So beautiful!

The neatly trimmed green field, the many open farming beds at the perimeters, and an open pond at the center of the space. 

Wait… Were they to pick and choose their own ingredients from the lot? 

Bubuum. 

Heartbeats rising, sweat forming on their palms, many stepped towards the many rows and columns of tables liked up in the open. 

No doubt about it, these tables would be their preparation sites. 

And by the side of every table was a small portable outdoor gas tank connected to a gas stove with 2 spots for cooking.

This meant that each examinee could cook at most 2 things at a time.

How they used up their time would be up to them. 

Some people might decide to start with the ingredients that took the longest to make, while others might choose to start with those that took the shortest.

And strategically positioned at the perimeters of the site were massive ovens to be used by everyone. 

They also quickly noticed that each table had a chopping board, several knives, spoons, pots, preparation bowls, serving dishes, and serving trays.

[Everyone, take your positions according to your numbers.]

And at the very front was a podium with numerous teachers seated calmly while others stood on the sides instead.

But apart from the teachers and examiners, there were also quite a few security guards and famous certified Baymardian chefs, and important personnel in the food industry who came as guests.

”Wow! His majesty Landon and his majesty Astar are here!”

Someone exclaimed. And immediately, everyone felt their bodies burn with uncontrollable excitement.

And Mildred wasn’t exempted from this feeling. 

Her idol… Her idol was here!

.

Examinee 378. 

That was her number. 

Look left, look right, she noticed that 372~377 had no tables here. 

…so does this mean that they were to the right, heading to the bartending exam? 

But even with many missing, Mildred could roughly guess that there should be at least 800 of them here.

And from what she was told, the moment the exam began, the elimination would also begin. 

It’s said that before the taste-testing period came, as many as 1/10th of them might’ve already failed. 

And after taste-testing, some would still end up failing as well. 

And this was all within the first day of their exams. 

Just as she expected, the hundreds of examiners were already moving about the scene. 

Some had already been disqualified for not even bothering to bring an apron. 

”Disqualified!”

”No… No… Please, give me one more chance.”

”Disqualified!”

”Why? Why am I disqualified over such a flimsy reason while they aren’t?”

”Disqualified!”

”How can I be disqualified? Impossible! I’m one of the best cooks in my town!”

”Go home! You’re out!”

Brutal.

Many secretly sweated buckets, listening to the examiners disqualify a few around them. 

Lying trough, why the savagery?

Already, their 800 had dropped down quite a bit. 

Okaru trembled and released a sigh of relief, seeing the examiner pass her without any issues. 

Her entire body was shaking to the core. 

”Mildred, they are really tough, aren’t they.”

Mildred nodded, agreeing with Okaru. 

This was her first time in such an exam.

And even if she was calm and confident, the shocks and the seriousness were enough to make her tale this very serious. 

She dared to say that she had never felt so on edge before. 

Mildred looked at Landon in the far distance above the Podium. 

’As expected of an academy opened by my Idol.’

Clenching her blade, Mildred swore to create the best dish she had ever made in her life!

She had a deal with Astar. 

If she doesn’t pass the exam, she would go back to Terique and begin her Queen training which was like hell. 

When she thought of all the horror she had faced during that time, she had no idea how Astar could sit through his Monarch training when he was younger. 

She knew that eventually, she would begin her Queen training. But what she geared was that by the time she officially began, she wouldn’t have time to further her dream as a chef. 

That’s why she wanted to do this first!

It was also fated that Okaru just happened to be by the table beside her.

.

”Examinees! Today, you’ll begin your first exam. You are to create any dish of your choice, focused around any theme, with the main ingredient being Tomatoes.” The host said with a playful look in his eyes. 

”Look all around you!… There are ingredients everywhere. And on the public tables, there are also some ingredients like rice, flour, salt, and others… The choice is yours.”

Already, many thought of what they would pair their dishes with.

Rice?… Flour?… There wasn’t a mention of pasta or noodles. So should they want this, they would have to make it from the flour available.

Oil and all the rest were there too. 

Suddenly, the atmosphere was even more energetic. 

And once again, the host’s voice rang out. 

”You have 5 hours on the clock! Those who if she earlier can also get early evaluations and leave early. Now, begin!”

Like an order from the heavens, many rushed to grab their ingredients.

”Okaru, do you have what dishes you want to make in mind?”

Okaru shook her head in confusion. “Not… Not yet.”

”Then think fast. Look all around you. Apart from tomatoes that seem excessive, the farm beds and even the pond has limited ingredients. Once they are all picked out, those who failed to secure them will be forced to cook with what other scarce ingredients they find!”

What?!

Okaru’s eyes opened in horror.

Limited?

Then… Then didn’t this mean they might end up with little to no, or ones that are badly damaged or poor in quality? 

”You understand this, don’t you. No matter how good one’s cooking ability is, bad quality ingredients will always leave defects in the dishes.”

Mildred’s words smacked Okaru in the face. 

And gritting her teeth, she dropped her blade and held Mildred firmly. 

Blame her for thinking stupidly. 

”Let’s go! We have to get the freshest tomatoes… And fish! Yes! Fish! We have to catch the fish!”

What the hell were they waiting for?

Like lightning, everyone developed ninja tactics.

The examiners, invigilators, guests, and everyone stared at the chaotic scenes with smiles on their faces

The exam had officially begun!

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