The small car stopped in front of Grandpa's Noodles.
Vash looked through the window for a moment before slowly opening the door.
His legs were still weak, so Rohan immediately moved beside him.
"Easy."
"I can walk."
"I know. I'm just making sure you don't fall."
Vash gave him an annoyed look.
"I said I'm fine."
Rohan smiled.
"Sure."
Together, they walked toward the restaurant.
But as soon as Vash reached the entrance, he stopped.
Something was wrong.
The restaurant was completely empty.
Usually, there would be at least a few customers sitting at the wooden tables, eating noodles or fried chicken.
Today, there wasn't a single customer.
Instead, several unfamiliar men were standing around the tables.
They weren't dressed like ordinary customers.
Dark shirts.
Serious expressions.
Some had their hands folded in front of them, while others stood with their backs against the wall.
Vash immediately became cautious.
His eyes moved toward the center of the restaurant.
A man was sitting alone at one of the tables.
He was impossible to ignore.
He was unusually tall and heavily built, with broad shoulders and a large stomach that strained slightly against his dark shirt. His thick arms rested on the table, and his face looked intimidating at first glance.
But there was something strange about him.
He was eating.
And not just eating.
He was eating like he had discovered the greatest meal of his life.
A large bowl of noodles sat in front of him.
He picked up another mouthful with his chopsticks and ate it slowly.
His eyes closed for a moment.
Then he took another bite.
Vash stared.
He looked at Rohan.
Rohan whispered, "Who is that?"
"I don't know."
Vash looked toward his grandmother.
She was standing behind the counter, preparing another plate of food.
"Grandma."
She looked at him.
"You're back."
Vash lowered his voice.
"Who are those people?"
His grandmother hesitated.
Then she glanced toward the large man.
"The local gang."
Vash's expression changed.
"The gang?"
She nodded.
"Their boss came here."
"Why?"
His grandmother didn't answer immediately.
Then she quietly said,
"Protection money."
Vash's smile disappeared.
He looked at his grandfather.
The old man was standing behind the counter, unusually quiet.
Vash understood.
Their restaurant was small.
Their income wasn't large.
After everything his grandparents had sacrificed for him, they could barely afford unnecessary expenses.
And now someone had come to take money from them.
Vash clenched his hand.
The large man suddenly placed his chopsticks down.
Everyone became silent.
He looked at the empty bowl in front of him.
Then he looked toward the kitchen.
"Excuse me."
Grandma walked over.
"Yes?"
The boss pointed at the bowl.
"Who cooked this?"
Grandma looked slightly surprised.
"I did."
The man's eyes widened.
"You?"
She nodded.
He leaned back in his chair.
"That's incredible."
His men exchanged confused glances.
Their boss rarely praised anyone.
The large man picked up the bowl and looked inside as if hoping to find more.
"Do you have another serving?"
Grandma smiled politely.
"Of course."
She turned toward the kitchen.
The boss looked at his men.
"Why are you all standing there?"
Nobody answered.
"Sit down."
The men looked at each other.
"Boss?"
"I said sit down."
They quickly obeyed.
Vash couldn't help staring.
This was supposed to be a terrifying gang boss?
He looked more like a man who had come to conquer the entire restaurant's menu.
Rohan leaned toward him.
"He's really hungry."
Vash whispered back.
"I noticed."
A few minutes later, another bowl of noodles was placed in front of the boss.
He immediately began eating.
This time, he didn't even try to maintain his intimidating expression.
He simply enjoyed the food.
Slurp.
Bite.
Another mouthful.
His men watched in silence.
Finally, one of them quietly said,
"Boss, we came here to discuss the protection fee."
The boss stopped.
The entire restaurant became silent.
He slowly looked at the man.
"I know."
"But—"
"Can't you see I'm eating?"
The man immediately shut his mouth.
Vash almost smiled.
The boss continued eating.
When he finally finished, he leaned back and rubbed his stomach.
"That was excellent."
He looked toward Grandma.
"How long have you been cooking?"
"Many years."
"It shows."
He looked around the restaurant.
"Small place."
Grandpa nodded.
"Yes."
"But good food."
Grandpa gave a nervous smile.
"Thank you."
