ALL NOVEL Chapter 44
Chapter 44: The Dishes are Served
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Even the smile on Hutton’s face vanished suddenly. Even though he was young, he knew what the Pandion family meant. He also understood that Kaerton and this restaurant had caught the attention of influential people.
The server’s tone was normal, but everyone noticed that the server became a little more arrogant when he mentioned the Pandion family.
“So that’s the case… Then let’s order something else.” Hamon did not lose his reason, though his tone was tinged with regret.
He quickly ordered a few dishes, then handed the wax board over to the server.
The server was just about to turn around when Su Ye’s voice rang out in the room.
“Mister server, we will still order the Kaerton Salad. However, please tell Lead Chef Maester that Su Ye ordered it,” Su Ye said.
“You know Mister Maester?” The server’s attitude became a little more welcoming.
“We’ve worked together in the past.” Su Ye nodded.
“Don’t worry, I will relay your words to him.” The server was extremely respectful toward Su Ye even though he knew that Hamon was much richer than Su Ye was.
The server left. The three people in the room looked at Su Ye in a daze.
Hamon’s feet were numb from standing, but he did not wish to sit down.
Hamon was very rich, as rich as an ordinary noble. However, he was not a mage or a warrior. He was a gentile, in fact. That meant that his status in Athens was very low. It was also the reason as to why he spent a large sum of money to send Hutton to the Plato Academy.
No matter how hard he worked, Hamon could not be acquainted with powerful figures or nobles because of his identity as a gentile.
Lead Chef Maester was not as rich as Hamon, nor was he of high status. However, only a citizen who was born and bred in Greece could take up the role as a lead chef. A lead chef also had the right to make offerings to the deities. Lead chefs had an extraordinary connection to the Divine Temple Priests of the various major Divine Temples.
He was someone that Hamon could not afford to offend.
“Su Ye, how did you get acquainted with Lead Chef Maester?” Hamon asked carefully.
Su Ye told him the truth, “We have only met once. My parents were bakers and worked with him in the past.”
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“So that’s the case.” The three of them looked at each other. They heaved a sigh of relief and slowly sat down.
Hutton hesitated for a moment before he asked, “You guys have only met once?”
Su Ye said earnestly, “We have really only met once, just for a meal. I have not seen him after that.”
Hutton shot a look at his father.
Hamon nodded. His expression softened quite a bit.
“Keep your wine glass,” Hamon reminded.
Su Ye picked up the large black porcelain wine glass. He looked at the bottom of the class, then glanced at the three people before placing it by the side of his right hand.
Hutton was sitting to the right of Su Ye.
Senat slowly put away his dagger. His brows were knitted together in deliberation.
Time passed slowly. Dishes after dishes were served up. The three of them ate in silence, while Su Ye gave occasional comments about the food, much to the discomfort of the three people.
Suddenly, a commotion came from outside the room.
“Mister Maester!”
“Lead Chef Maester!”
“What a lucky day it is…”
“I heard that he is the true creator of the Kaerton Salad.”
The door suddenly opened.
The thick stench of kitchen oil and grease swarmed into the room.
A middle-aged man dressed in a short white robe stood by the door. He had a large apron that was smeared with a variety of stains. He had tired eyes, but his curled-up mustache and joyful gaze made him look a little more energetic.
“Little Su Ye, why didn’t you tell me before you came? I am too busy today, don’t blame the Dolphin River for not entertaining you well enough.” Maester, who rarely laughed, personally walked in with a porcelain bowl of salad. He smiled as he greeted Su Ye.
“Good evening, Mister Maester. I had no choice but to come as I was suddenly invited.” Su Ye smiled as he stood up.
Maester placed the bowl of salad down and opened his arms. He said, “You can see for yourself my appearance, so I will not hug you. Enjoy your dinner! Tell the servers if there’s something you are not satisfied with. I am too busy today, so let’s chat when we have time.”
“Alright, go do what you have to do.”
Maester smiled as he patted on Su Ye’s shoulder. He then quickly walked out of the room.
The three people looked at Su Ye, dazed.
They only met once?
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An average person might not be privy, but Hamon knew that Maester had always thought that a lead chef was more important than anyone. He would even scold Kaerton. How could he be this passionate toward someone he only met once? He even brought in the salad personally?
Even Kaerton was not treated like this!
“The salad is not bad, try it.” Su Ye reached out and put some salad into his mouth. He gently nodded. The taste was great. Maester must have personally made this. Both the ratio between the different vegetables as well as the proportion of the salad dressing used could be said to be perfect.
The three people sat in a daze for a moment before they slowly sampled the salad.
“It’s delicious…” Hutton had a very Greek palate.
“Not bad.” Hamon nodded.
Senat nodded. He was not used to this flavor and only felt that it was rather unique.
After they finished the salad, Hamon looked at the black porcelain wine glass, then looked at his foolish son. He had a look of hesitation as he considered the outcome of offending Maester. He realized that Maester might not regard him as an enemy just for Su Ye. Even if Maester made him an enemy, the best he could do was refuse him from the Dolphin River. He would not use his connections to get the priests to clamp down on him.
Furthermore, it would not be hard for him to deal with the priests. All he needed to do was donate to the Divine Temples, and he would be forgiven.
Finally, he clenched his teeth and took a deep breath. He stared at Su Ye and said slowly, “Since dinner is over, it’s time for you to make your choice.”
“What choice?” Su Ye asked.
“Friend or wine glass.” Hamon’s tone was extremely cold. He no longer had the gentle tone he had when he thought that he was assured of victory.
“Can I choose neither?” Su Ye asked.
“No!” Hamon said.
“I think I can.” Su Ye smiled.
Hamon turned his head to look at Senat, who was beside him.
What surprised Hamon and Hutton was that Senat did not immediately stand up. Instead, he hesitated for a few seconds before he slowly took his dagger out.
Hamon’s heart leaped. He could see that Senat had been influenced by Maester and his backer, Kaerton.
The owner of the Dolphin River Restaurant was the notorious Silver Warrior, Kaerton. He could be said to be one of the most influential people in the entire civilian sector. His influence was even greater than some of the run-down, minor nobles.
Hamon knew in his heart that he would never reach Kaerton’s status in his life. Though his son might have the chance.
At that thought, Hamon looked at his disappointing son and cursed in his heart. If not for the foolish Hutton, he would not have wanted to offend a student of the Plato Academy, even if the student was the Third Fool who might be forced to quit school.
After Senat stood up, Hamon could not help but say, “Senat, don’t overthink things. I have done a check on his background. He is just the son of a baker. Even if he knows Maester, it would only be a fleeting connection. There’s no way that an influential person is backing him.”
Senat did not expect Hamon to lose his cool. He did not say anything and merely nodded his head.
Hamon eased his worry. He stared at Su Ye once again and revealed a merciless expression for the first time. He said fiercely, “Don’t blame me since you have chosen the path to the underworld. Tell me, are you going to do it yourself, or do you want us to help you!”
It was at this moment that the door of the room was suddenly pushed open.