Originally translated from the Thai language.
Ohm placed the fish fillet onto the smooth stone slab, then pressed a scorching-hot square iron weight firmly down on top of it.
Sssssssss!
The fish sizzled violently on the hot stone, releasing an intoxicating aroma. White smoke billowed upward, carrying a sharp, mouth-watering scent. He then poured the roasted spice mixture over the searing fish and garnished it with fresh dill and a single wild galangal flower petal.
Feng stared at every movement as if under a spell, his eyes fixed on the dish placed before him with trembling anticipation.
"This dish was inspired by northern Thai larb pla phea, but with a slight twist using edible flowers with a prominent bitter note as the star ingredient. Please, try it," Ohm said, gesturing politely toward his masterpiece.
Feng didn't hesitate. He picked up his chopsticks, lifted a piece of fish, and brought it to his mouth.
Sssssssssssss!
An intense heat exploded across his tongue. The first sensation was a fierce, fiery spiciness, followed by a deep, lingering bitterness that was strangely harmonious. His face contorted from the unfamiliar taste.
"It's… burning… so hot… but also bitter, spicy, and incredibly fragrant," he groaned, tears welling in his eyes. The flavor felt exactly like his life being scorched alive.
Ohm's lips curved into a faint smile. "That burning sensation is your impatience acting without thinking ahead. The bitterness comes from your greed, always chasing shortcuts for quick profits without proper research, until it all collapses into failure."
Ohm leaned in, staring straight into the desperate man's eyes. "This is the taste of your last chance. You must make a decision before everything burns to ash."
The chef leaned even closer as Feng's eyes widened, chopsticks frozen in mid-air as if hypnotized. "If you need money within the next 48 hours… you must dare to charge into a place no one expects…"
The entire restaurant fell deathly silent as Ohm whispered, "In less than two days, the Indonesian government will announce restrictions on the export of processed lithium ore…"
Feng's eyes bulged so wide they nearly popped out of their sockets. His heart pounded violently.
"Tomorrow morning, the moment the LME market opens… you must pour every last drop of cash you have into lithium futures contracts. Use maximum leverage," Ohm emphasized every word with deadly seriousness. "When the news breaks, the price will surge more than twenty percent within hours. That is the only way you can escape bankruptcy."
"But… what if it doesn't happen?" Feng asked, his voice shaking uncontrollably, the chopsticks trembling in his grip.
Ohm gave a cold, chilling smile and widened his eyes. "If it fails… then prepare to wave goodbye to your glory days. This is the taste of the risk you must take to seize victory… So, do you dare, old man?"
Feng drew in a deep, shuddering breath. The lingering fire in his throat ignited the raw gambling instinct deep inside the investor. If he didn't take this risk now, he was already dead. But if what this chef said was true… it was a massive stroke of luck that could turn him from a ruined man back into a king.
Feng nodded firmly. The dull, hopeless eyes that once stared into the abyss now blazed with the flames of the biggest gamble of his life staking his soul and entire future on this single bet.
Post-chapter author note:
The menu and ingredients made with edible flowers were designed in collaboration with Flowers You Can Eat Thailand.