Golden Corn

"Has our Basic Class gained another newcomer?"

"Very nice, very nice. Quite a handsome young man."

At the lectern, Su Yuyan swept her gaze across the classroom before fixing it on Lu Zhan.

That was the unique charm of a handsome bald man. He simply stood out.

"Hello, Ms. Su!"

"I'm Lu Zhan, a new recruit from District 13."

"I'm eager to learn everything your Gourmet Appreciation Class has to offer!"

Seeing Su Yuyan studying him curiously, Lu Zhan immediately stood up and introduced himself.

His experiences in his previous life had taught him that teachers always liked polite students who were eager to learn.

This world was no exception.

Lu Zhan had already tested that on Lu Guanhong, practically maxing out the man's favor toward him.

Unfortunately, he had fallen short at the crucial moment and ultimately failed to become Old Lu's final disciple.

"You enlisted from District 13?"

"It seems you have ideas of your own, Lu Zhan, and a story behind them."

Su Yuyan glanced at Wen Shiyan beside him, her words heavy with implication.

"Since you're so interested in my Gourmet Appreciation Class, I won't disappoint you."

"Given that this is your first time attending my class, I'll be giving you special attention today."

"Enough talk. Since everyone is already so eager, let's begin!"

With a light swipe of Su Yuyan's finger, the black case slowly opened.

The next instant, a somewhat dazzling golden light shone into everyone's eyes.

"Wow, it's actually gold!"

"What is that? It looks a little familiar."

"A corn kernel! What a huge golden corn kernel!"

The golden light continued to shimmer, but everyone present had adjusted to its glare.

Its true appearance was now revealed to them.

Inside the black case was a sealed glass apparatus.

At its very center, a golden corn kernel the size of a soccer ball gleamed brightly.

Holy shit, is this some magical special effect, or supercharged genetic engineering?

That gold looks awfully pure. It's like gold had an affair with corn!

Even before the case opened, Lu Zhan had prepared himself for all sorts of possibilities.

Yet the appearance of a soccer-ball-sized kernel of Golden Corn still nearly broke his composure.

Never mind its pure golden color; its sheer size alone was a little too outrageous.

Could corn like this really grow naturally?

"This is Golden Corn that I planted and harvested myself. Of course, this is only one kernel."

"I went to the Wilderness this time intending to witness the birth of Rainbow Corn. Unfortunately, the research institute failed."

"It can shine with rainbow light, then explode upon ripening into clouds of seven colors that float between heaven and earth."

"Such extraordinary delicacies really aren't so easy to bring into existence."

At the lectern, Su Yuyan casually explained the origins of the Golden Corn.

Aside from Lu Zhan, however, none of the students had any attention left to spare for her explanation.

Their minds were completely captivated by the Golden Corn, their gazes firmly glued to it.

"Lu Zhan, surely you don't think something qualifies as a delicacy just because it's big and has a lovely color?"

"Fine food is all about appearance, aroma, and flavor, but those three can transform into one another."

"Look. Give it your undivided attention."

"Lu Zhan, this is the first lesson I want to teach you."

True to her word, Su Yuyan really did give Lu Zhan special attention.

Only then did Lu Zhan realize how out of step he was with the students around him.

Even Wen Shiyan beside him was staring at the golden corn kernel in fascination, as though she had laid eyes on an incomparably handsome man.

In truly fine food, appearance, aroma, and flavor can transform into one another?

Though he did not understand it, it sounded impressive. Lu Zhan followed Su Yuyan's instructions and stared fixedly at the kernel of Golden Corn.

Gradually, as he continued staring, he felt the kernel growing larger and larger.

It slowly filled his entire field of vision, eventually becoming a golden sun.

Thump, thump, thump!

The instant the golden sunlight fell upon Lu Zhan, his heart began pounding like a thunderous drum.

That drumming seemed to summon every soldier to awaken from slumber.

The next instant, waves of restlessness arose from every cell in Lu Zhan's body.

Aroma, aroma, aroma!

Every cell in Lu Zhan's body rejoiced at the arrival of the golden sunlight.

An ordinary student might only have sensed the restlessness of their cells.

But with his Blood-Red Antenna, Lu Zhan could clearly perceive the "will" those cells conveyed.

Is this what Ms. Su meant when she said appearance, aroma, and flavor could transform into one another?

Is this what fine food is like in this world?

As his cells expressed their will, Lu Zhan actually began to perceive an intense, fresh fragrance.

Before that, not the slightest scent had escaped the sealed glass apparatus.

The fragrance was faint at first, but it grew stronger and stronger.

By the end, it had even seeped into every pore of Lu Zhan's body.

Eat, eat, eat!

The wondrous fragrance fully awakened Lu Zhan's "appetite."

Every cell in his body began frantically "swallowing" the fragrance-or rather, the golden light radiating from the corn kernel.

Strangely, as he swallowed in this way, as though satisfying his hunger with imaginary food, Lu Zhan actually tasted the Golden Corn.

It had a fresh sweetness so intense that his taste buds seemed to explode. He even felt a milky flavor burst across his tongue.

Lu Zhan could swear that this was the most delicious thing he had eaten in either of his lives.

The instant he tasted that delicacy, an overwhelming sense of happiness engulfed him.

Never before had Lu Zhan felt his life was so harmonious and beautiful.

In his daze, he sensed something awakening within him.

It was something that had lain dormant inside him, an existence his body had long since forgotten.

Hungry, hungry, hungry!

Beautiful dreams shattered easily, and happiness was always fleeting.

A terrifying, inexplicable hunger suddenly struck, destroying the "happiness" Lu Zhan had built from that exquisite food.

The next instant, hunger began battering his reason.

Every cell in Lu Zhan's body frantically urged him to eat at once.

"Hold back. You must restrain your appetite."

"Don't fear this hunger. It is life's most primal instinct, and the foundation that allows you to become Armored Warriors."

"In other words, it is where your innate talent lies."

"You were chosen because it has begun to stir within your bodies, making it easier to awaken."

"The longer you hold out now, the greater the benefits will be."

Su Yuyan's gentle words echoed through the classroom, yet they did nothing to soothe the hunger filling everyone's bodies.

Fortunately, those words had been intended for Lu Zhan in the first place. Everyone else had already experienced this "hunger" many times.