Ch.309Half-Baked (3)

Due to the incident at the restaurant, the conference schedule was canceled. As a result, my companions and I found ourselves trapped in the laboratory.

The police arrived and began their investigation. The results were not far from what I expected.

“Trace amounts of pron were detected in the food.”

In terms of numbers, between 200 and 300. Enough to instantly debilitate a healthy person.

[— You have acquired 250 pron.]

Whatever happened, it was beneficial for me.

Yes, it’s definitely beneficial, but why do I feel so bad about it?

“It’s not a lethal dose. It’s ambiguous whether the goal was to assassinate high-ranking officials. Moreover, there’s no notable commonality among the victims…”

“It’s definitely a premeditated crime.”

“Yes, so we ask for your full cooperation with the investigation.”

While the victims were receiving treatment at a nearby hospital, Ireh and I were semi-forcibly taken to the police station.

There was no clear motive, and our alibis were solid. We were scrutinized for the fact that only the two of us remained fine after eating, but proceeding to formal charges would have been absurd.

“There’s nothing more to see here.”

The investigator, determining there was no substantial basis for further inquiry, closed our case.

It was fortunate, but also frustrating. To have my precious time wasted on an investigation.

Afterward, the police and prosecutors intensively questioned the chefs. Since I didn’t have time to follow their fate, I wanted to focus on completing the gravity bomb design.

But nothing in life comes easily.

“Little brother, we have a big problem!”

“What is it?”

“Come outside!”

When I went out to the street, I could see about one in five people staggering.

Everyone looked as if they were on drugs, making me feel like I was on Kensington Avenue in America.

The Callisto planetary system where I am now is developed not only economically but also in hygiene and public safety. This kind of scene shouldn’t be possible. This is… no different from a border zone.

[A ‘pron addiction’ phenomenon is occurring at numerous restaurants in Callisto. The reason has not yet been identified, and citizens are advised to refrain from dining out and to be careful when selecting food ingredients.]

“Is that what they call countermeasures?”

Be careful what you eat to avoid food poisoning. Who couldn’t say that?

The government wasn’t offering any significant solutions. It was clear there was a criminal or an Outer God involved, but despite extensive searches, they couldn’t find the culprit.

So they decided to be cautious about food and supply only verified ingredients, but this created its own problems.

[A sharp rise in food prices is anticipated.]

As prices rose, the livelihood of eastern residents began to collapse.

I could eat anything, but not Ireh. Even though Ireh’s resistance to pron was high, it wasn’t infinite.

The best solution would be to call Rustila and Zernya to activate the ‘Great Triangle.’ But even this wasn’t a fundamental solution.

The pron addiction phenomenon wasn’t spreading in just one planetary system. Even with the Great Triangle, we couldn’t protect people in other planetary systems.

We needed to eliminate the cause.

[Is this Dr. Rheinland?]

“Yes, it is.”

[Ah, hello Doctor. I’m an administrative staff member at Kehelin Research Institute. Our professors have been hospitalized with pron poisoning today. I’m sorry, but the conference schedule will have to be canceled.]

“…I see. Let’s reschedule for another time. Please convey my wishes for a speedy recovery to the professors.”

[I will. Thank you for understanding.]

As soon as the call ended, I could make my decision.

There’s no choice.

I’ll have to solve this myself.

***

The world is vast, and there are many people with peculiar thoughts.

Joseph Miller was a chef regarded as eccentric. Despite his exceptional skills, he was known for continuously creating bizarre dishes.

“People don’t find happiness in my cooking!”

[“That’s because you only make strange things.”]

“Can you relieve my frustration?”

[“I am an Outer God, the very being you humans despise.”]

“I don’t care who you are. Whether you’re an Outer God or whatever, human life is finite. Isn’t it better to pursue what you want and burn through life?”

The Outer God Powehi was impressed.

[“A magnificent flame. Shining like your head.”]

“Will you be the flint to my passion?”

[“A mere flint won’t do. I’ll create a kitchen for you!”]

And so, “Heaven of Comfort” Powehi and Joseph entered into a semi-contractual state.

