The streets of the eastern district were finally quiet. The Syndicate had been driven out, their forces shattered, and their influence over the region was no more. For the first time in years, the people could walk freely without fear of extortion or violence.
Zhang Ye stood on the rooftop of the guild, gazing at the city below. The battle had been won, but he knew that true peace was still far away. Power vacuums always attracted new dangers.
Down below, the guild members were celebrating. Laughter and cheers echoed through the halls as they relished their victory. Linna and Kai sat at a long table, sharing drinks and retelling the battle with exaggerated gestures. Elira leaned against a wall, listening while occasionally shaking her head at their embellishments.
Zhang Ye stepped inside, and the room quieted as eyes turned toward him.
Kai grinned. "Look who finally decided to join the party!"
Linna raised her cup. "To the man who made victory possible—our Divine Chef!"
A chorus of cheers followed, but Zhang Ye raised a hand to silence them. "We won today, but this is only the beginning. The Syndicate may be gone, but new threats will rise. We need to be prepared."
The celebratory atmosphere dimmed slightly as reality set in. Elira nodded. "He's right. We need to secure our hold on the district before someone else tries to take it from us."
Linna sighed. "Always the strategist." She turned back to Zhang Ye. "So, what's the plan?"
Zhang Ye's system had already provided him with the next step.
[New Mission: Establish the First Culinary Academy.]
His eyes flickered with determination. "We don't just defend what we've gained. We build something greater. A legacy that no one can take from us."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "You're talking about…?"
"A culinary academy," Zhang Ye confirmed. "One that will train not just chefs, but warriors, healers, and alchemists—anyone who understands the power of food."
Linna tilted her head. "An academy? That's ambitious."
Elira tapped her fingers against her arm. "It could work. There's no one else doing something like this. If we establish it first, we set the standard."
Zhang Ye nodded. "Food has power. It can heal, strengthen, and even turn the tide of battle. But right now, only a handful of people truly understand that. If we spread this knowledge, we won't just be fighting for survival—we'll be shaping the future."
The guild members exchanged glances. They had followed Zhang Ye through impossible odds, and he had never let them down.
Kai finally grinned. "Well, if we're building an academy, I call dibs on teaching combat cooking."
Linna laughed. "That's not even a thing."
Kai smirked. "Yet."
The tension eased, and excitement filled the room. A new goal had been set, one that could change everything.
But as Zhang Ye was about to speak again, a messenger rushed into the hall, panting. "Urgent news! The Syndicate… they weren't the only ones watching this district."
Zhang Ye's expression darkened. "Explain."
The messenger swallowed hard. "A faction from the central region is on the move. They've seen the power of your cooking… and they want it for themselves."
Silence fell over the guild.
Zhang Ye exhaled slowly. A new enemy was approaching.
The battle wasn't over.
It was only just beginning.