"Darn it, when we try to keep the information of his cooking inside the noble circle, he goes off and ruins everything," James shouted in fury as he threw the report in his hand to the ground.

"Well, at least it seems like he dug his grave deeper, your majesty," Albert said as he sat down on a chair in the personal room of emperor

James nodded "Yes now, even the merchant association will stop him from competing. Now even if we miraculously supported him, the whole merchant association won't, and they will even resort to threatening to stop him from entering. Albert are you really sure of your analysis of him? To me it feels like, he is not what you described him to be." James calmed down as he thought about it.

"No, your majesty, I am absolutely certain of my analysis and my intuition of him. Now we know one thing for sure."

"He isn't aiming for the throne?" James guessed

"Yes" Albert nodded

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"But then why did he apply to enter the competition, Steven?" The Jack enquired of the same man he always has these discussions with, as he sat opposite him as they ate the lasagne delivered to them by their agents from Johns shop. Although the man looked much younger than before.

"Simple. He wanted attention. Almost all the neutral faction nobles and other factions kept an eye on John, seeing his brilliance in the study. But due to his soulless attribute, everyone became disappointed and ignored him. But his soulless status gave him a benefit."

"He became famous overnight." Interrupted Jack.

"Yes, and what would the reaction be if they knew he is entering the competition?"

"Everyone would focus on the soulless entering the competition, and how he is planning to enter the competition?"

"Correct. Now imagine as all eyes are drawn to him, he suddenly opens a restaurant that is capable of high conservation of food."

"So, he just used the competition as a stepping stone to show off his talent and his capability. Then later he uses his talent to bring in all the rich people to his shop.

But the question still remain what are they planning?

What does he want that makes the throne insignificant to his eyes?

He seeks neither fame nor reputation, this is seen as he didn't bother to participate in 'The Grand Chef', he has enough money to hire a healer to heal him to increase the amount of time he can live, but he doesn't do that."

Suddenly Steven paused eating as he thought something "I just had a ridiculous idea."

Seeing him pause like that while eating the delicious food of John, Jack asked in seriousness "What?"

"What kind of person would you describe as not wanting fame and reputation but just wants money earned from his job?"

"A greedy person?"

"Yes, now combine that with someone who could have received a title or anything he wanted when he threatened Smith but rejected everything 'because he was bored'."

"We get someone who just wants to be left alone. So, you are telling me he is a master manipulator who is able to get anything he wants, but doesn't want to because he just wants to be left alone?"

Steven shook his head "You are half correct, he is a master manipulator who wants to be left alone, but someone managed to piss him off and now he is out for vengeance. He is not playing this game for the final prize or anything, but he is out in the playing field to ..."

"...cause chaos. He is enjoying watching us all playing in his hands like ants." Jack interrupted. Suddenly everyone including Albert, the Emperor, Steven, Jack and all who came to this same conclusion felt a cold wind on their back, as the hair in their body stood up.

But then Jack shook his head "That is a good theory, but where would you fit the assassin and his backer in that theory?"

"That is why I said it was a 'ridiculous idea'. I still can't find the link between the assassin and his backer." He carried on eating.

"Hahaha" Suddenly Steven started to laugh. Seeing Jack sending an inquisitive gaze he replied

"I was thinking if what you said was true, then which idiot managed to piss him off and you know who the most likely guess is?"

"The control freak!" Declared Jack, without even second-guessing.

"Right that means, right now Albert must have come to the same conclusion as mine. I was just imagining the face of your dad as he realised he is the one who opened the gates of hell and stabbed the devil in the ass."

"Steven although that is quite funny, if what you said is the truth then John won't just stop at that idiot, he will only stop once everyone involved in this has suffered."

"I know. But like you said before it is only a 'theory'."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The emperor's face darkened as he realised he was the source of his own headache. "Do you think if I release Seban and his team that will pacify him?"

"I don't think so, your majesty. If John had wanted that he could have asked for that from Smith. That means John could care less about Seban and his team or they are just another set of pawns in his game. He won't stop until he achieves what he wants, and that is to make you suffer, along with all those who are related to this."

"I think you are over exaggerating this a bit too much Albert." The emperor said as he finally sat on his chair while leaning on his armrest.

"I hope so as well, besides this is just a guess of mine. Along with the fact that we don't know what role the other noble has in this game. I have a feeling that soon whatever plan they are running, it will be revealed. And at that moment whoever the assassin is and his master is they will come to us for help."

The emperor nodded "Anyway, get ready for tomorrow. It is the final day of the celebration. Also, what was the reply of the arrogant idiot who won 'The Grand Chef' contest this year?"

"He agreed to be the apprentice of Oliver and work here."

The emperor finally sighed as Albert got up to leave.