After completing the fusion, Kael returned once again to Master Suikyou's residence.
"You're finally back!"
When they saw Kael, everyone lit up with relief. If not for the GT Robot staying behind the whole time, they might've thought something had happened to him.
Seeing him return safely put them all at ease.
"It's done, so of course I came back," Kael said calmly. "I didn't expect gains like this either. But after all this time, the Dark Cooking Society should've gathered all the Legendary Kitchenware by now, right?"
He wasn't about to let go of tools that contained massive reserves of lifespan.
"With the Dark Cooking Society's efficiency, they definitely finished long ago," Ensei said. "It's just that since we've been staying here with Master Suikyou, they don't dare come knocking."
"No, but there should be plenty of their people lurking around West Lake," Arkan added.
As two former Five Tiger Stars, they understood the Dark Cooking Society all too well and laid out its current movements clearly.
"In that case, let's go," Kael said. "We'll head straight for the Dark Cooking Society. By the way—are you coming with me, or staying here?"
Originally, he'd planned to go alone, but now he decided to let them choose.
"I'll go with you," Ensei said after a moment's thought. "Might as well collect Kaiyu's body. We were friends, after all."
With Kael's strength, the Dark Cooking Society stood no chance. Kaiyu was as good as dead. As his friend, Ensei felt it was only right to deal with the aftermath.
That didn't mean he intended to help Kaiyu. Kael was his boss now. As for Kaiyu—friend or not—this mess was entirely his own doing. Ensei wasn't going to clean it up for him.
"I'll go too," Arkan said. "Not everyone in the Dark Cooking Society is like Kaiyu. Some people actually sided with me. After I left, their situation probably got worse. This is a good chance to bring them over. They can work for Lord Kael in the future."
Not everyone in the Dark Cooking Society was beyond saving. Many had joined because the imperial court was corrupt and incompetent, pushing people to desperation.
Much like Ryozanpaku of old, the Dark Cooking Society was a mixed bag.
"Then we'll all go together," Kael said. "The GT Robot will stay with you."
He didn't recall the GT Robot. With its strength, it was more than enough to protect the group. As for himself, Kael didn't need protection at all.
Riko didn't voice an opinion. She always followed Arkan—wherever he went, she went too.
After bidding farewell to Master Suikyou and the others, they set off. To be honest, KaSuikyou el felt a bit reluctant to leave—not because of any attachment, but because the GT Robot was simply too convenient. Give it an order, and it would bring back any ingredient in no time.
Unfortunately, it belonged to Kael. Once the temporary permissions were revoked, Master Suikyou could no longer command it.
Besides, during this period, Kael had already absorbed all the knowledge Master Suikyou had to offer, thanks to the GT Robot assisting his studies. That was why he left so decisively.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have minded letting Kaiyu stew in anxiety a little longer.
As soon as Kael and the others left Master Suikyou's residence, nearby members of the culinary world noticed—but Kael had no interest in exchanging pleasantries.
He led everyone straight toward the Dark Cooking Society's headquarters.
At first, the Dark Cooking Society was confused. Then they realized Kael's route led directly to Ryozanpaku—their headquarters.
The moment that became clear, the message was sent back immediately.
"I was wondering how to lure you out," Kaiyu sneered when he heard the report. "Didn't expect you to come knocking yourself. I'd like to see what gives you the nerve to charge straight into the Dark Cooking Society!"
Kaiyu was furious. Their headquarters might not rival the imperial palace, but it was heavily guarded. Kael daring to approach so openly enraged him.
He completely forgot that Kael had already taken Legendary Kitchenware straight from the palace.
More than ten days later, Kael and his group finally reached the core territory of the Dark Cooking Society.
Passing through devastated villages, Kael's expression remained calm—but inwardly, he'd already decided Kaiyu had to die.
He wasn't a saint, but he wasn't cold-blooded either. Seeing devastation with his own eyes changed things.
"These villages used to be prosperous," Ensei said quietly. "They were destroyed by the Dark Cooking Society."
He knew exactly what had happened—and how powerless he'd been to stop it. Kaiyu was the leader. The orders came from him.
"They'll pay for it," Kael said coldly. "If I hadn't seen it myself, that'd be one thing. But now? Kaiyu will pay a heavy price."
A trace of killing intent flickered in Kael's eyes.
His killing intent was tied to the Gourmet Demon. The Red Demon alone had slaughtered countless beings. That aura alone made the air around them feel colder.
Arkan and Ensei exchanged glances but said nothing. Kaiyu was already a dead man.
After passing several more ruined villages, they finally arrived at Ryozanpaku.
Led by Ensei and Arkan, they found a small boat and headed toward the headquarters.
Their arrival didn't go unnoticed. The report quickly reached Kaiyu.
"So you're finally here," Kaiyu said grimly. "Since that's the case, we proceed as planned. Sink their boat first."
He had no intention of facing Kael head-on. Instead, he planned to use the surrounding waters.
Falling into the water wouldn't kill them instantly, but it would severely limit their combat ability. Once they were dead, he could salvage the kitchenware at leisure.
A solid plan—if his opponent weren't Kael.
As their boat reached the middle of the waterway, several boats appeared ahead. People leapt straight into the water.
"Kaiyu's as ruthless as ever," Ensei muttered. "He never intended a fair cooking duel."
"Then let's play along," Kael said casually.
He immediately sent the GT Robot into the water.
Ryozanpaku's strength lay in water combat. Historically, even imperial forces struggled here.
But the GT Robot was different.
When harvesting ingredients, it was the ultimate Gourmet Hunter.
When killing enemies, it was the perfect weapon.
Muffled screams soon echoed from beneath the water. Though faint, Kael and Ensei heard them clearly.
One by one, bodies floated to the surface.
Some tried to flee—but the GT Robot was too fast. They never made it back to their boats.
Not just people—even the boats were torn apart like paper.
In the blink of an eye, only Kael's boat remained.
"Incredible…" Ensei stared at the GT Robot in shock. "We've seen it hunt ingredients before, but this is the first time we've seen it fight. This thing's a monster."
In such a short time, it had slaughtered so many people and destroyed so many boats.
Ensei swallowed. "Those hands… tearing through boats like paper. That's terrifying."
And the worst part? It wasn't human. It didn't tire. It didn't feel pain.
Powered by advanced energy systems—solar, wind, and more—the GT Robot would never run out of power as long as it operated in the open.
An unfeeling, indestructible killing machine.
Given enough time, it could wipe out an army of a million.
"Even I'm no match for it in that regard," Kael admitted.
They soon reached the shore. With the GT Robot present, no one dared block them.
Left with no choice, the Dark Cooking Society let them in—hoping for a cooking duel.
A foolish hope.
Inside the hall, they met the Dark Cooking Society's core members.
Aside from three missing Five Tiger Stars, even the lin Chefs had been summoned.
Arkan glanced at several familiar faces. "If you want to live, come with us."
They didn't hesitate.
One by one, they rushed over, terrified they'd be too slow.
No one wanted to die for Kaiyu's mess.
Kael hadn't been around long, but his reputation was clear—don't provoke him, and he won't bother you. Cross him, and he won't let it go.
This was Kaiyu's fault. He'd started it.
No one wanted to take the fall for him.
After all, who could've imagined Kael would be this terrifying?
Facing an entire Dark Cooking Society alone—and winning.
And what they'd just seen on the water made it obvious.
Their people hadn't even put up a fight.
And the one who killed them… wasn't human at all.