The guide rowed the small boat ahead with heavy breaths, while Kael lay comfortably inside, completely relaxed.
He wasn't worried in the slightest about being tossed into the sea halfway. With his current abilities, swimming back wouldn't be a problem at all—let alone the fact that his storage space held everything imaginable, including vehicles.
There was simply no need to fear being set up. And besides, Kael carried an auspicious ability. Anyone trying to screw him over would end up being the unlucky one instead.
After more than an hour, the two finally arrived at their destination—the Lou Lin, the Dark Cooking Society's flagship.
It had to be said, the Dark Cooking Society was absurdly rich. Building a ship of this size was no small feat. Of course, those lunatics had also installed explosives all over it—crudely wired, but effective.
Kael could understand their thinking. That was just how the Dark Cooking Society operated. Even if I lose, I'll still disgust you one last time before I die.
The explosives aboard the Lou Lin were clearly there to ensure the ship wouldn't fall into anyone else's hands.
Kael could clearly smell the explosives permeating the entire ship. If they went off, there'd be no saving it. The ship would sink without question.
"We're here."
The guide docked the boat and helped Kael aboard before rowing away toward another section of the ship. The Lou Lin had plenty of small boat berths.
Under the Dark Cooking Society's escort, Kael was led into a massive arena. Building something like this on a ship was genuinely impressive.
The moment he arrived, Kael noticed the people on the stage. He recognized four of them.
One was an elderly man, hunched with age, holding a staff engraved with the Bailuo family crest. There was no doubt—this was Rogo, the Dim Sum King.
Another was a man clad head to toe in armor, his stern face marked with strange patterns. Bamboo tubes filled with cold water hung all over his body. This could only be Leopard Head Arkan.
Beside Arkan stood a beautiful, innocent-looking girl—most likely Chen Ke.
The last man was drinking casually, his demeanor loose and carefree, completely different from the others. This had to be Ensei, the Wanderer.
Kael didn't recognize the rest. Figures who should've appeared in the original story, like Roco, were nowhere to be seen—only unfamiliar faces.
The spectator stands were packed as well, though the crowd looked… bizarre. Someone unfamiliar might've thought this was some kind of cosplay convention.
In the center of the arena stood multiple cooking stations surrounded by ingredients. The judges' table held five faces similar to those in the original story.
Kael honestly admired these people.
They looked impressive, but they had no real understanding of what the Dark Cooking Society truly was—yet they still dared to cooperate with them.
Working with the Dark Cooking Society only ever led to being slowly consumed.
As long as you were useful, they'd play along. But once your value diminished, you'd be discarded without hesitation. Joining them directly wasn't any better—you'd lose most of your authority, and if things went poorly, you might even get brainwashed.
"So, you finally showed up."
Ensei grinned when he saw Kael.
Kael walked straight into the arena.
"I received your invitation. But let me make one thing clear first—if you want to challenge me, you'd better bring out something worth my time."
Kael smiled.
"Hahaha! You've got guts. You're standing in the Dark Cooking Society's home base, you know. Aren't you afraid we'll just toss you into the sea to feed the fish?"
Ensei burst out laughing. Kael's confidence genuinely surprised him.
"You're welcome to try. See if your people can actually threaten me.
Oh—and this floor tile is interesting. You really went all out.
If I step on the wrong one by accident… this ship won't be the only thing sinking."
Kael's gaze landed on a specific stone slab.
The moment he said that, several Dark Cooking Society executives widened their eyes, cold sweat breaking out instantly.
No one wanted to die here—Supreme Dragon Chef or not. Their hearts jumped straight into their throats.
What they couldn't understand was how Kael had discovered the explosives—and even the trigger mechanism.
But one thing was clear now: they couldn't control Kael anymore.
Kael was the one holding their lives in his hands.
Unless they could dismantle the mechanism immediately.
"All right, you win. We give up. I knew you wouldn't be easy to deal with. Fine—tell us. What do you want?"
Ensei sighed. Physical threats were useless. They had no choice but to follow Kael's lead.
"Other than Old Master Rogo's Old Shu Han Dough, there's nothing here that really interests me. How about this—if you win, I'll hand over the Legendary Kitchenware. If you lose, you swear loyalty to me."
Kael didn't bother hiding his intentions.
After all, nothing else here mattered to him. The Old Shu Han Dough was unique—and it belonged to Rogo alone.
