I have to say trying to act in front of someone who is older than you is the same as when a child tries to lie when he is caught doing wrong, so obvious.

I started preparing some food for dinner and was about to eat it when 2 people entered. I recognised both of them at once. One was the crown prince, James the 3rd, the other his most loyal and the famous bodyguard of the empire, Tom.

Well, it seems the spoilt brat came just as I expected. The infamy caused by the useless spoilt prince is famous throughout most of the empire. This is one of the major reason why the royal court is split into 3 factions, a faction supporting the emperor and crown prince, one supporting the Jack and the last one staying as a neutral faction.

I smiled seeing the crown prince and Tom coming closer to the desk. Both of them smelling the food in front of me.

"That smells so good. Long-time, no see John. I haven't seen you since you came for the meal at dad's place ages ago." Seeing his uncaring attitude, John smiled.

"Yeah, it has been a long time, your highness. How are you doing?" I asked back

"Not that easy, Smith always locks me up in the palace saying, that if I go out I would cause trouble for dad. Meh, what does he know? All I do is just have fun, in the red street, I don't even beat people up anymore. When I become emperor, I am pretty sure I would never be able to enjoy, so I am enjoying my life now. Even Tom thinks that I should go out less often .Tell me is it wrong to enjoy?"

"It is as you have said, the only thing butler Smith knows is to annoy. Enjoy you life to the fullest your highness. So, what can I do for you today?" I observed both of them as I bad mouthed Smith. Only to see the prince agreeing with me whole heartedly, while Tom just glared at me, with his usual poker face as always.

"I heard the restaurant you opened sell delicious food. When I last saw you 8 years ago I never expected you to want to be a chef, and an awesome one at that from the smell of the food. I came here to have a taste of your food, as I heard father and Smith talking about it."

"What do you want? The menu is here." I pointed at the desk. So, it seems Smith and the emperor are running around like headless chickens now.

"Hmm, why are there only 3 food here John? Do you not have more?" He asked me curiously, as he totally ignored the prices of the food.

"I have only bought ingredient for these 3 items. However, if you become a member, then you can bring in your own ingredients and I will cook them for you."

The prince nodded as he said, "That is cool, being a member and all makes you feel special. I will buy it after eating. I will have all 3 of them from the menu, one for me and one for Tom." I could see Tom's reluctance as James ordered the food. Then Tom came up and paid the price without even looking at the menu. 'Oh, so it seems, Tom has already been informed beforehand.'

"Ok 5 minutes brother. Just pick a table and sit down." I went in with my unfinished food and came out after 5 minutes only to see James still standing there inhaling the fragrance coming from the kitchen, while Tom seemed unaffected.

"Here you go." As soon as the tray left my hand it was grabbed by James as he rushed towards a table followed by a sighing Tom. They sat on a same table and started eating. The prince reacted like everyone else just crying from the taste, and unexpectedly few tears started pouring from Tom's eyes like the old man from before, but he didn't break down. Then it was followed by the steak, and dessert. Soon they were finished in 10 minutes, and started glowing, while the messy hair of Tom smoothed out to be silkier and smoother, whereas James' hair started to grow longer by few centimetres.

"This is awesome John. I have never tasted food like this. Compared to the old man in my dads kitchen you are really awesome. Damn, if I knew it was going to be this tasty, I wouldn't have eaten before coming here. Tom we should just come here every day." Tom had a lost expression on his face, as he wanted to come here often due to how good the food tasted but considering the safety of his lord was his priority. So he just stood there without replying.

"John, how much is the membership? I really want to buy one after tasting the food, and I want to see what you can make with some of the ingredients used by that old man."

I informed them of the conditions to acquire the membership, followed by the benefits of having the membership. As soon as Tom heard that you have to fulfil a request of mine to acquire membership his expression tensed.

"Oh, that is easy, as long as it is in this empire I can get anything for you. So, what do you want John?" James replied

"Since it is you, you highness I wouldn't make a hard request. My request for you will be to get me a copy of the 'Nobles and Kings of the Empire'." The book I requested of James was a book found most commonly found in the streets, informing everyone who the kings in certain kingdoms are, the nobles in those kingdoms, the current 10 commandment nobles, and the emperor. Basically, it was a book to identify the nobles living in the empire. This was done so that everyone can recognise a noble if he were to walk in front of you and give them the respect they deserve, according to their ranks. It can bought for as much as 1 silver from any bookstore in the empire, even in a backwater village.