[“A full contract is difficult. Your mental strength is insufficient, and there are various risk factors in this civilization.”]

“It doesn’t matter. What do you intend to give me?”

[“I’ll provide cooking ingredients.”]

Powehi, influenced by his master, had expertise in cooking and art. With his help, Joseph could handle tangible and intangible ingredients only found in higher dimensions.

“What is this?”

[“Refined pron powder. Just as you humans sprinkle gold on gourmet dishes, we use this powder to enhance flavor. One taste will bring an inescapable ecstasy.”]

“Ohhh.”

[“It spreads far like spores, ensuring everyone will have a satisfying meal.”]

From then on, Joseph began traveling to various restaurants, adding pron powder to food.

The task itself wasn’t difficult. And there was no worry of getting caught. The Outer God infiltrated people’s minds, making them unable to recognize the existence of a suspect named Joseph.

The results were satisfying.

People ate the food with pleasure and experienced the emotion of pain.

[“Is this what you wanted?”]

“Yes. I wanted it so badly. I wanted to show people that happiness exists in pain, and pain exists in happiness. Doesn’t eating greasy, delicious food make you more susceptible to adult diseases? That’s what I wanted to express.”

[“What an oddball.”]

“But what do you think?”

[“It’s amusing.”]

Joseph’s actions brought an unprecedented recession to the food industry. Outstanding chefs were fired one after another, and many restaurants closed.

Nevertheless, some places stubbornly continued their business.

Joseph licked his lips as he looked up at the skyscraper. The neon sign he was looking at read ‘Pierre de Ruyet.’

[“So this is Callisto’s finest seafood buffet?”]

“It’s essentially a place for millionaires. You need to spend a month’s salary of an ordinary office worker for one meal to enter. Of course, with food prices strangely rising these days, they’re charging twice as much…”

[“Can we get in?”]

“Wherever there’s a door.”

Joseph pushed open the automatic door.

As it happened, he had applied as a chef. His skills were so exceptional that he easily passed by making “food without soul.”

[“Surprisingly, you can also make normal dishes well.”]

“Even AI can make ordinary food. I believe that while cooking is something they can do, creating dishes that move people’s hearts is a domain only humans can enter. So I don’t think I’ve proven my skills to the chefs here yet.”

[“And you plan to do that now?”]

“Isn’t that obvious?”

Joseph rolled up his sleeves and blended in with the other chefs.

‘Pierre de Ruyet’ operated by serving high-class food to the upper class and taking a lot of money. In the era of the Great Galaxy with its large population, such a business model was sustainable.

Additionally, tipping culture flourished in the south, providing extra income. There are many people in the world who willingly spend more than necessary.

“Two guests for First Class!”

“Miller, go out and serve them.”

“Yeah.”

Pierre de Ruyet had seating classes similar to booking an aircraft or shuttle. While Normal class simply used the buffet, First Class had a chef attached to care for the entire dining process.

Nutrients, diet considerations, food allergies… and recently, whether food contained pron or not.

[“Perfect for playing with.”]

The Outer God Powehi had gained quality pron and energy by tormenting humans through Joseph. While very satisfied, greed is naturally endless.

Joseph bowed his head before the man and woman.

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Joseph Miller, your dedicated chef. This way, lovely couple.”

“We’re not a couple.”

“I apologize. Then… perhaps family?”

“We’re work colleagues.”

“Ah! Office spouses, I see. This way, please.”

The man looked at him as if he were crazy, but the woman reacted differently. She was startled by Joseph’s words, then shyly smiled while twirling her hair over her shoulder.

Oh, it was clear enough. They were workplace colleagues, but the woman had romantic feelings.

[“The man is already married. And also… he seems to have something special about him. This could create an interesting situation.”]

The Outer God, also intrigued, handed him a new cooking ingredient.

Ding!

[— You have obtained ‘Aphrodisiac Powder’.]

The stage was set. Now he just needed to serve dishes matching the atmosphere and emotions to create a work of art.

“Two salmon salads for appetizers, please.”

Taking the order, Joseph returned to the kitchen with precision.