# Chapter 106
The entire banquet hall was naturally thrown into shock by the scene unfolding before them.
The enforcer, who was famous even within the White Lotus Guild for his fiery temper and for never shedding a tear, was sobbing and calling for his mother after eating a single piece of meat.
"What's going on? Why is he acting like that?"
"What did he put in the food? Did he mix some kind of drug into it?"
"We should taste it ourselves. If he's done anything suspicious..."
"Come on, do you really think he'd do that? It doesn't look like that's what's happening."
The murmuring continued for a while, but the other guild members, unable to resist the tempting aroma, began approaching the table one by one.
"E-excuse me, Chef. Could you do something about my steak too?"
"My soup has gone cold and doesn't taste good anymore. Please help me!"
"I... I'd like to try it too. I'm curious whether you can transform my food as well..."
"Just what is so special about it? I'd like to have a taste too. I'm really curious."
Once the first person made a request, the others came flooding in like water bursting through a dam.
Hong Man-gi chuckled and rolled up his sleeves again.
"Please form a line. I'll take care of you one at a time."
He went around the tables, performing alchemy on the dishes.
[Sizzle!]
[Fwoooosh!]
Golden light erupted from every plate he touched.
The dishes that had lost their freshness were brought vividly back to life.
"Whoa! This is insane! Is this really the same hotel food? The taste has completely changed!"
"My turkey... It feels like it's come back to life!"
"Hunter! No, Chef! Please touch my plate just once too!"
The guild members who had been looking down on Hong Man-gi and treating him with suspicion only moments earlier were now surrounding him with their plates in their hands.
Their eyes were filled with respect and awe.
Hong Man-gi smiled.
'This is what flavor is all about.'
Meanwhile, the hotel chefs sat huddled in a corner, watching the scene with empty expressions.
It was the moment their perfect recipes and techniques suffered a crushing defeat at Hong Man-gi's hands.
Song Hwa-rin, who had been watching everything, smiled with satisfaction.
"See? What did I tell you?"
She took a sip of wine and continued, almost as though talking to herself.
"My man... No, my chef is different. I told you so!"
Her shoulders rose proudly. She looked as happy as though she were the one receiving all the praise.
* * *
By now, the banquet hall had practically turned into a gathering of devoted followers praising Hong Man-gi.
"Long live Full Moon Restaurant!"
"Long live Chef Hong Man-gi!"
"Hong! Hong! Hong!"
The atmosphere was no different from a religious revival meeting, with everyone eager to experience the miracle of his cooking.
"Chef! No, Brother! My lamb chops have gone cold and smell unpleasant! Please, touch them just once with those divine hands of yours!"
"Sir! My dessert is too sweet for me to eat! Could you reduce the sweetness a little?"
"I think this dish needs a slightly sweeter finish, but it's a little too heavy. Could you balance out the flavor?"
It was an extraordinary sight.
The elite Hunters of the White Lotus Guild, one of South Korea's three major guilds, were standing in line with plates in their hands.
Among them were A-rank Hunters and executives who normally held themselves in the highest regard.
But at this moment, none of them cared about rank or dignity.
Hong Man-gi kept his hands moving without rest to satisfy their requests.
[Flash!]
[Sizzle!]
Every time he touched a plate, the food that had been losing its freshness regained its vitality.
The dry turkey transformed into tender, juicy meat, while the wilted salad became as fresh as though its vegetables had just been harvested.
"Wooooah! It's delicious! It really tastes like something my mother used to make!"
"Eating this makes me feel like my mana circuits have been cleared! It's better than a healing potion!"
Exclamations and cheers erupted from every direction.
The suspicious and territorial looks they had given him earlier had completely disappeared.
Now, they were looking at Hong Man-gi as though he were their savior.
Even Vice Guild Master Choi Mu-yeong, who had been watching the scene, quietly picked up his own plate and joined the very end of the line.
"Um... Chef Hong. Could you do something about my steak too...?"
Seeing the plate Choi Mu-yeong awkwardly held out, Hong Man-gi chuckled and placed his hand over it.
"I'll make yours especially tender, Vice Guild Master."
[Hummm.]
Choi Mu-yeong took a bite of the steak that had been transformed through alchemy, and his eyes widened.
"Hah...!"
He chewed without being able to say a word, then raised his thumb in approval.
"I admit it... I suppose it's time I acknowledged you in every respect. You're... the real deal. Now I understand why our Master is so obsessed with you."
Even the second most powerful person in the White Lotus Guild had been won over.
The banquet hall had now become Hong Man-gi's personal stage.
It was at that moment.
"Bwahahaha! Good! Very good!"
A hearty laugh rang throughout the banquet hall.
Everyone turned toward the head table.
It was Song Hwa-rin.
She appeared to have already emptied several bottles of wine. Her face was flushed like a ripe peach, and she seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood.
She staggered to her feet, kicked off her high heels, and climbed barefoot onto the table.
"M-Master?! That's dangerous!"
"Please come down!"
The executives were horrified and tried to stop her, but there was no one there who could restrain an S-rank Hunter.
Song Hwa-rin stood proudly in the center of the table, holding a champagne bottle like a microphone.
"Ahem! Microphone test! Everyone, attention! Pay attention!"
At the sound of her voice, the banquet hall became completely silent.
Song Hwa-rin looked down at Hong Man-gi with her unfocused eyes and grinned.
"Today... I'm in an incredibly good mood! My man... No, my benefactor has completely won over the taste buds of everyone in my guild! I knew I had a good eye for people!"
She struggled to maintain her balance and pointed the champagne bottle at Hong Man-gi.
"And so! I have an important announcement to make!"