"Oh, that is easy, Tom always carries one with him. Pass it to me Tom" As soon as Tom heard my request his expression darkened, knowing that I tricked James. But hearing James' order and his hands waiting out in front him for the book, he reluctantly took a thin book out from his suites inside pocket.

He cursed Smith, remembering it was him that asked him to take the book with him everywhere to identify someone, just in case if the young lord pissed a relative of someone very important.

But how did this bastard know that we carried one copy with us. This is a special copy made only for the 10 commandment nobles and the emperor.

Taking the book from his hand James passed it to me along with 10 plat chip. "Here you go, by the way this is a special edition made just for me. This book not only has the list of all the current nobles, but it has the list of all their relatives. Smith gave it to Tom, saying he should check everyone who I get in trouble with it, and to stop me before I piss them off. In all honesty I don't really need it as that rotten tomato doesn't know how powerful our dad really is."

"You majesty this is too much I just need a normal one. I can't take something this expensive from ..." I put on a panicked and reluctant expression while he interrupted me. I expected him to have a special edition, since he was the favourite of the emperor, but I didn't expect him to carry one with him. I thought he would have come back with it next day. But that would have given enough time for Smith and the emperor to make some changes to the book, unfortunately for them they screwed themselves this time.

"Don't worry, take it as my gift to you for making delicious food for me, also I got another one at home, that one was Tom's." He said cheerfully while Tom was staring at me with murderous gaze

I reluctantly accepted with a smiling face while fawning over the crown prince and his benevolence.

"Oh, since you are the first member let me inform you of few things, before I give you your membership card:

1- All memberships must be renewed every year, the price for it is 10k gold and fulfilling a request of mine.

2-If you want to bring in any ingredients, then you have to inform me what you are going to bring in beforehand, and when you will bring it in. This is to give me enough time to prepare for it.

3- You have to buy some supplementary ingredients I say, with the ingredients you want. This is so I can bring out the full taste of the ingredient you want to bring in.

4-The price of the food will vary depending on the ingredients bought and will be informed, when you make the appointment to bring the ingredient in.

5-Payment has to be made first before I cook your ingredient.

6-I will take 30% of all ingredient bought in. This is so before I cook any food, I want to experiment with it to see, which ingredient goes with it best.

7-Any replacement card will cost 10 gold. But since your highness is the first member, and you gave me a valuable gift you don't have to pay for it.

8-I have the right to add more rules in the future, and you are to follow them.

Do you agree with all of this?"

"Yeah, but it's kind of long to remember." The prince said as he tried hard to remember the rules

"Don't worry it is all written down in your membership card." Hearing that he sighed before I took out a card and wrote something down.

"Remember this card is only for you, and no one other than you can use it to make order." I said as I handed him a black card with gold border and writings. He observed the card for a few minutes before saying.

"Hey John, what is this weird gibberish written here?" He pointed to what was written in the back of the card.

I smiled as I replied, "That is your name, written in a code only I know, so if someone stole your card and came in with your card, I would know that he is using your card, and makes it impossible to forge another card."

"Wow, that is clever and cool at the same time." He said fascinated by the gibberish written down.

"Can I make an order for tomorrow then?" He asked me after putting the card carefully in his wallet.

"Sure. What would you like to bring in and when?"

"I want to bring in ..." He listed me several names of what I assumed was level 3 beast ingredients, all being meat. I closed my eyes, as I used my soul to review what I read about those ingredients, from a book in the library. Then following that I listed some ingredients for James to bring in. The total price for the whole dish turned out to be 20 plat chips. James paid upfront and promised to be back tomorrow morning with the ingredients.

He left followed by Tom, who still had his murderous aura locked onto me, still pissed off with me, about tricking James for the book. As soon as they were about to open the door someone else opened it from the outside, it was the old man from before, with a pouch in his hand, laughing as he said, "Kid I have completed your mission, you better give me some offers as your first member! Hahaha!"

Seriously I just want to eat my dinner now, and not deal with this annoying old man.