Pretzel finished off the meals on the table by himself. Kit was amazed at how much the small boy could tuck away. A waiter came over to clear the plates when Pretzel put his fork down. Kit was impressed by the efficiency of the staff. Just as he was thinking that a beautiful young lady with shiny brown hair came to give them their bill.

They were really efficient! Kit paid the money with pursed lips, he was unhappy he had to pay for bad tasting food. When Kit didn’t get up to leave after settling the bill the stunning beauty set her bright blue eyes on him with a warm smile. “Customer if you have finished your meal, please leave to make room for the next guests.”

Her warm smile and soft words made Kit start to nod his head in agreement. Before he could push his chair back Peaches interrupted. “Sorry my beautiful lady I did not get your name?” Peaches directed a dazzling smile towards the employee, a blush crept up her cheeks as she gazed at Peaches handsome face.

“I’m Milka, was there anything else I could help you with?” She avoided direct eye contact with Peaches.

“My friend over here has some business with Chef Nutmeg, would you be so kind as to get him for us?” Kit had almost forgotten that he needed to complete a quest. He had been to absorbed in comparing the food between the two restaurants. He turned his attention back to Milka, he couldn’t wait to finish this quest, then they could leave Fairweather town.

A stiff smile greeted Peaches words. “I’m sorry Chef Nutmeg doesn’t see customers without an appointment, you must understand he is too busy making the meals in the kitchen to leave whenever anyone asks for him.”

Kit could understand Chef Nutmeg refusing to see customers, he himself had been too busy to leave his kitchen at one stage. “Then can I make an appointment to see him, I would like to request he partake in a cooking challenge with me.” Kit smiled at the beautiful young girl in what he hoped was a friendly manner.

Milka returned his friendly smile. “Just wait a moment and I will relay your message. What was your name?”

“Kit, I’m the owner of Spartan Fire restaurant.” Milka gave Kit a strange look when he mentioned Spartan Fire restaurant. Before he could properly scrutinise her behaviour, she left to go into the kitchen.

Milka returned and gave Kit a strained smile. “Apologies Kit, Chef Nutmeg said he wouldn’t be available for a cooking challenge, he is too busy.” Milka looked back towards the kitchen in a nervous manner, then whispered to Kit. “You should leave town right away, it is not safe for you here.” She then straightened herself up and walked away.

Peaches raised an eyebrow in inquiry. “What did she just say?” Kit waved Peaches off like it was not important. He didn’t want to worry his friend, he couldn’t understand what danger there could possibly be in a restaurant. He also didn’t know why she would tell him to leave.

He had already planned to head back to Spartan Fire today anyway. Before he left, he wanted those extra culinary points from this quest. Kit eyes thinned and his finger tapped on the table in thought, what could he do to get the man to agree to the challenge?

Then an idea formed, he pushed back his chair with a loud scrape purposely drawing the attention of everyone in the restaurant. Then he slowly got up from his chair, patted his clothes, then sucked in a large lung full of air.

“CHEF NUTMEG, I CHALLENGE YOU TO A COOK OFF. DO YOU DARE TO EXCEPT!” Kit’s voiced boomed around the room. Let’s see if he would be ignored now! He wasn’t leaving without those culinary points! He hoped this man had an impressive ego or this wouldn’t work, he crossed his fingers and waited.

Silence filled the room and all eyes were plaster to Kit. He smiled at the gawking crowed and gave a little cheeky wave. Kit felt a little thrill pass over him at how daring he was just now, if this had been even a month earlier he would never have had the courage to attempt this.

A loud bang emerged from the kitchen and thumping steps could be heard coming closer to the dining area. A middle aged man with sharp eyes stared daggers at Kit as he stomped over to him. He was dressed in a white apron and chef’s hat.

When he reached Kit, a difference is their size was apparent, the man towered over him by at least a head. Kit tilted his head back to meet his gaze, a cold anger radiating off the man this close.

All his bravado fizzled in an instant, Kit felt intimidated by the fierce stare. Chef Nutmeg scoffed at Kit then opened his mouth. “You want a cook off, what are betting with then? It better be something good if you are making this much noise.” A sly smile crossed the man’s face, Kit could see the calculations churning in the man’s eyes.

Kit instantly knew he had made a mistake, this man was clearly a cunning fox. Kit couldn’t stop a shiver coursing down his spine a the man’s sharp gaze. The tall man chuckled in satisfaction as he stared at Kit’s frazzled face. Then a smirk appeared on the man’s lips and a triumphant look glinted in his eyes.

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It was as if Chef Nutmeg thought he had already won the challenge before it even started. “I will put up one of my recipes as the prize for the winner. This is obviously what you are after right? You’re a new Chef looking to collect recipes this way. People like you are disgusting.”

Kit could tell he was trying to discredit him with his words. He could feel himself become shaken when the crowd in the restaurant started to whisper. Numerous gazes started at him with contempt. Kit felt like he had already failed the challenge without even competing. How did this man make him feel inferior with just a few words and a gaze?

