As Kit arrived at the quest board a smile grew on his face, there was already a crowd waiting to take his quest. He made the reward a bag of candy apples for to the delight of the people waiting, then left to return to the restaurant.

His smile grew even wider when he saw Finn was already hard at work with the cocoa fruit preparation. Kit gave a hum in thought as he watched Finn work, he did not want to waste the day preparing the cocoa fruit when the task could be completed by Finn alone.

This left today free for Kit to experiment, although he had originally planned to give up on using the items from the twisted tunnels until after the restaurant promotion. He did not have many low level ingredients to experiment with and he was not leaving with Granpa to gather more until tomorrow.

So, he decided to work on the possum stew if Crackers had still not been successful. Kit had a quick word to Finn then went to find Crackers. He found Crackers in the kitchen busy preparing meals for the days sales.

“Morning Crackers.” Kit sung.

“Mornin Kit, have ya been makin anythin with the new fruit yet?” Crackers inquired.

“Not yet, it takes a while to prepare the beans, today we will dry them out in the sun.” Kit was looking forward to when the beans were finally ready. “Crackers how have you been doing with the possum stew?”

Crackers pouted at Kit’s question. “That be no good, I can’t be gettin the right mix. It be teasin me all the time! Kit I be thinkin you should try making it again.”

Kit had guessed Crackers had not been successful or else she would have told him about creating a dish. “I’ll give it another go today.” After finding out he would take the task back Crackers looked relived. Crackers quickly filled him in on her attempts.

“Thanks Crackers, I’ll get to work. Let me know if you need any help with the days cooking.” Crackers waved him off stating they would be fine.

With his help refused Kit went and collected the ingredients for the possum stew.

After a few of his own attempts at the stew, Kit felt his frustration rise. Why could he not turn this into a stats meal, it obviously could be done. Each time he thought he was going to get it, the blue hue would die out.

He went over the ingredients he put in the meal and decided to try adding a new herb or spice. Kit went into the storage facility to have a look at the ingredients available. As he was searching the shelves, his eyes fell on a black common spice.

Kit felt like slapping his head, how had he missed such a staple spice like pepper! Not only had he forgotten to add it to the pot but so had Crackers. Kit grabbed the jar and headed back into the kitchen, if this worked, he would kick himself!

Kit tried his fourth attempt at the stew for the day, this time with the addition of pepper. As he watched the stew bubble the blue hue swirled frantically. When he scooped a portion into a large bowl a notification rang.

Ding!

[Gliding possum stew created]

Quality level: Fair

Quality bonus: Time extension, 2hours.

A classic hearty stew that is ideal for a chilly weekend.

+ 100 attack

For 1hour

[unlocked: nil restrictions]

Reward: 10,000 EXP, 3,000 culinary EXP, 300 silver crowns, 500 culinary points.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Kit felt like the biggest fool as he read the notification. Honestly how had they missed this!

“Kit what be wrong?” Crackers came over to him with a worried expression.

“Nothing at all Crackers, in fact everything is going well. Here, take a look for yourself.” Kit motioned to the steaming bowl of stew.

Crackers inspected the bowl then turned twinkling eyes to Kit. “I knew ya could do it! Congratulations Kit, by the way were did we be goin wrong?” Kit quickly explained the pepper to Crackers, she had the same incredulous look he had moments ago. “That be ... Ah I feel a little silly that it be a simple an answer.”

Kit was glad that he was not the only feeling stupid. “I think taking a break from trying to complete the dish was a good idea. Today I could come in with a clear head and find a solution.” As Kit mulled his words out loud Crackers was dipping a spoon into the stew.

“It be tastin very good Kit.” Crackers smacked her lips then commandeered the bowl and went back to her own tasks. Kit got himself a bowl and decided to open the restaurant menu to look at the recipe information while he ate.

He felt like letting out a whoop when he saw it had an increase to attack. His other attack creation could not be sold yet, Kit noticed that this one came with no chef level restriction so he must already be at the level to allow the stew to be sold.

Stolen novel; please report.

Elation filled him as he realised, he could add one more dish to his menu! He decided to hold it back until he promoted the restaurant.

When Kit closed the menu, it was approaching lunch time, so Kit packed away the left over ingredients, scooped a bowl of possum stew for Finn and headed outside to see if the man needed any help with the cocoa beans.

Finn was sitting in the shade of a tree wiping sweat from his brow as Kit approached. “Stopping for lunch?” As Kit spoke, he held out the bowl he brought towards the redhaired young man.

“Thanks Kit! I was just getting peckish.” Kit noticed that Finn no longer stuttered when he spoke to him. He guessed that working closely together yesterday had helped the boy relax around him. “What is this by the way, I have not seen this dish before.” Finn was peering into the bowl with a curious expression.

“I just made it, try it and tell me what you think.”

Finn eagerly scooped a large portion into his mouth, then gave Kit a thumbs up. “It’s rich and thick, and the meat melts in your mouth.” A small sigh left Finn’s mouth. “Kit you really are talented, I hope I can become as good as you one day.”

Kit had tasted Finn’s cooking he had no doubt that Finn would become a great chef, he relayed his thoughts to Finn. The red head blushed from head to toe and a broad smile appeared, Finn ducked his head to hide his red face from Kit.

