Chapter 164

Chapter 164
## Chapter 164: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

Crafting cocktails.

This single capability brought him one step closer to his ultimate goal of mixing drinks for Rikschel once he reached adulthood.

“This is quite an exceptional present, wouldn’t you say?”

Actually, given the awakening of his unique abilities, this was quite advanced.

Lion’s lips curled upward into a confident smirk.

It felt as though he had attained a free level-up.

“So, this wraps up the gift itself, correct?”

The box was completely empty.

Lion stored the liqueur securely inside his inventory.

If Rikschel ever discovered this, he would receive a direct communication from Grandfather rather than a simple scolding.

Just as he nodded, deciding that was a sensible deduction.

Thump-.

A piece of parchment slipped free from the Mushberry Liqueur container and drifted gracefully down to the ground.

“What is this… a letter?”

It was crafted from the exact same stationery material used for the Easter invitation.

This meant it was penned personally by Willy, the current manager.

‘Could it be a note of appreciation?’

Or perhaps a formal greeting dispatched to a direct heir of the Asteri Family.

Lion broke the wax seal of the missive and unfolded it.

True to expectation, elegant handwriting, presumably belonging to Willy, filled the page densely.

-To Mr. Lion Asteri. I trust you are enjoying a pleasant stay.

-We are deeply grateful for your utilization of Hotel Easter’s diverse services and amenities beyond compare…

Ah, the opening preamble is far too lengthy.

Lion scanned through the text quickly.

It continued with extended expressions of gratitude regarding his patronage…

Only near the conclusion did the essential points emerge, and distilled down, they read as follows.

-I am thoroughly impressed by Mr. Lion Asteri’s keen eye. I formally request that you explore Easter’s restricted or hidden sectors.

-Concurrently, we shall grant access to all zones within Easter.

-Should you find spare moments during your visit, please honor us with your presence. Warmly, Manager Willy.

In short, Willy was inviting Lion to conduct an informal on-site inspection and review.

“Wait… was my performance that remarkable?”

No, I essentially looted the place blind.

Furthermore, they were throwing open every single area.

Lion had only checked into the hotel yesterday.

He had barely experienced three locations, including the dining hall.

‘Ah, could this be…!’

Lion pondered the situation and arrived at a specific realization.

‘Rikschel orchestrated this!’

After all, his official reason for being here was business, wasn’t it?

As the eldest son of the Asteri Family, Lion was theoretically here to evaluate how efficiently Hotel Easter operated within their territory and whether any issues needed addressing.

Naturally, in reality, he had merely come to relax and play, but he had to maintain the facade of working to keep appearances plausible.

Therefore, the thoughtful Rikschel must have quietly tipped off Willy beforehand.

As an added perk, he had arranged things so Lion could roam the facilities freely without being bogged down by bureaucratic duties!

That explained why he was moving about so early today!

‘My wonderful little brother…!’

Despite his exterior demeanor, the boy possessed a surprisingly meticulous streak.

‘When I head back, I’ll promise him I won’t cause any more trouble.’

Since the kid went to such great lengths, he certainly didn’t want to give his younger sibling anything else to fret over…

“…Huh? Hold on a second.”

Lion re-examined the stationery.

It explicitly stated that all facilities across Easter were open to him.

Which meant…

‘Does that include the kitchen too?’

Easter’s legendary kitchen!

Could he actually step foot into that extraordinary domain where exotic delicacies from every corner of the world were prepared?

And furthermore, if he desired…

‘Does this imply I can cook using whatever ingredients I choose?’

The instant that thought struck him, Lion’s eyes lit up with excitement.

‘There might even be bean sprouts!’

The bean sprout soup he had bitterly missed earlier.

With the proper ingredients and his cooking skills now available, it might actually happen.

No, it was entirely possible!

Wasn’t Hotel Easter a melting pot where travelers from beyond the continent gathered?

They were bound to stock a wide array of provisions.

‘If that’s the case, the second prince’s dilemma as well…’

It might be resolved much more smoothly.

After all, is there any better catalyst for bridging gaps between people than good food and drink?

“Ahem, well. The kitchen should be acceptable, right?”

Lion subtly adjusted his previous stance about avoiding trouble for his younger sibling’s sake.

The kitchen should fall within acceptable limits.

Without hesitation, Lion yanked the door open and set off toward the culinary department.

—

One detail Lion failed to realize was that Willy’s letter had been written entirely without Rikschel’s knowledge or influence.

This was strictly Willy’s own unilateral decision!

In fact, Rikschel had explicitly instructed:

“Under no circumstances are you to disturb my older brother’s rest.”

…those were his exact words.

Accompanied by a chilling pressure that felt entirely unnatural for a boy who had not yet reached adulthood.

Moreover, because Easter resided within Asteri territory, the staff were ordered not to obstruct his brother’s movements anywhere he chose to go.

Initially, Willy simply assumed the young heir was being overly protective of his sibling.

Even so, he let it slide, torn between a helpless attitude of “what can one do?” and “what real damage could a single person cause?”

Even when he discovered the Egg Coins scattered across the ranch in a remarkably short span, his mindset remained unchanged.

It had to be pure coincidence!

Yet, it was not.

Up to that point, he had remained hesitant, but starting from the arcade incident, Willy accepted reality.

Or rather, he had no choice left but to accept it.

Had that individual merely enjoyed the entertainment venues and gathered a moderate quantity of Egg Coins, Willy would have simply regarded him as someone blessed with natural talent.

However…

‘No.’

Willy welcomed the bartender who reported to him early that morning.

