MTLNOVEL Chapter 185: The Clock Ticks
"Go on," Carlton encouraged Duan Mu after noticing he was rooted in his chair. "Don't make Senior wait."
"Mn." Duan Mu could only unconsciously nod his head, as he walked toward the kitchen with a ridiculous thought in mind. 'Does Chef Lucian need my help in cooking!?'
He knew it was a ridiculous thought, but he could at least hope.
The personal chef of James Orchard. What a glorious and honorful privilege. How many in the world could say that? No one.
At least, that was until Duan Mu learned of Lucian's existence.
Now, after being barred from entering the kitchen, he was unexpectedly called in. How could he not be excited?
A moment later, Duan Mu pushed the door open and entered the kitchen.
*Woosh*
In that instant, as he opened the door, a rich fragrance instantly burst out and impacted his face.
Unconsciously, his nostrils widened as he greedily breathed in the intoxicating aroma.
'As expected of someone called Senior by Sir Carlton. This is a thousand times better than any poached egg I've ever smelled and tasted.' Duan Mu licked his lips and finally resumed walking toward Lucian.
After arriving slightly to the right of Lucian, Duan Mu bowed low and greeted, "Senior, Miss Mei said you need something from me. Although, I'm a cripple and most likely can't provide assistance to someone as great as yourself, if there is anything you require of me, please say it."
"I've recently discovered something remarkable about you, something you may not be aware of yourself," Lucian said cryptically, confusing Duan Mu and Mei.
Duan Mu raised his eyebrows in a baffled manner. "What does Senior mean by that? I'm just a cripple. There's nothing remarkable about me."
The only aspect he had that could be remotely remarkable was that he was born a cripple. A condition that haunted him to this day. That was all.
Seeing his baffled expression, Lucian slightly nodded to himself.
[He doesn't know.]
[Of course, he wouldn't. I would be astonished if he knew that he possessed the Time Element.] The System replied to its Host.
Lucian could not agree more with the System's words. He then said to Duan Mu via Voice Transmission, [A cripple? Yes, but not quite. Let me give you a piece of advice. Everything that happens, happens for a reason. Your body is radiating a subtle, but distinct aura that can only belong to a certain, extremely rare and coveted Element — The Time Element.]
Duan Mu's eyes widened. [The Time Element? That's impossible. I-]
[It's not impossible.] Lucian interrupted him. [Right now, I need you to stand right here." Lucian pointed to a spot near the pot. [And remember not to move.]
Duan Mu became even more confused but nodded slightly and walked to where Lucian pointed. Even so, he could not help but say, [I'm not sure how or if I can even help. I've never even heard of the Time Element before.]
[That's because the Time Element is an extremely rare Element. It's not surprising you are clueless about its existence.] Lucian said bluntly. [But I'm going to use it right now. With that, you will know that you possess it.]
[Host, with Duan Mu this close, I can now manipulate the Time Element emanating from his body.] The System said.
Lucian inwardly nodded and then looked at Duan Mu, [Steady your mind, let go of all distracting thoughts, and focus on your breathing.]
Though Duan Mu was skeptical, he did as he was told.
*Tick*
*Tock*
'Hmm… what is that sound?'
As Duan Mu stood next to the pot, a strange sensation washed over him.
*Tick*
*Tock*
'There it is again.'
*Tick*
*Tock*
'Is that the ticking of a clock?'
The sound was subtle at first, but it gradually became louder. Now, he was confident what he was hearing was the ticking of a clock.
But it was confusing. Why was he hearing a clock?
Meanwhile, after seeing Duan Mu following his instructions, Lucian said to the System, [Start the process.]
[Very well, Host.] After the System gave its acknowledgment, the atmosphere in the kitchen changed.
Invisible to Lucian, Duan Mu, and Mei, a multicolored light emerged from the Dragons Rule The World as the System unleashed its Soul Power, which created a sphere around Duan Mu's figure.
Slowly, the gray tendrils from Duan Mu's body were pulled towards the pot.
One by one, the System carefully guided each tendril of Time Element into the Siren's Melody Eggs.
'Just what is happening? Did Chef Lucian call Duan Mu into the kitchen to watch him cook? Is that all? If so… why does he need to be so secretive… going so far as to even use Voice Transmission?' Mei wondered, feeling there was more to Lucian's request. But without asking him, she knew, any guess she made would be useless.
Furthermore, since he used Voice Transmission to communicate with Duan Mu, it meant he did not want her to know. Thus, asking him would be useless. He could simply lie.
'Haah. Whatever. I shouldn't bother as long as he doesn't add something harmful to the pot.' With that, Mei returned to silently watching Lucian and Duan Mu, curious about what Lucian needed Duan Mu for.
On the other hand, Duan Mu felt a peculiar sensation, as if something was being pulled from him. Yet, it was not painful. It was a foreign feeling he had never experienced before, it was as if something intangible was being drawn out.
'Could it be the Time Element?' It was a ridiculous thought a cripple like him should never formulate, yet with what Lucian told him, coupled with the sensation he was experiencing, he felt it could only be that.
[The Time Element tendrils are merging with the Siren's Melody Eggs perfectly. At this rate, the eggs will be perfectly poached in three minutes.] The System reported as it continued to redirect the tendrils of Time Element from Duan Mu's body into each Siren's Melody Egg.