Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 855

[You have gained 1 CHA.]

[You have gained 1 CHA.]

[...Authority...]

Fortunately, he was able to restore some of the CHA that he lost, thanks to the Authority Herb.

‘That’s amazing.’

The quick buck that he made with Haze this time was truly beyond expectations. What stood out more was Haze’s Abundance Authority. It allowed her to obtain 1.5x more of what she had negotiated before! Because of that, Minhyuk was able to obtain funds that were well over twenty million platinum.

‘Ten million from this money can be used to rehome our newly recruited talents and help with the training costs.’

The other ten million would be used for the empire’s maintenance funds, while the excess would be used for the empire’s expansion and development as well as the strengthening of the military’s training. This was the only way for the Beyond the Heavens Empire to survive.

‘We need to grow and develop faster.’

Otherwise, the Beyond the Heavens Empire would be devoured.

Over twenty million platinum was a ridiculous amount. However, this amount disappeared in an instant after it was divided for the empire’s development. Fortunately, there was no need for him to worry. After all, their empire now had the reliable God of Devotion on their side.

(Haze)

Rank: God of Devotion

Level: 485

Attack: 1,203

Defense: 5,431

Special Abilities:

•Passive Skill: Inducement

•Passive Skill: Agreement

•Passive Skill: God’s Truth

•Passive Skill: God’s Negotiation

•Passive Skill: Devoted Acting

•Passive Skill: Abundance Authority

•Passive Skill: God of Devotion’s Story

•Active Skill: Truth or Lie

Potential: 157

Experience Value: 25% / 100%

Description: Haze. She was a girl born with a clever mind, and devoted herself to the kingdom for the sake of others, which allowed her to gain new powers after being recognized by the God of Fraud, or the God of Devotion.

Haze’s special abilities were unique. Usually, an individual’s passive and active skills would have a 5:5 ratio. However, in Haze’s case, most of her special abilities were passive skills. Among these passive skills, the thing worth paying the most attention to was the Abundance Authority.

(Abundance Authority)

Rank: God

Passive Skill

Level: MAX

Effects:

•Using the various skills in your possession, you can obtain 1.5x more of gold or whatever quantity of the item that you will receive.

•There is a 1.2% chance of obtaining double the amount of what you will receive.

It was an extremely good skill. And although there was a minuscule 1.2% probability of it getting triggered, doubling the amount that Haze would receive was nothing to scoff at.

Finally, there was a skill that Minhyuk was very confused about.

‘Truth or Lie?’

It was the only active skill possessed by the God of Devotion and it had a very unusual name. Of course, Minhyuk checked it right away.

(Truth or Lie)

Rank: God

Active Skill

Mana Required: 500~2,000

Cooldown: 15 minutes

Level: MAX

Effects:

•You can express a variety of things–like what you want to create, how you want to attack the enemies and many more–through your words and it would come into existence.

•However, it could either be a truth or a lie.

•There is a 50% chance of it becoming the truth or vice versa. The probability would vary slightly from time to time.

•The higher the difficulty and level of the way you want to attack your enemy, the higher the chances of it becoming a lie.

•However, if it becomes the truth, your attack skill will be able to exert whatever force you want.

•The skill damage would be determined by the system.

•If you so wish, the skill can have no damage at all.

“...?!”

Minhyuk was shocked.

‘She can create whatever skill she wants?’

To put it simply, if Haze were to say, ‘The sea shall rise and reach heights of ten meters and engulf all of the enemies in a one-kilometer radius.’ and it became the truth, what would happen? A ten-meter-high wave from the sea would appear and devour the enemies.

Or if she said, ‘Strike the enemy’s vital point with a heavy blow.’ and it became the truth, then a powerful skill would manifest and stab the enemies’ vital points.

It was a skill with endless possibilities. Of course, it did not have a 100% chance of being triggered. After all, there was a higher chance of it becoming a lie the more one talked about things that were well beyond their powers. However, it was obvious that this was the most cheat-like skill that Minhyuk had seen so far.

