Deal Completed

The Greeks' staple dish was simply vegetables, beans, and other food thrown into water and boiled, with a few herbs added at the end, served alongside barley bread. They ate it from childhood to adulthood.

The five servants were clearly starving, yet as they looked at the vegetable soup, which was far better than usual, they had no appetite at all.

Kelton let out a long sigh. "With salad, I doubt anyone will want to drink this vegetable soup anymore."

"So Suye is the Prometheus of the culinary world." Master smiled happily.

Master looked at Suye, deeply moved. "I am a chef, but I have no interest whatsoever in sacrifices or slaughter. I care only about food, only about the satisfaction blooming on a guest's face after tasting it. The reason I joined Dolphin River was because Kelton gave me the greatest freedom. My greatest dream was to create a world-famous dish. As I grew older, that dream drifted farther and farther away, but today, you helped me fulfill half of it! Thank you, Suye. Your generosity has earned my lifelong friendship."

"You're too kind." Suye dipped his head slightly, his manners impeccable and without the slightest trace of pride.

Kelton gave a soft snort. Suye had never shown him such respect.

Suye turned to look at Kelton, a hint of provocation in his eyes. "Smell good?"

Kelton glanced at the Four-God Contract on the table, then at the two empty clay bowls.

"It really does." He answered honestly.

Suye held out his hand. "One thousand Golden Eagles."

What kind of tone was that? Kelton shot Suye an annoyed glance. "I'll give you a satisfactory price, but by my estimate, your bottom line should be around a hundred Golden Eagles, enough to repay your debt. Besides, among everyone you know, I'm the only one willing to pay you this many Golden Eagles."

"Yes, my bottom line is indeed one hundred Golden Eagles," Suye said.

Kelton nodded lightly. The Salad Dressing recipe was certainly valuable, but it could not remain secret for long. Someone would inevitably figure it out, so its value would only last a short time.

But Suye continued, "What about Lawrence?" After saying that, he picked up a dried fig, put it in his mouth, and chewed slowly.

Kelton stared at Suye for quite a while.

"Even I hadn't thought of that." Master praised him sincerely.

Kelton said helplessly, "Fine, I underestimated you. I didn't expect you to think of that. Two hundred Golden Eagles. Not a single one more."

"Three hundred. I need living expenses," Suye said.

"You want thirty years' worth of living expenses in one go?" Kelton had never seen such a greedy brat.

"Mages are expensive," Suye said.

"Mages are also very good at making money." There was a faintly strange note in Kelton's voice.

"I heard a trace of regret in Mr. Kelton's voice. Now is precisely the time for you to make up for that regret," Suye said.

"You're craftier than a rat stealing oil. True enough, if I could advance to the Holy Domain, I would still choose to be a warrior. But below the Holy Domain, Mages are better at making money. Still, three hundred Golden Eagles is too much. It's enough to buy your family's house." Kelton had not expected Suye to see through his regret.

"But it isn't enough to buy a Mage's friendship," Suye said.

"If you ever lack money to open a restaurant, you must choose me as your first partner," Kelton said.

"That was your real goal, wasn't it? I agree."

Kelton stood and extended his right hand. "Two hundred Golden Zeus as payment, plus a loan of one hundred Golden Zeus, interest-free for ten years."

Suye rose and clasped Kelton's hand.

"Deal."

The two smiled at each other, and all their earlier unpleasantness vanished into thin air.

Master nodded in satisfaction. Suye had come out ahead in this deal.

The five servants looked at Suye with both envy and jealousy. They would never earn three hundred Golden Eagles in their entire lives, yet Suye had earned it in just half an afternoon at such a young age.

The two continued chatting. Before long, Hark the Bronze Warrior entered carrying three large bags and placed them before Suye.

"Count them," Kelton said.

"I trust the owner of Dolphin River," Suye said.

Kelton nodded approvingly. Suye's words were sounding more and more pleasant now.

Yet Suye did not even look at the three bags of gold coins. He straightened up and said solemnly, "Mr. Kelton, now let's discuss serious business."

A puzzled look appeared on Kelton's face before he said, "Everyone except Hark, leave."

"I look forward to your next dish!" Master said with a smile as he left.

The five servants did not dare wander about and entered a nearby room.

Suye glanced at the expressionless Hark, then looked at Kelton. "Congratulations. Today, you gained the naming rights for the Salad Dressing. In a few days, Kelton Salad will become famous throughout Athens City and spread at an unstoppable pace. By then, not only will more nobles come to taste it, but even Great Nobles may be willing to owe you a favor for the recipe."

"You are far smarter than I imagined." The smile on Kelton's face was faint.

"But compared to the fame from this one occasion, as long as you continue working with me, you will gain more delicious food and fame that follows one after another. You will become the partner of the top restaurant in the noble district, become a Mage's friend, and perhaps gain even greater power and status. Am I right?"

Kelton smiled and nodded. "That makes some sense."

He was very happy today.

"But you could also suffer enormous losses," Suye said.

"What losses?" Kelton looked at Suye warily.

"If I die at Lawrence's hands today, you will lose the fame from future dishes, lose your position as the future top restaurant's partner in the noble district, lose the friendship of a Mage with tremendous potential, and perhaps lose even more," Suye said.

Kelton fell silent once more.

"Tell me. What do you want?" Kelton asked.

Suye secretly let out a breath of relief. As expected, few people could ignore loss aversion.

Everything he had done before was for this very moment.

Suye continued, "Please have Mr. Hark take me to repay my debt, then take me home. After that, he need not concern himself with anything else."

"That was your true purpose, wasn't it?" Kelton looked deeply at Suye.

"Yes." Suye selected a purple-black mulberry and placed it in his mouth.

Hark silently watched Suye.

The room fell silent.

After a long while, Kelton said, "I can have Hark take you home, but you must swear to promise me one thing."

"What is it?"

"Prevent someone from advancing. Only prevent it," Kelton said.

"What rank?"

"Either Silver or Gold. If it is the Holy Domain, it has nothing to do with you." A hint of exhaustion could be heard in Kelton's voice.

"If I get the chance, I will certainly give it my all." Suye had no other choice.

A glint flashed through Kelton's eyes. "Hark, escort Suye home safely. His life is more important than mine right now."

"Yes!" Hark immediately lowered his head in acknowledgment.

"Whew..."

Suye let out a heavy breath.

"You really are still young." Seeing Suye lose his composure slightly, Kelton was not displeased. Instead, he was quite happy.

This time, Suye had not calculated anything.

Because from beginning to end, Suye had known that his chances of escaping were minuscule.

The escape route he had prepared for himself before was nothing more than self-deception.

It was merely leaving himself a sliver of hope.