Lifeless Gaze

"All right, one plate of Sous Vide Filet Mignon, and would you like to order the Siren's Melody Poached Egg?" Lucian asked Lily.

"Hmm." Lily cutely pondered with a finger on her chin before nodding.

"Big Brother Lucian, Lily wants to eat both dishes." She added.

Lucian nodded and said, "Okay, please wait. Your food will be out shortly."

Lucian headed for the kitchen, but just as he was about to open the door, he turned around.

"Would you like to order something, sir?" Lucian asked Fenwick. As a chef-owner, of course, he would try to get as much money as possible. As for shame? Could shame be eaten or help him increase his Mana? Of course, not.

Fenwick raised his eyebrows and pondered. Although, he was hungry since he had not eaten breakfast yet; however, he was worried about accumulating impurities. 

Noticing Fenwick's hesitation, Lily understood what was bothering her uncle. 

"Uncle Fenwick, you should try Big Brother Lucian's food. It's the best!" Lily excitedly said before continuing seriously, "Also, uncle if you are worried about accumulating impurities from eating food, you don't have to with Big Brother's food. His food contains no impurities. In fact, you will even get a big surprise."

Fenwick was confused. How could food not have impurities? Food was the bane of all Mages and that was why Mages would rather absorb Mana to fill their stomach. 

As for the big surprise Lily mentioned. He was unsure of what that meant. However, he was sure Lily would not lie to him.

After a few moments of pondering, he nodded and said to Lucian, "Alright, I will have one Sous Vide Filet Migon and one Siren's Melody Poached Egg."

Although he had never tried those dishes before but since Lily had ordered them, he decided to trust her judgment.

"The Sous Vide Filet Mignon has a special requirement. A customer who wishes to order it, must place the order two hours prior." Lucian said with a shake of his head, then pointed at the menu on their table and continued, "You should first read my restaurant's menu or you can ask Lily. As for the SIren's Melody Poached Egg. I will bring it out shortly."

Lily and Fenwick were stunned when they heard Lucian's words. A two-hour prior notice, just to eat food? In their lives, they had never heard of such a rule. Not even Lily, who was quite the glutton. 

After a moment, Fenwick furrowed his brows and asked, "You said a two hour notice correct? If I'm correct Lily has just arrived at your restaurant. Then why can she order the dish?"

Lily nodded and she curiously stared at Lucian's face with her pretty pink eyes. She was also confused as to why she could order it, yet her uncle could not. 

Without batting an eye, Lucian explained, "To cook the Sous Vide Filet Mignon it takes approximately two hours and thirty minutes. Therefore, to ensure my restaurant does not become packed with customers simply sitting and taking up space, I added that rule. As for why Lily gets to order the dish, it's quite simple. Before you both arrived I had already started the process of sous vide."

Then, without waiting for a reply, Lucian entered the kitchen.

[Simp! Pervert!] The System mocked.

'...'

Lucian was speechless but did not reply. He poured Low-Grade Mana Water and Starlight Vinegar into a saucepan. Once it started simmering, he slightly stirred the water until a tornado formed and cracked two Siren's Melody Eggs into it.

Meanwhile, outside the kitchen, at the closest table in front of the kitchen window, Lily and Fenwick sat and watched Lucian.

"Huh!?" Fenwick's eyes nearly popped out of his sockets when he saw multiple colors covering Lucian's hands as he cooked. It was almost like a rainbow made of every color in existence. 

"What Element is that!?" But as soon as Fenwick said that he shook his head and corrected, "No, what Elements are those!? And just how many Elements was he born with!? A hundred!? A Thousand!? A million!?"

In his two hundred and thirty-six years of living, he had never seen or heard of someone possessing more than five Elements. 

He was not full of himself to say he knew every Mage in existence. After all, he was only a Mana Core Formation Realm Mage and those big powers and factions would definitely not reveal information about themselves or about their disciples. But even so, surely even they did not have someone, who had as many Elements as Lucian.

"Just who is he!?" If before Fenwick was frightened by Lucian, now he treated him like he was a Grade Sixteen Magical Beast. Even if it was not true, Fenwick was sure the young-looking man was powerful beyond belief.

When Lily saw her uncle's disbelieving, shocked face, she could not help but giggle with her hand over her mouth.

"Hehehe~!"

As the beautiful, melodic giggle entered, his ears, Fenwick broke out of his daze and lifelessly stared at Lily.

"Uncle, what's wrong?" Lily asked with an innocent face as though she had no idea what was the cause of her uncle's reaction.

However, Fenwick did not answer and turned his gaze back to Lucian's hands. 

'Hehehe, even Uncle is shocked by Big Brother Lucian?' Lily thought inwardly as she stared at Lucian with her pretty pink eyes. She did not know why but she wanted to uncover the mysteries that enshrouded Lucian.

Meanwhile, even though Lucian was being stared at by an old man with lifeless eyes and a ridiculously cute woman, he indifferently continued. 

As the Siren's Melody Eggs were forming, Lucian continued the preparation of the Sous Vide Filet Mignon. He grabbed an iron skillet from a cabinet and turned on the hob to the highest setting before placing the iron skillet on top of it with a little Bloodboar Oil.

Just like one would expect after hearing the name Bloodboar Oil, the oil was red in color and smelled like fresh blood.