A chuckle left Kit’s mouth at the man’s actions to getting some praise. He quickly covered his mouth to not embarrassed the man. Kit changed the subject and the two discussed the cocoa beans as Finn ate.

They had prepared more beans than Kit thought, so Kit spent the rest of the afternoon helping Finn lay some beans out to get some sun.

Once all the trays were full, Kit took Finn to the general store to see if they could purchase something to cover the beans with overnight. That way all Fin would have to do tomorrow was pull the coverings off the beans so they could continue to dry out in the sun tomorrow.

There were still a few hours before the sun would disappear for the day when they got back to the restaurant. “Finn, shall we spend the remaining time drying some beans out in the oven?” Kit had tangled over how to dry the beans out at first, he eventually decided to try accouple of different ways to see which way gave a better result.

“Sounds good to me.” Finn went and grabbed a barrel of cocoa beans as Kit pulled his camping kitchen from his pouch. Kit stacked the oven with the beans then propped the door open. With the door open it would allow the beans to dry out instead of roast.

Kit glanced at the kitchen door and sighed, although it was nice to work outside, he would have like to work in the kitchen of his restaurant. This could not be helped because there was no room for both of them in Kit’s tiny kitchen as well as the staff currently working inside.

He really could not wait to see how much room he would get in the new kitchen. With that thought Kit’s energy increased and before Kit realised the sun was starting to set for the day. “Lets’ finish up Finn, then we can head back to the boarding house to make dinner for everyone.”

Grandpa found Kit at dinner time and went over the plans for the next few days. To Kit’s surprise Twix was not going to accompany them this time, he was going to stay and supervise the collection of materials for the restaurant.

Kit also found out through the discussion that Twix was working on the respawn arch with Leonard. “Ah I forgot all about that! Twix this is great news!” Kit was so elated, he would no longer have to worry about dying, he would revive in Spartan Fire!

He could not wait to see how far the respawn area covered. He was hoping it would cover some of the devouring ranges behind Spartan Fire, especial the parts marked on his map.

That would give him some relief when he went up the mountain, he did not want to worry about where he would respawn. He had a feeling he might die a couple of times attempting to find the area marked on the map.

By the time Kit went to bed he was bubbling with happiness. Things were coming along swimmingly for Spartan Fire and his restaurant.

The next few days went by in a blur. After his quick collection of ingredients with Tuna, Kit decided instead of fighting his way through the areas he went to, he asked how best to avoid the monsters. Right now, he put leveling up on the back burner, he was to pumped about his restaurant promotion.

By the time he felt he had enough ingredients to experiment with it was time to log out of the game. Kit went through his usual routine of filling the fridge for his sister and looking things up online. He then returned to the game with a thumping heart. It was time to see if the cocoa beans were ready!

Kit logged in, greeted Snowball then ran off to his restaurant. Finn was standing over a large barrel chewing his nails when Kit arrived. “Kit! Good timing, the first batch of cocoa powder is about to be done.”

Kit raised his brows in surprise, he thought Finn would be done grinding all the powder by now. He had left the task of making cocoa butter, roasting and grinding to the red head before he left. Kit shook his head, this did not matter, what mattered was that he was about to see the cocoa powder!

Kit walked over and started to fidget just like Finn., he was just as anxious to see the first batch. “Did you put the beans in a juice barrel?” The plain wooden barrel looked just like the juice barrels he used to make drinks.

“What no! I went and brought a grinder from the market. I tried grinding the beans by hand, but I could not get the powder fine enough. I’m hoping this will do the trick.” Finn’s gaze was riveted to the barrel as he spoke.

“That was smart, I did not even think about how you would grind the beans.” As Kit spoke the barrel made a horrible grating noise. Kit covered his ears to help dull the sound. “Is it supposed to do that?” Kit shouted over the noise.

“Ah don’t worry, the man that sold it to me said that it would make some funny noises. I could only afford the cheap one, the more expensive ones don’t make a sound.” Finn shouted back at Kit.

When the god awful noise stopped both Kit and Finn started at the barrel with trepidation. “You don’t think it destroyed the beans?” Kit was reluctant to take off the lid.

“Shouldn’t have.” Finn was more courageous than him, the red head went straight over to the barrel and unscrewed the lid. “Oh, would you look at that.”

Kit could not stop his feet moving closer so he could see inside. Beautiful dark brown powder filled the barrel, Kit’s heart skipped a beat at the sight. He was dying to see if it tasted like chocolate, he swiped a porting off the lid Finn was holding and stuck it in his mouth.

A sharp intense bitter flavour filled his mouth. “Finn, we did it!” Kit could not help shouting, pure pleasure filled him to the brim at the familiar taste.

The pair held mirroring smiles of joy as they stared at the finely ground beans. Kit quickly took out a bunch of large glass jars and then he and Finn got to work emptying the barrel. Once they were done Finn made a move to go and get some more beans.

“Hold up. I don’t think I can take the noise of this barrel. You said the man that sold you this one had more grinders, right?” Kit did not want to hear that horrid noise if he did not have to.

“Yes, but they are expensive Kit.” Finn replied.

Right now, he did not care about the price, he felt like a good grinder would be worth the investment. He was sure the cocoa beans were not the only thing that he would use a grinder for. “That’s ok we will get one anyway.”

Finn looked pleased as punch when he heard Kit was going to get a quieter one. “Follow me then, I’ll take you straight to the stall!”