Chapter 397 - 396: Stardust Gallery

Chapter 397: Chapter 396: Stardust Gallery

"A Storm Dragon? For real? It’s... it’s just lying here? This is an S-Class creature! And you just... killed it right here?"

It whipped its head around and scrutinized Seraphina Sinclair from top to bottom several times, its gaze like it was looking at some kind of monster. All sense of professional decorum was completely forgotten.

The waiter, however, was thinking, ’What does it matter if I serve the customer or not?’

’I’m off the clock! This is my time to savor the joy of a successful investment!’

It practically floated over to the Storm Dragon’s corpse. It reached out a hand, wanting to touch it but not quite daring to. Gingerly, it extended a fingertip and touched a cold Dragon Scale.

"It’s real... It’s really a Storm Dragon... An S-Class creature! S-Class ingredients! The last time I saw one was many years ago, and it was just a skeletal specimen at a major auction..."

The waiter murmured to itself, the drowsiness in its eyes long since replaced by a fanatical gleam. "Alive... no, fresh! So complete! The hide, the meat, the bones, the blood, the sinew... Gods, how much would this be worth..."

The waiter finally confirmed that what lay before it was indeed the corpse of an S-Class Storm Dragon.

Although it had been dead for several hours, it was still undeniably fresh.

As for the Dragon Slayer...

It was hard to believe, but looking at the human’s tattered, blood-soaked rags and her still-mending arms and legs, it seemed she really was the one who’d killed it!

Besides, the woman’s eyes were terrifyingly bright, and she had the triumphant air of someone who had just pulled off a big score.

There was no other possibility; she had to be the one who killed it.

The waiter had partnered with Seraphina Sinclair because it saw her potential.

But potential is called potential for a reason—it means you don’t have the power yet!

And now look. She hadn’t even reached her full strength, and she was already killing dragons. The waiter could barely imagine what kind of monster it had invested in.

It slowly circled the Dragon Corpse, its greedy gaze sweeping over every scale that shimmered with a faint silver light even under the stars. It scanned the pitch-black Short Spear and the dragon’s head, with its pair of lusterless, Dark Gold vertical pupils.

"The integrity... is extremely high! Other than the fatal wound and some old scars, there’s almost no other large-scale damage! Very few scales are missing, and the Dragon Blood loss is within acceptable limits!"

It spun around abruptly, its face breaking into an unprecedentedly brilliant, almost fawning smile as it nervously wrung its hands.

"My honored, mighty, and unparalleled partner!"

This was the first time Seraphina Sinclair had heard so many flattering words from the waiter’s mouth, but she also knew that with a setup like this, nothing good was about to come out of it.

And sure enough, the waiter asked tentatively, "You summoned me because you want me to process this... this magnificent ingredient... right?"

As it spoke, it seemed terrified that Seraphina Sinclair would refuse. After all, they hadn’t signed any documents when they first agreed to cooperate.

Back then, the waiter had been willing to bet on Seraphina Sinclair’s conscience, but with this Dragon Corpse lying before it, it had to admit it was regretting that decision immensely!

If Seraphina Sinclair didn’t give it the processing rights, if it missed out on an S-Class magical creature like this...

The waiter’s heart was bleeding, but it struggled to maintain the most sincere and humble expression. Then, to Seraphina Sinclair’s astonishment, it dropped to the ground with a THUD and kowtowed deeply to her.

"Please, I implore you, let me handle this! My restaurant will provide the highest-level appraisal and the most suitable carving plan! We have the widest promotional reach and the wealthiest buyers, and our commission fee is extremely low. No—in light of your esteemed status and the extraordinary nature of this ingredient, I can apply to have all fees waived! My only request is to be the one to process it!"

Seraphina Sinclair was completely bewildered by the waiter’s tirade. She subconsciously took half a step back before she came to her senses.

’This guy’s professionalism must have been swallowed along with that yawn, right?’

’Why is it suddenly so enthusiastic about calling me "partner"?’

’And this lightning-fast change in attitude...’

’Don’t tell me their restaurant has a crash course in managing human expressions?’

’And... what’s with the kneeling? What backwards culture full of bad habits did it learn that from?’

She looked at the waiter’s fervent gaze, which was practically glued to the Dragon Corpse, and found the whole situation increasingly absurd.

A moment ago, the waiter’s hand had trembled just touching a single Dragon Scale. Now, its eyes were practically carving up the body themselves. It was clearly desperate to get its hands on the Dragon Corpse and begin processing.

’Is this really a respectable restaurant?’

’Isn’t this just "All are equal in the face of ingredients, but an S-Class ingredient will make the boss kowtow to *you*?"’

Despite her internal monologue, just looking at the waiter’s state, Seraphina Sinclair felt that partnering with it was probably more reassuring than any contract could ever be.

After all, it seemed more afraid of this deal falling through than she was.

She cleared her throat and finally spoke, her voice laced with a deliberately suppressed sigh. "Get up first. Let’s talk properly."

As if granted a royal pardon, the waiter practically sprang to its feet. Yet its posture remained impeccably respectful, its back slightly bowed and its face plastered with a fawning smile.

"Yes, yes, of course! You have but to speak. Please, just give your orders."

It even rubbed its hands together subconsciously, looking for all the world like it was all ears and ready to serve hand and foot.

Seraphina Sinclair had never seen such a suck-up before.

Even the Moonlight Pudding last time hadn’t gotten the waiter this excited.

But then again, it made sense. As rare as that item was, it was a finished product; it had nothing to do with the waiter as a chef.

This Dragon Corpse, however, was something that would pass through its own hands.

Seraphina Sinclair struggled to keep a straight face, fighting the urge to let the corner of her mouth twitch. She pointed at the Dragon Corpse beside them and got straight to the point.

"I know which parts of this thing are the most valuable, and I know which parts are the most restorative. I’m not an ungrateful person; I was already planning to have you process this. I’ll just need to keep a portion of the food and materials for myself. The rest, I need you to help me sell."

The moment Seraphina Sinclair’s words fell, a fiery light, rivaling that of dragonflame, ignited in the waiter’s eyes.

It practically lunged in front of Seraphina Sinclair and shouted, "Wise! So very wise! I knew I wasn’t mistaken about you!"

"Great partner, rest assured, processing top-tier ingredients is the highest honor of our Stardust Gallery, and it is our specialty! Every inch of tissue, every drop of essence, will be given a destination befitting its value!"

’Stardust Gallery?’

’Oh, that must be the name of its restaurant, right?’

This was the first time Seraphina Sinclair had heard it.

As the waiter spoke, it pulled a leather scroll and a quill pen from the inner lining of its exquisite uniform. "To ensure the interests of both parties, and to demonstrate my sincerity and the professionalism of the Stardust Gallery."