A cook, vice-captain of the Rocks Pirates?

"Lox asked."

Ryan didn't answer, but instead showed his actions.

He leaped into the air, his small body tracing a clean arc before landing steadily on the deck.

The deck was slippery underfoot because it was often soaked in seawater, and it smelled of wood and sea salt.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, on successfully joining the Rocks Pirates. The Endless Seasoning Bottle has been delivered to your system space.]

[Endless Seasoning Bottle: Can generate any known basic seasoning based on the host's imagination; maximum usage three times per day.]

The system's voice rang in Renn's mind once again.

He ignored them and went straight to the ship's more rudimentary kitchen.

The kitchen was small, with only an old stove and a few pots.

But that was enough for Rennes.

Rocks followed him in and leaned against the doorframe.

"From today onwards, you are the head chef of this ship, and the stomachs of everyone on board are in your hands."

Without turning his head, Ryan said softly, "I need ingredients, fresh, top-quality ingredients."

Rocks burst into laughter.

"No problem! On the high seas, we'll take whatever you want!"

"Whether it's a giant sea monster from ten thousand meters deep in the ocean, or a dreamlike fruit found only on a sky island!"

"If you can make it, I can get it for you!"

Rocks' voice was filled with unparalleled confidence and domineering presence.

A slight smile finally appeared on Ryan's lips.

He knew that he made the right bet.

The ship has set sail.

The wooden hull creaked in the waves as it sailed against the wind and waves toward the unknown and vast distance.

Raine stood on the ship's railing, watching the small island that had nurtured him slowly turn into a black dot in his field of vision, eventually disappearing beneath the sea.

Saying goodbye to the past is to welcome a more magnificent future.

His journey to becoming a culinary master officially began on this ship, the future maritime hegemon.

……

The boat was small, and the creaking planks seemed to tell the story of the hardships of the voyage.

The kitchen where Ryan was located was so cramped that it was barely enough for one person to turn around.

The air was filled with a lingering fishy and musty smell, and in the corner were several bags of hardened black bread and several barrels of cheap rum.

The Rocks Pirates didn't have many members; besides Captain Rocks, there were three core crew members.

A burly man named Gatz, with bulging muscles and a laugh as deafening as Rocks', whose weapon was a huge anchor, was looking at Renn with suspicion.

"Captain, you really want this brat to cook? He's not even as tall as my axe. It'll be a miracle if he doesn't burn the kitchen down."

Gatz's voice was booming, making no attempt to hide his disdain.

The other was a tall, thin man named Silver, who always leaned in the shadow of the mast, polishing his lance. He had sharp, eagle-like eyes, was taciturn, and seemed indifferent to everything.

The last one was the shipwright Dorum, a short, middle-aged man with a full beard, who always had a hammer and nails in his hand, constantly banging on the ship and muttering, "This lousy ship will fall apart sooner or later."

Rein ignored Gatz's provocation.

He put down his luggage and carefully placed the kitchen knife, wrapped in thick cloth, on the only relatively clean cutting board. Then he began to work.

Instead of starting a fire to cook, Ryan found a rag and a bucket of water and began wiping the greasy stove.

His movements were meticulous, as if he were performing some kind of sacred ritual.

He cleaned everything, from the stove and pots to the dusty dishes.

Under his management, the kitchen, though still simple, was completely transformed.

Gatz grimaced and said to Lockes, "Captain, did you hire a cook or a cleaner? We're starving."

Locke leaned against the kitchen doorway, arms crossed, watching with interest. Hearing this, he simply grinned and said, "Wait."

After cleaning the kitchen, Ryan turned around and calmly looked at the three people in the doorway.

His youthful face remained expressionless, yet his voice was clear and powerful.

"From today onwards, this is my territory. First, no one is allowed to enter the kitchen without my permission."

"Second, you are not allowed to bring anything that is not food into the kitchen."

"Third, and most importantly, no food should be wasted."

Gatz paused for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Hahahaha! Kid, you've set rules now? Do you know who you're talking to?"

He stepped forward, his massive figure almost completely engulfing Renn.

Raine raised his head and looked directly into Gatz's eyes. His gaze was not like that of an eight-year-old child, but rather like that of a seasoned captain, calm and sharp.

“I’m talking to the people who are going to eat my food. If you can’t, you can keep eating your black bread.”

"you……"

Gatz's face flushed red instantly, and his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

"Gats".

Rocks spoke calmly, his voice not loud, but it made Gatz freeze instantly.

Locke walked into the kitchen, patted Renn on the shoulder, and smiled at the three people outside the door, saying, "He's right. From today onwards, the kitchen is Renn's territory."

"His rules are the rules of this ship, and no one dares to break them..."

Rocks's gaze swept over the crowd, and his smile turned somewhat dangerous.

"I threw him into the sea to feed the fish."

Shipwright Dorum shrugged, indicating that he didn't care.

The silent Silver nodded slightly, seemingly agreeing with this rule.

Only Gatz looked indignant, but dared not refute Rocks, and could only huff angrily.

"Alright, head chef."

Lox turned to Rein, his tone slightly mocking.

"Now can we see your cooking skills? My crew is on the verge of revolt from hunger."

