Ch.179Chapter 179 – Meeting the Head of a Great Family

# The Golden Dragon Hall

The largest banquet hall in the Golden Dragon Fortress, the capital of the Liu Empire, and the venue for major national events.

Today, a banquet was scheduled to welcome distinguished guests from the Celebrio Empire, the hegemon of the Western Continent.

“Everyone, move faster than usual. Today’s guests are truly precious visitors invited by the Emperor himself, so there must not be the slightest deficiency in welcoming them.”

“Yes!”

The palace maids working in the Golden Dragon Hall moved busily in their respective areas, more tense than usual.

This was because the banquet was being hosted by the Sixteen Great Houses, the most prestigious families in the Liu Empire.

Normally, banquets were hosted either by the Liu Imperial Family or one of the Sixteen Great Houses, but this time, all Sixteen Great Houses were co-hosting the event.

Because of this, a question began to arise among the palace maids:

‘Just how extraordinary must this person be, for the Great Houses and the Imperial Family to strive to provide such extremely lavish hospitality?’

Never before in the history of the Liu Empire had the Emperor and all Sixteen Great Houses directly hosted a welcome banquet together.

Even if the Emperor of the Celebrio Empire were to visit, would he receive such exceptional treatment?

If one were to ask the palace maids who had worked in the Golden Dragon Hall for many years, the answer would be no.

But palace maids weren’t the only ones working in the Golden Dragon Hall.

“We’re short on scallions and carrots! Bring more!”

“Don’t just bring ingredients as you please! Follow the quantities and weights specified in the recipe!”

“Hey! Who prepared these ingredients? They’re a complete mess!”

In the kitchen where food was being prepared for the banquet guests and hosts, shouts were flying everywhere.

There were over 50 different dishes that needed to be prepared for the banquet, and problems were already arising from the ingredient preparation stage.

“You fools! Do you have your wits about you or not?!”

The Head Chef, who was overseeing all the food for this banquet, had become particularly irritable.

During his tenure as Head Chef of the Golden Dragon Hall, he had only personally supervised banquets for the Emperor’s birthday celebrations.

But today, a banquet was being held in the Golden Dragon Hall with all the heads of the Sixteen Great Houses in attendance.

In other words, if he perfectly prepared the food for today’s banquet, his name would go down in history as the chef who flawlessly served food at a gathering of all sixteen family heads.

“All the heads of the Sixteen Great Houses will be attending this banquet! Anyone who loses focus will be cut from my staff after today’s event. So move quickly!”

That’s why the Head Chef was driving the chefs hard, invoking his authority.

He truly intended to use his authority to dismiss anyone he caught not working properly among the chefs and assistant chefs in his kitchen today.

After all, there were countless people eager for the opportunity to cook in the Golden Dragon Hall.

Moreover, serving as a chef in the Golden Dragon Hall was one of the necessary steps to becoming a chef for one of the Great Houses.

Thus, numerous chefs were striving to enter the Golden Dragon Hall today to gain the prestige of becoming a chef for a Great House or the Golden Dragon Hall itself.

“I will definitely cut anyone who doesn’t work properly. However! I will remember the names of those who work diligently today and make an effort to produce perfect dishes. So move quickly!”

“Yes, Head Chef!”

When the Head Chef mentioned remembering names, the chefs and their assistants began moving even faster.

His promise to remember names meant he would provide a kind of bonus point in future promotion exams.

The chefs each moved quickly to catch the Head Chef’s eye and began preparing the most delicious dishes they could make.

Seeing this, a smile finally appeared on the Head Chef’s face.

But even for him, there was no time to relax.

After all, every dish had to pass his strict inspection before being served.

“When you finish cooking, bring it here! Dishes that don’t pass inspection will have to be remade!”

The kitchen of the Golden Dragon Hall was hotter than ever before.

◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈

Before entering the Golden Dragon Hall, I followed Bai Yuyue somewhere.

“Where are we going?”

“There’s someone who wishes to meet you, Count. Since they’re also one of the hosts of today’s banquet, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to meet them.”

