Not many information

"Do you know Miss Wendy's and Carlton's identities?" Dirk asked.

Perhaps because he had a favorable impression of Jake, despite finding him stubborn and unaware of his own limits, Dirk wanted to give him a wake-up call and prevent any accidents.

"I'm not sure," Jake shook his head.

Through his appraisal ability, Jake had gathered some information about Carlton and Wendy, but it was not comprehensive. At the time, Jake's strength was weaker than theirs, so he had limited access to information. Now, with the enhancements from the equipment, Jake didn't know how he compared to them. He hadn't had the chance to meet Carlton, and he was cautious about using his appraisal ability on Wendy, as it might lead to her displeasure. Therefore, Jake's knowledge about Wendy and Carlton was still limited.

"I can't divulge too much information, and in fact, I don't know much about them either," Dirk said. "But you just need to understand that both of them come from powerful families in the imperial capital. These families have existed for centuries and have remained strong. You can imagine their influence—it's not something ordinary people can contend with or even come into contact with."

As Dirk spoke, envy and trepidation were evident on his face. Even with Dirk's identity and the power of his family behind him, he was at a significant disadvantage when facing the families to which Wendy and Carlton belonged.

"I never expected them to have such backgrounds," Jake remarked.

Although he had already guessed that Wendy and Carlton had extraordinary backgrounds, he didn't anticipate the terrifying depth of their family connections.

For a family to endure for centuries and still be an aristocratic family was no easy feat. It showcased their tremendous power. As Dirk had said, they were beyond the reach of ordinary people, and Jake wondered whether he was just an ordinary person.

Amused by the thought, Jake smiled inwardly. Despite feeling some pressure after learning about Wendy and Carlton's backgrounds, he didn't necessarily feel fear.

"As long as you understand," Dirk said. "In any case, you can't afford to offend such families. Although Carlton is just a member of the younger generation in his family, with a little exertion of his influence, he can easily crush you. It's not that I look down on you, but that's just the reality."

"Is that so?" Jake replied noncommittally.

In the past, facing someone like Carlton, he indeed would have been powerless, but now, he wasn't so sure.

Seeing Jake seemingly unconvinced, Dirk furrowed his brow. He thought Jake was overly arrogant and lacked self-awareness. Carlton's existence alone made him wary; otherwise, he wouldn't have been so cordial in his warning. What did Jake have? He was just an ordinary person, how could he compete with someone like Carlton?

Dirk couldn't see even the slightest hope of victory for Jake. Perceiving Jake's disbelief, Dirk decided not to say more. "I've said what I needed to say. How to act is up to you," he concluded.

"Thank you for your reminder," Jake said sincerely.

Jake could sense that Dirk's sincere warning was given without any ulterior motives. Despite not having much acquaintance with Dirk, Jake felt grateful for his concern.

Dirk waved his hand, "No need to express gratitude. If you truly think what I said makes sense, then keep your distance from Miss Wendy."

Jake smiled and didn't say anything. Dirk understood Jake's intention and didn't press further, feeling a bit annoyed at Jake's lack of self-awareness. The dishes arrived quickly, including the Squirrel Mandarin Fish. However, after Dirk took a bite, his brows furrowed, and he stopped eating the dish.

"I heard that Alan left Kailomen. I wonder where he went. This dish doesn't taste the same as before," Dirk said regretfully.

Although Alan lost to Jake in this dish last time, Dirk was still satisfied with Alan's preparation. He had come to Kailomen this time with the intention of trying this dish again, but now, due to Alan's departure, he lost interest.

Jake realized that Alan must have gone to his place without telling anyone, which was probably for the best, as it would avoid unnecessary complications.

"Alan's skill in this dish is indeed remarkable," Jake said.

It wasn't flattery; Alan genuinely had a profound understanding of this dish. Although Jake had defeated him last time, compared to other chefs, Alan was still unbeatable.

"But he's still not better than you," Dirk said.

Jake smiled and replied, "Just some culinary skills, nothing special."

"Your culinary level is undoubtedly high," Dirk said. "I'm curious, though. You've never been to other restaurants or culinary schools in your past experiences, so where did you learn your impressive culinary skills?"

"Maybe I have a talent for it, and I suddenly had a breakthrough," Jake said with a smile.

Dirk understood that he had probed too much with his previous questions, and Jake had no intention of revealing his secret.

"Alright, let's drop this topic. Let's eat. Although it's not as good as Alan's, it's still not bad," Dirk said.

After that, they stopped discussing Jake's matters and Wendy and Carlton's affairs. They chatted casually, and Dirk noticed that despite being an ordinary person, Jake had an exceptional temperament. Even when facing Dirk, Jake didn't show any flattery or fawning. Their conversation felt like that between ordinary friends without any ulterior motives, which Dirk enjoyed. His previous annoyance toward Jake dissipated.

Enjoying the chat with Jake, when they parted ways, Dirk couldn't help but say, "Regarding what I mentioned tonight, think it over when you get back. There are plenty of women in this world, no need to offend a formidable entity over just one woman, especially when there's no guarantee that you and this woman will end up together. Being stubborn might only harm yourself."

"Thanks for the reminder, Dirk. I know what I'm doing," Jake replied.

"Alright, take care of yourself," Dirk said. Knowing he hadn't persuaded Jake, he patted Jake's shoulder and left.