182. Cream Bun Chef (2)
SKY was a guild the whole world had its eyes on.
The same went for Yoobaek.
Because of that, news spread at an incredible speed.
- Oh, just getting to see Baek Jinwoo is enough for me! Korea? I’m leaving right away.
First of all.
A woman named Marianne set out.
A three-star Michelin pastry chef from France, from the restaurant “Jore”!
She was a woman who boasted outstanding baking skills befitting her 30 years of experience.
- Did you know? cream bun belongs to Japan. My desire to melt the tongue of the Wind Fairy with my fingertips is blazing. I will definitely participate.
Tanaka Yuijiro, a master baker from Tokyo!
- I shall go present cream bun that combines Brazilian tradition and modern flavor.
- I’m Edward Roberts, sous-chef of the two-star Michelin restaurant ‘The Oyster House’ in Boston. I’ll attend.
- I’m a master baker from Florence, Italy. I was formerly a professor at Le Cordon Bleu.
Famous bakery owners, Michelin-starred chefs, master bakers from every country, and even professors from the world’s three greatest culinary schools.
The most renowned people submitted applications with their certificates attached.
“Uaaaah.”
“We thought we’d finally get to rest for a while, and now this again?”
“T-the documents are pouring in!”
The Yoobaek employees started getting busy again.
“We’ve been told not to reject them just because they aren’t too famous!”
“They said to accept everyone as long as their career isn’t too short and they meet the basic qualifications! They said it doesn’t matter how much budget we spend!”
“Understood!”
“Pass over the documents!”
“Yes, here!”
But smiles were blooming on their faces.
Because they knew very well.
Whenever days like this came, bonuses followed.
And as expected.
“I’ve brought good news! They said that once this contest is over, they’ll hand out another 100 million won each in overtime pay, so please work hard!”
“Kyaaaaah!”
“Excellent!”
“Documents! Bring us more!”
The best owner is an owner who pays well.
Yoo Jia’s golden leadership remained as strong as ever, and the headquarters was as full of energy as always.
* * *
It wasn’t just the communities that were in an uproar.
Governments around the world were in an uproar too.
Especially for countries that were not summoning powers, but backward summoning nations, opportunities like this were rare.
One of their citizens becoming part of SKY?
That alone would become an enormous source of strength.
To give one example?
Wars that would have happened no longer would.
No country would want to become enemies with SKY.
A representative example would be North Korea up there.
They used to mouth off all the time, but ever since Korea became the world’s number one holder nation, haven’t they stayed as quiet as a dead mouse without a single official statement or provocation?
They knew that one careless remark could get them forcibly unified.
In the midst of all that.
The Portuguese government, in particular, moved aggressively.
First, the president summoned the prime minister and numerous government officials.
“This is an issue upon which the future of our nation depends! We don’t even have a Player Zone, do we? In a situation like this, if one of our citizens joins SKY... the influence would become unimaginably powerful!”
The president argued strongly.
“Immediately gather every baker fit to enter the competition.”
“Five outstanding bakers have been selected as candidates, but......”
Said the prime minister, only for the president’s eyes to widen.
“Only five?”
Is this a joke right now?
“That’s not enough. Tell every citizen who can apply to apply! Ah, and. Let’s summon a fairy studies PhD too.”
“A fairy studies PhD? Does something like that even exist?”
“If it doesn’t, then we’ll create it, won’t we! Announce that starting today we’ll invest in fairy studies research! Tell every university to form research teams as well! The budget will be fully supported!”
“T-to that extent?”
“Tell the professors in the culinary departments to work with them and immediately produce the best cream bun recipes of every variety.”
Desperate suggestions poured out inside the meeting room.
Everyone wondered, Is this really right?
But what could they do when the president was leading it?
They had to follow.
‘It’s fine.’
The President of Portugal was certain.
The city in Europe most famous for cream buns was Lisbon.
‘Our traditional dessert, Pastel de Nata.’
He believed that the appeal of that cream bun would surely capture the fairy’s heart.
