Chapter 554: God of Cooking’s Trial

Chapter 554: God of Cooking’s Trial

The topic of conversations all over the world revolved around how the Food God knocked down Akhan. Many people were shocked and amazed by the fact that the Food God was able to obtain the title of being the first player ever to create an ‘Absolute God’s Secret’ during his time of crisis.

[No other player would be able to hold a candle to the Food God now. He’s the only king in Athenae and is an absolute existence that holds plenty of cards in his hands.]

[No one can hold a candle to the Food God? That’s quite an assumption. Let’s all keep in mind that the Food God is, after all, also a player. Just one wrong move and he could be wrenched out of the game rankings.]

[The fact that the Food God is amazing can never be denied. However, I’m sure that it’s only because he obtained the title of becoming the very first player that created an Absolute God’s Secret, right? Didn’t the whole world witness it though? Besides, the Food God’s Absolute God’s Secret was sealed. Right? That was Athenae’s way to maintain balance.]

[That’s right. You can’t call the Food God the best of the best with just one Absolute God’s Secret. Besides, he still lost the Absolute God’s Secret that he created right away, right?]

[The Food God’s Absolute God’s Secret has been sealed. If a player with an unsealed Absolute God’s Secret appeared in front of him then, I believe the Food God has no choice but to admit defeat.]

[The Food God... Haha... His Absolute God’s Secret got taken away as soon as he created it. So pitiful.]

Plenty of people were showing their interest in the Absolute God’s Secret that Minhyuk had created. Some even wondered if the Food God would be able to dominate the world once the servers have integrated with this Absolute God’s Secret. But in the end, Food God Minhyuk’s Absolute God’s Secret was sealed away.

[Rankers from all over the world are now gearing up to gain more power and build their own kingdoms. Their first target will definitely be the Food God’s Beyond the Heavens Kingdom. Will they be able to hold on to their kingdom?]

Many of them believed that the Food God would collapse once the continents integrated.

***

Joy Co. Ltd.’s Headquarters.

Tens of thousands of calls poured down on them each and every single day after Akhan revealed to the public that he was one of Athenae’s early developers. President Kang Taehoon immediately announced that the only thing that was similar to the Athenae that Akhan helped develop and the Athenae of today were their main frames. As for the rest of the game? Of course, they were completely different.

However, Kang Taehoon’s words could not calm the public’s seething anger. Rumors about Joy Co. Ltd. using Akhan to create issues and attract players even started to circulate.

President Kang Taehoon looked out of the windows of the conference room. It seemed like he was deep in thought while each of the heads of Joy Co. Ltd.’s departments all tried to suggest a solution from behind him. Some of their suggestions were borderline absurd but Park Minggyu’s proposal topped the cake. It was very groundbreaking, “We have to cover up an issue with a newer issue. It has to have a huge impact that the entire world would be covered with articles about it.”

“At the level of that issue, only an issue at the scale of Athenae: World War would work, right?”

“We can’t just suddenly hold an Athenae: World War.”

President Kang Taehoon looked at Team Leader Park Minggyu, his head still deep in his thoughts, ‘Cover up an issue with another issue. What is the best way for us to go about with this method?’

Then, it came to him.

“How about holding a new event with double the EXP acquisition and drop rate when hunting during the continent integration event ‘The Stars’ Path’?”

“...That’s quite an impressive idea but the problem is that the event should have an equal, or even bigger impact than Athenae: World War.”

President Kang Taehoon hurriedly sat down with a wide smile on his face, “Everyone, hear me out. The Stars’ Path is unimaginably wide. It’s around a few continents combined together, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Right.”

That was also why Joy Co. Ltd. had to create many NPCs and build many dungeons and hunting grounds inside the Stars’ Path.

“Then, why don’t we hold a ‘Battle of the Thrones’ at the same time as the servers’ integration?”

“A Battle of the Thrones?”

“Battle of the Thrones?”

Everyone present in the room waited for Kang Taehoon’s explanation, their eyes stained with curiosity. What did President Kang Taehoon mean when he said Battle of the Thrones?

