Gourmet Gaming

Chapter 1133

Minhyuk went to the Luvien Empire to negotiate for the Briah’s River Water. So, why was she angry? This was because Minhyuk had suddenly summoned the executives of the Beyond the Heavens Empire to the Luvien Empire.

The Beyond the Heavens Empire would suffer significant losses if even a person suddenly disappeared for a single day. The worst part was that he did not just summon one; he summoned dozens of them. Of course, Haze had heard the reason for the summoning. But she still could not help but feel that Minhyuk was acting a bit over the top.

Haze vowed that she would scold Minhyuk when he returned this time.

At that moment, Minhyuk returned and said, “Haze, the Luvien Empire gave me two million platinum.”

“...Did you have a comfortable and relaxed trip, Your Majesty?”

“Ah! I also received around 500,000 platinum for hunting Rughamon and Agintomachia.”

“May I take your coat?”

“Unfortunately, they did not drop anything special. But if we sell the items they dropped, I think we’ll get three million platinum, give or take.”

“Do you want me to massage your shoulders?”

Haze’s stance changed at the speed of light. She could not help but chuckle happily when she heard that Minhyuk could secure enormous funds. But she was still curious about why the Luvien Empire gave them two million platinum.

Minhyuk said, “Well, the Beyond the Heavens Empire practically saved Duke Vakkaman’s life. We received far less.”

The value of Duke Vakkaman’s life was not just in the millions of platinum.

“Sprout Academy’s Brelin won the gold medal in the end.”

Haze nodded. Things seemed to be going smoothly. But there was still one more important thing.

Minhyuk, who instantly saw through what she was thinking, nodded. “I obtained the ownership of the Briah’s River without giving up anything.”

Haze was in awe. Although he had taken almost ten million platinum from the Luvien Empire, he still felt he had received less.

“Then, will you be going straight to Briah’s River?”

“No. Not yet.”

Minhyuk immediately sent his vassals back once everything was done, logged out, and slept well. Only after doing all that did he come back in the game. Even so, he was still exhausted. This type of exhaustion did not go away because of his hunger.

“I still haven’t eaten it yet.”

“Ah. I see. I understand.” Haze stepped out.

She knew what the “it” that Minhyuk was talking about was. It was none other than the ingredient he obtained from Pandemonium, the Phenomenal-grade ingredient.

[You can create any ingredient from the Phenomenal-grade ingredient.]

The Phenomenal-grade ingredient was actually a small stone. What was surprising about it was that Minhyuk could create any ingredient that he wanted out of it. But the best part was the part in the description that said it was unlike the other high-grade ingredients. The Phenomenal-grade ingredient was not that difficult to cook.

‘In the first place, the level of difficulty of the Land of the Leaders was not low. So, it wouldn’t make sense if the cooking’s difficulty level is high too.’

Minhyuk had accumulated a lot of stress from all of the recent events, which had given him an intense craving for something. And this “something” was the Spicy Stir-Fried Chicken Noodles.

The Spicy Stir-Fried Chicken Noodles were so spicy that anyone who ate them would feel their tongue tingle and their forehead sweat. Nevertheless, they would continue to eat them.

Once Minhyuk pictured the image of the Spicy Stir-Fried Chicken Noodles, the Phenomenal-grade ingredient immediately took its form.

[The Phenomenal-grade Ingredient has been set to Stir-fried Noodles.]

Minhyuk immediately began cooking. The cooking process did not take too long. After all, all he needed to do was to boil the noodles and mix the sauce in. His mouth watered at the sight of the red and glossy noodles of the Spicy Stir-Fried Chicken Noodles.

‘The smell alone is enough to whet my appetite.’

When he placed the cheese on top of the Spicy Stir-Fried Chicken Noodles, it immediately melted. As someone well-versed in eating, Minhyuk had already prepared a hot bar beside his bowl of noodles.

Minhyuk immediately grabbed his chopsticks and clamped a huge mouthful of noodles that had already started to absorb the melted cheese. The spicy scent that wafted from the noodles he put in his mouth made his nose tingle.

“Sluuuuuuuurp!”

His mouth was instantly filled with the Spicy Stir-Fried Chicken Noodles. Every chew coated his mouth with the perfect sweetness and spiciness, a perfect combination with the mellow flavor of the cheese.

