Unlike before, where they looked at the tiny bottles with eyes full of suspicion, they were now looking at them as if they were literal gold.

In a sense, they kind of were.

He took a few saucers and poured sauce into each one. He only introduced soy sauce and vinegar this time, and that was enough.

First of all, there was value in focus and simplicity, especially since his sauces were completely unfamiliar products to the people here. It would ensure the market understood and appreciated them for their features first.

It would be good for operational efficiency. Producing large quantities of this would be a massive cost. If he focused only on two products for a while, then he could recover faster.

Finally, it would build anticipation. By limiting the initial offering, he could create a sense of scarcity and exclusivity, which would only elevate desire more than it already could on its own. People would also become more curious about the next product lines that'd be hinted at here and there.

"This one is called soy sauce," he said, pointing at the darker color sauce. "It adds a deep, savory flavor that can complete a dish."

"Do you want to balance richness or add umami? This is my secret," he said, smiling.

He then pointed at the translucent one with slight orange undertones. It had a strong scent, but it grew on them already.

"This is called vinegar, it will add a tangy punch that can cut through greasy taste or excess sweetness. They're also great for adding contrast."

"You can try them," he said. Chefs would know the difference in taste, so it would be easier to convince them. "The meat could also taste good with either of these. "Just a dip, they're a bit strong."

The chefs curiously dipped a bit of the meat or other things in the sauces, getting familiar with the taste and how they were different.

Normal people might have limited appreciation as they were, or at least would have trouble verbalizing the experience, but the chefs could directly tell how it could modify the taste and experience.

Their eyes were wide and sparkling, as if a multitude of possibilities had passed over their heads. "This…"

"These are both very good…" the head chef said, and he —along with the rest of the kitchen staff—was looking at him with sparkling eyes. "Where did you obtain it?"

"I bought it off a merchant before, and encountered them again on the way here and stocked up."

"What?"

"You mean there's no more?"

Their shoulders slumped. If it were a new product by humans, then they might be some of the last to get a bottle. After all, the rest of the safe zone was a better market than the dangerous borders!

"I'm not sure when it'd appear, but probably soon," Finn said. "I've been told Lotus Town is one of the places they'd prioritize to sell, for some reason."

"Oh?"

This gave everyone hope, and Finn smiled.

"Yes. I'm not sure why, but it seems like they prefer this place, so you can expect it to appear somewhere here in the next couple of months."

He wasn't entirely sure what the business plan would be, but he'd figure something out. So far, it was the best path for him to earn good money for his inn, and ideally, it would be passive income. He hadn't found a partner yet, but he believed he could find one through the Adventurer's Guild.

"Then…can I buy these from you?" the head chef asked him, very politely. Gone was the time (which was just an hour prior, by the way), he was arrogant with him.

Finn looked reluctant, and they all looked at him tensely. "Perhaps, if I can obtain a few common ingredients from your stockroom, I can sell them for the price I bought them."

Before they could ask, he added: "We will be traveling again right after tomorrow, after all, we'd like to replenish our supplies. I won't ask for too much, don't worry. We're friends, aren't we?"

At this, the chefs sparkled and immediately agreed.

"DEAL!"

…

He got a couple of gold-worth of items for the two half-empty bottles. Finn's heart was elated, not because of the money, but because he could finally get back to his sister!

As promised, he was given everything he needed. He was lent a basket that he could bring with him. Since he said the elves hated eggs, he had to be particularly sneaky to get his sister, but he managed to do so, fortunately.

He placed her on a cushion made of vegetable leaves, and his heart warmed even when he was confused.

He smiled at the chefs, smiling at them, holding the basket snug in his arms. "Can I leave now?" he asked. He had to disappear before the guest arrived. Now that he had the egg, he could whoosh away as soon as he left the kitchen!

"Sure! It was great meeting you! See you in this kitchen tomorrow!"

Finn smiled and waved his hand. Yeah, sure.

It was just that as he was about to exit the door, it opened abruptly instead, almost hitting him. If it weren't for his [Monster Instinct] perhaps it would've.

What was a kitchen door doing opening inwards, anyway?

BANG!

The door opened abruptly, making everyone's head turn in that direction. They were in such a rush, he thought he was exposed. By instinct, he was already ready to run when—

"The guests really arrived earlier!" they said, with some standing next to him. "Even earlier than what you said! You should go and see them now!"

Finn's eyes twitched.

Oh, shit.

…

Finn was literally dragged outside, and he could only look longingly at the kitchen. However, he did not lose his cool. It wasn't like these people had lost anything. Even if he was caught, they might not punish him. He'd just pretend to be a hungry beggar or something.

Such a big group ought to have several teams, anyway. He could even pass it off as the other team owning him.

.

.

But the first person he saw happened to be someone familiar, and the multitude of excuses that passed through his head dissipated completely.

"Syl?"

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