WGO Headquarters – Private Residence
Mana Nakiri sat by the window, draped in silk pajamas, gazing into the distance with an expression of quiet detachment. The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over her, yet there was no warmth in her eyes—only an emptiness, as if she were looking at something beyond this world.
A set of light footsteps interrupted the silence.
Without turning, she spoke.
"You're back."
"Yes, Lady Mana," came the respectful reply.
Anne, her ever-loyal secretary, stood before her, clutching a thick leather-bound book—THE·BOOK—the sacred text of the WGO, detailing their most recent culinary evaluations.
Despite Anne's professional demeanor, the admiration in her eyes was evident. Few in the world could stand before Mana Nakiri without feeling awe.
Mana finally turned to face her. "What did you find this time?"
Anne hesitated for a moment before flipping open the book.
"We visited 1,035 restaurants with potential. Of those, 34 were promoted from one star to two stars."
Mana's brows furrowed. "Only 34? That's fewer than in previous years."
Anne's expression tensed. She had expected this reaction.
"And the three-star rankings?"
"Only one new addition."
Mana's fingers tightened around the armrest of her chair. Silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.
"Just one…" she murmured, her voice laced with bitter disappointment.
The culinary world—was it truly beyond salvation?
She closed her eyes, feeling an unbearable exhaustion settle over her body. Each passing year, her condition worsened. If she couldn't find a dish capable of breaking the curse of the God Tongue, she knew—she wouldn't live to see next year.
She exhaled, making her decision.
"We can't afford to wait any longer. This year's THE BLUE Cooking Championship will be moved ahead of schedule."
Anne's eyes widened in surprise, but before she could respond, Mana continued.
"The qualification criteria will be relaxed. We need to cast a wider net, bring in more fresh talent. If necessary, we'll even enlist the Midnight Chefs."
Anne's lips parted as if to protest, but she hesitated. The Midnight Chefs… ruthless, rule-breaking culinary warriors. Was WGO truly willing to resort to such extremes?
She sighed inwardly.
Even if THE BLUE was held earlier, even if they found more participants—could any of them truly break the curse?
A Dying Culinary World
Anne had seen it firsthand—the steady decline of the culinary world.
With advancements in food technology, pre-packaged meals had become the industry standard. Large franchises and suppliers no longer needed skilled chefs. Instead, pre-cut vegetables, marinated meats, and processed sauces were delivered in vacuum-sealed bags.
All a restaurant needed to do was unseal, heat, and serve.
Convenient? Yes.
Profitable? Undoubtedly.
But true cuisine?
It was dying.
Under this system, the art of cooking—the delicate balance of fire, ingredients, and intuition—was being replaced by assembly-line efficiency.
Even when these pre-made dishes were advertised as "homemade" or "authentic," their flavors were artificial, dulled by preservatives and additives.
Anne clenched her fists.
Would THE BLUE really change anything?
Or were they simply delaying the inevitable?
A Secret Worth Keeping
She knew one thing for certain.
Zane.
The mysterious tavern owner with an unshakable confidence in his cuisine.
She had seen it.
The warmth. The depth. The soul in his cooking.
If anyone could break the God Tongue curse, it was him.
But the real problem wasn't if his cooking was worthy.
It was Mana Nakiri herself.
How could she—the proud and untouchable ruler of the WGO—be convinced to set aside her arrogance and visit a nameless tavern?
Anne pressed her lips together. Now wasn't the time to reveal what she had witnessed. She needed to choose the right moment…
For now, she remained silent.
A Sudden Collapse
"Anne, you've worked hard. Get some rest."
Anne snapped out of her thoughts at Mana's words.
"Yes, Lady Mana. You should rest early as well."
She turned to leave.
Then—
Thud!
The sickening sound of a body hitting the ground.
Anne spun around, eyes widening in horror.
Mana lay collapsed on the floor, her delicate frame trembling, her face deathly pale.
"Anne… quickly…"
Her breath came in ragged gasps. Her once-icy eyes now shone with something rarely seen in the God Tongue Empress—
Desperation.
"I… I need nutrient fluid… I can't hold on…"
Anne's blood ran cold.
"Lady Mana!"
Panic surged through her, but she forced herself to move. She dashed out of the room, her mind racing.
She returned moments later with a vial of high-grade nutrient solution and swiftly injected it into Mana's arm.
"Revived."
Mana's body shuddered.
Then, slowly, color returned to her cheeks.
She exhaled a deep breath and…
"Huff~"
"Fully revived."
Anne stared.
Mana stood up, stretching her arms experimentally.
"Ah, as expected," she mused. "The foreign-imported nutrient fluid is of far superior quality. I can feel the glucose, vitamins, and electrolytes circulating through my body already!"
Anne's jaw nearly dropped.
Just a moment ago, she had been on the verge of death.
Now she was analyzing the chemical effects of the injection like a gourmet critique.
"Lady Mana, did you neglect your injections again?"
Anne's voice was tight, her frustration barely contained.
Mana waved a hand dismissively.
"I had someone procure the world's largest and longest-living sturgeon to extract its finest caviar," she explained matter-of-factly.
Anne's eye twitched.
"…And?"
"I thought perhaps… if I consumed something of such unparalleled rarity, it might satisfy my God Tongue—"
"Lady Mana!"
Anne could barely hold back her exasperation.
"The doctor has repeatedly warned you to take your nutrient injections on time! You cannot keep doing this!"
Mana blinked at Anne's rare outburst.
After a pause, she sighed.
"…Fine. I was careless this time."
Anne crossed her arms, still fuming.
Mana smiled faintly.
"I promise, I won't do it again."
Anne wasn't sure she believed her.
But one thing was certain—
Time was running out.
And if Mana Nakiri's fate was to change…
She needed to taste Zane's cooking.
Before it was too late.