Chapter 394: Dreamy Cake

Chapter 394: Chapter 394: Dreamy Cake

Seraphina Sullivan didn’t let herself get distracted by the other people’s assessment progress in the main hall.

For her, the most critical thing right now was to pass this Pastry Chef assessment.

To get a ticket into the core area of the banquet.

She pushed open the small door.

And entered the so-called "temporary assessment kitchen."

The kitchen was a little larger than she had imagined.

But its layout was just as dreamlike and unreal.

The stove was a smooth block of toffee with swirling patterns.

On top of it danced a cold flame that flickered like a rainbow.

The utensil rack was lined with all sorts of bizarre tools.

Sugar Frosting spoons that stirred on their own.

Chocolate temperature guns that could precisely control heat.

And a pile of faintly glittering jars and pots of unknown purpose.

But the most eye-catching things were the "ingredients."

Seraphina Sullivan saw "Dream Dew" in a transparent crystal bowl, a substance that looked like a liquid rainbow flowing slowly within it.

Piles of special strawberries of various colors and sizes that emitted a faint humming sound.

Rose petals that gave off a strange, cold fragrance, as if they were carved from ice crystals.

And some syrups that were as thick as honey but shimmered with the light of stardust.

If an ordinary pastry chef from the real world were to see these "ingredients" that completely subverted their understanding...

They would probably just faint, be utterly at a loss, and have no idea where to even begin.

But Seraphina Sullivan was no ordinary Pastry Chef.

She was a Player who possessed the [Magic Cuisine] Talent and had just taken on the [Pastry Chef] Profession!

’Since these are ingredients from a dream, I’ll just have to handle them in a dream-like way.’

With her mind made up, a flicker of eagerness flashed in Seraphina Sullivan’s eyes.

She didn’t get bogged down by the physical and chemical properties of these ingredients.

Instead, she directly activated her [Magic Cuisine] Talent Ability.

She slowly extended her spiritual power to cover the strange ingredients.

At the same time, the knowledge of dessert-making from her [Pastry Chef] Profession quietly began to take effect.

This allowed Seraphina Sullivan to more naturally understand and harmonize the traits of the ingredients.

Seraphina Sullivan selected a few ingredients that felt relatively "harmonious."

A light blue "Serene Dream Dew" that exuded an aura of tranquility.

A few "Glimmerberries" that were as brilliant as rubies and had a slightly sweet and sour taste.

Some crystal-clear, crunchy crushed rock sugar.

And a small jar of honey to add gloss and cohesiveness.

Without using any of the fancy utensils,

Seraphina Sullivan simply stretched out her hands, palms facing each other.

Spiritual power gathered and flowed between her palms, forming a miniature, invisible Energy Field.

She drew the selected ingredients into the Energy Field one by one. Her will, like the most precise instrument, began to guide, break down, reassemble, and shape them!

The ingredients were gently stretched and extended, forming a cake base as thin as a cicada’s wing, yet unusually stable.

The special fruit—the strawberries—were skillfully dotted inside and on the surface of the cake base like embedded jewels.

The crushed rock sugar was sprinkled evenly, adding texture and a sparkling effect.

The honey, meanwhile, became the most natural adhesive and glossy coating.

The entire process was silent, yet filled with a certain rhythm.

A light sweat beaded on Seraphina Sullivan’s forehead, but her eyes were focused and bright.

Just as the main body of the cake was about to be completed and she was preparing to add some final decorative piping—

"AH—!!!"

A piercing, short scream rang out.

It came from the hall outside the kitchen, filled with ultimate pain and terror!

The sound pierced through the not-so-soundproof door, drilling clearly into Seraphina Sullivan’s ears!

It came from right where Madame Spider was conducting her assessments.

’That voice... It’s Vincent Vaughn!’

Seraphina Sullivan’s hands paused for a slight moment, but she quickly steadied them.

She continued to finish the last bit of decoration.

Her heart sank, however.

’Vincent Vaughn screamed? Why?

Did he fail his assessment?’

Seraphina Sullivan’s thoughts raced.

’With Madame Spider’s [Death Gaze] Ability,

if he merely failed the assessment, she wouldn’t kill him immediately, would she?

Unless... Vincent Vaughn broke some more serious taboo,

or was caught in a lie on the spot?’

She recalled the cold, murderous intent hidden beneath Madame Spider’s gentle smile from before.

And her warning that the consequences "probably won’t be too pleasant."

It seemed the consequences of this assessment were far crueler than imagined.

Without letting herself get too distracted,

Seraphina Sullivan knew that the most important thing now was to finish her own creation.

Seraphina Sullivan became even more careful with the cake she was making.

She took a deep breath, cleared her mind of distracting thoughts, and focused her remaining spiritual power.

On the very top of the cake, she used her will to sketch and coalesce several extremely fine strands of spun sugar that flowed and shifted like a real rainbow, serving as the final, masterful touch.

Done!

A cake approximately six inches in diameter, its surface adorned with red strawberry gems and crushed rock sugar,

and with fantastical decorations entwined on top, floated quietly before her.

Seraphina Sullivan found a white porcelain plate with a gold rim.

She carefully transferred the cake onto it, then, holding the plate, turned and walked out of the kitchen.

The atmosphere in the hall was now completely different.

Before, there had been a hint of anticipation amidst the tension, but now, only oppressive coldness and fear remained.

Seraphina Sullivan saw it at a glance: in the center of the hall, Vincent Vaughn’s body, clad in a black bodysuit, lay rigidly on the floor in an extremely unnatural position.

His face was ashen-white, his eyes wide open with dilated pupils, and his mouth slightly agape.

As if frozen in his final moment of horror and pain.

There were no external injuries, no signs of a struggle. It was as if... all his life force had been suddenly ripped away.

Two expressionless frog guards walked forward.

One at the front and one at the back, they lifted Vincent Vaughn’s body and silently carried it toward a passage on the side of the hall.

They quickly disappeared into the shadows.

Throughout the entire process, no one spoke. There was only the heavy thud of the guards’ footsteps and the rustle of fabric.

At the front of the hall, Madame Spider, Peaches, still stood there, her eight spider legs firmly supporting her body.

The gentle smile on her face was gone.

In its place was a cold, almost metallic calm.

When her beautiful eyes swept over the remaining people, her gaze was as sharp as a blade, filled with unconcealed scrutiny and warning.

"The banquet’s staff must be useful." Her voice wasn’t loud, but it struck every person’s heart, carrying an undeniable cruelty.

"Useless people, or liars, will only waste precious resources and may even cause trouble.

For such individuals... disposing of them is the most direct and effective method."

Her gaze swept over Ironhide, Clayton Quinn, and Joy Hughes. ℴ

"You few, you barely passed the assessment.

Remember the lesson from just now. Do your assigned jobs, and don’t entertain any inappropriate ideas."

Ironhide’s face was tense as he nodded.

Clayton Quinn remained silent, but his gaze grew even more profound.

Joy Hughes kept her eyelids lowered, her expression unreadable.

Apparently, while Seraphina Sullivan had been making her dessert, the other four had all completed their respective assessments.

Although the process was unknown, at least they hadn’t triggered Madame Spider’s "disposal" mechanism like Vincent Vaughn had.