Charles finally stood on the stage for the finals. After two intense rounds of competition, he had calmed himself. He had worked toward this day for so many years, and he knew he had to seize this opportunity.
The host quickly announced the start of the match. Charles and his opponent began preparing their ingredients simultaneously. The theme for the final was a main course, and the time limit was two hours—from ingredient preparation to completed dish.
The VIP viewing area was located on Lord Island, where nobles from various countries watched the finals via projections through "telephone bugs." This had never happened before. In previous years, they had attended in person, enjoying the full sensory experience—the sight and aroma of the cooking. This year, however, they were required to watch via projection, a change that displeased many.
"What is Grady doing? There's no aroma of cooking—how can this even be called a culinary contest?"
"Exactly, Grady! Do you even know how to run a cooking competition? You're defiling its traditions. If you can't handle it, get someone else to do it."
"Small-town folk never see the world. The ruler of Star Island? You really are a noble."
The nobles' scolding and disdain pressed in on Grady, making him clench his fists so tightly that blood seeped from them. "Go ahead and insult me all you want. Once I become a servant of the Celestial Dragon, let's see if you still dare act so arrogant in front of me."
Among the nobles, some were more cautious: "Quiet, be careful. I hear Grady has already fawned over the Celestial Dragon. Watch out for his revenge in the future." Grady's behavior stirred both hatred and envy among the nobles. Though they verbally despised him, deep down they longed to see him removed. For them, the elaborate games and contests were merely a pretext—a social platform to elevate their own status.
In the finals, both Charles and his opponent had finished preparing their ingredients. Charles' opponent, Richard Lyle, came from the Shabody Archipelago and was a top chef who served only nobles. He was highly renowned in noble circles, and with a Celestial Dragon among the guests, Richard decided to craft a dish to show respect.
Richard's creation, named "Treasure of the Gods," featured a blue broth base covered with food-made clouds, atop which sat a treasure chest filled with gem-like food. To cater to the Celestial Dragon's tastes, Richard even placed mermaid-shaped candies wearing slave collars in the soup. The dish was visually stunning, but its symbolism was cruel.
Charles' dish was equally intriguing. He also used a blue broth base, coincidentally mirroring Richard's idea. However, the next course possibly drew inspiration from Leo's dish "Gazing at the Stars." A large fish appeared to leap out of the sea, its tail slapping the water, as if ready to soar into the sky. Clutched in its mouth were several golden, crispy fried sea snakes. The creative presentation made the dish lively and playful, seemingly symbolizing fish leaping over the Dragon Gate—though Leo felt Charles might be implying something else.
Two hours passed quickly, and both chefs were nearing completion. Suddenly, the conditions at sea changed.
"Look! What's that?" Sharp-eyed spectators pointed to the horizon in shock as a white line slowly rose from the ocean, and the sky was soon shrouded in dark clouds.
"Run! It's a tsunami!" The sudden development threw Star Island into chaos. Islanders on smaller islands scrambled for amphibious vehicles, trying to flee to the larger inner islands.
Someone shouted to head for Lord Island, where higher ground would be safe from the waves. A large group immediately fled toward Lord Island, and many were swept toward the sea before they could react.
As if anticipating this, Chef Richard packed up his unfinished dishes with remaining ingredients and headed for Lord Island. Charles, however, remained expressionless, his eyes fixed on his own dish.
On Island One, everyone watching the competition had fled—except Charles and a handful of others.
…
"Haha, interesting, very interesting. I declare that as long as we reach Lord Island, we escape—limited to a hundred people." Kamal Saint finally found amusement. He excitedly announced the start of a deadly survival game, drawing a pistol to block the fleeing people.
"Shoot these intruders! Only a hundred may survive on the island!" The Celestial Dragon ordered, and the other nobles, willing or not, joined in. Instantly, the cooking contest became a brutal game.
Meanwhile, Chef Richard reached Lord Grady's residence to continue preparing his dish.
"Perfect. The Treasure of the Gods is ready, Saint Kamal. Please enjoy."
The Celestial Dragon ignored Richard, continuing the ruthless game, while Richard, like a fool, was stopped by the Dragon's guards.
"Cough, Chef Richard, don't disturb Kamal Saint's game. Allow me to announce the result." Grady hurriedly intervened, trying to ease the awkwardness.
The projection device instantly focused on Grady: "Ladies and gentlemen, I declare Richard Lyle the winner of this culinary competition. His prize is the legendary star-shaped kitchen knife."
After saying this, Grady instructed his subordinates to turn the projection toward Charles, intending to watch his despair on the big screen.
Charles, however, had completed his work and remained unfazed. He adjusted his chef's coat, expressionless, watching the "telephone bug" feed.
"You greedy fool! You've defiled the tradition of this contest. What right do you have to declare a winner? By tradition, the champion must be born on Island One, and the dish must be prepared and tasted entirely here. Richard, having fled, is already a loser."
"I am the lord of Star Island; these are the rules," Grady said, his expression grave.
"Don't speak nonsense. The lord of Star Island never had the right to change this ironclad rule. You've defiled this contest, and you are unworthy of organizing it."
Charles paused, then revealed an even more astonishing truth:
"Grady, you not only have no right to host this contest, you are not even the lord of Star Island. Look at the crest on the castle—it bears the symbols of the Spear of Attack and the Shield of Defense. Star Island has always been ruled by the Marte family, bearers of the Spear of Attack, while you are a descendant of the Ross family, inheritors of the Shield of Defense."
"The knights meant to protect the lord betrayed their master. Your grandfather turned the protective shield into one of treachery. During the battle against the pirate invasion, your grandfather should have protected mine from behind, but he attacked from the rear. After that battle, the Ross family rose to power, from servant to master."
Some high-ranking nobles familiar with the histories of the two families were shocked. They never imagined that the rise of the Ross family had been through betrayal—an unforgivable taboo in noble society.
Feeling the judgmental gazes of the surrounding nobles, Grady's expression twisted in extreme anguish. His status had long been questioned, and now the rightful heir had publicly exposed his family's treachery, leaving him utterly humiliated.
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