A frown appeared on Kit’s face, this wasn’t going to be as straight forward as the thought. Now if he didn’t win this challenge, word would spread about him getting his recipes off other chefs through despicable means. He didn’t want all his hard work to be dismissed as prizes won in challenges. He had worked damn hard to create the menu for his restaurant!

Kit really wanted to punch this guy in the face right now, he clenched his fist and held in his temper. A fire started to burn in his stomach, Kit narrowed his eyes at this buffoon. Kit had tasted this guys creations, he only had one meal that tasted good. Chef Nutmeg had nothing to brag about!

A swelling of pride arose in his chest at the knowledge that he could squash this guy with just the taste of his food alone. The feeling of intimidation went up in smoke at Kit’s determination to crush this man. Who was this guy to try to smear his reputation!

If this man had challenged any other of his other capabilities Kit might have crumbled under pressure. His cooking talent was the only skill he had immense confidence in. A smile broke out on Kit’s face and he met Chef Nutmegs gaze with a twinkle in his eyes.

Two could play at this game of words. “I just tasted your food and hear you are bragging about putting up one of your recipes as a prize, honestly who would want one of those. I would be embarrassed to serve that inside my restaurant!”

Kit watched in delighted as the Chef Nutmegs face turned purple from anger. Veins started to bulge on the man’s forehead, he could see his pulse throbbing underneath the skin. “GET OUT, YOU VILE CREATURE!” Chef Nutmeg pointed to the door.

A pang of regret swept over him, he turned to see disdainful looks sweeping over him from the crowd. If he couldn’t go forwards with this challenge his reputation would take a big hit. Kit regretted his anger out burst immediately.

Kit’s mind furiously churned thinking of how to get this man to still agree to the cooking challenge. Then an idea popped into his head, drinks! He quickly opened his pouch and pulled out a bottle of Spartan Fire rum and slammed it on the table.

Thankfully the glass didn’t break, he took the chance of the glass breaking to create the noise needed to pull all eyes to the liquid. “That’s a pity this recipe was what I was going to put up as collateral. Looks like you’re not confident in winning.”

Plans to put the rum up as collateral was a complete lie. He had no clue that this was how a challenge was conducted. Honestly if he had known this before walking in here, he wouldn’t have sent a challenge in the first place.

Now he was stuck going through with this challenge or rumours would spread like wild fire about his chef skills. He wanted to curse Instructor Phi to the moon and back right now for giving him this task. Nervousness swept over him, would this man take the bait.

Kit looked at the tall man in front of him to see his gaze reverted to the glass bottle. He blew out a relived breath, he could see the clear desire for the rum written all over Chef Nutmegs face. Nutmeg reached out to take the bottle, Kit quickly shot his hand out and picked it up first.

The man’s gaze followed Kit’s movements. “I accept your challenge. I will stake my salt rice balls as the prize.” Kit started to automatically shake his head, he still remembered the awful taste of the meal. When he realised what he was doing he stopped his actions, but it was already too late.

If looks could kill, then he would be dead right about now. “So, you don’t want that recipe? Then I suppose you are after my Blinga bull meat and vegetable recipe. You really are a sly one aren’t you.” Nutmegs eyes turned back to the bottle still in Kit’s hand. “Fine, I’ll stake it as the reward.”

“Chef Nutmeg don’t do that, this is what this guy wants!” A bystander stood up and interrupted the conversation. “That’s right he is nothing but trash!” Another customer shouted.

Kit sighed, if he didn’t do something fast this could get out of hand. He could tell that Chef Nutmeg was well loved in this town. “How about instead of a recipe you put up a blueprint?” He really didn’t want any of these shoddy recipes and blueprints were one thing he was low on.

Plus he had a feeling if things continued like this he would be run out of town. He could tell by the angry glances he was getting from the crowd that accepting a recipe as a prize would turn the crowd into an angry mob.

He would still need to visit Fairweather town in the future to visit the culinary guild until one was built in Spartan Fire. So he needed to keep the peace with this man until he won the challenge. Chef Nutmeg squinted his eyes and rubbed his chin. Then a slow smile spread over his face. “Ok a blueprint it is. Milka, get over here!”

Milka hurried over to Chef Nutmeg. “Yes Chef?”

The tall man sneered at the beautiful girl. “Go and get Mayor Mushroom, Chef Quinn and a random bystander. Let them know they will be the judges in this farce of a cooking challenge.” Milka nodded then rushed out the door.

The tall man put on a pleasant smile then turned to his customers. “I apologise for the interruption to your meals, I will have to ask you all kindly to finish your meals as fast as possible so I can get this over with and return to working hard to serve you all.”

Kit wanted to groan out loud, this man was still manipulating the situation. Kit was definitely going to be the bad guy in all these people eyes. Disgruntled eyes swept over him then dismissed him as they all tried to finish off their meals in a timely manner.

Once the plates were swept from the tables the staff started to rearrange the room. Tables were pushed into long rows making three long lines at the back of the room. At the front of the dining area was a single eight seater table, Kit guessed this was were the judges would sit.

He wondered where he would be cooking, he didn’t think Chef Nutmeg would give him access to his kitchen. His pondering was interrupted by the return of Milka, she walked through the door with three figures behind her.