Quest: Feed Five Unique Customers

Within his room, Lucian was calmly sitting cross-legged on his bed. The warmth from the Mana Veins Restoration Potion continued to spread throughout his body. At regular intervals, he would feel a burst of pain on the tips of his fingers, the tips of his toes, the core of his stomach, and his brain.

Seconds went by, followed by minutes, and then an hour. 

Only after another thirty minutes did Lucian finally open his eyes. He was surprised by how fast his Mana Veins were restored, but even more so, he was disgusted by the foul stench.

Glancing at a nearby mirror, he frowned when he saw his body from head to toe covered in brown sludge.

He knew that the owner of this body had been fed hundreds if not thousands of Mana Potions and herbs even before he had been born, but this was ridiculous.

'Instead of taking your time and absorbing the Mana from the air, everyone would rather take the fast route.'

Even though the Mana from the air was polluted, at the very least the pollution was less than ten percent compared to the almost fifty percent contained with potions and herbs.

Normally, impurities would slowly accumulate and stay within the body of a Mage until they were baptized by the Universal Tribulation during their ascension to Immortality.

Impurities also caused Mages to slow down their speed of Mana absorption. Therefore, the stronger a Mage became, the slower they would advance.

That was unless you were lucky enough to be born a Dragon. Dragons were born with a special… enviable major organ that automatically filtered Mana, and at the same time, expelled impurities out of their body.

Seeing that its Host had finally opened his eyes, the System, suddenly issued a quest.

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Quest: Feed five unique customers

Special Note: Garrett, the Orc, does not count as a unique customer.

Time Limit: One week

Punishment: Loss of reward

Reward: Sous Vide Filet Mignon

Special Note: If the Host can complete this quest within a day of the quest being issued, an additional reward will be given.

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Expectation flickered in Lucian's eyes.

Filet Mignon was Chef Lucian's favorite cut of beef. 

'System, is the filet mignon from a Magical Beast?'. 

As a chef, he was familiar with a filet mignon, which was cut from the end of the tenderloin area of a cow. Out of all the beef cuts, it was the most tender, but it lacked intramuscular fat. Therefore, a filet mignon lacked the richness found in other cuts of beef.

After a few moments, the System replied, 'Only after the Host completes the quest will the System obtain that answer.'

Momentarily, Lucian frowned, before his expression returned to indifference. However, internally, a part of him still felt expectant.

He knew it would not be the tenderloin of a Dragon, but at the very least, the filet mignon would not be from a normal cow.

The System would not do that to him… right?

Lucian rose from his bed and went to take a shower. Indifference could only prevent him from vomiting for so long.

After fifteen minutes, Lucian walked out feeling refreshed, and a towel wrapped around his lower body.

He glanced at the top of his bed where there was a chef's uniform and the three sets of clothes that he had stolen from Wang Chen's Spatial Ring: a blue pajama, a white and gold robe, and a simple white t-shirt and blue jeans. 

Lucian sighed with a frown. 

'System, do you sell or provide clothes?'

Upon hearing its host's words, the System was speechless.

'Host, please note that I am a Gourmet Chef System. It is my responsibility to turn you into the Transcendent Chef. I can only provide you with ingredients.'

Lucian indifferently smirked and walked toward the balcony. After slightly opening the drapes, he looked down and spotted five men. One of them was a brown-skinned young man whom he had met only a few hours ago. 

'He brought his friends, how considerate of him.'

After closing the drapes and wearing the chef's uniform, Lucian began making his way downstairs.

Suddenly, the System spoke:

'The Shop feature will be unlocked once the System is upgraded to Beginner Rank.'

For a moment, it paused, looked through the information that it currently had available to it, and then continued:

'Once the Host is eligible to upgrade the System, you will be given a quest.'

Lucian indifferently nodded, taking note of the System's explanation. It seemed he would have to wait until the System ascended to Beginner Rank before he could access the Shop feature.

After walking downstairs, Lucian turned on the lights, turned off the alarm system, and flipped the sign to open. Then, he unlocked the door.

When Garrett saw the lights turning on, followed by the familiar white-haired, blue-eyed chef through the window, his eyes shone with delight.

"Owner, I've brought some friends." Garrett excitedly said as he entered the restaurant.

While holding the door open, Lucian indifferently nodded and then said:

"You will still have to wait until tomorrow to order."

Internally, he smirked with amusement.

After hearing the owner's words, Garrett's footsteps paused, and his expression became bitter, but deep down, he had expected that to be his response.

Hervy, meanwhile, was frowning. He did not even look at the owner and darted off to a table for five near the entrance window.

Lane carefully studied the indifferent-looking chef before entering the restaurant. After sitting down with his friends, he looked at the interior and was once again stunned. Previously, he had already been amazed by the decorations, but only after entering, did he truly realize how grand and sophisticated the restaurant was.

Each oil painting seemed to be depicting Arcadia's well-known landmarks. Unfortunately, he was not well-educated and could only recognize one of the places in the oil paintings - Arivendel. 

The Holy Land of the Elves. 

In the backdrop of the painting was a gigantic tree widely known as the Tree of Life.