Chapter 30: Chapter 28
"Ugh I really need to set a new alarm tone" I moan as my alarm rings at 8am.
After waking up, I have a shower and then walk down to the entrance hall to see if I could hear anyone.
"Hello?? Anne are you around?" I shout as I walk down the stairs.
"…" After not receiving any reply, I walk into the lounge, hoping to find someone.
'This manor is stupidly large'
After not being able to find anyone in the lounge, I walk towards the kitchen dining area.
"Hello?? Is anyone around"
"Guess I'll just help myself then" I mumble to myself after hearing no response, and then walk towards the kitchen area to make food.
I open the fridge and find it to be crammed with a good deal of meat, dairy products and vegetables. Looking through the cupboards, I find a variety of herbs and spices.
'Right. Let's challenge myself again' I conceptualise a meal with the ingredients I found in the fridge and cupboards.
'System conceptualise'
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> Concept rating - 6/10
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'I believe I can do better than that' I ponder again on the cooking techniques I could use to improve the rating. Around 15 minutes, I come up with a concept of a better standard.
'System conceptualise'
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> Concept rating–7/10
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"*Sigh* I guess I've got to work harder if I want to reach level 8"
I proceed to make the meal after settling for the current concept.
'Analyse'
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> Dish - Eggs Royale
> Dish quality - 7/10
~ Umami – 7/10
~ Ingredient quality - 9/10
~ Concept – 7/10
~ Technique – 6/10
~ Ingredients– (Spinach) (Eggs) (Swiss cheese) (Tomato)…
~ Method - Download function unavailable as the method is already known.
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*sigh* 'I hope I can make some progress before the tournament' I say whilst reading at the results, accepting that it was being carried by the ingredient quality rather than my skills.
As I eat breakfast, I hear multiple voices as the front door opens.
'Seems like they're back' I recognise the voices of Alfred, Anne and Mia.
"Ah, master Rin, You're awake?" Alfred says, surprised that I'm awake.
'Is it that surprising?' I tilt my head, questioning it inwardly.
Alfred notices my confused look.
"I assumed you would wake up a bit later today, so I asked Mia to take me into town to get us some breakfast" He shakes the bag that he carries with his left hand.
*Sigh* "but seems like you don't need it" his eyes drift towards my near-empty plate.
"No mind Alfred, I appreciate the thought" I shake my head and smile at the old man.
"I was wondering where the office is in the manor. Ah Anne, do you mind giving me the tour of the manor that you offered yesterday" I look towards the short maid and smile.
"Of course, master Rin" She smiles and nods her head slightly.
For the next 30 minutes, I followed Anne through the property grounds as she tells me various information regarding the uses and history of the property.
'Turns out this was the first major purchase Rin's father made when his business made great profits' I look around as I stand on a balcony over-viewing the back garden of the mansion.
"I'll have to look around the office. I think I saw a safe in there" I track back from the balcony and head to the room next to the master bedroom.
"Everything is over the top in this house" I open the door and walk into the room.
Multiple large bookshelves that stand at the same height as the roof stood on the left and right walls of the room, whilst a desk was centred at the back of the room before the large windows of the manor.
'I was told that the room has stayed locked ever since Rin's father died.' I looked at the large amount of dust that had gathered on the surfaces of the room.
I walked to the other side of the room to see the desk drawers. As I finish opening the bottom cupboards of the desk, I see a small steel vault placed inside.
'There must be something interesting in there. What would the passcode be though' I ponder as I inspect the vault.
I decide to try the passcode used for the vault in the Osaka condo.
'Seems like that worked' I hear the click showing that the code had been accepted.
I look inside and see multiple folders, letters, and a photo album. I grab one folder and decide to open it. *sigh* 'it seems they're just some business records, but I may as well have a read through them'.
For the next few hours, I read through various business records showing the past financial state and multiple records of operations.
'So, the business specialises in commercial and residential real estate. It seems like the company had a preference towards business in the hospitality and tourism industry' I summarise after reading through the business records.
'There was no real sensitive information in the documents, but it seems the business was making over 400 million euros in net profit at the very least. This was a few years ago, so it has definitely changed.'
*Knock* *knock* The knocks on the door waken me from my thoughts.
"Yes, come in." Upon receiving my approval, Alfred's figure enters the room.
*sigh*
"Master Rin, you need to take a break from studying" he comments as he scans through the scattered folders on the desk table.
"I found some of my father's business records and got curious. Thanks for worrying Alfred, I'll take a break soon." I smile as I look at his concerned face.
"Master Rin. Just a few months ago, you wouldn't touch a book. Now I've seen you read so many books that I've lost count" He says with a smile.
"So, Alfred. Is there anything that you need?"
The old man sits on the desk chair. "Yes, Matteo is available tomorrow. He is asking if you would like to have dinner with him tomorrow evening."
"Hm, yes that would be great. Ask him to organise a reservation for a pleasant venue for dinner" ".
Alfred nods, then looks at the book in front of me.
"So, did you find anything interesting?" He asks.
I follow his eyes that are looking at the photo album.
"Most of it is just business records. At least I'll be able to have a more constructive conversation with Matteo tomorrow" "
"But I haven't looked through the photo album yet. Would you like to have a look?" I ask him.
He nods, and I open the album. "Ah, you must have only been 3 years old there" "I remember this, you… "
We go through the photo album, with Alfred giving a commentary on every photo that was taken.
"Well, let's call it a day there master Rin. I will go have a walk around the premises" Alfred steps us, then walks out of the study.
"Ah master Rin. The chef will make a dinner for 5PM" Alfred says as he stops in the doorway before leaving.
I spend the rest of the afternoon going through the rest of the folders before spending the evening relaxing in the lounge room.
[Fast forward to the next morning…]
I wake up in the morning at the usual time and continue my old morning routine of having a morning workout before eating breakfast.
'Although the chef is good, the meals he makes only reach level 7. Maybe I'll experience some better food tonight with Matteo' I say inwardly as I eat breakfast.
'I sent a text to Sofia yesterday. I hope she has gotten back to me' I open the message app and then find Sofia's text.
'I would recommend that you focus on learning some European cooking methods and get more familiar with European ingredients. Here are some book recommendations…'
'So these are the recommendations. I will look online to see if I can get an online copy.'
I spent the rest of the morning looking through some European cooking guides and before I knew it; the time was 4:30PM.
"Okay, the reservation is at 6, so I should probably start getting ready" I say whilst I stretch my arms in the desk chair.
By 5PM I had already showered and started to preparing my outfit. I look in the mirror as I style my hair in the usual curtain style and inspect my outfit. I went for a more casual look by choosing a neutral taupe coloured suit paired with an unbuttoned white shirt.
I placed a leather strapped Cartier watch on my left wrist and then walk to my closet to pick up a pair of black dress shoes. After getting ready, I head downstairs and alert Alfred that I am ready.
I get picked up by the previous driver, Mark, then head into central Zurich towards the restaurant.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone