Chapter 388: Chapter 255: Battle for the Gourmet Legacy

Although the situation was not very optimistic, Li Xin felt somewhat reassured by the letter in his pocket. In fact, returning to Dragon Capital was indeed an option.

A carriage slowed down after spotting Li Xin by the roadside. Li Xin waved his hand, the carriage stopped, and he boarded. The coachman shouted twice, flicked the whip, and the carriage clattered away.

The streets of Hedan were shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere due to various events, yet people were still busy. For ordinary people, life goes on no matter who dies.

Li Xin opened the letter, catching a faint scent from Christie. He couldn’t help but smile, but the content of the letter immediately froze his smile.

“Return to Lirong immediately. Farewell if fate allows.”

Li Xin was stunned for a moment, looked out the window, then back at the letter in his hand, eyes widening. It was Christie’s handwriting; he turned it over to see if there was more, staring blankly at the blank space for a while.

After a while, Li Xin desperately picked up the envelope looking for something inside, but it was empty.

Why return to Lirong, even Dragon Capital would be better. Perhaps it’s a secret mission that cannot be spoken of openly.

Leaning against the carriage window, he pursed his lips and gave a bitter smile.

The sound of waves came to his ears, and before he knew it, the carriage had arrived at the dock. “Sir, we’ve reached George Dock.”

Li Xin paused, “To the Lirong Inn, then.”

“Yes, sir.” The coachman whipped the horse with some enthusiasm. This was a big fare today, and this gentleman seemed a bit lost in his thoughts.

At Lirong Inn, the coachman had to call several times before Li Xin awakened. Li Xin apologized and got off, watching as the coachman drove away.

Although he tried to prepare mentally, trying to act cheerful and carefree, he was not the type like David. The sunny Hedan seemed less enjoyable now.

Where to go?

If the Night Patrol and Hex Bird Society were to face a reckoning, staying here was clearly unwise. His identity and circumstances couldn’t withstand scrutiny. The Hex Bird Report had used Utopia Mountain’s stories to crush the Hedan Daily of the Zheng Family and Prince Oliver. Surely, they harbored great resentment against him. If he were an ordinary person, perhaps he could be exploited. But as a Night Patrol, he risked imprisonment and torture, possibly ending in death at their hands.

Before they noticed him, fleeing would be the best strategy of all.

There was nothing to be conflicted about; having judged the situation clearly, Li Xin decided to head to Dragon Capital. Aunt Fei, little Xueyin, and Sister Kathy were all there, and he needed to be there too. Besides, matters at Celestial Capital were likely settled, and they wouldn’t trouble him further.

Returning to his room at the inn was like returning to the simple room of a bachelor. There wasn’t much to pack; the valuables were already in his Yazama Karashi. Li Xin glanced at the typewriter Christie had given him, then packed it into the Yazama Karashi too. It wasn’t about who gifted it, but he might rely on it for a living in the future; it’s better than hard labor.

Goodbyes?

Dragon Mother wasn’t around, and as for Ma Liu, Dalivin, and the others, well, farewells weren’t necessary. Living in the hidden world, their meetings were coincidences; when the time comes, they part.

Li Xin wrote a letter, slipped it into an envelope, left a thousand Lira, and tidied up, making the bed and cleaning the room. Forget Justin… it could stay here; life here was probably more comfortable than elsewhere.

Li Xin stood by the window, appreciating the familiar scenery that had returned. He had always cherished this viewpoint from the window.

In Inner City Hedan, Prince Oliver’s mansion was bustling. But ever since the Red-robed Archbishop left, His Highness stopped seeing guests, yet many still sought an audience with him. Even if they couldn’t meet the Prince, they came in floods.

At this moment, Prince Oliver was seated in the hall, experiencing a body completely different from before. He finally grasped the ultimate Hidden Power. Once indulged in such power, everything else was trivial, power nothing more than a chicken rib’s embellishment. Yet as a usurper on one of the Ancient Paths, he didn’t intend to become a King and challenge the laws of the Sixth Epoch, but this nation must be in his hands; any puppet would do. The country’s ingredients and faith supply would carry him further.

“Your Highness, will you not see any of them?” Bocuse asked.

Prince Oliver smiled subtly, his handsome face carrying a trace of divinity, exuding an aura of ancient godly reverence. The Red-robed Archbishop’s respect yesterday spoke volumes, let alone the ordinary folks who might be directly awed.

“No rush, let them wait. We need some days of rest too.” Oliver was very patient, a trait essential for a former inheritor of the Kingdom. In this respect, he naturally had a king’s demeanor while his younger second brother had a born patience.

“Your Highness, I may need to take a leave to address a private matter,” Bocuse bowed, knowing that Prince Oliver’s success signaled the pinnacle of his Dark Cuisine path.

Oliver smiled, “The legacy of your Gourmet Association is truly intriguing, especially your branch. Go ahead, return soon, and bring good ingredients. I haven’t tasted the delicacies of the Gourmet yet.”

“I won’t let Your Highness down.” Bocuse bowed respectfully, taking his leave.

Returning to his room, Bocuse released the Messenger. There were two letters to deliver: one to Ostralia, for he was a Gourmet Judge—a true purpose for Ostralia’s presence here; the other for Alain Ducasse, his apprentice and rival in the upcoming duel.

The Gourmet legacy duel dictated that every elder would duel their direct apprentice in a culinary showdown, requiring a Gourmet Elder as the judge. The winner would become the new elder, inheriting everything from the counterpart, a tradition passed down for millennia in the Gourmet Association.

He chose Prince Oliver. If he had ascended as King, his winning odds were sixty percent, but now, with Prince Oliver, his victory was ninety-nine or even a hundred percent certain. Witnessing Oliver effortlessly defeat a Judgement Angel confirmed to him the assured triumph.

A Greedy Angel from the divine Old Era was indeed overpowering in this time.

The Church Court’s Perfumer was still in the great hall, bowing in respect, “Honorable Prince Oliver, my mission is complete, and I must take my leave.”

Oliver regarded the Perfumer, “How many Perfumers does the Church Court have now?”

“Your Highness, there are three currently. Through this trial, upon returning, I will be promoted to a high-ranking Master Perfumer, thanks to your grace,” the Perfumer replied respectfully.

Oliver smiled, “Oh, and how do you plan to thank me?”

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