‘Absolutely.’
This time, they had to catch Baek Jinwoo’s eye.
No matter what!
* * *
What a funny and sad phenomenon.
That the whole world would be swept up in a cream bun craze from a single SKY announcement.
Good grief.
A catchphrase had even appeared: “cream bun lottery”.
They said that if you got lucky and matched the fairy’s taste, it would be a jackpot.
‘I didn’t think it would go this far.’
Yoo Jia smiled bitterly.
She was currently at the mansion to see her grandfather.
Daeseong Palace in Hannam-dong.
No matter when she saw it, it was luxurious and magnificent.
‘Still below our Yoobaek City.’
Click, click.
As Yoo Jia arrived, her grandfather came out dragging his slippers to greet her.
“Heoheoheo, my pretty granddaughter! You’ve really caused something huge this time!”
“You saw it?”
“Of course! How could I not watch when it’s Yoobaek’s business! Kuhahat. Come sit over here. Bring out some coffee.”
“Yes, sir.”
One of the secretaries nearby bowed and went into the kitchen.
Swoosh.
As Yoo Jia sat down, she asked,
“What did you call me here for?”
“I called you because my granddaughter is pretty. Do I need some special reason to call you? This old grandpa feels hurt.”
“......You don’t call your other granddaughters.”
“Ehem!”
Yoo Byeongcheon, who had barked in rebuke like a drill sergeant, soon burst into hearty laughter.
A bright expression he normally never showed.
A genuinely radiant smile.
“That cream bun contest. Doesn’t it smell a bit like money?”
“Hm?”
“If that cream bun gets selected, then if we patent the recipe and make and sell the cream bun, we could make quite a lot of money worldwide.”
“Haha, I suppose so.”
Yoo Jia had been thinking the same thing.
The brand name would be 「Lamba Cream Buns」!
Since it had often been shown on the media chomping cream buns as well, it would probably become explosively popular.
“Couldn’t our Daeseong handle that?”
“Grandfather?”
“You rascal! Don’t worry! Once you marry Baek Jinwoo, all of Daeseong’s shares will be yours anyway!”
“......”
Grandfather.
Ever since last time, really.
You’re serious.
Yoo Jia let out a small laugh.
Well.
It wasn’t as if things hadn’t ended up continuing in a flustered way thanks to her grandfather.
She honestly was grateful for that part.
“The business is fine. But you’ll have to pass a lot of fees over to the Yoobaek side too.”
“Of course! How many years do you think this old grandpa has been in business! I’ll give you even more than the industry average!”
“Then let’s discuss that later together with our business team. I’ll think about it positively.”
“Heo, heoheoheo.”
Yoo Byeongcheon burst into laughter as though proud of her.
Good heavens.
Back when that little granddaughter had left home and entered the headquarters, he had wondered what on earth something like that had come into this house for......
Now she ran a business far bigger than Daeseong.
“So what about a child...? You still don’t have one yet?”
“Grandfather, what child! How long has it even been since we started seeing each other!”
“Ehem! You young ones! This won’t do! Shall I invite you to another drinking party?”
“Stop, stop!”
“Hahahahahaha.”
“Anyway, if that’s why you called me, then I can go back now, right?”
“Stay and eat before you go.”
“...You know, don’t you. I’ve been a bit busy lately.”
“Heoheoheo. Fine, fine.”
Yoo Jia.
She had grown up a lot.
To think she had even learned to refuse this old grandpa’s offer of a meal.
Watching Yoo Jia’s back as she headed outside, Yoo Byeongcheon wore a strange expression.
The coffee the secretary had brought out had not even gone cold yet.
And yet.
“You look happy?”
The chairman’s personal secretary asked carefully.
“Of course I am, how could I not be? I don’t show it, but every time I see my granddaughter, my heart surges!”
That was only natural.
Just as Korea had become a world power because of Baek Jinwoo, Daeseong too now looked ready to leap into becoming a global corporation because of him.
