Chapter 519: Cerberus's Hobby, Shocked Executive Officers
The World Gourmet Organization was operating under a crushing weight of pressure today. Normally, the headquarters hummed with a relaxed, almost leisurely rhythm, but this afternoon, the air cracked with frantic energy. No one dared to slack off. No one even dared to sit down for a sip of water.
Everyone moved as if they had been injected with a massive sugar rush, their hands flying across clipboards and documents in a blur of motion. They worked with the desperate, hot-blooded enthusiasm of youth, completely immersed in the chaotic tide of their duties.
Nakiri Mana stood on the overlooking balcony, her sharp gaze sweeping over the bustling floor. Her eyes landed on Cerberus, who was currently working in a surprisingly flawless rhythm alongside Rantabi. A soft, amused sigh escaped Mana's lips. "Unexpectedly, I have discovered Cerberus's hidden hobby..."
Courage tilted her head, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What hobby?"
"Dismantling things."
Courage followed Mana's gaze. Down below, Cerberus was frantically tearing into sealed document bags and heavy cardboard packages, her hands moving with a savage, unrestrained glee. Shreds of paper and plastic flew into the air. "Oh my!" Courage gasped, her eyes widening. "Cerberus is certainly... enthusiastic!"
Mana nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Yes, she has been exactly like this for the past two days. She seems genuinely thrilled whenever she gets to rip something apart."
Courage tapped her chin thoughtfully, watching the chaotic display. "Hmm... Doesn't she look exactly like a husky right now?"
Mana blinked, slightly startled by the comparison. She looked back at Cerberus, taking in the twitching ears and the frantic digging motions, and let out a soft laugh. "Do not say that out loud. With those ears, she really does resemble one! But a husky probably isn't nearly as interesting as Cerberus. After all, Cerberus isn't stupid."
"That is true..." Courage murmured, her gaze drifting across the massive room. "Eh? Where is Decora? I haven't seen her in quite a while. Is she slacking off somewhere?"
Mana shot her a deeply unimpressed look. "Courage, we are the ones who do not even have to work."
Courage froze, blinking rapidly before nodding in sudden realization. "Eh?! You are completely right! Then what exactly did Decora go off to do? I just saw Anne over by the projected ingredient storage, but I have absolutely no idea where Decora vanished to."
Mana shook her head, equally clueless. As for the missing Decora, she was currently standing completely frozen near the grand entrance. She had been in the middle of inspecting the newly arranged tasting tables, clipboard in hand, when a group of familiar figures stepped through the sliding glass doors. Her breath hitched. It was Ren.
Nearby, Sharumm, a Second-Class Executive Officer, stepped forward to intercept the group. He raised a hand, his tone strictly professional. "Excuse me, sir, this area is currently— Gah!"
Before Sharumm could finish his sentence, a sharp, polished heel slammed into his side, sending him stumbling away. He clutched his ribs, whipping his head around to see Decora glaring at him. Her face was an absolute mask of cold, terrifying displeasure.
Sharumm swallowed hard, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. "Um... Lady Decora, this man is..."
"Are you out of your mind?!" Decora hissed, her voice dropping into a dangerous, lethal register. "You dare to block Ren?!"
Sharumm stared at her, utterly bewildered. "Hmm? Mister Ren... This... I don't know him at all. I am just following the standard security regulations. Aren't outsiders strictly forbidden from entering casually while the WGO is undergoing internal construction?"
Decora stepped closer, her aura suffocating. "Do you have any idea who Ren is?!"
Sharumm shrank back, his voice trembling. "Who...?"
Decora cleared her throat, her posture straightening. "Lady Mana personally evaluated him as the number one chef in the entire world, and he is also..."
Sharumm's heart skipped a heavy beat. He had stepped on a massive landmine. "And what else...?" he asked blankly.
A sudden, brilliant flush of red spread across Decora's cheeks. Her cold demeanor cracked, replaced by a flustered shout. "That is absolutely none of your business! Just know that if you provoke Ren, Lady Mana and the four of us will absolutely not let you off lightly!"
Ren let out a soft, exasperated sigh, stepping forward to gently touch Decora's shoulder. "Decora, it really isn't that serious. We just arrived..."
