Prime Originator

"There's nothing wrong with the taste. The food is delicious. There's no doubt about that." Leon said. As he picked up another slice of beast meat from one of six other dishes, he continued, "However…"

"However…?"

"The food was not worth the price." Leon sighed with mild disappointment. 

Eating at Twilight Palace was not much different from eating back at the Royal Palace. The taste was on the same level. Even the energy contained in the meat was also on the same level.

"Would you mind elaborating, Esteemed Customer?" The waiter asked politely. However, the male waiter's smile had become more forced.

"It's nothing much. I was just expecting something better."

Leon shook his head.

"I see… If there's nothing else, I shall leave and allow esteemed customers to enjoy your private meal." The waited bowed and took his leave.

Leon shook his head again.

He could tell that the waiter had taken his words the wrong way, but he was too lazy to explain. Even the palace would not charge as much as this place if they were to open their doors for business.

The Steakhouse also served better food at a much lower price. The taste was important, but the energy was even more so. This was a world where strength trumps everything.

Despite holding such clear advantages, the Steakhouse was still not as famous as this Twilight Palace on Aurelia Mountain Road. As for the reason being, Leon could faintly guess why.

The difference lay in their menus. In this regard, Twilight Palace had been more meticulous. They had their recommendations for each dish to cater to the different tastes of people and the constitution of Awakeners.

The human body was composed of the five elements. There was usually no problem with ingesting mild amounts of each element. 

However, substantial amounts would make an Awakener feel uncomfortable and even unwell if the element was incompatible with their body.

Death was also a possibility depending on their conditions.

With the high-energy content of the meals provided by the Steakhouse, it was not strange that there would be people who enjoy it and people who would not come back a second time. It was like a gamble; it was all about first impressions. 

Faelyn did not plan to say anything, but since Leon said something, she also decided to input her opinion. "Hmm, I do feel the food is a bit lacking." 

"Specifically speaking, you are talking about both the taste and energy, right?"

"Yeah!"

Leon smiled wryly and said, "You cannot compare human food with elven food. That is just plain bullying. We don't have many wood-users to cultivate high-quality fruits and vegetables like your elven tribe do."

Listening to Leon's explanation, Faelyn did feel a bit embarrassed as Leon made it sound like she was looking down on human food. She glared at him, before biting her lips softly and said, "This salad feels a bit lacking, but the meat was quite nice."

"Is that so? That is interesting to hear. It seems that the preconception that elves do not eat meat got broken today." Leon laughed lightly.

"What are you even trying to say?" Faelyn said coyly. "It's true that a majority of our elven tribe only eat fruits and veggies, but that's because our self-cultivated crops taste so much better. It's not like our tribe has any rule that prohibits us from eating meat."

"Our hunter warriors are all big meat lovers. We consider it a big sin if the meat of a beast we killed doesn't get eaten instead. After all, our elven tribe often gets attacked by beasts wandering into our great forest yearly. We have no choice but to kill them since we have no means to tame or send them away. It would be a waste not to eat them."

The maids listened attentively with wide eyes and gaping mouth. Like the prince had mentioned, their preconception of elves had been destroyed today. 

Not everything depicted in storybooks is accurate. But then again, they did not know elves were even real until the envoys arrived.

"Since you have nothing against eating meat. I will take you to a better place to eat meat next time. Of course, you must be prepared to pay for my meal then." Leon smiled.

Faelyn looked at Leon with doubt and cautiously asked, "Will the meals there be even more expensive since you say it is better?"

"You don't have to worry about that. The prices there are very fair, unlike this place. This place is simply unreasonable with its pricing." Leon curtly said as he picked up another piece of meat to eat.

The meat was not as good when it is cooled.

However, his hand wobbled out of his control and made the forked meat miss its intended destination, landing on the side of his mouth. 

The forked meat retracted a bit before missing again. This time, it landed on the other side of Leon's mouth. 

Only on the third attempt did he succeeded in placing the meat in his mouth. However, there were two smudges of sauce on the sides of his mouth.

