"I know." The woman’s tone made it clear that was exactly the problem.
Jasmine blinked.
Then what was she complaining about?
The woman crossed her arms. "Everyone knows you only got that room because Captain Oleander is protecting you."
Ah... another hater.
"Yeah, I agree. I should thank him more often. Thanks for the reminder."
Jasmine started walking again.
"Shameless."
Jasmine stopped in her tracks.
She slowly turned around and looked at the woman with a colder stare.
"I’m also fearless. Wanna test me?"
The woman froze.
"You must’ve read the article about me and the rabbit monster. The stitches on my hand are still fresh. I don’t mind getting another one." Jasmine’s gaze dropped to the woman’s badge. "B-Rank Guides shouldn’t be harder to tame than a rabbit monster, right?"
The woman’s eyes widened.
The hatred in her gaze quickly mixed with fear.
Jasmine waited.
When the woman didn’t answer, Jasmine simply turned back toward the counter.
She had come here for food. She wasn’t going to let someone else’s bad mood interfere with lunch.
Despite the hateful glare from the cafeteria’s resident complaint department, Jasmine noticed several people already seated nearby watching her with curiosity and admiration.
A few of them seemed to want to approach her, but they hesitated, as if something was holding them back.
She brushed it off and focused on the menu in front of her.
Two meals were displayed on the digital menu board, complete with pictures.
Jasmine’s eyes lit up.
"I’ll have one of each," she said to the female cashier wearing a white uniform, cream apron, and white beret.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course." Jasmine smiled brightly.
"Cafeteria food cannot be taken away."
"I’ll eat both here."
The cashier stared at her and blinked.
"Are you sure?"
Jasmine’s smile faded. She let out a deep sigh.
"Yes," she answered flatly.
"But if you don’t finish them, you’ll be fined." The cashier pointed to the warning sign beside Jasmine.
Jasmine’s expression soured.
"I know. Just give me the food. I have a big appetite."
The cashier still looked skeptical, but she processed the order anyway.
"The total is fifty-five credits. Please hover your BeepAir over the scanner."
Jasmine raised her wrist and hovered her BeepAir over the machine.
Beep.
The cashier gestured for her to move aside.
Jasmine glanced down at her BeepAir and saw her remaining balance.
120 credits.
"..."
Her jaw dropped.
The professors had said they had given her a new BeepAir without changing anything on her account, but Jasmine had never expected the daughter of the Capital District Mayor to have this little money.
What the hell did she do with all her money? Did she get scammed or something?
Her mood dropped.
Even an E-Rank Guide should have at least 3,000 credits in her account as a paycheck.
Jasmine rubbed her temples as she thought about how she was supposed to save three million credits for the luxurious lakeside bungalow she’d already found while browsing properties in District 9.
Nothing is ever easy when money is involved.
She pursed her lips and started racking her brain for a way to make money quickly.
She had a three-million-credit dream and 120 credits to her name. The math was already insulting.
But her pout faded instantly when her two meals arrived.
Jasmine immediately carried the tray to the nearest table and sat down.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the two plates in front of her.
The first plate held round pieces of fried cassava with a small bowl of chicken soup and green peas.
The second had rice balls with red beans, served with a medium-done lamb steak topped with sliced onions.
Both dishes looked incredibly appetizing, especially while they were still hot. Steam curled from the plates, carrying the authentic aroma of chicken broth and roasted lamb.
Jasmine swallowed hard.
She picked up a piece of fried cassava first—Crispy.
Then she took a sip of the chicken soup—Warm.
She moved on to the rice ball with red beans—Soft and slightly sticky.
Finally, she cut into the lamb steak and took a bite—Juicy.
Jasmine chewed. Then she stopped.
After swallowing, she covered her entire face with both hands and lowered her head.
She felt like crying.
It was still bland.
No. If she had to describe it simply, it had saltiness and the natural flavors of the ingredients. But there was no richness. No spices, no herbs, no aromatics—none of the basic seasoning that could bring out the umami and make the food actually appetizing.
Jasmine drew a long breath and slowly lowered her hands.
She stared at the two portions in front of her.
They had so much potential.
With the right spices and herbs, these could taste like heaven.
Instead, they tasted like someone had introduced salt to the ingredients and decided their relationship was serious enough.
Jasmine swallowed hard and forced herself to finish the food anyway.
She started with the fried cassava, which was saved by its crispy, savory coating.
They should’ve brined the cassava before frying it. Poor cassava...
Ding...
"The Cassava Combo has sold out. Please come back tomorrow."
The announcement echoed through the cafeteria, followed by cheers and groans from the residents on the left side.
"Nooo!"
"Oh God, I waited in line for nothing!"
"I’m so sick of eating rations!"
"Give us more portions!"
"Only the Rice Combo is left, but we can’t even buy that!"
"We can only drool while watching the richies eat!"
"Let us buy the Rice Combo! Please!"
The complaints from the left side made Jasmine turn her head.
She couldn’t help feeling frustrated for them.
If I had access to the Divine Kitchen, I’d cook for them. That’s a lot of potential customers.
Jasmine wanted to have money. She wanted to spend it, too.
In her past life, she’d lived purely on function. She barely had the chance to spend anything because her work paid her in rank, power, and survival rather than actual currency.
Ding!
[Chef God’s Emergency Quest: Available.]
[Reward: 400 GR.]
[Would you like to accept?]