Operation Commence!

After spending some more time in the kitchen preparing the ingredients for lunch, Gerard left the Kitchen and find the Town Chief as instructed.

The Town Hall is the biggest and widest property in the West Town. So Gerard had a hard time looking for the Town Chief. Fortunately, he was guided by a maid he passed by which lead him to a door that seems to be in the deeper room in the Town Hall.

No knights are guarding the door so Gerard knocks twice.

Not long after, he heard a short response from an old man "Open."

Gerard twisted the knob and enter the room.

"Apologies for the intrusion."

He told the Town Chief respectfully.

Gerard saw the Town Chief smile amicably at him. From the outside, he looks like a harmless old man but according to Mel, this old man is a cunning one.

Thinking of what just he learned from Mel almost make him massage his temple. Getting close to this cunning old man is a bit tricky. If not only for the importance of the missing amulet he wouldn't mind joining the ruckus and will be on his way to Kurosawa's workshop.

He sighs inwardly and calms himself. His eyes darted around the room and judge that it is the same normal workplace of an employee in the corporate world, apart from those looking antique small figurine that was displayed in the small cabinet behind the Town Chief.

Gerard then heard a crisp voice coming from an old man.

"I believed we didn't get to introduce each other. My name is Rook, the Town Chief of this small town. Nice to meet you."

Rook extended his hand to Gerard after introducing himself which the latter reciprocate by extending his hand as well and firmly grasping Rook's hand.

"Nice to meet you, Town Chief. I am Payne Blanc and an apprentice of Master Mel in cooking. My master wants to hand this over to you."

He then took out the cloth bag and handed it over to Rook.

"Oh, how nice of your Master. I am already an old man and lose interest in worldly things."

Gerard's mouth twitches almost uncontrollably.

Oi! Your mouth wants to deny the cloth bag but your hand doesn't! You cunning old man!

"My Master said that without you recruiting him as a chef to cook for your distinguished guest, he wouldn't get a chance to meet Count Alvis and be praised."

Rook dryly laugh but respond nonetheless "Don't mention it, Mel is my subject in this town so are you."

Rook then turns around and continues his work.

This is the time Gerard should leave the room but he stood frozen in his place resulting in Rook shifting his gaze to him.

"Are there more?"

"Ah--- I just want to say something since the honorable man like yourself Town Chief said that I am one of your subjects. And as a subject of yours, I want to ask a big favor from you."

Gerard said with an unwavering tone and bow his head.

This piques the interest of Rook.

"Uh-oh. Tell me, what it is."

"I am just a simple young man that has a dream to travel around and saw the world outside. So when I heard Count Alvis is recruiting heroes about something, I find myself wanting to join the heroes!"

As expected, this cunning old man didn't laugh, instead, he placed his chin in his hand and scrutinize him greatly.

"Tell me, do you have what it takes to join the heroes on their assigned mission?"

The way his tone changed from calm to a very serious one made Gerard gulp.

Gerard then retraced his head from bowing down and firmly gaze at the Town Chief.

"I do not have, that was why I come to you first. As an apprentice chef, I can cook for the heroes while they are doing their job. While I can travel the outside world with them."

Silence prevailed inside the room and the atmosphere around them is getting tense. While Rook's gaze makes Gerard nervous. But he didn't retract his gaze to him.

After a good half minute, Rook sighed, and his facial expression returned to a calm old man.

"I will try to talk it out to Count Alvis. You can go now."

Rook return to read the paper placed on his desk.

On the other hand, Gerard bow once again and thank the Town Chief.

Upon leaving the room, Gerard made a fist bump. But suddenly, a familiar face shocks him.

"Why are you so happy?"

Gerard touches his chest.

"Jeez. My master knows no bounds. You almost made me faint."

Mel only snorted and inquire him "Why are you so happy? What happened inside?"

Gerard felt a little worried about Mel's usually cold tone.

"Nothing much. I just asked the Town Chief if I can join the heroes and cook for them."

"What do you mean?"

Gerard sigh and turn his head away from Mel, faced the east, and placed both his hands on his back like an old man ready to preach to his students.

The expression on his face was somber and his eyes moist.

The only thing missing in this almost touching scene is a bird chirping and the sky opens up for him, clouds making way for him to shower him with some lights.

"Quit your nonsense or I'll smack your head this time for real."

Gerard coughs twice and faces Mel.

"I want to explore outside of West Town and when I learned that Count Alvis is recruiting heroes for a mission, I decided to join them by cooking for them while they travel and finish the mission."

"HA?! Are you dumb? You know it can get you killed. Besides, the majority of the heroes are not trustworthy."

Mel's face becomes agitated, although a cold one, he cannot hide the worried tone from his voice which touches Gerard.

"Master, thank you for your worries but a man's dream cannot be stopped because there's a danger ahead. Life is full of danger, and every path is filled with uncertainty, but a man should conquer it all just to achieve his lifelong dream!"

Gerard recited with full of conviction and passion. In the end. Gerard praises himself thinking, wow. I didn't know I have this on me.

