The effect of the 'Yeti's Sorrow Sashimi' on Dean Elara was more profound than Jin Park had anticipated. She didn't just approve; she was visibly, analytically intrigued.
"The buff..." she said, more to herself than to him. "It's not just mental clarity. My mana circulation feels smoother, more efficient. The inherent conflict between the frost and heat elements in the dish seems to be... stimulating my mana pathways." She looked up at him, her gaze sharp enough to cut steel. "This dish's value on the open market would be astronomical. It could change the tide of a battle for a high-level mage."
Jin Park simply bowed his head. "I am glad it meets with your approval, Dean."
"It does more than that," she stated. She tapped a command into her obsidian desk. A moment later, Jin Park's data chip chimed. He glanced at the notification.
[Source: Dean Elara Vane, Prime Division Command]
[Subject: Special Contribution Grant]
[Description: For revolutionary development in the field of culinary arts and the creation of a Unique-grade buff-food, a special grant has been awarded.]
[Amount: 500,000 Aurum.]
Half a million Aurum. It was a life-changing fortune, deposited directly into his academy account.
"That is a preliminary grant," Elara said, interpreting his silence as shock. "Zenith Academy owns the rights to any intellectual property developed using its resources. A formal patent will be filed for the 'Yeti's Sorrow Sashimi' recipe. You will receive a permanent 10% royalty on all future production and sales. Consider this the start of a very profitable partnership, Mr. Park."
A golden leash, Muyeong thought, his mind cold and clear. The money was not a gift; it was an investment. It was a way to bind him to the academy, to ensure his future creations belonged to them. He felt no gratitude, only a calculated understanding of the transaction.
"Thank you, Dean. You are too generous," he said, his face a perfect mask of humble appreciation.
"Zenith rewards talent," she replied simply. "You have proven yours. Your access to the Sub-Zero Larder is now permanent. Continue your research. Your next official evaluation is in two months. I will be watching your progress closely. You are dismissed."
Jin Park left the office, the weight of a new and very different kind of expectation on his shoulders. The half-million Aurum was a powerful tool, but his most valuable reward from this endeavor was the experience he had gained. He was only one level away from a new job skill.
He spent the next two days in his lab, using the lesser cuts of the Yeti meat. He experimented, creating simpler dishes: nutrient-rich broths, stamina-boosting grilled skewers. Each successful creation, while not a masterpiece, granted him a steady stream of "Proof of Profession" XP. He was a factory of his own progression, his leveling speed now completely decoupled from the risks of dungeon diving.
On the third day after his meeting with the Dean, he was carefully searing a piece of Yeti steak when the final, satisfying chime echoed in his mind.
[You have leveled up!]
[You are now Lv. 10!]
[You have gained 5 unallocated stat points.]
[As you have reached Level 10, a new Job-Specific skill has been awakened.]
He immediately stopped cooking, his focus entirely on the new flood of information.
[Skill Acquired: Ingredient Enhancement (Rare) - Lv. 1]
> Description: An active skill for the Chef job. By infusing an ingredient with your mana, you can temporarily enhance its natural properties, increasing its potency and the effectiveness of any buffs it provides.
Jin Park's eyes gleamed. This was a game-changer. His dishes were already potent because of his technique. Now, he had a skill that could directly amplify the ingredients themselves before he even started cooking. A Rare-grade Sand Beetle leg could be temporarily enhanced to have the properties of an Ultrarare-grade one. The potential synergies with his Cooking and Material Synthesis skills were almost limitless.
He allocated his new stat points, continuing to focus on his Intelligence and Agility. Then, he looked at his internal clock.
[Divine Copy Cooldown Remaining: 24 days, 5 hours, 18 minutes.]
More than three weeks. A long time. But Muyeong was nothing if not patient.
His plan to acquire Ren's abilities was already in place. Now, with a fortune in his academy account, he had the time and the resources to prepare for it perfectly. He needed to create an opportunity so natural, so flawlessly staged, that Ren would walk into it willingly and never suspect a thing.
A new kind of currency had been introduced into his life—not just Aurum, but influence and reputation. He was no longer a complete unknown. He was now "Jin Park, the culinary monster of the Prime Division." He would leverage this newfound fame.
He accessed his terminal and began researching. Not combat skills, not monster weaknesses, but the social dynamics of Zenith Academy. He looked up student clubs, popular campus gathering spots, and, most importantly, the schedule for the academy's upcoming 'Inter-Divisional Collaborative Festival'—an event designed to encourage students from different disciplines to work together, still more than a month away.
The Alchemist and Culinary divisions were often paired together for this event.
A slow, cold smile spread across Jin Park's face. He wouldn't have to stalk Ren in a shadowy alley. He would wait. He would grow his own power, level his skills, and build his reputation. He would create a stage, flood it with lights, and perform his theft in front of a willing audience who would likely applaud him for it. All he had to do was be patient.