"So you've set your sights on my Old Shu Han Dough?" Rogo said, narrowing his eyes. "Interesting. My overall cooking may not compare to yours, but when it comes to white dough work, you might not beat me."
The Old Shu Han Dough wasn't exactly a secret. Anyone familiar with the Bailuo family knew about it.
"That's something we'll only know after competing. What do the two Five Tiger Stars think?"
Kael glanced at Ensei and Arkan.
"You're asking two Supreme Dragon Chefs to serve you just like that?" Ensei couldn't help complaining.
"I don't see the problem. I'm putting Legendary Kitchenware on the line. Compared to that, even Supreme Dragon Chefs fall short."
"Of course, you can refuse. But then the match ends here."
Two Supreme Dragon Chefs versus two pieces of Legendary Kitchenware—the value comparison was obvious.
The crowd nodded in agreement. Even a Supreme Dragon Chef couldn't compare to Legendary Kitchenware—unless they were on the level of the Four Great Masters.
Ensei fell silent. Arkan stared at Kael, unable to make a decision.
"So are you going to start or not?"
The judges were growing impatient. They'd been invited to witness a clash between Supreme Dragon Chefs—not to watch negotiations drag on.
Kael watched with interest. He wanted to see if Ensei and the others were truly willing to gamble themselves for kitchenware.
"I agree."
Just as Ensei hesitated, Arkan spoke.
For Arkan, staying or leaving the Dark Cooking Society didn't really matter. And he didn't believe he'd lose. They were both Supreme Dragon Chefs, both wielding flame-based abilities.
He wanted to see who was truly stronger.
"Nice. That's the Leopard Head Arkan for you—decisive."
Kael gave him a thumbs-up and turned to Ensei.
"Looks like there's no escaping it. But I have one condition. If I lose, I'll serve you—but I won't take action against the Dark Cooking Society."
Ensei finally agreed, adding his condition.
"Fine. Unless the Dark Cooking Society targets you first, I won't force you to act against them."
Kael didn't care. In his eyes, wiping out the Dark Cooking Society didn't require anyone else's help.
Anyone assisting would just slow him down.
As for Kaiyu, Kael wouldn't hold back—he'd kill him outright. Someone like Kaiyu couldn't be trusted anyway.
Arkan and Ensei were different. That was why Kael made this offer.
"Since you've reached an agreement, let's begin. Three chefs—that means three matches."
The judges spoke, blissfully unaware of the danger they were in.
"Then let this old man go first. You've wagered two kitchenware items already—what will you offer against me?"
Rogo suddenly spoke.
"I came prepared. I've collected three Legendary Kitchenware. I'll use the Turning Dragon Pot. How about that?"
Kael placed the Ever-Soul Knife, the Garuda Knife, and the Turning Dragon Pot on the table.
The moment they appeared, every gaze locked onto them.
Kael touched each one in turn. A phoenix sigil and two dragon sigils flared into existence.
"No doubt about it—they're real. I can't believe you managed to obtain the Turning Dragon Pot so quickly after arriving in City."
Ensei was stunned. The Dark Cooking Society had been monitoring Kael closely—when had he done it?
"Legendary items are better off in my hands sooner rather than later. After all, you were watching them too. By the way—you have the Voracious Wolf Pot, don't you?"
Kael's question made Ensei twitch.
How did Kael know everything?
First the explosives. Then the trigger. Now even the Voracious Wolf Pot.
Only a handful of people in the Dark Cooking Society knew about that.
Ensei's reaction was all the confirmation Kael needed.
Without further words, Kael stepped up to face Rogo for the first match.
"You know the Bailuo family excels at white dough work. That's all I can compete with you in. And while your overall cooking surpasses mine, this isn't exactly unfair."
Rogo spoke calmly.
"Of course. Then let's make it steamed buns—your family's specialty."
Gasps rippled through the arena.
Mastering both red(Fire-based work) and white(dough work) cooking to the highest level was incredibly rare.
And Kael was openly challenging the Bailuo family at what they did best.
"Bold, kid. Since you insist, I'll accept."
With that, the first match began under countless watchful eyes.
"Who do you think will win?" Ensei asked Arkan.
"Hard to say. White dough isn't my specialty. But beating Rogo at this won't be easy—especially with the Old Shu Han Dough."
Arkan spoke honestly.
They'd all seen the terrifying fermentation power of that dough.
And anything made with it was leagues above ordinary buns.