On the other hand, Mel was taken aback. He can feel the unwavering willpower of this brat in front of him. Although young and looking fragile, this brat has something on him that makes him remember his younger days in the Capital of the Edo Kingdom.

Back then, just like Payne. He is full of confidence and will face any challenges that life will throw at him. But alas, even he, full of willpower failed to face everything.

He thought he can conquer it all and struggle hard until you become strong to face everything. But there are always some people who are always ahead of you. And when he encounters one, he was utterly defeated. But that is not the reason why he left the Capital.

The reason is that the person who defeated him is connected to his past. And when he learned the truth, it devasted not only his mind but his willpower to serve the Capital.

Remembering his younger days, his mood turns sour, and dismay about himself which didn't escape Gerard's eyes.

This brat is correct. He has his own path. Who is he to control other's paths? The only thing he can do is advise this brat.

But he is still disappointed. He thought he can teach this brat about cooking. Cold as he is, he still wants to leave some of his legacy in this world before he passed away. Unfortunately, he found one but this brat wants to see the outside world first.

"Okay, it's up to you. I will not alter your path. But be careful. The outside world is full of ferocious beasts and dreadful monsters. If you stick with the majority, there's a high possibility you can come back alive. If you do, you can still continue to be my apprentice chef."

Once again, Gerard was touched "Thank you, Master! I will take your advice to my heart!"

Mel snorted and turn around to leave.

But before Mel turns left to the hallway leading to the kitchen "When we arrived, I will teach you some swordplay and martial arts so you can defend yourself. Be prepared because I will beat the shit out of you to realize the outside world is not kind to us."

Once again, Gerard thanked Mel.

He then strides forward and follows Mel.

On the other hand, Rook leaves the room after sensing the people outside were gone. He was slightly moved when he accidentally overheard their conversation.

After leaving the room, he went to one of his trusted knights.

"Greetings to Town Chief."

Rook just waved his hand to the knight to dismiss the courtesy.

"Axel, you have been my trusted knight for over a decade. Stop this nonsense courtesy. I have some mission for you and it is an urgent one."

Axel nodded his head.

"Investigate the origin of Payne Blanc and give me all the details you can find about him."

"Understood, I will provide you the details you needed at once. But just to investigate him?"

"Yes, investigate him. Do not touch him. He may be just one of many fools who want to see the outside world."

Axel bowed and left to start his investigation.

Seeing his trusted knight leave, he then went to the office that was specially prepared for Count Alvis.

Count Alvis's Captain stands firm in the door.

"Greetings Captain. I just want to report something to Count Alvis."

The Captain scrutinize him and Rook felt overpowered.

"Wait, I will first inform the Count."

Rook nodded his head and patiently waited outside.

After a while, the door was opened for him and the Captain told him to come in.

"Thank you." His response.

Rook darted his gaze around. All the displays, cabinets, floor carpet, and curtains cannot easily be seen in a small town such as West Town. But these were all prepared for Count Alvis alone.

He is jealous because he was born a commoner and not a noble.

Standing in a dazed, Count Alvis caught his attention while still reading the document placed on the table.

"What is it Town Chief? Are there any urgent matters you need to report?"

"Ah- Yes, there is Count Alvis. The recruitment is going smoothly and the odds of being successfully recruited amount to 1 out of 10. If this continues, we probably have a hundred heroes for this mission alone."

Count Alvis nodded his head and didn't bother him which angered Rook a little.

"And?"

"My Lord, did you remember the apprentice chef of Mel?"

The Count only nodded in his response.

"Well, that young man wants to join the mission."

This time, the Count turned his gaze from the document he was reading to Rook.

"Oh? Really now? Tell me more."

Then Rook tells everything that happened inside the office room apart from the 10 Gold Coins he received.

"That's good. Let him join and give him half of the wages that the recruited heroes will receive."

"As you wish My Lord. That is all. I will leave now and apologies for taking your time."

Count Alvis returns to reading the document and casually waves his hands, implying it's all right and he can leave now.

After leaving the room. Rook's face was distorted to fury and his fist was clenched.

The face of the calm old man as a Town Chief of the West Town cannot be seen anymore.

"How dare you not give me a glance while talking to me. You are just lucky you have been given the privilege to be born as a noble and not a commoner."

Actually, Count Alvis was kind to him and show him generosity which added greed to his heart. As he receives a generous reward from the Count's pocket so the fuel added to his greed is completely set ablaze and turns admirable to fury.

He may be a commoner at birth but he is still a human. Although he received lots of benefits from Count Alvis, he still felt disgusted if a person do not give him a glance when talking.

I read every book about the way of nobility so I can talk to you with full of respect and satisfy you so I can get more benefits. But I guess, a noble is noble. I did everything using this old body of mine to perform splendidly. Covet information that concerns the royal family that would put my life at risk for goddamn sake!

It may be the reason that fueled his fury against his benefactor but the truth behind everything is his expectation.

Rook thought he can be knighted and enjoy the perks of a knight.

Just so you wait. I will make sure to give you what you deserved!

Rook turns around and proceeds to his room.