Episode 4

The first week of July, Xen start his 1 month and a half journey at Chromer Station. The meeting location is planet CO-6, an abandon planet belongs to the Orb used for running Tournament every year. Every candidate will receive a ticket to travel to the destination through mail and use it at their planet local station for a personal traveling spaceship. The moment Xen arrive at the ship, the luxurious of the spaceship was out of his expectation, the young boy couldn't do anything but gasped and shocked through hours of sitting on the ship.

Planet CO-6 used to be a desert planet but after years of development and taken care by the Mother Nature, the planet becomes a living planet with many special species. Casually, the planet was used for hosting the Tournament is because the weather. According to the scientist, the planet weather will always at the state of mill season for year-round. Therefore, the Orb spent a huge amount of money to buy this planet for agriculture and host the Tournament.

The meeting destination is a luxurious palace, it was built in a shape of a huge egg with white interior and round dome. The tournament begins with the first week of ‘learning’ and ‘practicing’ special ingredients at the main hall in the middle of the building and they will rest at the dorm - built around the hall. Dorm room will randomly pick by the candidates when arriving at the palace. Following the description sheet, they will spend the first week to sort out the top 3 best Chefs and 1-month break preparing for the final battle. The training week will be very intense because whoever not qualified will return home immediately.

Xen wasn’t the first person arrive at the meeting destination since Earth and CO-6 were quite far from each other and it took him 2 hours and a half to travel. When he reached the palace there was about 20 people got there before him. Xen was quite shocked with the number of people has arrived, through his memories not many people really want to become a chef since it is an expensive hobby. After years of development, it difficult to growth food and stocking animal, Chef Orb founder was the first person succeed in mass producing the crops and animal. So, they become the only stock market that controlling the food chain and the price pushing up too high for a standard household to purchase. Vitamin drink was also their product, it was a chemical drink that can provide enough energy for a day, since the process and ingredients was cheap it became well-known for lower-class people. But comparing a nice, hot meal, energy drink was nothing like a torture.

Since the food ingredients is too expensive, most of the first trial cooks couldn’t handle it and left out the course or choose to work other job instead of continuing it. What surprised him is a quarter of the number are self-learning chefs, it not easy to learn cooking by yourself, either these people are genius or just idiots believe that they can. Xen quietly avoid everyone and headed to the information table, after filling his information and picking his room, he going to stay at room L-5, which mean the middle room on the left.

“You must be Xen.” a mysterious voice came from the behind, a young tall man with a hairband waving at Xen, he spoke “I am Ymir, my master had told me a lot about you.”

“You must have mistaken me with someone else, I don’t know you or your master.” Xen protest, avoiding the young man.

“Oh no, I don’t think so. I know you, you’re W only disciple. My master was your master rival back then, Master Tair.”

After Ymir finished his sentence, people around them start spreading the rumors together, every conversation starts with ‘old God of Cooker’ or ‘battle between two God of Cookery disciples’. Xen doesn’t like being washed dirty linen in public, especially being point out his master was Winston. He doesn’t like being targeted because his Master was the winner.

“Please don’t put this in your heart or something, I didn’t mean to call out you, I was thinking maybe we can be friend or helping each other.” Ymir put up his hands showing he not means bringing any harms “My Master used to mention you’re a lot and I just want to know you since nobody has ever heard about W after he crowded 50 years ago.”

 “I don’t know who or what are you talking about” Xen denied the information again “And please excuse me, I need to find my room and prepare for tonight ceremony.”

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At night, everyone was summoned for a ball at the main hall, according to the description the ball was for the chef ‘get to know each other’. Xen didn’t prepare himself a suit for the formal meeting, but thanks to the well preparation from the host, who doesn’t have a suit can ask for one. Right now, Xen is standing in the hall with his gray tuxedo and white wine on his right hand. Everyone is forming group of chatting and he can sense that they trying to isolate him in the meeting, but the man just smirked and didn’t pay any attention to everyone.

If they want to isolate me then let them be, he thought.

“Fancy seeing you again.” Ymir greeted from the behind, he is wearing set of black vests “Do you mind if I join you?!”

“What do you want?!” Xen asked, glared at the taller man.

“Nothing, just checking up on you.”

“Don’t act like a saint or anything.” Xen pointed out.

“I am just curious.” Ymir confessed “What so special about you make my Master keep comparing us in our practices” His eyes dark “To be honest, I don’t like you. I was surprised that you showed up at the Tournament and I thought you were a coward likes hiding.” He mocked “Shall the best win the prize, rival.”

“Challenge accepted.” Xen said before leaving the main hall.

“See you tomorrow then.”

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