The security level within the glacier had been elevated following the attack.
Numerous heavily armed soldiers descended, each one burly. At this level, ordinary firearms were useless.
Inside the Treasure Hall.
Zhang Wei frowned as he held a tally sheet.
"I've been here for two months, and I've collected forty-five kinds of ingredients!"
"But only twelve of them can be eaten as sashimi; most require cooking. Even for sashimi, there aren't enough materials to make dipping sauces."
"This incomplete taste will not satisfy my discerning palate."
Since Zhang Wei awakened his Gourmet Cells, his appetite had grown significantly.
The over a hundred delicious dishes in the Treasure Hall were not enough to fill him; Zhang Wei would eat four or five portions in one sitting. Limited by the replication time, he was gradually running short.
However, as the Treasure Hall had no seasonings in its collection, he possessed forty-five precious ingredients but couldn't process them.
"Seasonings..."
There was no night within the glacier, only day.
All work areas operated in three shifts.
In the canteen kitchen, a group of burly men mixed butter, minced chicken, and cooked rice together, adding a small amount of sugar, salt, and then boiling it into a paste.
Finally, it was poured into molds and dried. This was the energy bar that the laborers were usually rationed.
The glacier's lighting relied on kerosene lamps. To prevent excessive heat generation, the light was generally dim.
In a corner where no one paid attention, Zhang Wei clung to the ceiling like a gecko.
Silently.
Zhang Wei's brow furrowed deeply as he observed the poor hygiene conditions of the rudimentary kitchen.
He dropped from above and rummaged through the storeroom.
Crusher...
Large steamer...
Tons of rice, flour, animal fat, and frozen meat.
"The rice and flour are from last year, and the frozen meat is no longer fresh."
In a sack, Zhang Wei finally found his target.
He took a pinch of white powder and placed it on his tongue...
"Ptooey!"
"This bitter taste, rock salt... it hasn't been refined twice."
"This sugar is also very ordinary."
"It seems the laborers' and the higher-ups' kitchens are not in the same place, and their storerooms are also separate."
The high-class restaurant was filled with masters. Zhang Wei had never learned any stealth techniques; his ability to climb on roofs was not enough.
"It seems I'll need the supervisor's help with this."
...
...
The security in the high-level area was very lax. The strength of the people here meant they didn't need ordinary soldiers.
The supervisor led the way, while Zhang Wei utilized his painstakingly practiced Gourmet Arts to their fullest, his aura appearing no different from an ordinary person.
"This is it. Let me clarify beforehand, the chefs here are national treasures. You must be low-key here; if you cause trouble, I won't be able to protect you!"
"Don't worry, I know what's important. I'm here to learn from a master."
To get into the high-level area kitchen, Zhang Wei lied, claiming he wanted to learn there to improve his knife skills.
Only after ensuring he wouldn't delay his official duties did the supervisor manage to secure him an apprentice spot.
The Ice Hell environment was harsh, and transportation costs were extremely high.
At a time when personnel and supplies were tight, the high-level area kitchen was decorated spacious and clean.
"You're the new assistant chef?"
The high cap indicated the identity of the newcomer—the Head Chef of the High-Level Area Kitchen!
"Since you're from the outer area, your knife skills should be decent, right? Go to the prep station and help with the ingredients."
"Please wait. While my knife skills are good, what I'm truly skilled at is soup!" Zhang Wei interjected.
Although the prep station could handle many ingredients, Zhang Wei's objective was to acquire seasonings.
And soup preparation allowed him to access almost all seasonings.
The kitchen erupted in laughter, and the Head Chef's face darkened.
A chef holding a spatula said, "You claim to know how to make soup in front of the Head Chef? Hahaha~"
"The Head Chef is known as the Soul of Soup! There are over twenty starred chefs in this kitchen, and none dare claim to make soup in front of the Chef!"
Soul of Soup...
Is this a specialized genius?
Zhang Wei's interest was immediately piqued. He had been in this world for a while and hadn't experienced the skills of the local masters yet.
Zhang Wei actually admired specialized geniuses, much like love. Being able to dedicate all one's energy to a single pursuit, seeking the deepest level of breakthrough and development.
However, Zhang Wei himself politely declined such dedication. He was too broad-minded, too greedy!
I—do not want to choose!
I—want them all!
The Soul of Soup said, "Do you have any experience simmering inferior products? This place is not like ordinary small restaurants."
"Stay by my side. You'll learn as much as your comprehension allows. However, if you're too slow-witted, you'll go back to chopping vegetables at the board!"
Zhang Wei nodded in agreement.
[Detected storable ingredient: Marbled Beef Tenderloin]
[Capture Level: 9]
[Detected storable ingredient: Tyrant Sailfish]
[Capture Level: 8]
[Detected storable ingredient: Ghost Sugar]
...
...
The abundance of high-level ingredients made Zhang Wei's eyes water. On the workbench where the Soul of Soup simmered his broth, bottles and jars were piled high.
Judging by their packaging, they were all rare and premium goods.
However, Zhang Wei didn't make a move. Losing something on his first day in the kitchen?
It would be suspicious if he wasn't suspected!
Being a silent observer was crucial.
Seeing Zhang Wei in his tattered animal skins, looking around curiously, everyone instinctively despised him a little more.
The Soul of Soup could simultaneously simmer seven pots of broth, with the aroma being most intense from the central pot.
"Your task is to monitor the heat throughout. The simmer and high heat must not change at all. Keep an eye on the time and notify me at the time points I give you."
In simple terms, Zhang Wei's role was to be a pair of speaking eyes and a time-telling alarm clock.
As for touching the stewed broth, that was out of the question.
"The pot in the middle seems extraordinary."
The Soul of Soup proudly stated, "Naturally. What is simmering within is my ultimate secret, 'Lingxi Five Birds Soup.' The base broth alone takes three days to simmer, and the entire process takes at least seven days."
"Let alone eating it, even smelling it is considered good fortune for most people!"
Over the next few days, Zhang Wei witnessed the preparation of the Lingxi Five Birds Soup firsthand.
The Emperor Penguins of the Ice Hell, the Red-crowned Cranes of the Xing'an wetlands, the Hornbills from the humid rain forests, the Fork-tailed Swifts of Sun Peak Mountain...
The capture level of each ingredient was no less than ten.
The ingredients were exceptionally luxurious.
The Soul of Soup's techniques were also unique, and Zhang Wei encountered many new concepts.
"This aroma... I'm so curious."
On the last night, the Soul of Soup could no longer endure and slumped onto a dining chair, on the verge of fainting.
"Zhang Wei, I'm going to take a short nap."
"It's completion time in six hours, so make sure to wake me up in advance."
Zhang Wei perfunctorily agreed and coaxed the Soul of Soup to sleep.
He gently touched him twice but got no reaction.
"He hasn't slept for four days; he's probably completely passed out this time."
"Let me taste this Lingxi Five Birds Soup and see what the fuss is about."
He lifted the lid a tiny crack, and the intoxicating aroma wafted over Zhang Wei.
He scooped a little with a small spoon and put it in his mouth.
Zhang Wei closed his eyes and savored it for a moment.
"This soup... there's something wrong with it."