more.”
“Three hundred. I need living expenses,” Su Ye said.
“Thirty years of living expenses at once?” Kelton had never met such a greedy young man.
“Mages cost a lot of money,” Su Ye said.
“Mages also make a lot of money,” Kelton replied, a subtle hint of something different in his tone.
“I hear a little regret in your voice, Mr. Kelton. Now is the time for you to make up for it,” Su Ye said.
“You’re more cunning than a rat stealing oil. It’s true that if I could reach the Holy Realm, I would still choose to be a warhttps://orangenuna.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/woman-traveling-in-france-2023-11-27-05-16-47-utc_Easy-Resize.com_.jpgr, but below that level, mages make more money. Still, three hundred Golden Eagles is too much; it’s enough to buy your house,” Kelton said, surprised that Su Ye could sense his regret.
“But not enough to buy a mage’s friendship,” Su Ye countered.
“If you ever need money to open a restaurant, you have to choose me as your primary partner,” Kelton said.
“That’s your real goal, isn’t it? I agree.”
Kelton stood up and extended his right hand. “Two hundred Golden Zeuses for the recipe, and a one hundred Golden Zeus, ten-year, interest-free loan.”
Su Ye stood up and shook Kelton’s hand. “Deal.”
The two smiled at each other, and all the previous unpleasantness vanished.
Master nodded in satisfaction. This was a profitable deal for Su Ye. The five servants watched Su Ye with envy and jealousy. They would never earn 300 Golden Eagles in their entire lives, and here was Su Ye, earning it in just half an afternoon.
The two continued to chat. Soon after, the Bronze Warhttps://orangenuna.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/woman-traveling-in-france-2023-11-27-05-16-47-utc_Easy-Resize.com_.jpgr Hark entered with three large bags, which he placed in front of Su Ye.
“Count it,” Kelton said.
“I trust the owner of the Dolphin River,” Su Ye replied.
Kelton nodded in satisfaction. Now, everything Su Ye said sounded more and more pleasant.
Su Ye didn’t even look at the three bags of gold coins. He straightened his body and said sehttps://orangenuna.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/woman-traveling-in-france-2023-11-27-05-16-47-utc_Easy-Resize.com_.jpgusly, “Mr. Kelton, let’s talk about the real matter now.”
Kelton looked puzzled. He then said, “Everyone except Hark, leave.”
“I look forward to your next great dish!” Master said with a smile as he exited.
The five servants did not dare to linger and entered the adjacent room.
Su Ye glanced at the expressionless Hark, then looked at Kelton. “Congratulations. You have earned the right to name the salad dressing. Within a few days, ‘Kelton’s Salad’ will be famous in Athens and will spread at an unstoppable rate. At that time, not only will more nobles come to taste it, but great aristocrats may even be willing to owe you a favor for the recipe.”
“You are far more clever than I imagined,” Kelton said with a faint smile.
“But, compared to the fame you’ve gained this time, if you continue to cooperate with me, you will get more wonderful dishes, a constant flow of fame, you’ll become a partner in the number one restaurant in the aristocratic district, a friend of a mage, and you’ll have even greater power and status. Isn’t that right?”
Kelton smiled and nodded. “There is some truth to that.” He was very happy today.
“However, you could also suffer a great loss,” Su Ye said.
“What loss?” Kelton looked at Su Ye warily.
“If I were to die at the hands of Ravens today, you would lose the future fame from more dishes, the status of a partner in the number one restaurant in the aristocratic district, the friendship of a promising mage, and perhaps even more,” Su Ye said.
Kelton fell silent again.
“Tell me what you want,” Kelton said.
Su Ye let out a silent sigh of relief. He knew that few people could ignore the aversion to loss. All his previous efforts had been for this very moment.
Su Ye continued, “Please have Mr. Hark take me to repay my debt and then take me home. After that, you’ll be out of it.”
“This is your real goal, isn’t it?” Kelton looked at Su Ye intently.
“Yes,” Su Ye said, putting a dark purple mulberry into his mouth.
Hark watched Su Ye silently.
The room fell into a long silence.
After a while, Kelton said, “I can have Hark take you home, but you must swear to do one thing for me.”
“What is it?”
“To obstruct someone’s promotion, just to obstruct them,” Kelton said.
“To what rank?”
“Either Silver or Gold. If it’s Holy Realm, it has nothing to do with you,” Kelton’s voice held a hint of weariness.
“If the opportunity arises, I will give it my all,” Su Ye had no other choice.
A glint flashed in Kelton’s eyes. “Hark, take Su Ye home safely. His life is more important to me now.”
“Yes!” Hark immediately lowered his head in response.
“Phew…” Su Ye let out a heavy breath.
“You’re still young after all,” Kelton said. Seeing Su Ye’s slight loss of composure, he wasn’t displeased but rather very happy. This time, Su Ye’s calculation was not flawed, as he had known all along that his chances of escaping were slim. The escape plan he had devised for himself earlier was just a way of deceiving himself, a way to hold on to a shred of hope.
.
.
Support me on :
Post Comment