Chapter 566 Ding! New Mission…
Everyone turned to stare at the five judges, awaiting the declaration of the final result.
Ricky’s breathing had accelerated drastically. He could decipher the choices of the five judges from their words, but he was still hoping for a miracle. He had made that sauce after three years of hard work and countless failures, all in an effort to improve the flavor of his rotisserie’s roast meat, which had remained the same for decades. It was an endeavor that required an extensive amount of courage and wisdom.
He couldn’t lose. This restaurant had been pa.s.sed down in three generations of his Barkly Family. If he were to lose it to someone else, how could he continue to live on in this world?
Amy was already joyfully tucking in to her second kebab. She was not in the slightest concerned about the final verdict. In her eyes, there was no one who could possibly beat her father, so it was clear that he would emerge victorious.
“I choose the roast beef kebab made by the owner of Mamy Restaurant.” Scheer wiped the corners of her lips with a handkerchief in an elegant manner. She turned to Mag with a smile on her face, and said, “Your dish was very delicious. If possible, I would like to invite you to our Buffett Manor to cook your delicious kebabs for me again.”
“Thank you for the invitation, Young Mistress Scheer. It would be an honor for me to go to the Buffett Manor, but if you’d like to have my kebabs, I’d have to ask you to come to our restaurant. I have to cook at my restaurant on most days, and on my days off, I prioritize rest.” Mag refused Scheer’s invitation with a smile. He wasn’t going to offer onsite cooking services no matter how much Scheer offered to pay him. Furthermore, he was planning on negotiating an important deal with her, and if he were hired to roast kebabs for her, it would automatically place him in a position of inferiority. That was strictly taboo when it came to business negotiations.
Scheer glanced at Mag with a hint of surprise on her face. He was the first chef to have rejected an invitation from her. All of the countless other chefs-who would die for an opportunity to cook at the Buffett Manorwould probably be howling to the heavens if they were to hear about this. He really was an interesting man. Scheer nodded, and said, “Alright, looks like Boss Mag is a man who has a very good work-life balance. If you have some time on your day off this week, you can take your adorable little daughter with you to visit our Buffett Manor.”
“I would be honored.” Mag nodded in response. However, he didn’t appear all that overjoyed, looking as if he were simply accepting an invitation from a normal friend. In his past life, he had visited many lavish manors. Come to think of it, his own house was one as well, so this really wasn’t something for him to be happy about.
Everyone turned to Mag with envious looks on their faces. The first invitation Scheer had extended to him was an invitation to cook for them, thereby suggesting an employer-employee relations.h.i.+p. However, the second invitation that she had extended was on a much more level basis: as equal friends.
Mag was really impressive to have befriended this legendary young mistress of the Buffett Family on their first meeting. The Buffett Manor was not a place that anyone could visit as they pleased. As one of the wealthiest families on the entire Norland Continent, just the money that slipped through their fingers was enough to make an average person go insane.
Ricky’s face paled even further, but he forcibly suppressed the urge to say anything.
“Do you even need to ask? This roast beef kebab has completely exceeded the limits of my imagination. Such delicious roast meat has never appeared on the Norland Continent before, and I highly doubt it will ever be beaten in the future. I choose the roast beef kebab.” Febid announced his verdict as he looked at Mag with a complex expression. He had completely shattered his own image with his unrelenting praise toward Mag’s dish, but he simply couldn’t find anything to complain about.
If he had to criticize something, then it would have to be the fact that there were only three cubes of meat on each kebab; it was simply not enough!
Ricky’s expression changed again, and he turned uneasily toward the remaining three judges.
The employees from Ricky’s Rotisserie were also beginning to panic. Was the worst-case scenario going to eventuate, after all? In that case, what could they do?
All of the spectators also turned to the remaining three judges. Mag would secure victory as long as one of them voted for him.
“Flavor, texture, aroma… Boss Mag’s roast beef kebab is superior in all of those aspects. That’s why I also choose the roast beef kebab.” Robert glanced at Ricky with a wistful expression. If it weren’t for his shady manipulation of the Aden Square food compet.i.tion ranking board, his improved whole roast goat could’ve reinstated Ricky’s Rotisserie back into the top 30.
“Boss Ricky’s whole roast goat has indeed improved significantly, but Boss Mag’s roast beef is nothing short of perfection. I choose the roast beef kebab.” The professor was also looking at Ricky with a sympathetic expression as he delivered his verdict.
“I choose the roast beef kebab.” s.h.i.+re heaved a faint sigh as he looked at Ricky with a defeated expression. Ducas Restaurant’s roast pig was once the insurmountable summit for all rotisseries in the Aden Square. However, Mamy Restaurant’s roast beef kebabs would undoubtedly rise beyond that standard, creating an even more insurmountable peak that would make all rotisserie owners like him lose all motivation.
“Mamy Restaurant has emerged victorious through an unanimous vote!”
A cry of elation erupted from the silent crowd, which instantly set off a chain reaction, igniting all of the spectators at once. This result was something that everyone had antic.i.p.ated, but it was still a thrilling experience to witness such an amazing outdoor cooking contest. Furthermore, everyone had initially thought that Ricky would emerge victorious, but Mag had staged a flawless comeback with his perfect roast beef kebabs, thus earning all five votes. The entire process was an emotional rollercoaster of exhilaration.
“Thank you.” Mag nodded with a calm smile. The result was only to be expected, but he was still happy to have received all five votes as well as such glowing reviews.
“Th… Th… That’s impossible.” Ricky’s portly figure swayed as if he were going to collapse at any moment. His face had been completely drained of all color. Not even a single one of the five judges had supported him. If he were to lose like this, then Ricky’s Rotisserie would no longer belong to him.
Mag looked at Ricky with a calm expression as he said, “All five judges have delivered their verdicts. I’ve won.”
“No! This isn’t possible! You must have bribed all of these people in advance!” Ricky shook his head as he rushed over to the panel of judges. He grabbed the second untouched roast beef kebab from Febid’s plate and bit off the first cube of beef.
“This flavor… How is this possible?!” Ricky’s eyes immediately widened. The delicious sauce and succulent beef wreaked havoc in his mouth, creating an unforgettable culinary experience. The reviews delivered by the five judges hadn’t even come close to doing the dish justice.
Ricky’s legs gave out under him, and he sat onto the ground. It was as if all of the energy and soul in his body had been drained away, leaving only a dejected empty sh.e.l.l.
Febid immediately rose to his feet and wrenched the kebab from Ricky’s hand. He looked at the spot where the first cube of beef once was, and roared, “Ricky, you fat slob! Why are you stealing my kebab?!”
At the same time, a voice sounded in Mag’s mind. “Ding! New mission…”