“Kghhk. It’s so yummy!”

The spiciness hadn’t truly kicked in yet. But every mouthful of noodles that he slurped brought a tingling sensation in his mouth. And when it finally kicked in, he started to feel like his mouth was on fire.

“Slurp– Haa...” Minhyuk unknowingly breathed out a sigh as he took a big bite of the hot bar to tone down the spiciness in his mouth.

Before he knew it, sweat started to drip down his face. The degree of spiciness gradually intensified, making Minhyuk suffer. Even so, he continued to eat the stir-fried noodles.

“Sluuuuurp. Kghhk– Spicy.”

Despite the burning spiciness in his mouth, Minhyuk continued to eat. And the more he ate, the more he felt as if his stress was being relieved. After eating everything, Minhyuk decided to cool down his mouth by eating the Mother’s Only Daughter ice cream.

While he was enjoying Mother’s Only Daughter ice cream, the notifications finally rang.

[You have eaten a dish made with a Phenomenal-grade Ingredient.]

[All of your stats have increased by 1.7%.]

[When facing a being related to the Supreme, your attack and defensive power will increase by 15%.]

[You have obtained 2 Supreme Skill Level-Up Points(LUP).]

[You have yet to reach Level 800.]

[You can only use the Supreme Skill LUP once you reach Level 800.]

Minhyuk was quite disappointed when he heard the incoming notification. But he did not dwell too much on it.

‘Should I go and distribute my ingredients worldwide now?’

Minhyuk immediately headed toward the Briah’s River.

***

Most countries worldwide were playing the virtual reality game Athenae. Only a select few countries did not have access to the game. The number of players playing Athenae had long exceeded a billion.

Countless Joy Co. Ltd. branches–the American Branch, the Chinese Branch, the French Branch, and dozens more branches–existed worldwide. Why was this the case? First of all, Athenae was considered a global game. On top of that, each of these countries had already accepted Athenae as a part of their daily lives.

Global players wanted their own countries to manage their own servers. This was partly because their governments were worried that there might be discrimination since the players belonged to other countries. The fact that the government responded was a testament to Athenae's power and influence.

Athenae operated with the Korean headquarters at the center, and each branch operated separately. But since they were operating like that, there might be problems.

Even though each branch was created to ensure fairness, they could also abandon this fairness and give preferential treatment to certain players. For example, a branch’s story team might inform players about a particular part of the game. Or they could also choose to leak the rewards of a particular quest.

Joy Co. Ltd. often did special audits on each branch to ensure fairness. A special surprise audit could only be done by a Special Audit Team of members from another country to the country to be audited. Even the headquarters had to undergo a special audit.

The Chinese Special Audit Team, created after receiving approval from several countries worldwide, stormed into the headquarters. If they find that President Kang Taehoon was involved in corruption, they could easily bring down the President.

Chen Shihao, the team leader of the Special Audit Team, intended to delve deeper into the corruption in Athenae’s Korean headquarters. When he found the slightest indication of corruption, he intended to blow things up and drag down the Korean headquarters.

Chen Shihao ordered the Special Audit Team to walk with majesty and dignity. He said, “Let’s pay special attention and focus on digging into the irregularities and corruption related to Player Minhyuk and the Korean high rankers.”

“Yes.”

“Yes, sir.”

President Kang Taehoon had declared that there was no corruption. However, the Chinese branch still believed that a secret deal was taking place between headquarters and Minhyuk.

The place where Chen Shihao was heading was none other than the Special Players Management Team. Chen Shihao planned to monitor the Korean high rankers with their primary focus on Minhyuk. This was what the different branches from all over the world had requested them to check strictly.

However, Chen Shihao was left flustered when he joined the Special Players Management Team.

“...?”

This was because a woman was sitting amidst a massive pile of snacks. When the Special Audit Team appeared, she just stared blankly at them.

Cheon Shihao arrogantly introduced himself and his team members to the woman. He said, “We are the Special Audit Team from China. I see Korea’s Special Players Management Team as smelly and dirty as a pigsty.”

“Yes. Hello. My name is Lee Minhwa. I’m sorry, but I have been working overtime for three days now. Please let me focus on my work.” The woman bowed politely before returning to her monitor and tapping away on her keyboard.

“...?”