After all, the man was someone who worked diligently in his respective post.

Though he looked somewhat fatigued by recent duties, he remained the most qualified candidate, which was why Willy had granted the bartender the final stamp for the left playground.

And perhaps, immersing himself in a lively atmosphere would help lift his spirits.

He seemed to have arrived to deliver a report upon concluding his assigned shift…

“You…”

Willy instantly registered the transformation in the bartender.

His lifeless expression had returned to life, even if only marginally.

“I believe I am in need of disciplinary action.”

“Disciplinary action?”

“Yes. I failed to perform my duties as a bartender to the utmost of my ability.”

Thereupon, he briefly recounted the occurrences of the previous night.

The bartender had not identified the guest by name, but Willy deduced the truth immediately.

It was none other than Lion Asteri.

And with that realization came a profound insight.

Lion Asteri carried something far more extraordinary than mere skill.

He possessed raw potential, acute discernment, and above all…

‘Perhaps he is even more gifted than I, who have dedicated my entire existence to this establishment.’

Isn’t there a common adage?

There is always someone superior to the one who runs.

And someone who truly enjoys the craft towers above the one who merely labors.

Willy was a man entirely devoted to the endless expansion and refinement of Hotel Easter.

Naturally, his own efforts were second to none.

Yet, regrettably.

Because of that very obsession, Willy had lost his ability to perceive Hotel Easter with clear objectivity.

Why do patrons journey to this hotel in the first place?

Why do wealthy individuals, who lack for nothing, make the trip!

They could easily sleep comfortably in their own manors, or purchase a private seaside villa for their holidays if they wished.

So why patronize a hotel?

Obviously, to indulge and enjoy themselves.

Willy, however, did not view it that way.

To him, Easter was simply the place where he ‘worked’.

Beyond that, his fierce attachment to the hotel was overwhelming.

Consequently, his perspective was inherently skewed.

However!

Mr. Lion Asteri was entirely different!

He came solely to savor the experience, and his capacity for enjoyment operated on a completely different dimension from ordinary visitors.

In other words, he was the absolute ideal candidate to evaluate and critique the hotel!

An opportunity of this magnitude could not be bought with a thousand gold coins, nor even a hundred million.

‘…Therefore! I bent the young heir’s warning just a fraction.’

He had formulated a deliberate strategy.

The guest was free to wander wherever he wished, but if Mr. Lion Asteri encountered any disagreeable elements, he was welcome to offer his feedback at any moment!

While formally requested, it carried no sense of obligation.

Should someone of the Asteri lineage decline, the matter would simply end there.

‘Th-that should be acceptable…’

Willy reassured himself internally before turning to his subordinate.

“…And where did he head after departing his suite?”

“He proceeded directly to the kitchen.”

The kitchen!

‘Just as I anticipated!’

Willy nodded approvingly.

Clearly, not only was he thoroughly enjoying himself, but his instincts were exceptionally sharp.

He was currently inspecting all three foundational pillars of the hotel, wasn’t he?

Comfortable and thrilling leisure amenities.

Cozy and restorative relaxation.

And… gastronomy of a standard impossible to find anywhere else on the continent.

If the decision rested solely with Willy, he would appoint the young lord as a special consultant on the spot.

‘Furthermore, since he entered the kitchen… he must have read my letter.’

He could easily have disregarded it, yet he chose to visit the culinary wing!

He was truly a man possessing immense responsibility.

Think upon it. A nobleman, the direct descendant and eldest son of the illustrious Magic Family Asteri, stepping into a working kitchen?

He must have intended to offer constructive guidance.

“You ensured the kitchen staff were properly instructed, correct?”

“Yes! I commanded them to follow his directives without question.”

“Excellent.”

Willy nodded in satisfaction.

And thus, without even realizing it, Lion had set a massive snowball rolling down a hill, creating an avalanche of escalating expectations…

—

“The storage facility, you say?”

“Of course, I would be delighted to introduce it. Allow me to guide you!”

Guided by an exceptionally polite staff member, Lion set off to tour Easter’s grand food warehouse.

‘Goodness…’

True to the hotel’s reputation, fresh provisions were stacked high like towering mountain ranges.

Furthermore, the sheer variety rivaled that of a massive warehouse-style marketplace.

“If you require anything specific, I can have it retrieved for you.”

“That’s quite alright. May I browse on my own?”

“Yes! By all means.”

The staff member stepped back deferentially, withholding any patronizing remarks about the weight of the items.

“However, one can easily lose their way within the food warehouse, so should you become disoriented, please ring this small bell.”

The attendant handed him a delicate, miniature bell.

Even though ringing such an insignificant trinket inside this vast storage hall seemed impractical…

『 Emergency Call Set 』

-Greetings! I am lost!

-A compass will pinpoint the exact location of the bell-holder!

This, too, was a magical artifact.

‘Incredible.’

The management of Easter pooled funds to commission the Magic Tower, mages from the Tower engineered bespoke items, and Easter leveraged those items to draw even larger crowds…

‘The local economic loop is thriving nicely.’

Regardless, spared the trouble of getting lost within the massive pantry, Lion placed his hands casually on his hips and surveyed his surroundings.

Fortunately, he did not need to inspect every single ingredient individually.

『 Meat Products 』

『 Dairy Products 』

『 Spices 』

『 Vegetables 』

Everything was meticulously categorized by section.

And the area Lion gravitated toward was… not the vegetable aisle!

『 Special Ingredients 』

It was the specialized zone where rarer, exotic components were gathered.

If bean sprouts existed anywhere on the premises, they would undoubtedly be located right here.