"So? How is it? Seeing you eat with such relish, this must be the best cheese-baked potato you've ever had!"
Observing Dylan voraciously devouring the dish, completely disregarding the scalding heat fresh from the oven, Nakiri Alice elegantly used her fork to cut off a piece. She let it cool briefly in the air before placing it in her mouth, embodying the grace of a young lady.
"The taste is quite good," Dylan began, pausing his eating, "However, it would be better if the butter at the bottom was spread instead of just cut into small pieces. Adding some white wine while sautéing the bacon and onions would help. And layering the thinly sliced potatoes one overlapping the other would improve it further."
Although he could have simply praised it as delicious, years of habit from the Dark Cooking Society made Dylan instinctively point out the dish's shortcomings.
Still, mindful of being a guest under her roof, Dylan managed to restrain his intense urge to critique sharply, instead explaining the issues relatively rationally.
If anyone from the Dark Cooking Society saw him acting like this, their jaws would surely drop, and they'd praise him for being uncharacteristically gentle.
"What? How can my cheese-baked potatoes have so many problems like you say! Have you even eaten this dish properly before?!"
Hearing Dylan's words, the smile on Nakiri Alice's face froze. She pouted, clearly displeased, her cheeks visibly puffing up. A faint blush of anger could even be seen.
It couldn't be helped. She had just been boasting about her dish being the best in the world, only to have Dylan pick out various faults immediately afterward. It was hard not to feel embarrassed.
"If possible, I'd like to borrow your kitchen. I'll make some improvements based on the points I just mentioned. The flavor should improve by two or three levels."
After finishing the cheese-baked potatoes on his plate, Dylan looked up at Nakiri Alice, unsurprised by her reaction.
She had invited a destitute little beggar into her home and served him her specialty dish, only to have him find fault with it. Anyone would be angry. Her restraint in not having him thrown out immediately already spoke volumes about her upbringing.
"Fine! I'll lend you the kitchen! But if you can't do what you claim, you will leave my house immediately! And apologize to me!"
Hearing Dylan's proposal, Nakiri Alice's expression turned cold. She thought to herself that if this guy was just bluffing, she would thoroughly scorn him later and then kick him out!
"Thank you."
Dylan nodded politely. He knew that in this situation, only his cooking could prove his worth. As long as he could demonstrate his skill, he was confident he could completely change her attitude towards him!
As the strongest figure in the Dark Cooking Society, Dylan certainly possessed this much confidence.
After all, back then, quite a few beautiful women had shamelessly offered themselves just to get a taste of his cooking.
If only he hadn't been too young at the time, willing but lacking the stamina, he often had to settle for merely some 'hands-on' indulgence. Occasionally, when the mood struck, he would engage in other... experiments.
As he spoke, he had already walked into the kitchen. However, he didn't start cooking immediately. Instead, he surveyed the kitchen layout while placing the ingredients he would need on the counter.
By now, Nakiri Alice had followed him, standing nearby with her arms crossed, watching him intently, wanting to see if his skills could actually back up his words.
Meeting Nakiri Alice's intense gaze, Dylan turned and gave her a friendly smile. He then moved the stool the young girl had used to stand at the stove earlier and began working deftly.
Fwoosh.
Flames erupted fiercely on the stovetop, accompanied by a stunning wave of heat. Dylan had turned the heat to maximum.
____________
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