The Insider System

Chapter 58: The New Big Cheese

Millie nodded and said. "If I make the food weak I can probably make enough for 100 people, but I'll still need a bigger kitchen." Lake thought that was enough but just to make sure he said. "We can serve fake food to the people from the guild, and just tell them to pretend it's Millie's. None of the king's people should notice anything while eating Millie's food."

This freed up more of the good stuff for whoever the king brought with him. "Good idea, I was still thinking the amount was too low. Millie I'll get one of the abandoned kitchens back up and running for you to use. It will be big enough considering it used to feed thousands everyday when the Mage guild still existed."

Lake could tell that was the end of the conversation, so he said. "Millie get your servants to serve dessert. I'll get the people in the hallway." Lake stood up and walked to the door. He really just wanted to see what the situation in the hallway was like. Opening the door, Lake saw they were standing in silence. Solomon was looking at the ground but in the direction of Joy's boots.

This was enough for Lake to think he was right, and Solomon was attracted to Joy. Which meant Lake was going to have to do something he was hoping to avoid at the end of the meal. Lake's mood dropped Solomon was more trouble than he was worth. If Lake thought he could get away with it he would kick him off one of the balconies.

"You three can come back in now, we're done." Lake stepped to the side and let the two of them back in and just like Lake thought Joy waited to be last. Before she could go back in, Lake closed the door and said. "I need you to play along with what I say at the end of the meal." Lake didn't order her because this was more of a personal request and he knew she would comply.

With that done Lake and Joy walked back into the room. Lake could see his plan to make Solomon lose interest in Joy had already started. A few people thought Lake closing the door so he could talk to Joy was weird. Lake sat down to see the servants had already cut what seemed to be cake and laid it in front of everyone.

Lake wondered if this had eggs in it. Eggs were kind of a weird concept for food, so he could see her not thinking of it yet. On earth getting eggs was very easy but here birds were more like dragons so he bet getting some wasn't worth it just to make breakfast. If Millie's cake needed eggs, Lake would let her know about them.

Eating the cake Lake wondered if the jelly was a choice of if frosting didn't exist yet. Lake had never liked frosting, he thought it was too rich, so he hoped the jelly thing was permanent. The cake part was a little crumbly though which made him think eggs were not used. This dish was very similar to strawberry shortcake just without the whipped cream.

"Millie, do you know what eggs are?" Lake was joking with this question, but he needed to start the conversation somewhere. "Of course, why?" Lake laughed at how curt her answer was. "Have you ever eaten one before?" He could have also asked if the cake had any in it, but that would give away what he wanted her to figure out once he introduced eggs to her.

"Do you mean have I ever drunk the goop?" Lake was really enjoying being so early in the history of the culinary arts, Millie didn't even know eggs turned solid if you cooked them. Lake just decided to say something close to the truth and stop talking about it. "Did you know that goop turned to meat if you cooked it?"

Lake sort of lied, but he knew she would now look into it. This statement made Millie zone out for a while but as soon as the last person finished their cake she made her servants hand out the cheese. "This last item is something new that Lake asked me to make. He kind of told me how as well, so I can't take credit for it. I think it's good, but it's very different to anything I've ever had before, so if you don't like it my feelings won't be hurt."

Lake hadn't been able to wait for her to get done with her speech; he had already taken a bite. It seemed Millie hadn't made this cheese magic in any way and he could understand her thinking behind it. If someone had taken a bite of enhanced cheese and not liked it it would have been brutal for them.

Other than that it was creamy with good flavor, she had done a good job. "Good job Millie, now I can finally have a good sandwich." Sandwich was really the only thing Lake had ever made himself in his last life, so cheese was very important if he was ever going to make himself food on the road.

"Sandwich, is that what cheese is used for?" Where Lake had grown up cheese was used for everything but sandwich and pizza were the main two. "Cheese is good for most dishes that have bread in them." After he said this he saw curiosity win over a few of them, and they ate it. No strong reactions which is what he was expecting.

The strong reactions would start once he said it was milk. At this point the only one who hadn't eaten it was Nia but that was because she had been here for the conversation on how to make it. That was fine with Lake. He had already seen her freak out over milk the other day. "So Millie did you run into any problems while you were making it?"

"Not really, I tried a few times because I couldn't get the flavor to be something I thought people would like but it was all edible. In my opinion the only way you can fail with food is by making something toxic, and that's always possible when you age or ferment something." Lake agreed with this, but he could tell what Millie had said made people wonder what they were eating.

At this point Nia closed her eyes and put it in her mouth. Lake could see her lips quivering, but she kept it inside. This was funny in its own way but it was a very muted reaction. "So Millie, what kind of milk did you use to make it?" Lake dropped the news like it was normal because he wanted to see who would react first.

Lucas didn't show any reaction at all. Lake guessed his hard life had toughened him up to bad news. Joy just silently put her helmet back on. Lake could tell she was distressed but didn't want to embarrass herself in front of everyone. Solomon on the other hand reacted exactly how Lake wanted. "Bla!"

Both Lake and Nia started to laugh at Solomon's tiny barf. Him thinking milk was gross and only for babies had made him spit up like one. "Solomon what have you done?" Lake made it a big deal because it was the meanest thing he could think to do, and this would increase the amount of embarrassment Solomon would be in. This would make him feel like he had blown it with Joy and Millie could slide right in.

If he was right she should be able to comfort Solomon about this, and about the next thing Lake was gonna do. "Joy, I'm ready to go, are you coming over?" This was a devastating blow to Solomon not only did he barf in front of her, Joy was dating Lake, or at least that was what he would think.

Lake was giving Millie a chance to make a move on Solomon. This would probably upset Solomon enough that Millie would notice, and try to comfort him which might lead to them being alone together or something. With Solomon's broken heart Millie should be able to get something to happen. Lake didn't have too much hope in her pulling it off because she would be too nervous, but he had tried and that was all he could do.

Joy still had her helmet on but he could tell she really hadn't been expecting him to proposition her like this, and in front of all these people. If he hadn't told her to play along she would have probably smacked him, but instead she said. "Yeah let's go, I'm getting tired anyway." It was still kind of early to go to bed, but Joy was a guard which meant she did a lot of physical activity. This might result in her being tired this early, but looking around at peoples faces, Lake doubted anyone at the table was thinking they were about to go to bed for sleep though.

"Ok we'll see you all at tomorrow's lunch." Him and Joy walked out the door after all the goodbys were uttered. Lake took one more look at Solomon on the way out and confirmed he was devastated. Once the door was closed Joy smacked his shoulder. "What the hell, Lake? What are you trying to do to my career?"

Lake thought there was no way that hadn't been good for her career but she would probably think that was insulting so he said. "I'll explain once we get to my room."