The boss glanced toward the kitchen.
Then his eyes landed on Vash.
He studied him for several seconds.
"Who is that?"
Vash looked behind himself.
"Me?"
The boss nodded.
"You."
Vash stepped forward.
"I'm Vash."
The boss raised an eyebrow.
"Vash?"
"Yes."
"You're the grandson?"
Vash looked at his grandfather.
Grandpa nodded.
The boss leaned back.
"I've heard about you."
Vash became slightly surprised.
"About me?"
"You were in an accident."
The restaurant became quiet again.
Vash nodded.
"Two years ago."
The boss looked at him for a moment.
"And you just woke up?"
"Recently."
The boss nodded slowly.
"That's one hell of a way to spend two years."
Vash didn't know how to respond.
Instead, he simply smiled.
The boss looked at him again.
"So, what do you do?"
Vash thought about the question.
"Not much yet."
The boss laughed.
"Fair answer."
He looked toward Vash's grandfather.
"He's quiet."
Grandpa smiled.
"He hasn't been home for long."
The boss nodded.
Then he suddenly asked,
"What is your hobby?"
Vash thought for a moment.
"Cooking."
The boss stopped.
His eyes moved toward Grandma.
Then back to Vash.
"Cooking?"
Vash nodded.
"Yes."
"Can you actually cook?"
"I'm still learning."
The boss smiled.
"That's interesting."
He leaned forward.
"Then cook something for me."
Vash blinked.
"What?"
The boss looked at his men.
Several of them immediately became curious.
The boss knew exactly what he was doing.
He had come to collect protection money.
If he simply walked away without taking it, his men might think he had become soft because Grandma's food impressed him.
He couldn't allow that.
So he smiled.
"Listen carefully."
He pointed toward the kitchen.
"I came here today to collect the protection fee."
Vash's grandfather lowered his head.
The boss continued.
"But your grandmother's food has given me a problem."
He rubbed his stomach.
"I don't want to take money from a restaurant that serves food this good."
Vash's eyes widened.
The boss raised one finger.
"But I have an image to maintain."
His men immediately straightened.
The boss smiled.
"So I'll make you a deal."
Vash looked at him.
"What kind of deal?"
The boss leaned back.
"You said cooking is your hobby."
"Yes."
"Then make me a meal."
Vash stared at him.
"Me?"
"Yes."
The boss pointed toward the kitchen.
"Cook something yourself."
Vash looked at his grandmother.
She looked just as surprised.
The boss continued.
"If I like what you make, I won't take the protection money."
Grandpa immediately spoke.
"You don't have to do this."
The boss raised his hand.
"I'm offering a chance."
He looked directly at Vash.
"If the food is good enough, this restaurant won't owe me anything."
Vash remained silent.
The boss smiled.
"But if it's terrible..."
He paused.
"Then we'll discuss the protection fee."
Rohan leaned toward Vash.
"This is pressure."
Vash whispered back,
"I know."
The boss heard him.
He laughed loudly.
"I like this kid."
Then he looked toward the kitchen.
"Well?"
Vash took a slow breath.
He had barely returned home.
His legs were still weak.
He had only recently begun rebuilding his life.
And now he was standing in front of a gang boss who was challenging him to cook.
Vash looked toward his grandmother.
She gave him a small smile.
"You don't have to."
Vash looked at the kitchen.
Then at his grandparents.
Then at the boss.
He remembered the tiny room behind the kitchen.
The house they had sold.
Everything they had sacrificed.
Vash clenched his fists.
"I'll do it."
The boss's smile widened.
"Good."
Vash walked toward the kitchen.
The moment he stepped inside, the transparent system appeared before his eyes.
[COOKING — BASIC]
[Skill recognized.]
[Current proficiency: Basic]
Vash stared at the notification.
He had always thought his cooking skill was one of the least useful things the system had given him.
Now, perhaps for the first time, it had become important.
The boss leaned back in his chair.
His men watched silently.
Grandma stood near the kitchen entrance.
Vash looked at the ingredients in front of him.
Then he smiled.
"Let's see what this ordinary system can do."
[Cooking Challenge Activated.]
And for the first time since awakening, Vash was about to use one of his system skills for something that could affect his family's future.