The group he had devoted his entire life to was about to become a source of pride that crossed continents, and the day when the name he had built would ring out across the whole world was now right before his eyes!
Any businessman would have no choice but to be delighted.
‘To taste this before I die.’
Something an ordinary person could never experience...
It was an overwhelming thrill and exhilaration.
* * *
One week later.
Bustle, bustle.
A great number of applicants were lined up outside the main gate of Yoobaek City.
The line seemed endless, and astonishingly, every single one of them had passed the document screening.
“Wow.”
“One of these people is going to get picked?”
“The competition is insane.”
“Now I get why they call it the cream bun lottery.”
The method was simple.
All throughout the garden, temporary cooking stations and refrigerators packed with ingredients had been installed, and the applicants came in one by one and took their places.
The total cooking time for each chef was one hour!
And once the time passed?
They had to go back outside the main gate and line up again.
- Alright, starting now, the cream bun contest will begin! All the ingredients are prepared, but if any of you need ingredients from other countries, just let us know in advance at any time! We’ll procure them somehow!
One of the staff members gave instructions through a speaker.
- Then begin!
The moment the signal was given, the chefs at the very front began filling the stations one by one.
Before long, the chefs filled the plaza.
Clack!
The main gate closed.
At the same time, the cooking began.
Swish, tap!
Some bakers were sifting fine flour through a sieve, while others whisked special vanilla cream.
Some added the floral fragrance fairies liked.
Others were pairing theirs with a rich cinnamon aroma.
—Hwaaaah.
Watching that sight, Lamba wore an ecstatic expression.
“Lamba.”
Baek Jinwoo was a little worried.
Could Lamba really eat all that buns?
“Will you be okay?”
—Of course! Who do you think I am! Lamba doesn’t discriminate against cream buns!
That was true.
Even in the past, Lamba had devoured a giant king-sized cream bun much bigger than her own body in just a few seconds.
She did not even seem to get full.
Well.
To begin with, digestion probably was not even the right concept.
Summons did not feel hunger.
Ding!
When a chef finished cooking, they pressed the bell.
Then Lamba came over and chomp chomp! ate it.
After that.
—Mmm, no. It’s good, but! It’s not that taste my mom made!
If Lamba shook her head, they were eliminated.
That person had to make it again.
In any case, the time limit was one hour.
When the time ran out?
Beep beep beep beep beep!
The alarm installed on the table rang. Then that person had to go back out and line up again.
Of course, they could also give up midway.
“Hoo.”
Baek Jinwoo decided to stay and watch over this place.
‘For now, all my attention goes to Lamba.’
He really was looking forward to it.
What would happen once Lamba’s latent ability awakened!
Sometimes, when a chef made something genuinely creative, Baek Jinwoo took a bite too.
‘It’s so damn delicious.’
—My tongue is melting, melting.
And yet.
—It’s so delicious! But... it’s not that taste.
—Hm? This cream is too thin. Ugh, it runs out the moment I take a bite! Still, it tastes good!
—The cream is sweet, but it lacks depth.
—Hm? The bread has to be crisp all the way through, you know? It has to be evenly crisp, but this part is way too soggy. This isn’t it!
Lamba had truly become an incredible food critic.
A few chefs found it amazing that Lamba was speaking, but most simply accepted it.
By now, it was already something everyone knew openly.
After taking part in the league and appearing in the media a few times...
There was no way the rumors would not spread.
That Baek Jinwoo’s summons were a bit special.
But what could anyone do about it?
In the old days, maybe he hid it to avoid attracting attention, but now it did not matter.
There no longer existed any being in this world capable of doing anything to Baek Jinwoo by force.
Even ten Rachels would not be enough.
The Explosive Dragon stacks had piled up to an absurd degree.
And that Explosive Dragon?
Even now, she still regularly cleared dungeons.
—Chomp chomp! Haaahng, I’m so happy! But.... Sorry! This one isn’t it either!
Anyway.
Lamba did look happy.
That was enough.
Eat lots of cream buns and be happy, Lamba.
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