“How many kingdoms will be established in Athenae a month from now?”

“A safe estimate would be around three kingdoms.”

“And a year later?”

“Around eight, give or take.”

“There are countless forces and groups that are consolidating their power and preparing to establish their own kingdoms. Besides, the players are all curious about how kingdom warfare between players of each country would go.”

“Don’t tell me...”

“That’s right, each country will participate in the Battle of the Thrones. Each country can only select one ‘king’ who will become the central figure of a kingdom established inside the Stars’ Path.”

“So, what you mean is that each of the countries that will participate in this, will be able to establish a kingdom inside the Stars’ Path, and these kingdoms will fight against each other?”

[Hidden Quest: Ingredients for Arlene.]

Rank: ???

Requirements: ???

Rewards: ???

Penalty for Failure: ???

Description: Meet Arlene in Cairon Continent’s Abyss Village and fetch the ingredients that she requires.

‘Cairon Continent’s Abyss Village...’

Minhyuk had little to no information about Abyss Village. Because of that, he decided to consult with Haze or Aruvel, the Great Sage and the best selling erotica author. So, he stood up and moved.

***

Abyss Village had a hidden meaning. The word Abyss meant a deep and bottomless pit. But the Abyss that existed in Athenae was different. After all, it was a world that was different from the world that everyone knew.

The name ‘Abyss’ was given to Abyss Village because it was a village located close to the gates that connected to another world. There were even stories about how one would be able to see the ‘World of the Gods’ if they passed through the gates of the Abyss. Some say that they would lay witness to the world of the Great Demons while some say that they would be able to see the world where all the previous generations’ Legendaries were living. There were so many stories about Abyss that the truth about it had never been confirmed.

The cranky old lady Arlene clicked her tongue, “Damn bastards! You want to make another ridiculous trial like before?!”

Arlene cursed as she looked up at the skies. Arlene was the crankiest and most ill-tempered person in the entire Abyss Village.

“But he just would not stand down!”

For once, Arlene thought that she should try and help to keep him from collapsing just like ‘that person’ did in the past. But there was a problem. The ingredient that she needed could only be found in the Abyss.

Arlene watched the sunset for a long time before sighing and trying to walk back to her shabby cabin. But then, she saw a young man walking with his back towards the sunset. For a moment, Arlene was left in a daze, unable to take her eyes off of the man’s gorgeous looks.

“Huh?”

Why was the man walking while gnawing on a piece of chicken leg? That was not all.

Gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp—

“Kyaa~ The scenery is so good!”

The man gulped down the contents of an entire can of coke in one go and smiled pleasantly. Arlene felt quite a familiar feeling bubble up in her chest, the same feelings that she felt in the past.

‘He’s just like you.’

Finally, the man appeared in front of Arlene.

“Hello, grandma!” The young man hurriedly put his chicken and coke down as he bowed and greeted Arlene politely. Arlene looked at the young man’s face for a very long time, making the man turn embarrassed as he continued to open his mouth, “My name is Minhyuk.”

***

Special Players Management Team.

Today, as usual, Lee Minhwa was digging into her cup noodles, her late-night snack, while watching the monitor. She blew on her cup and took a sip of the warm soup.

“Kggghk~ I’m alive again~”

Lee Minhwa looked very happy, as if she had everything in the world. But the events that unfolded on the monitor in front of her caused her mouth to drop wide open. A bright red light flashed as phrases started to appear on the screen.

“Team, Team Leader!!! Team Leader!!!” Lee Minhwa shouted, her voice very haggard and urgent.

Team Leader Park Minggyu hurriedly rushed to check what was happening on her monitor. But the words that appeared on the screen also brought a huge shock to Minggyu, “What...?”

And the words that appeared on the monitor...

[Player Minhyuk has made contact with one of the Absolute Gods.]

[She was the master of the previous Food God.]

[She once bewitched all of the gods with her dishes.]

[She is currently in disguise and living in Abyss Village.]

[She is one of the Absolute Gods living under the name ‘Arlene’.]

[She is the God of Cooking.]