Chapter 464: Medusa of Cooking (1/2)
'As if doing so will make me a 'supposed' star.' Lost in the mindless moving of Guild Haru's always luscious lips, '-nothing else better to do, suppose I ought to repay what I'm due.' Soon, her mouth moved as to say 'Igna,' quietly, it kept on repeating until she slammed the table.
”Sorry about that,” startled, the chair nearly fell.
”Shesh,” wiping her forehead, ”-do pay a little attention when I'm talking.”
”I do apologize for the disrespect, Guild Leader. It's not without reason,” leaving the sentence unfinished, her ears wiggled in intrigue.
”Go on, what were you thinking?” she smirked with a hand on the table.
”Legionnaires of Mothra…”
”Where did you hear that name?”
”I came across it on the way from the airfield. The guards at Lai were rather intent on letting people know their name.”
”You expect me to believe that?” her eyes sharpened, her nose sniffed in saying she could smell a lie.
”Yes,” returned he with a cold expression, ”-lady Haru, I did but mumble the name Mothra. Why is it you seem flustered all of a sudden?”
”Tough nut to crack,” she facepalmed, ”-are you sure thy memories are gone?”
”Yeah, don't remember anything. Besides,” he leaned, ”-are they a group of bandits or something?”
”Suppose I'll tell you,” she eased into her seat,”-Mothra is a less than likable guild. They kill people, steal monsters, slay adventurers for a few gold and blackmail. They provide any service as long as you have gold.”
”Why hasn't the guild taken action?”
”We can't. Mothra's a guild backed by a conglomerate in Alphia. They have diplomatic immunity. Even if we go after them, nothing will come out of it.”
”Alphia?” tilting his face, '-sounds familiar for some reason.'
”A continent to the North-East of Hidros. They're allies of the Argashield Federation.”
”If it's politic then count me out,” he sighed.
”Wasn't it you who wanted to know more?”
”Yeah,” distraught by the reality, ”-I thought they ought to have been some rare organization. Oh well, matters of states are best suited to the people at the top. A nobody like me doesn't have the right to even dare look their way.” Tipping his head,”-thank you for the warm welcome, guild master. I'll work twice as hard to make the Trader's Guild proud!”
”Wait!”
”Yes?” stopped steps away from the door – her face felt a look of annoyance.
”Chef Leko is a nice man. He pleaded for me to do this,” a tag sprouted out her clenched palm, ”-Kinless, welcome to the Ardanian Adventuring Guild.”
”I don't understand…” back to where he was prior, ”-didn't you say no fighting?”
”I was being selfish. Take it before I change my mind.” Quick to obey, the rugged white-tag had Tier 10 – Porcelain engraved with the adventuring name.
”Why the Ardanian Guild?”
”Do you think Hidros would accept a vampire?” breathing a chuckle, ”-with this, you're now bound to us in Arda. In a way it's insurance, no harm will come. Ardanian fighters are well-respected with or without a high rank. The process is simple, go to the guild if you ever have things or items to sell. Stock up on weapons and such. Word of advice, do keep to Ardanians on the field, they'll help out without malice or second-intent.”
”Thank you, ma'am,” the tag wrapped around the neck nicely, ”-what about the Academy?”
”It's been handled. Each subject has its own way of teaching and testing. The Trader's Guild has even more freedom. Train to become a chef, it's close to being night-service.”
”Will you be attending?”
”Obviously,” she laughed.
”As you wish, my lady.” The amber light in the hall flashed as the door closed.
Her stance relaxed further in the seat, ”-majesty, are you please with the results now?”
”I'm not the queen,” said a monotonous voice, ”-I'm but her weapon,” thus it vanished without another word.
'So much for keeping it a secret. The trouble for taking care of you is worth the backlash. Igna, become the best chef the world has seen. It's the only way to achieve the later goals. Being famous and of repute will serve in the long run.'
*Ding,* ”-what is it?”
”Guild Master, Lord, and Lady Lordon have arrived.”
”On my way,” said she shuffled along the upper-floors while Igna dashed across the bottom floors. Time showed 17:00 and all rookies were obliged to make it before 16:00. The kitchen filled with unpleasant murmurs. Konoe tried hard to keep at washing dishes.
”Hey, Academy graduate,” fired one across, ”-didn't you take a class in street-food opposed to fine-dining. A poor noble like you can't even afford a decent meal. He has to prepare it…”
”Stop with the pointless chatter,” blazed across the white floor.
”Shh, it's Chef Ola,” the abuse turned polite. Seeing preparation going smoothly once again, Igna entered whilst panting.
”Igna?” frowned he, ”-do you realize what time it is!”
”Cool it, Ola,” came another voice, ”-the boy was with me,” said the head chef. ”-Don't worry,” a pat on the back gave time to breathe. ”Go on and help Konoe in preparing the ingredients.”
”Head-chef,” voiced Ola, ”-it's going to set a bad example.”
”Not at all,” he smiled, ”-the lateness incurred was beyond his control. He knows of the impoliteness,” shrugged to the boy's direction. The chopping board rattled with the fast-paced cutting. No mistakes nothing, the knife was handled not as a chef, rather, as a trained swordsman. ”Hard-work to make up for the disrespect.”
*Knock, knock,* ”-can I come in?” interrupted one of the waiters.
”Sure, what is it?” they stared outwards the kitchen.