Just in time, Haze entered Minhyuk’s office with a bright smile on her face. She said, “Your Majesty! Your Majesty, what you told me was true! All of the people really care for me! They all like me!”

Minhyuk had actually heard the God of Devotion’s Story fifteen minutes ago. The Greatest God Athenae’s voice ringing like she was reading a fairy tale book had the power to make those that heard her voice feel comfortable. He smiled at Haze, who ran swiftly to where he was with a delighted smile plastered on her face.

“I told you so. Many people care about you. They love you dearly.”

Haze was embarrassed but the happy smile on her face was unmistakable.

Actually, Minhyuk wanted to check the skill now. So, he said, “Haze, can you try using Truth or Lie?”

“Truth or Lie?”

Haze was also very curious about the only attack skill that she had gained, the Truth or Lie. Haze’s lips cracked into a grin when she saw Minhyuk nod.

“I understand, Your Majesty.”

At this point, Haze knew that the Truth or Lie was a much more important skill than what she originally thought. But it did not matter, the more ways there were to protect the Beyond the Heavens Empire, the better. She had determined that this power could allow her to protect the empire that she loved.

The two went out to the balcony together. The balcony was a place where one could see the entirety of the Beyond the Heavens Empire.

“Of course, there should be no actual damage.”

“I understand.”

As long as Haze wished it, she could take out the attack from the skill created by the Truth or Lie. In other words, she could create something that could be considered an illusion.

Haze, who was pondering deeply for a moment, finally opened her mouth and said, “The first cherry blossom tree grew.”

[You have used the Truth or Lie!]

“The tree is teeming with the blooming cherry blossoms.”

[The Truth or Lie’s skill is starting to take form!]

“Tens of thousands of trees carried the vibrant pink and blooming cherry blossoms on their branches.”

[The Truth or Lie’s skill is taking form!]

“As the cherry blossom season has gone by, the petals of the cherry blossoms slowly fell down and covered the world, like snow in winter.”

[Is it the truth? Or is it a lie? This will now be chosen!]

[The skill does not have any attack power.]

[The probability of the skill being the truth has increased.]

[Truth or Lie.]

Haze and Minhyuk looked over the Beyond the Heavens Empire as they waited for the result of the skill, waiting expectantly.

[Truth!]

In the sky above the Beyond the Heavens Empire, a gigantic tree grew rapidly until a cherry blossom bloomed on its branches. The tree was soon covered with cherry blossoms while tens of thousands of trees appeared around it.

“W– wooooooooah!”

“It’s a cherry blossom tree!”

“So– So beautiful...”

The tens of thousands of trees that bloomed above the Beyond the Heavens Empire resulted in a stunning sight. In this stunning view, the cherry blossom season soon passed. And slowly, ever so slowly, the petals of the cherry blossoms began to fall like snow. It was just as Haze said.

Shwaaaaaaaaaaaaaa–

Minhyuk’s and Haze’s eyes met after they watched the falling cherry blossom petals cover the entire Beyond the Heavens Empire.

What if, for example, those falling cherry blossom petals could explode the moment they landed on the ground?

‘It would cause a huge amount of damage.’

Or, what if those cherry blossom petals pierced through the bodies of the enemies?

‘Many enemies would die.’

Of course, if Haze set it that way, then the probability of the skill becoming the truth would drop sharply. However, assuming that the Truth or Lie skill could succeed even once in ten times, or even once in a hundred times, it would still be a complete cheat.

Haze said, “Now, I...”

“...”

“I also have the power to protect you, Your Majesty.”

Haze seemed to be more pleased by that fact.

Minhyuk smiled faintly and asked, “Aren’t you hungry?”

Only when she heard that question did she realize that she had not eaten anything for a long time. Seeing her clutching her stomach pitifully, Minhyuk said, “I will cook for you.”

