So, in conclusion I don't need to get my hands dirty to commit this crime.

Days went past as agents came in every day to make orders for their masters, with ingredients. Slowly most people started bringing in beast ingredients of level 9, starting with the emperors agents, followed by the commandments, then the high n.o.bles and kings, followed by all the other n.o.bles. Occasionally I received orders from magis as well.

20 days later as I was lying down on the desk and about to sleep, Albert entered. He seemed to be the only man coming in personally now a days without sending agents to eat in here, even James and Tom stopped coming in after a while, as they too started sending agents to get everything for them.

"Oi kid don't fall asleep. Wake up. I got good news for you." Albert shouted while running up to me to shake me.

"I am awake old man."

"Ah, that's good, phew. I thought you would fall asleep again." He sighed as he carried on

"Listen kid as the Founders celebration is coming up, the emperor is organising the grand chef contest again. Chefs from all over the empire is attending, to compete and see who the best is. Luckily for you, as I am the head of information unit of the empire, I was made aware of it first. Do you want to sign your name up for it?" He asked me with expectant eyes

"Let me ask you some questions first before I answer that. How many stages are in the compet.i.tion?"

"First there is the elimination round, set in each kingdom, to weed out candidates. Those candidates then are sent to the empire, where another round will be held to further weed out the top 100. Then there is the semi-final to pick, the top 10 followed by the final to pick the top 3 chefs.

The top 100 will be given huge rewards amounting to 50 plats, the top 10 will be given a personal restaurant in a place of their own choice and the top 3 will be personally rewarded by the emperor himself.

The reward for top 3 is still a secret but it is expected that the reward is not going to be less valuable than a Level 10 beast ingredient. He should be thanking me for telling you all this. Most people wouldn't even know about this." He proudly declared.

I nodded before I asked him another question "Who do you think is going to win? Who does everyone bet on?"

"Well most people are just betting on the royal chef, some winners from last year. But I think you can easily win this."

"There you go. That is my answer." I replied as I lied back down on the desk

"Huh?" Albert was confused.

He shook me up before asking me "What answer?"

"I am not partic.i.p.ating." I replied

"But why, you can easily win this compet.i.tion." He nearly cried and tried to persuade him

"Exactly what is the point in joining a compet.i.tion if I know I can easily win. Besides it is too much effort, going through so much process just to win some items worth level 10 beast ingredient."

"Kid do you even understand the importance of this compet.i.tion!" Shouted Albert in anger

"If you manage to win this the whole empire will be aware of you..."

"And then what?" I interrupted him

"Do you not want fame and reputation? If you win this then you will get more customer. Beside you can easily enter the royal heir compet.i.tion, with the support of people. So just join." He pleaded to me.

"You think if my reputation and fame increase, I will get more customers? Tell me how many commoners out there have more than 100 gold? Then, tell me how many of them will be able to even buy at least the cheapest item on my menu? What use is more customers if they can't even buy a single item from my menu? As for the compet.i.tion, I have enough reputation and fame across the n.o.bles, that is enough for me."

Albert spent the next few hours trying to convince me, following me to kitchen even when someone came in to make an order.

After that he left as he noticed that his hours of sermon had no effect. Before he left he said "Kid if you want to join just tell me. No matter what stage of compet.i.tion they are in, I will make sure to enter you."

I smiled as he left and went back to sleep while thinking 'Old man who are you trying to fool'

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"It seems he is not interested in joining the compet.i.tion, your highness." Albert replied to James the 2nd as he got out of the store.

James who had wrinkles earlier now looked much younger, and vibrant.

"Never mind if he doesn't want to join. Were you able to collect the recording device from his kitchen?"

"Yes, I am about to view though them right now." Suddenly Albert disappeared and appeared in an alleyway, away from prying eyes. They soon started view through the device, of John cooking all sorts of food, in HD.

"Perfect, now we know exactly what ingredients he adds with the beast ingredients to make it have a high conservation effect. Bring the crystal to Oliver, and Smith."

"Yes, my lord." But Albert still felt uneasy

Seeing his uneasy expression, the emperor said, "Speak your mind, Albert."

Albert nodded and said "It's too easy. Since the first time, I entered his kitchen to place the bugs, till now I feel that it is too easy. Knowing John so far, I doubt he will make it too easy for us.

Not only us, but I found several recording devices in the kitchen, belonging to lots of different people/groups. Although it takes a trained eye to spot them, still I don't feel like we were successful."

"Doesn't matter. We got the clip; we just need to a.n.a.lyse everything with the help of Oliver and soon we will be able to replicate it as well."

Albert nodded as he ran towards the direction of the palace.