Chapter 393: The Assessment Begins

Chapter 393: Chapter 393: The Assessment Begins

"You claim to be a clothing designer?"

Madame Spider’s red lips parted slightly, her voice soft.

With a hint of barely perceptible scrutiny.

"One who can design the most beautiful and fitting gown for Her Highness the Princess, one that will stun the entire Peach Kingdom?"

Lamb was not the least bit intimidated.

He even carried himself with a touch of artistic dignity.

He bowed slightly. "Yes, esteemed Madame Spider. The Princess’s beauty, of course, deserves the most beautiful gown."

He offered no further explanation, simply raising his hands.

Between his long, slender fingers,

countless, extremely fine threads had appeared from out of nowhere, shimmering with a soft, pearlescent luster.

These were no ordinary threads.

It was the "wool" that extended from Lamb’s own body.

This was precisely his Ability. By using his Favored Ability as a Dream Messenger in the Divine Kingdom of Sweet Dreams, the wool he produced was exceptionally beautiful.

Lamb’s hands moved like the most nimble of looms, his fingers a blur of motion.

As if alive, the threads darted, weaved, knotted, and coiled in the air, guided by his will.

His speed was so fast one could barely see his movements, leaving only a dazzling afterimage of white light.

After just a few dozen seconds, the light faded.

A scarf, about five feet long and a foot and a half wide, as white as snow,

its edges dotted with fine, star-like points of light,

and a texture as soft as a cloud yet radiating a faint, warm luster, appeared in Lamb’s hands.

The scarf’s woven pattern was exceptionally exquisite and complex.

Merely looking at it brought a sense of peace.

"Please take a look, Steward,"

Lamb presented his masterpiece with both hands.

His tone was confident.

"This is just a little something I wove on the spot.

If I had superior materials, I could certainly tailor a magnificent robe for Her Highness the Princess that would captivate the entire Divine Kingdom."

Madame Spider Peaches’s gaze lingered on the scarf for a few seconds, a flash of appreciation in her eyes.

She lifted a foreleg covered in black carapace and gently touched the scarf with its tip, feeling its texture.

"Hmm..." Madame Spider nodded slowly, a satisfied smile gracing her face.

"Quite a fine skill indeed. It seems you weren’t just boasting."

She paused, then added with a meaningful tone.

"Perhaps... you could be responsible not only for the Princess’s gown, but also for the attire of other important guests. Even some special decorative fabrics for the banquet could be entrusted to you."

Lamb clearly understood the hidden meaning and immediately showed he knew how to play the game.

He offered the white scarf forward, a sincere—or perhaps sycophantic—smile on his face.

"This scarf may be simple, but I hope it can bring a moment of nightly tranquility to a beautiful lady such as yourself. Please, accept it."

The smile on Madame Spider’s face deepened. She nodded lightly, and a frog guard standing nearby immediately stepped forward and respectfully accepted the scarf.

"You have passed the assessment."

Madame Spider announced.

"From now on, you are the specially appointed clothing designer for the Princess’s birthday banquet.

Someone will take you to the material storage and workshop shortly."

"Thank you, Madame!" Lamb bowed elegantly, then stepped aside, shooting Seraphina Sullivan and the others a look that said, ’See? Simple, right?’

Vincent Vaughn, Ironhide, and the others were dumbfounded.

’Just like that... he passed? Show off some weaving skills, give a little gift, and that’s it?’

Madame Spider’s gaze had already moved on from Lamb, turning to the remaining few.

"Now then, what about the rest of you?"

Madame Spider’s voice was still soft, but the pressure returned.

"For which banquet Profession do you wish to be assessed?

State it clearly and be prepared to demonstrate the corresponding Ability.

Remember, you only have one chance."

The group began to think quickly.

Ironhide wondered what he could do.

’I’m strong. A mover? A Guard?’

Vincent Vaughn was calculating whether his [Wind Power] and knowledge could be used for any position.

Clayton Quinn was silent, seemingly assessing the situation.

Joy Hughes kept her head down, her thoughts unreadable.

Seraphina Sullivan didn’t hesitate for long before taking a step forward.

She faced Madame Spider and said in a clear, steady voice, "The Profession I wish to be assessed for is—Pastry Chef."

With her awakened [Pastry Chef] Profession, coupled with her Cooking Magic as a Beloved of the God of Cuisine, making desserts was not a particularly stressful task for her.

Although she also had the [Magic Scissors] Skill to become a Hairdresser, and the [Quick Sewing] Skill might have allowed her to be a Tailor, Seraphina Sullivan weighed her options and still chose [Pastry Chef].

There were two reasons for this:

First, she had observed on her way here that this "Peach Kingdom" had a love for sweets that was practically etched into its very bones.

The castle itself was like a giant candy house.

The air was filled with a sweet fragrance, and even the guards’ weapons were made of rock candy.

In a place like this, an excellent Pastry Chef might hold a status and importance far exceeding other Professions.

Second,

and this was the most practical point,

if she could enter the banquet’s kitchen as a Pastry Chef, she would have the opportunity to access the vast amount of "ingredients" and "supplies" in this instance!

She had just secretly "tasted" one of the colorful jelly beans "embedded" in the nearby Wall.

She discovered they weren’t just decorations, but real candy.

They could absolutely be used as a food resource!

In this instance where items couldn’t be used, these things could be a crucial source of replenishment and support.

"A Pastry Chef?"

When Madame Spider Peaches heard this Profession, her gaze lingered on Seraphina Sullivan for a noticeably longer moment.

The scrutiny in her eyes intensified, and there seemed to be a hint of... amusement?

It was as if the title of "Pastry Chef" held some special meaning or standard for her.

"To become the Pastry Chef for the Princess’s banquet... our requirements are very, very high."

Madame Spider said slowly.

Her tone was still placid, but she put extra stress on the words "very, very high."

"It’s not enough for the taste to be exquisite; the presentation must also be fantastical, full of imagination, and reflect both the beauty of a dream and the nobility of the Princess."

She pointed to a small door on one side of the hall. "That is the temporary assessment kitchen. Inside, there are some basic dream ingredients and tools.

Go on, go and make for me... the most delicious dessert you can imagine.

Remember, you only have one chance, and your time limit... is half a dream hourglass."

Having said that, she paid Seraphina Sullivan no more attention, as if she already considered her the next "exhibit."

Her gaze turned to the remaining people.

"And your Professions? What are they?"

Her voice held an undeniable urgency. "Please decide quickly. My patience is limited."

The pressure shifted to Vincent Vaughn, Clayton Quinn, Ironhide, and Joy Hughes.

Seraphina Sullivan, meanwhile, took a deep breath, gave Madame Spider a slight nod, then turned and walked toward the small door leading to the temporary assessment kitchen.

Whether she could secure this crucial "Pastry Chef" position all depended on her performance now.

She not only had to make a delicious dessert, but also put great effort into its presentation to meet Madame Spider’s "very, very high" requirements.