The meeting room—if this open-air setting could even be called a meeting room—was far less solemn than before Dian Dian arrived. The Commander simply watched his companions fool around with a genial smile.
He had seen many hunters who, unable to accept becoming useless after being crippled, chose to take their own lives. They had realized that hunting was the only thing they knew how to do. Even if the kingdom and the Guild were willing to support them, their pride could not accept the reality of being powerless.
So, seeing Dian Dian wake up with such a calm state of mind was truly reassuring—genuinely calm, not the kind of act put on to keep others from worrying.
"Then, in the Commander's name, I hereby appoint former hunter cat Dian Dian as Astera's Head Chef." Deliberately putting on a stern expression, the Commander said solemnly, "It is time for Cat Grandma's cooking to flourish in the New World as well. No objections?"
"Leave it to me, meow!" Dian Dian slapped his muscular chest and proudly raised his head. "Call me Head Chef from now on, meow!"
"Why?" The Grand Commander froze for a moment.
"Because Astera has a lot more newcomers now, meow." Dian Dian shook his head helplessly. "I can't possibly provide food for so many hunters by myself, meow. I need to recruit some apprentices, meow."
"To maintain your authority in front of them?" The Commander struggled not to laugh. "That is... perfectly reasonable. Fine, we'll call you Head Chef in front of others from now on."
"Mm-hmm." Stroking his beard, Dian Dian was already envisioning the future. "It'll be called Weapons and Lynx Pavilion, meow. Give me the place with the best view, the kind that makes people hungry at first sight, meow."
"Then go pick one