Chapter 50: Stage 50: A New Quest

Lixin was taken off guard when a transparent screen suddenly appeared before him. Thinking he had somehow activated another quest, he read the notification displayed on it, only to be surprised by its contents.

He was correct; he got another storyline quest and something else that he wasn't expecting.

During his research for the game, he learned that even though secondary storylines were not all that rare, many players still tried to trigger them. The allure lies in the promise of unique rewards from quests.

Moreover, these secondary storylines offered a gateway to uncharted territories and hidden dungeons, tempting players with the prospect of unearthing secret treasures. However, there was a catch. Secondary storylines were intrinsically tied to life skills, such as cooking, tailoring, potion making, etc. Advancement in the storyline necessitated leveling up these specific skills.

One crucial aspect to note was that these secondary storylines coincided with the main narrative. Players couldn't afford to postpone them, lest they face an impediment in their primary quest progression. It was imperative to strike a delicate balance between the two storylines to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted gameplay experience.

Knowing this, Lixin couldn't help but wonder if he could handle both his main storyline and this optional one simultaneously. However, after rereading the title, he decided to accept the quest. The words 'Emissary of Profound Flavor' suggested a narrative involving food themes, which really appealed to him.

He planned to start leveling up his cooking skills once he left the beginner town. However, having a quest line to help him become a premier chef would be an enormous help to him. In addition, it would help him get closer to his revenge goal against his stepsister and stepmother more quickly.

He knew from his previous life that in one month PLight would announce a cooking competition, surprising the restaurants the company partnered with. The brand ambassadors of the restaurants would have to compete against the regular players to see whose food becomes the most popular.

Initially, the restaurants were skeptical about the competition, viewing it as a potential waste of time, since they had only partnered with the company to showcase their culinary creations. However that changed when PLight announced that Chaeuneun, the renowned food chain, would be involved.

As an enticing reward for the victor, the CEO of Chaeuneun presented an opportunity to showcase the winning restaurants' dishes for an entire year. While it may not appear overly significant at first glance, the offer held immense value considering Chaeuneun's distinguished reputation for serving the highest quality cuisine. Thus, this proposition proved to be a monumental and highly coveted opportunity for most participating restaurants.

In his last life it was only thanks to his stolen recipes that the Silverback Restaurant that his stepmother invested in emerged victorious. It was that promotion that contributed to their success in becoming the next big thing.

He became aware of this information through an unplanned turn of events. During his time trapped in that house, he happened to overhear a conversation between his stepmother and stepsister, which brought to light this previously unknown piece of knowledge.

Lixin heard them express disappointment over narrowly missing out on victory. She disclosed that the CEO placed significant importance on the dishes' taste. It appeared that their dishes' flavors fell short of meeting his specific expectations.

Knowing how Solar despised the fact that her success came from his recipes, she might have tried to prove herself by using her own skill on some dishes. The CEO must have noticed the lack of consistency. Without the other dishes' popularity among the players and Plight's intervention and support, their chances of winning would have been slim.

Considering this, if his own culinary creations became highly popular, wouldn't he be able to win the competition, destroying those bitches chance of winning? With that thought in mind, Lixin slyly smiled before quickly pressing the "yes" button.

[Cora] [Secondary Storyline: The Forgotten Artifacts: Emissary of Profound Flavor has been unlocked!]

Secondary Storyline Quest created: The Forgotten Artifacts: Emissary of Profound Flavor

Learning Flavors

This is the first step on a delightful culinary adventure. Begin by learning about the various ingredients and how they work together to make delectable dishes. Experiment with various combinations to see what works best for you. Enjoy the process, and you'll soon be creating your own distinct flavors.

Objective: Get to cooking level 5!

Reward: Changeable cooking gear.

A broad smile stretched across Lixin's face as his eyes absorbed every detail of the quest. It was exactly what he wanted. A rush of excitement coursed through his veins, electrifying his every nerve.

Observing his elated expression, Berry couldn't help but be intrigued. Curiosity brimming within her, she asked, "What's got you so thrilled?"

Brimming with enthusiasm, Lixin couldn't contain his excitement as he shared the thrilling news. "I've unlocked a secondary storyline! And guess what? It's all about cooking!"

"That's absolutely fantastic! Judging by your excitement, it's clear that you must really love cooking," Berry Fairy exclaimed, a glimmer of admiration in her eyes.

Lixin nodded with a hint of nostalgia, his voice carrying a tinge of wistfulness. "Indeed, cooking has always held a special place in my heart. Since I was young, I dreamt of becoming a chef."

Curiosity tinged with concern, Berry Fairy probed gently, "What happened? Why couldn't you pursue your dream?"

Lixin's smile faded momentarily, replaced by a touch of sadness. "Life took me on a different path, I suppose," he replied, his eyes reflecting anger and sorrow.

Offering a comforting perspective, Berry Fairy reassured him, "Well, at least you can fulfill your dream in the game."

"That's true," Lixin replied, his eyes lighting up as he thought of something. "Do you want to be my official taste tester? With you being a beastman, I know my culinary creations won't go to waste."

Berry Fairy let out a melodic laughter at his words, though Lixin sensed a hint of reservation in her eyes. "I wouldn't mind, but I must warn you, though. I can be quite discerning when it comes to flavors. Certain tastes don't sit well on my palate," she confessed.

"That's perfectly fine. I won't be disheartened if my dishes don't meet your expectations. In fact, it will only inspire me to rise to the challenge and create something you truly enjoy." Lixin smiled warmly.

A genuine smile spread across Berry Fairy's face as she replied, "I'll be looking forward to it then."

"Just wait," Lixin declared confidently, a sense of determination in his voice.

Filled with anticipation, Berry Fairy's voice exuded excitement as she asked, "Now that you've finished reading the book, what do you have to do now?"

"I have to report back what I learned to my persona's guardian in the tea shop," Lixin stated.

Berry Fairy furrowed her brows in concern. "But won't the tea shop be closed by now?"

A realization struck Lixin, causing him to swiftly rise from the bench. Without uttering a word, he gestured for Berry Fairy to join him and exclaimed, "Let's hurry! Maybe it's still open."

They sprinted towards the tea shop, their feet pounding against the ground. However, as they reached their destination, they saw that the shop was already closed for the day.

Contemplating whether he needed to wait until morning, Lixin opened his map function and tapped on the quest locator. The green circle that previously marked the tea shop now encompassed a house.

'This must be where my persona's house is,' Lixin mused, closing the transparent screen. He turned back to the Panda girl and shared the new information. "Berry, it seems like I have to return to my persona's house to complete the quest."

Understanding that she wouldn't be able to accompany him there, Berry nodded in agreement. "No problem. I have my own quest to complete. Let's meet up in the morning."

Agreeing with a nod, Lixin bid her farewell.

Author Says: Finally, the cooking connection!

CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Momocatt

We made it to Chapter 50!! I want to thank all of my lovely readers staying with me so far. I hope you are still enjoying the story. With the rate the novel is going, there will be a ton of chapters to come.

=^-^=

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