Wiping his mouth with a tissue, Leon was a bit gloomy while Faelyn laughed, "What are you doing? Are you alright?" 

"I'm fine."

Picking up another piece, Leon could feel his arms losing control again when his muscles contracted to bring the forked meat closer. 

Having undergone intensive training and exhausting all his arm strength previously, both his arms were now like dead logs that refused to move. When he attempts to move his arms, they will shake profusely. 

"I know you are a bit dissatisfied, but it's too much to be playing around with your food, don't you think?" Faelyn said after seeing Leon waving the forked meat around in front of his face.

Leon's lips twitched upon hearing this.

…

Meanwhile, outside the VIP lounge, the young nobles had degraded to throwing insults along the lines of "Your mother is a…" and "Your father is a…" and so on.

"Young Master Nelson, I know you are not usually this brave unless you have found yourself a powerful backer. We all know the elven princess is inside along with two palace maids. They shouldn't be your backer. It must be the last person, right? Why don't you tell us who he is?" A young noble asked with compromise. His throat was parched, and his voice was hoarse.

Despite a hint of tiredness being seen in Nelson's eyes, he still answered confidently, "He is someone you cannot offend!"

The young nobles wanted to rebuke immediately, but they did not have the same energy as they did previously. They slowly and lazily sneered, "And who would that be? Can he offend all of us?"

The used the same tactics they did not Young Master Conrad, believing they had strength in numbers. 

The Montgomery family was quite successful and influential, but did they not also get Young Master Conrad to bend his will for them?

Young Master Conrad was similarly tired from keeping this crowd in check. However, upon hearing Nelson's words, his brain began to churn into gear. He made a startling guess and soon steeled his heart with resolution.

The young nobles and young masters were more or less acquainted with one another. 

Although they would have their social circles, they were familiar enough to know about each other due to the nobles' various social functions and gatherings.

If he had to name one person, he was not familiar with, or rather everyone was not familiar with, someone that also had enough status for Nelson to be willing to offend everyone for, it would have to be…

"Everyone, you have crowded around here and impacted my family's business for long enough. I think everyone should leave while I am still asking nicely." Young Master Conrad said firmly.

"What the! There's no one walking around here. We aren't obstructing anyone's path!"

"Why did this Young Master Conrad suddenly want to kick us out? Did he realize something?"

The young nobles all began to frown and discuss, but no one was moving.

"Where are my guards?!"

"Holy shit. We'll leave, alright?"

The young nobles were finally startled into moving after Young Master Conrad exerted his authority to call the guards. They were good with words but strength-wise? They were no match for the Montgomery family's guards.

"Damn… it's the first time I've seen Young Master Conrad snapped. How scary."

"I think he has grown impatient and ate some gunpowder or something."

"Man, my throat is so dry. Maybe I can grab a cup of water or something…"

"Same here…"

The young nobles unwillingly mumbled as they left. 

At the same time, they were more curious about what Young Master Conrad realized. Who was inside the VIP lounge?

Young Master Conrad watched them leave with a sigh of relief, but then he frowned when he realized there was still one person that remained behind. 

This person had chosen a very inconspicuous spot to sit in the back. Thus, he had not noticed this person until after the young nobles moved away.

"Baron Grant? Aren't you a bit old to also be chasing after the elven princess along with the rest of these kids, Sir?" Young Master Conrad asked jokingly with some respect.

"I did not come for the elven princess. I have something private I wish to speak with the prince. Thus, I do not mind waiting." Baron Grant said while flashing a light smile.

Young Master Conrad sighed with relief as he had made the right call. It was indeed the prince inside the VIP lounge.

At the same time, the young nobles had yet to leave very far when they heard this piece of information and trembled with trepidation. 

Back inside the VIP lounge, Leon wore a pondering look of curiosity as nothing outside had escaped his divine sense.

"I'll be excusing myself for a bit."

Faelyn was taken aback as she looked at the table full of food. Looking at Leon, she asks, "Where are you suddenly going?"

"Meeting someone outside who wishes to speak with me."