“You mean, you’re going to cook for me, Your Majesty?”

Even though Minhyuk loved to cook, he did not cook just for anyone. He was already an emperor after all. Haze was very moved when she heard his words.

Minhyuk took her back inside before starting to cook. He boiled the noodles and quickly stir-fried the black bean sauce. He also fried the pork coated with batter inside the pan filled with boiling oil.

Sizzleeeee–

He also boiled some soup with dashes of chili oil floating above it. At this point, one would be able to guess what Minhyuk was cooking. Yes, it was none other than Chinese Cuisine. Chinese food would always hit the spot whenever one did not want to do anything, or they were just having a day off. The dishes that Minhyuk made were jjajangmyeon, jjamppong, tangsuyuk and fried rice.

“Take your pick and eat, Haze.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Haze said, her face filled with great anticipation as she raised the chopstick in her hands. At that moment, she caught sight of Minhyuk.

‘You clearly told me that you would cook for me, right?’

However, Minhyuk looked more excited than Haze.

Minhyuk looked at the jajangmyeon in front of him. It looked shiny with the sauce, and the scent wafting from the bowl was enough to make one’s mouth water. Minhyuk quickly mixed the jajangmyeon with his chopsticks. Then, he grabbed a huge mouthful and placed everything in his mouth.

“Sluuuuuuuuuuuurp!”

A pleasant smile instantly appeared on his face the moment the sweet jjajangmyeon entered his mouth.

“Sluuuuuuuuuuuuuuurp!”

Minhyuk personally preferred adding some kimchi and pickled radish on his jjajangmyeon. However, there were days when he would want to add some scallion kimchi on it. So, he quickly took out a huge mouthful of scallion kimchi that he had prepared before and put everything in his mouth.

Crunch, crunch–

The spicy scallion kimchi made his grin grow even wider. After eating the jjajangmyeon like that, he turned his attention to the tangsuyuk. He grabbed a piece of crunchy pork and dipped it in the sweet and sour sauce.

Munch, munch–

The pork, which was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, tasted superb.

“Kghhhhk...” Minhyuk exclaimed in admiration as he picked the bowl of jjamppong.

Then, he immediately took a sip of the spicy and refreshing soup.

“Sluuuuuuuurp.”

What else could he do but shout, Ho! in admiration? The spicy and hot jjamppong easily washed away the greasy flavor of the jjajangmyeon. And since he already finished the jjajangmyeon earlier, he now put his entire attention into finishing the jjamppong. Minhyuk quickly removed the flesh from the shell of the mussel and ate it together with a huge mouthful of the noodles that was coated with the spicy soup.

“Sluuuuuuuuuurp!”

Then, he picked some raw onions and dipped them in some chunjang.

“Kghhk!”

The chunjang greatly enhanced the sweetness of the raw onions. After eating the jjamppong like that, Minhyuk quickly mixed the fried rice with the remaining black bean sauce from the jjajangmyeon.

Sluuuuuurp–

Whenever his throat got dry or the greasiness got too much, he would take a sip of the spicy jjamppong soup. Minhyuk ate everything with a wide and bright smile on his face.

‘As expected of His Majesty...’

Haze could not help but look at Minhyuk in awe as she watched him devour three bowls of jjajangmyeon, two bowls of jjamppong, one serving of fried rice, and two large portions of tangsuyuk in one sitting.

Minhyuk sat in front of Haze as he waited for her to finish eating.

Knock, knock–

Minhyuk looked at the door in doubt when he heard the loud knock.

“Enter.”

The one who knocked on the door and entered the office was none other than Brod.

“Your Majesty, there’s trouble.”

Minhyuk’s doubt grew when he heard Brod’s words.

“Trouble?”

“The newly recruited talents are harboring severe distrust toward Your Majesty.”

“...?”

The look of doubt and puzzlement grew even deeper on Minhyuk’s face.