One of the hosts of today’s banquet? I thought today’s banquet was jointly hosted by all Sixteen Great Houses.

But I caught a glimpse of fear flashing through Bai Yuyue’s eyes.

That gave me a pretty good idea of who she was talking about.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Bai Danxie, head of the Handongbaek Family.”

“Fatos Severio, Count of the Celebrio Empire.”

As I suspected, the person Bai Yuyue guided me to meet was none other than the head of the Handongbaek Family, the man who had hunted the monster that had settled in the Red Palace—Bai Yuyue’s father, Bai Danxie.

‘He looks surprisingly old.’

White hairs were easily visible in Bai Danxie’s hair, and his face was wrinkled.

Do even martial artists age like this when they get older? I wonder.

Well, in a world without body transformation techniques, I suppose it’s natural.

“You’re quite young. Not even thirty yet, I hear?”

“That’s correct.”

“A good age indeed. Are you seeing anyone?”

…What’s this? Starting with a personal interrogation at our first meeting?

Do I look like someone who doesn’t have a partner or something?

“I am.”

“…Is that so? Well, it doesn’t matter. I’ve heard that nobles in the Celebrio Empire can have multiple wives anyway.”

…Come on, stop beating around the bush and get to the point.

What are you trying to say? What exactly do you want?

“Well, the banquet is about to begin, so let’s talk later. I hope today’s banquet becomes a pleasant memory for you.”

With that, he patted my shoulder and disappeared.

What’s with that guy?

‘Should I give him some rehabilitation?’

I wonder if it’s appropriate for the head of a Great House—practically a kingdom in its own right—to behave like that.

He definitely needs some rehabilitation. Maybe I should lure him in with promises of beauty and health benefits and give him a hammer massage on his head.

‘Surely… the other family heads don’t talk in such roundabout ways too, do they?’

Maybe it’s because I’m an impatient Korean.

I really hope the other family heads get straight to the point before adding explanations.

“……”

Wait, why is Bai Yuyue’s face red again?

Don’t tell me she’s been drinking behind my back again?

“Lady Bai Yuyue.”

“Ah, um, yes? Yes?”

“Did you drink alcohol without me knowing?”

“…I don’t know.”

Bai Yuyue blushed and turned her head away sharply.

Could she be upset because I called her out for drinking a little?

It’s true what they say—people with big pockets of tolerance have bigger hearts for understanding.

I miss Sister Regina, who must be waiting for me far away in the Western Continent.

She would come immediately if I asked her to, but it was unfortunate that she couldn’t move freely while maintaining her position as Academy Director.

Can’t be helped. I’m alone this time, but next time I should bring someone I know.

Fortunately, before the atmosphere could get any more awkward, Xian Yuhua approached.

“Count, the banquet is about to begin. I’ll guide you to the banquet hall.”

“Ah, thank you, Lady Xian Yuhua.”

It seems the banquet is about to start, so she came to fetch me.

I followed Xian Yuhua, and Bai Yuyue followed us as well.

Xian Yuhua seemed to have put extra effort into her appearance today, unlike usual, and it suited her quite well.

In contrast, Bai Yuyue appeared to be wearing light makeup, and as expected of a heroine, she looked beautiful.

Bai Yuyue with her light makeup looked much prettier than Xian Yuhua with her elaborate styling.

‘Can an NPC never surpass the heroine?’

Well, what I want from Bai Yuyue is for her to play a significant role in the fight against the Demon Cult…

I’m already struggling just taking care of Sister Regina.

Maybe later when I become more accustomed to relationships with women, but for now, I want to focus only on Sister Regina.

“I need to verify your identity. Are you Count Fatos Severio?”

“Here’s my pass.”

“Hmm… identity confirmed. You may enter.”

Only after being checked by the security guarding the entrance to the banquet hall was I finally able to step inside.

I wonder what kind of people the heads of the Great Houses are?

I hope they’re people I can communicate well with.

If they’re the kind of people I need to rehabilitate with a hammer, that would be quite troublesome for me…