Chapter 8 Kenneth's Knife Skills

"Alright! Great! Young man, you better not back down now!" Chef Luis quickly remarked in front of Roman. His apprentices chimed in, attempting to goad Kenneth into action. "Quiet down, all of you," Daniella intervened, fixing her gaze on Kenneth. "Are you truly willing to take on this challenge?" "Of course!" Kenneth affirmed confidently. "Grandpa, what do you think?" Daniella turned to Roman, still feeling uncertain about Kenneth's capabilities. After all, he was a country bumpkin who could easily walk away with over fifty thousand. It seemed risky and slightly foolish to gamble it all away. "Let him give it a try," Roman replied calmly. "Alright! You can try. But if you fail, don't blame us," Chef Luis added cautiously. "I'll keep my word," Kenneth assured him. Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Kenneth donned a white chef's jacket before selecting a few knives from the kitchen. A one-hundred-and-seventy-pound yellowfin tuna, stretching five feet long, awaited him on the cutting board. Hmph! Let's see what you can do! I want to see how you're going to deal with it! If you make any mistake, you'll hear from me! Chef Luis scoffed inwardly as he observed Kenneth's confident demeanor. However, Kenneth's following actions left him and everyone else in utter disbelief. With precision and speed, Kenneth picked up a knife and swiftly began his work. He expertly severed all the fins in one clean motion, demonstrating remarkable knife skills. In a single stroke, he removed the fish's head, then made a precise incision along the abdomen, carefully extracting the internal organs without a trace of blood spilling. Afterward, he took a longer knife and deftly began to work on the fish. With fluid strokes, he sliced from the front all the way to the tail. Within a few minutes, Kenneth had expertly divided the massive fish into four sizable pieces, which he then arranged neatly on a clean white cloth. During this process, his movements were smooth and fluid, akin to an artistic performance rather than the butchering of a fish. It was immensely satisfying to witness, captivating in its precision and grace. Moreover, the fish he sliced was immaculate, without a trace of blood. Strangely, he seemed to maneuver around the fish delicately without cutting its blood vessels. The sliced fish displayed on the white cloth gleamed, resembling a sculpture crafted by a skilled artist. With further refinement, it could indeed transform into an artistic masterpiece! "Excellent knife skills! The fish is of superb quality! This fish is well worth it, and the person handling it is even better!" Roman was the first to regain his composure. He couldn't help but praise Kenneth as he noticed the faint smile on the young man's face. Daniella, too, nodded quietly. She had underestimated this young man. Despite being born in the countryside, Kenneth's knife skills just now were far beyond ordinary. This kid knows his stuff! Daniella thought to herself, observing Kenneth discreetly. "Old Mr. Galasso, this fish's quality is exceptional. I suggest to cook half of it and eat the other half raw. The flavors will be exquisite," Kenneth proposed to Roman as he removed his chef's uniform. "Alright! I'll take your advice," Roman said, narrowing his eyes as he observed Kenneth closely. No matter how he looked at the young man, he felt that Kenneth exuded a distinct aura. This remarkable yet subtle presence transcended ordinary expectations. Roman felt that Kenneth was outstanding. "Chef, was my technique satisfactory?" Kenneth turned to Chef Luis. Earlier, Chef Luis had been critical and arrogant; now Kenneth wondered if he had changed his tune. "It's more than satisfactory! Very impressive!" Chef Luis immediately spoke up, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He had been outmatched by a young man from the countryside. More importantly, Kenneth had undeniable skill. Hence, Chef Luis didn't have the nerve to say anything else in front of Daniella and Roman. The chef had no choice but to acknowledge his misjudgment. "I apologize for my earlier remarks. I hope you can forgive me, Mr. Mohler," Chef Luis said respectfully to Kenneth. He knew that if he didn't do so, Daniella might dismiss him from his position. "No need to apologize. It's water under the bridge. No harm done," Kenneth replied dismissively. He was eager to wrap things up; it was getting late, and he had to return home promptly for Casey's sake so she wouldn't have to wait for too long. "Young man, I'm quite impressed by you. Would you stay and join us for dinner?" Roman asked warmly, growing increasingly pleased with Kenneth. He even entertained the thought of bringing Kenneth out of the county. With his potential, Roman believed Kenneth could achieve greatness in the state capital. "Haha! Thank you for the offer, but I left home early this morning. My family is worried, so I must head back quickly," Kenneth declined politely. "No problem. I'll arrange for someone to drive you home," Roman assured him graciously. "Old Mr. Galasso, truth be told, I live in Brighter Valley. The road from town to the village is only accessible by my cargo bike." "Ah? You live in Brighter Valley?" Daniella exclaimed in surprise. She was familiar with the village, the only village in the county known for its poverty. During her travels in the countryside, she had indeed seen a road sign indicating the narrow path leading to Brighter Valley, where cars couldn't pass. "Yes, I do. Ms. Galasso, you know about our village?" Kenneth responded. "Mm-hmm. I've seen the road sign to your village. Since your family is worried, come to my office. I'll pay you," Daniella suggested kindly. Roman had no other alternative. He understood Kenneth's situation and didn't want to impose further. He knew he couldn't force Kenneth to stay, either. In Daniella's office on the eighth floor, instead of immediately paying Kenneth, she broached a business proposition with Kenneth. "Mr. Mohler, since you were able to catch yellowfin tuna in your village, do you think you could catch more seafood?" she inquired. "It's hard to say. I was fortunate this time. The meeting point of the river and the ocean is quite distant, so I can't predict when I might catch another large fish," Kenneth replied thoughtfully. "I'm not necessarily interested in large fish alone. I'm more curious about the aquatic resources in your village. If there's a variety of seafood available, you can bring them here, regardless of its breed," Daniella explained. She had long been considering expanding the hotel's offerings, especially since Hollow Springs was a prominent tourist destination. Since the beginning of the year, everyone had seen their earnings rise and developed a strong desire to travel extensively. Hollow Springs held significant renown within the state. In just six months, the tourist influx had multiplied several times compared to the previous year. If they could procure local seafood to feature as specialty dishes, the hotel's profits would undoubtedly see a substantial increase. "Well..." Kenneth hesitated. He was still uncertain about the resources in the rivers near his village and in Brighter Lake. "Mr. Mohler, rest assured. If you can supply the goods, the price I offer will certainly exceed market rates! I can guarantee this with my reputation!" Daniella exclaimed excitedly, rising from her seat and leaning on the desk with both hands. Kenneth sat across from Daniella, feeling a bit overwhelmed by her formidable presence. "Ms. Galasso, no problem! I'll head back and see what I can catch. If I have any luck, I'll bring it to you," he quickly agreed. Securing a buyer was also crucial for him, especially one offering better prices. If he caught more seafood, he could bring it to Daniella and receive handsome payment! "Haha, that's settled then!" Daniella chuckled. She also noticed Kenneth's discomfort as his gaze shifted, and realized her posture. She laughed subconsciously. Kenneth is such a naïve young man. He must be slightly younger than me. "Mr. Mohler, can you give me your bank account details? I'll transfer the payment for the yellowfin tuna to you." "Bank account details?" Kenneth hesitated. He didn't have a bank account, and even if he did, he wouldn't use it due to concerns about identity-related issues and the potential trouble it could cause.