When we left the room, I noticed the manager nodding at the waiter who quickly sped off ahead of us.

If that wasn't suspicious, I don't know what is.

I'm willing to bet that they're going to go hide evidence of their wrongdoings before we head there or something. Maybe something like using synthfood and pretending like it's organic food.

Not sure how they're going to hide it once I ask to see how they make the food though… So I wasn't really that concerned about it.

We reached the kitchens and I was a little surprised to see that it actually looked like a kitchen.

I'm talking about the lines of stoves and ovens with chefs working on each of these counters preparing the food. The chefs were even wearing proper chef's coats and chef hats too.

Until I realised that there was only one stove that was being worked on and the rest of the kitchen was occupied by those synthfood machines.

One of the chefs wearing the tallest chef hat came up to our group with a stern look on his face. I'm gonna make a wild guess and assume this guy is the head chef here, and that's also assuming there's even the concept of 'head chef' here.

He was rather large in size though it looked more like he was a wrestler than just being fat. His white beard also gave it away that he was well past his middle ages.

"What is this? I was not informed of any visitors?" He asked.

The manager gestured towards us, "These honoured guests wish to take a tour of the kitche--"

"This is overcooked," Amber interrupted, placing the plate of fish on the table.

Where the heck was she keeping that? She even brought the plate along and the sauce on it looked completely undisturbed.

The head chef looked down at the plate and frowned. The other chefs inside the kitchen looked to be a little nervous and the manager seemed to just be confused.

"Overcooked? That is ridiculous. Are you a cook?"

Amber waved her hand at the fish, "Have you even tasted the food that you make? Do you even know what an overcooked fish tastes like?"

I'm pretty sure you don't either, Amber…

"I should be asking you that question. You come into my kitchen and question my craft? Who do you--"

"Ahem! Please forgive us, honoured guests… But this is our head chef Steiner. He is in charge of making all of our organic dishes and is very serious about his craft."

The chef in question crossed his arms, "That's right. I've practised my whole life for this! I had my own restaurant back in the inner colonies too! Here I was hoping that I could spread the refined taste of organic cooking out into the outer colonies and this is the kind of insult I get?!"

Amber pointed at the dish, "Why don't you try it then? Maybe you would know that we're telling the truth after you taste it."

Wait, wait, wait! You're all basing this under the assumption that I was even right about it being overcooked you know?! What if this was how the fish was supposed to taste like from the start? We'd really be making a fool of ourselves here!

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Steiner scoffed at her words before reaching his hand out to the side.

Another chef quickly came over and placed a fork in the elderly man's hand, prompting him to cut a piece out of the fish before bringing it to his mouth to taste.

He chewed on it and it was clear it was dry and rubbery from how he was biting down on the meat.

"This is perfect! What are you even on about?" The chef bellowed, clearly upset about our claims. "IF you can't even appreciate such a dish, then it's better served to the incinerator!"

"May I know what type of fish you used to make this?" I asked.

Steiner looked at me as though I had just asked whether he used a cow to make the fish, "What? What are you talking about?"

"I'm asking what's the species of fish you used to make that?"

"It's fish. What do you mean what species it is?! Are you retarded?!"

… Oh my god… This cannot be happening right now… Has the standards of cooking sunk so low? Do they not even know their ingredients?!

Ok, that's it.

I took a step towards him, "I want to see how you cook this dish."

He narrowed his eyes at me, "What are you talking about, girlie? Do you think you can just walk into my kitchen and tell me what to do? You better--"

"You will cook this dish again and I will make one alongside you as well. Then we can compare who made it better."

Everyone froze.

"Wait! No, no, no! I don't accept that!!" Amber cried out.

Ehhhh?! Wait, didn't you bring me here for this?! I thought you would want me to do this to prove that you were right about it?

The head chef snorted, "Hmph, listen to your friend there girlie. You should just quit this stupid act before you bite off more than you can chew."

Amber shook her head, "No way! If you taste her cooking, you're gonna try and recruit her or whatever! Then you'll try and hold us here against our will! That's not gonna happen!"

Err… What?

She continued, "Plus, your chefs here are gonna make a big fuss once they know about her skills too! We're definitely not doing that!"

The head chef growled at her, "Oh really? You really think so huh? Now you got my attention! Alright, I accept the challenge! Everyone else, out!"

The manager seemed to panic a little, "Chef Steiner, what are you--"

"I said out! I will prove to this little girl what the difference between us is!"

The manager looked unsure but I guess the chef must have more authority than he does because he started moving out of the kitchen with the other chefs in tow.

When Amber and the others didn't move, he gave them a pointed glare, "You as well. Unless you're telling me you girls can cook too?"

Lea narrowed her eyes, "We're here to make sure you behave properly."

That seemed to enrage the chef so I quickly cut in, "It's ok girls. I can handle it. I'll make sure to make some for you all as well, ok?"

They obviously didn't like it but they chose not to argue and left the kitchen with the rest.

The head chef then went over to a thing that looks like a fridge and pulled out two packages before plopping them down on the table.

"I am chef Steiner! Head chef of the Palladium Star Hotel!"

Err… Ok? I guess I have to introduce myself like he did too?

"Tera, Mercenary."

He blinked at me, "You're… A Merc? A Merc that's challenging an accomplished chef to a cook off? Have you even worked in a kitchen like this before? Who taught you how to cook?"

"I am self taught."

"Bah!! You bitch! You got my hopes up!! I thought you came from the inner colonies and you're apprenticed to some top tier chef!! Now I know you're just wasting my time!!"

My eye twitched and I stepped forward to place my hand on the counter top, "Oh? Are you afraid that you'll lose to a no name Merc? You can forfeit if you want."

"Ha?! Bwahahaha! You've at least got guts! How about a wager then?"

"Oh? Alright, what do you have in mind?"

He slammed his hands on the counter top and leaned towards me, "You claim that you know how to cook but I call bullshit. I think you're just here to cause trouble and you're just some stupid rich girl trying to throw your money around. If you lose to me in this cook off, you're going to pay for all the meals made in this restaurant today and if you can't pay, you'll work here as a serving girl until you pay it off."

I raised an eyebrow at him, "And how much does that cost?"

"Anywhere between a hundred million to five hundred million Credits."

"And what if I win?"

"I'll admit to everyone that you are a better chef and call you my master!"

I made a face, "That sounds more like a punishment for me… Why would I want some old dude calling me master?"

"Hmph! Then what do you want?"

I thought about it for a moment, "I want… Oh! You guys have your own storage of organic ingredients right?"

He seemed to realise what I wanted immediately, "Ha… I get it. You want to take some for yourself don't you? Fine. I have the authority to allow that. Would that suffice for you?"

"There's no limit on how much I can take?"

"Sure. Take everything if you can. That's assuming you can beat me!"

Alright, now I'm pumped up! Let's get this cook off started!!