Chen Shihao felt flustered and embarrassed at that moment. Usually, when the Special Audit Team appeared, the people were surprised and immediately groveled in front of them while saying, ‘You can observe as you please.’

Alas, the woman in front of him did not show any interest. She did not even show any interest in gathering data and collecting papers to give to them. Seeing this, Chen Shihao’s anger flared up. How dare a mere employee work when they were here?

“Look here. We are the Special Audit Team approved by the branches from all over the world. You dared to just greet us like that...”

“Ah, yes. I’m sorry, but I’m a bit busy. Here, please have a cup of coffee.”

The woman stood up, bowed politely, and rushed to get cups of coffee, which she handed over to the members of the Special Audit Team. Then, she sat back down and focused on her work again.

“...?!”

‘What the hell? What’s this absurd scenario?’

Chen Shihao expected her to look at them with a cold sweat and stammer, not knowing what to do.

It had to be known that Chen Shihao was the son of the manager of the Chinese branch. Being treated sincerely and courteously wherever he went had made his ego blow up. On top of being arrogant, he was also known for being an absolute scum, even within their branch.

Just as he was about to blow up from anger, he noticed that the person Lee Minhwa was monitoring was none other than Minhyuk. Interest flashed on his face. Chuckling loudly, he rested his hand on the chair the woman was sitting on before going on a long tirade.

“It seems like the heavens are on our side. We judged that the Korean Special Players Management Team is the team that has the highest contact with the players. That’s why we believe that the Special Players Management Team is the team that secretly informs Minhyuk about future updates, good quests, and methods to clear them.”

“We are proud of our work and have a clear conscience.”

Lee Minhwa was the proudest of their work, so she could confidently say those words.

Nonetheless, this answer made Chen Shihao more angry. “Get up. Look me in the eye and repeat those words. How dare you act so cheeky...”

“Weren’t you the one who demeaned us first by saying, ‘Korea’s Special Players Management Team is as smelly and as dirty as a pigsty.’ when you entered here?”

“...?”

“Even so, I still acted courteously and greeted you politely?”

“...?”

“So, who is the one who is not polite? Is it me, or is it your Special Audit Team? In the first place, if you had said, ‘I look forward to your cooperation,’ when you came in, I would have greeted you nicely and treated you politely, even if I had been working overtime for three straight days. Did I say anything wrong?”

“...!”

Her words were the truth. However, some people would always move on instinct and let their anger get the best of them when they had nothing to say or counter their opponent’s logical reasoning. The Special Audit Team’s Leader, Chen Shihao, was just that kind of person.

Unable to endure the anger, he kicked the chair Lee Minhwa was sitting on.

Thud–

Shocked by the sudden actions, Lee Minhwa fell off of her chair.

“Kyaaack!”

Seeing the surprise on her face, Chen Shihao crouched down and growled at her. “I am the leader of the Special Audit Team approved by all countries. If you talk back to me again, even if there’s nothing here, I’ll make sure to make it up and never let you go...”

At that moment, a man entered through the still-open door. Chen Shihao immediately noticed who the man was. Wasn’t he Korea’s Special Players Management Team’s Leader, Park Minggyu?

Team Leader Park Minggyu was very smart and competent. He was so skilled that few executives dared touch him. But because he was brilliant, it was easy to talk to him.

Chen Shihao believed this employee would be in trouble once he told him about her cheeky attitude and the atrocious way she had treated them. Then, the situation would be over.

“Team Leader Park Minggyu. I am the Special Audit Team’s...”

Chen Shihao explained the situation. Team Leader Park listened to his story and looked at Lee Minhwa solemnly before approaching him.

“I’m sure you understand the situation, so things will be easy. This cheeky bastard...”

Chen Shihao sneered at Lee Minhwa, who was still looking at him in surprise. Just then, Team Leader Park kicked him hard on the butt the moment he approached him.

Kick–!

“Ack?!”

“Since you know that your people are precious, you should know that my people are also precious.”

“...?”

“I have never treated someone lower than me in a position with disrespect. Who gave you the right to do that to my subordinate?”

Chen Shihao caught sight of the gloomy and creepy eyes of Team Leader Park.

At this moment, Team Leader Park recalled a famous line by one of the players. He said, “Special Audit Team Leader? Is that an official position?”

“...”

That was right. It was not an official position.