Decora instantly melted at his touch, nodding eagerly. She turned back to Sharumm, her glare returning for a split second. "Then that is how it is! Remember his face well! Ren might even come to the WGO to give you all personal lessons in the future! His culinary evaluations hold the exact same weight as ours! Figure it out yourself!"
Sharumm stood paralyzed for a moment before bowing frantically. "Mister Ren! My sincerest apologies! I was completely unaware of the situation!"
"It is alright, there is no need to apologize," Ren said smoothly, his tone calm and grounded. "I just walked in, and I haven't even asked you to page Courage and the others yet."
Sharumm let out a massive sigh of relief. Decora turned back to Ren, her expression transforming instantly. The terrifying, cold Executive Officer vanished, replaced by a woman with a radiant, gentle smile. "Ren, why didn't you call us?" she asked, her voice dripping with honeyed sweetness. "If you had called earlier, we would have rushed out to pick you up personally."
Sharumm watched the exchange, swallowing dryly. He remembered the wild gossip Istar had whispered to him a few days ago—that Decora, Courage, and Anne had all simultaneously fallen desperately in love with a single man and were actively pursuing him.
At the time, Sharumm had laughed it off as a ridiculous rumor. Decora, Courage, and Anne were the three highest-ranking beauties of the WGO. Anne was notoriously strict, leaving Decora and Courage as the unattainable goddesses of the organization. Every male officer secretly admired them, knowing full well they were completely out of their league.
Now, looking at the man standing casually in front of him, Sharumm realized the terrifying truth. This man hadn't just won over one of them; he had captured all four, and they were the ones actively chasing him.
Ren thought for a moment, his expression mildly amused. "We did call, but no one answered."
Decora blinked, startled. She patted the pockets of her tailored skirt, then slapped her forehead with a soft gasp. "Ah! I completely forgot! Our phones and handbags are still in the car. Come on, I will take you to find Courage and the others... Ah, wait, they are already here! Courage! Courage!"
Courage, who had been strolling along the upper walkway chatting with Nakiri Mana, heard her name echoing across the lobby. She glanced over the railing and instantly locked eyes with Ren. In that split second, the rest of the world, including the bustling WGO staff, completely vanished from her perception.
She sprinted down the stairs, practically throwing herself toward him. "Ren!" she cried out, her eyes sparkling with absolute delight. "Why are you here? How come I didn't know about this?! You should have called me, I would have driven out to pick you up myself!"
Nakiri Mana descended the stairs at a more elegant pace, though her eyes were locked onto Ren with an intense, smoldering focus. She approached him, crossing her arms slightly, her voice carrying a distinct, pouty hint of resentment. "That is exactly right... Ren, you really are something else. You should have looked for us immediately. Any one of us would have dropped everything to come get you..."
Standing slightly behind Ren, Lucy let out a helpless sigh. "We did try to call you all, repeatedly."
Hearing Lucy's dry confirmation, Courage, Decora, and Mana all froze, a collective wave of awkwardness washing over their beautiful faces. Mana quickly cleared her throat, leaning in closer to Ren, the faint scent of her expensive perfume wrapping around him. "I... I should have kept my phone on me," she whispered softly, her gaze softening. "Come, I will show you around personally. The newly constructed WGO is certainly no smaller than the original headquarters!"
Ren offered a faint nod before Courage excitedly linked her arm through his, happily pulling him toward the grand hallway.
Sharumm stood frozen in place, watching the group walk away. He swallowed hard, his mind spinning. 'He is truly a terrifyingly amazing man...'he thought to himself.'But... why did Lady Mana's tone just now sound exactly like a girlfriend complaining to her lover?'
A sharp chill ran down Sharumm's back. He immediately forced the thought out of his head. Entertaining such dangerous ideas was a one-way ticket to getting fired. It was infinitely safer to mind his own business and pretend he had seen absolutely nothing today.
"Yo! Sharumm! What's wrong with you?"
Sharumm flinched, turning his head to see a man dressed in a sharp pink suit leaning against the nearby pillar. He let out a long, exhausted breath. "Istar... you were completely right. Lady Courage and the others really are deeply in love. I never could have imagined those terrifying women possessed such a gentle, domestic side..."
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