Chapter 3 Complete Conquest

Renn nodded, pointing to the ingredients in the corner: "Is this all we'll use?"

Lockes glanced at the hardened black bread and the few pieces of dried, rock-hard salted meat, and scratched his head somewhat awkwardly.

"Well, we've just set sail, so our supplies are a bit... basic. Don't worry, once we encounter a merchant ship or some sea creature, we'll get you the freshest supplies!"

"enough."

Ryan's answer surprised everyone.

He threw the rock-hard black bread into a large wooden basin and poured in water to soak it.

Then I picked up those pieces of salted meat and carefully pounded them with the back of a knife to remove the excess salt.

Raine's knife skills are superb. Even when handling the roughest ingredients, his movements are as elegant as if he were sculpting a work of art.

Next, Ryan started a fire to boil water, crumbled the softened bread, and put it into the pot along with the pounded diced bacon.

The pot was filled with ordinary white foam, looking like a pot of paste, and it only had a faint salty smell.

Gatz craned his neck outside, curled his lip in disdain: "Tch, I thought it was something special. It's just a pot of meat porridge. Judging from his posture, I thought he was going to prepare a grand feast."

Just then, with his back to everyone, Raine conjured a delicate, small bottle in his hand that looked like it was carved from white jade.

It was the endless condiment bottle that the system rewarded.

Ryan silently thought to himself: "The most basic flavor-enhancing spices, a touch of black pepper spiciness, and a bit of vegetable oil to bring out the aroma of meat."

With his thought, a drop of crystal-clear liquid and a pinch of fine powder flew out of the bottle and silently fell into the pot, instantly dissolving.

The next second, an indescribable, domineering aroma suddenly exploded from that broken pot!

It wasn't just a simple meaty or wheaty aroma, but a complex and highly layered flavor.

The rich aroma of meat is amplified by a unique umami flavor, mixed with the subtle sweetness of wheat after cooking, and a hint of spiciness that makes your mouth water.

"Gulu..."

Gatz's Adam's apple bobbed violently, his eyes widened like saucers as he stared intently at the pot, his earlier disdain replaced by astonishment and longing.

Even the silent Silver couldn't help but glance into the kitchen, his nose twitching slightly.

Even Dorum, who had been hammering away at the hull, stopped what he was doing and followed the scent.

"What's that smell...it smells so good?"

The aroma seemed to come alive, penetrating the nostrils of everyone on the ship and completely awakening the cravings in their stomachs.

As if he had done something trivial, Raine stirred the perfectly cooked porridge with a wooden spoon and ladled it into several earthenware bowls.

The originally coarse ingredients now present an enticing color, with specks of oil floating on the thick porridge, and plump diced meat, exuding a deadly temptation.

"All right."

Ryan pushed several bowls of porridge onto the counter by the kitchen door.

Gatz was the first to rush forward, not caring that it was hot, he grabbed a bowl and poured it into his mouth.

"Ouch! It's so hot!"

He kept making strange noises while fanning himself with his hands, but his mouth continued to move without stopping.

The moment Gatz tasted the meat porridge, his eyes widened instantly.

The smooth, creamy texture gently envelops the tongue. The diced salted pork, after being simmered, is not dry at all, but rather becomes exceptionally tender. With a gentle bite, the rich meat juices burst in your mouth.

The sweetness of the bread and the saltiness of the meat blended perfectly, and the unique umami flavor surged like waves, one after another, assaulting his taste buds.

A warm current slid from my throat into my stomach, instantly dispelling the fatigue and hunger from the voyage, and making every pore on my body seem to open up.

"Mmm...so delicious...it's so delicious!"

Gatz mumbled his praises, tears and snot almost streaming down his face.

He finished the bowl in a few bites, then handed it to Ryan, looking at him with an almost pleading expression.

"Another...another bowl!"

Although Silver and Dorum ate more elegantly, their increasingly rapid swallowing and slightly gleaming eyes betrayed their inner shock.

Silver, in particular, after finishing his meal, surprisingly took the initiative to speak to Raine, saying, "Very good."

Rocks, holding a bowl, leaned against the mast, his face showing undisguised pride and ecstasy.

He knew he made the right bet!

This kid can use the worst ingredients to make dishes that even a king might not be able to enjoy. What terrifying talent that is!

Lox laughed as he walked over to Ryan and vigorously ruffled his hair: "Hahaha! Kid, well done! I declare that from now on, anyone who dares to disrespect our head chef will first have to face my fist, Lox!"

Gatz was completely captivated by the food. He licked the empty bowl clean, then leaned close to Renn. His previous arrogance had vanished, replaced by a fawning grin.

"Um... Chef Renn, I was wrong. I shouldn't have underestimated you. Do you see there's still a little bit left in the pot? Even just a little bit of crispy rice will do!"

Ryan glanced at him and said casually, "The pot is washed."

Gatz's expression instantly fell, like a pitiful abandoned dog squatting at the kitchen door, which drew a burst of laughter from everyone.

A simple bowl of meat porridge was enough for Raine to completely win over this group of unruly pirates.

He not only proved himself with his culinary skills, but also established his own inviolable absolute authority on this ship of future hegemony.

Having won over the crew's stomachs, Ryan's status on the ship rose to a rank of extraordinary.