Chapter 465: Cook-Off (2/2)
”Perfect.”
On the opposite side stared Nole, Ola, and Ki. Peculiarly enough, a crew from one of the major channels in Hidros was here to interview up-and-coming stars in the world of music. The commotion downstairs spread throughout the restaurant; each table spoke about it.
”Let's change location, ma'am,” suggested the cameraman.
”No, let's wait,” said she with legs crossed. The white-formal vest and dress were fetching. The group sitting across was compromised of four members. Each wore fashionable outfits, the likes of which was flashy and undisputed.
”Ma'am,” came an assistant holding a water bottle, ”-it's the chefs. Lady Lordon, the Medusa of Cooking, and Mr. Nole the Monk are getting readied to do battle.”
”A battle between two renowned chefs is bound to make headlines, come, follow me!” she quit on the idols who but waited patiently.
”Can you believe this?” wondered Konoe, ”-I'm getting the chance to cook besides a legend.”
”I know,” said Igna admiring Lady Yuki. Her hair was tied in a high-bun aided by sticks, the sleeves were pulled back with the apron around her waist. The way she flamed the pan and stirred the pot was a dance of elegance. Nole didn't bow either, the harshness in the way the knife sliced flesh, the way the meat sizzled – the assistants waited with opened mouth.
”Order up,” came a waiter with paper, ”-here are the meals.” Two cooking stations went full throttle; the trio of Yuki, Konoe, and Igna clicked as if a well-fitted puzzle. Her technique was gentle and soft while he had perfect control. The scary thing was as perfect as the hand obeyed his orders – he took the liberty of purposefully making mistakes here and there. The explosive nature came from said trait bestowed by Leko. Konoe followed with the ending phase, the dressing of the food was a work of art. One by one, team 2's plates flew out of the kitchen.
Team 1 with Nole in charge held a few flaws. Ola being the right hand and all was mentally tormented by the prior thrown insult. The food left their corners at a constant rate, still, after a few minutes, the monstrous dexterity of Igna channeled into showmanship of the culinary arts. He took the gathered crowd of spectators by storm, '-I got it,' the mind's limbo between the conscious and subconscious didn't affect the team.
'Good. Not only is the taste unrivaled, but the methodology is also unique. There's the flare of swordsmanship, just what is your past like, Igna,' wondered a sweaty Yuki.
The camera swept and recorded the kitchen to the taste test. The hours went on into dessert where Konoe shined.
”We have a clear winner,” said the reporter, ”-Yuki Lordon and her team have defeated Chef Nole. There's no information on the deal between the two – though you can expect little ol' me to find out.” The tables cheered with light applause and thus the cars left to an empty hall.
”So,” smiled she, ”-I've won our battle. There wasn't any condition, call it a whim. Chef Nole, what you made was good, mine was better,” she faced Igna, ”-good job. I'm certain you're a perfect fit to come train by my side. For now,” she held out a hand towards the head-chef, ”-take care of him for me.”
”Sure,” no bad-blood remained at the end. The passion shared by rivaling parties surmounted the pettiness of it all. Konoe stood for having held and kept pace with those monsters.
”Good job out there,” said Ola to promptly walk out the back door.
”Nicely done, Igna, Konoe, it's only the start of greater things to come,” added the Head-chef.
Guild Master Haru smiled across the room as if to say, 'congratulation'.
”Excuse me,” came a man dressed in a suit, ”-what will be of the interview with our band?”
”I do apologize,” said the reporter, ”-Star X is very popular with the ladies. Still, a battle between behemoths doesn't come every day.”
The video of the cook-off made waves across the Arcanum overnight. Many social platforms linked with cooking shared the clip. A demon raging behind the stove with the Viper at his side. The flashy style had many dumbfounded. Needless to say, the boy went viral.
”Yuki, was it all your plan?” the car drove.
”Not really,” she eased onto the window allowing the draft to shake her hair, ”-I went with the flow. Lucien, there's no need for such worries. I'm going to train the boy soon enough – we need the restaurant to be renovated first.”
”Lyoko Igna will return to Leko's side sooner or later, don't forget.”
”I'll make sure he grows to enjoy our company,” and so the duo faded into the ever-stretching roads.
Saturday 7th of April began with the phone ringing constantly.
”Igna, mute the damned thing already,” said a tired Konoe.
”Sorry about that,” the flashing screen between the somber room made it hard on the eyes. *Caller: Unknown*
”Hello?”
”IGNA!” came a familiar voice.
”Who's this?” asked he still half-asleep.
”It's me, Jen, have you forgotten already?”
”Jen, did something happen, why call at such an early hour?”
”You don't sound happy…”
”Obviously not, I'm sleeping, ok, good night,” he cut the call.
”THE AUDACITY,” yelled she inside the half-empty room, ”-doesn't he know about the news?”
”Don't think so,” said a half-naked Leonard waking beside her, ”-I doubt he knows.”
”Come on you two,” came Rena with a disappointed exhale, ”-congratulation on being a couple and all, it's not nice to show-off.” Yuki Lordon wasn't the only surprise that Friday had in store. A very flustered Jen called Leonard to the roof and proposed, per her words, she couldn't contain the wallowing sensation. Nothing could have made him happier; it was an immediate yes.
”I can't believe it,” said Lampard holding a laptop, ”-is that the Igna we know?” the video played with millions of views. Spell's Channel broadcasted the whole event over the Arcanum. ”Look at that,” a particular clip showed the boy throwing a knife and catching it with the other hand without turning the head after which he proceeded to slice a tomato. Enthusiast or no, the momentum the clip gathered was tantamount to a raging tsunami. 'Medusa's prodigy,' was assigned as his nickname.
”I don't care,” said Jen sharply, ”-I'm calling again.”
It reached a point where Igna had to shut off the phone to be able to sleep. The reporter responsible for such a find got rewarded handsomely by the channel. The amount of buzz around the clip created a solid ground for growth. Yuki realized the potential and soon contacted Haru to have Igna move inside the walls of the capital.
Leko silently watched the clip and wondered if the decision was wise. 'Medusa's prodigy. Will he be able to come back after all this publicity?' the kitchen resounded silently with the chopping of cabbage, '-the future might be more than was bargained for.'