Battle of the Warrant-Testing

As expected, Agni made the excuse of 'doing something' to Soma's inner grief...something the Evil Noblemen took advantage of as Lau brought in sacks of spices Linnea specified that Ciel paid for. And each sack costs a little over a Tanaka's salary.

'Linnea, you know what to do.' said Ciel as Linnea dressed up in a female Chef's Uniform.

'Yeeees!' Linnea chimed. 'I need only one day and night to study these spices and condiments! Sebastian you come with me! It's YOU who'll be on stage, not me!' she said as she dragged the butler away while the chinese servants carried the labeled sacks into the kitchen.

'Eh? Sebastian? But isn't Linnea the specialist?' Soma asked Ciel, bamboozled.

'Yes, but in Britain, a Chef must have at least 9 years of training in a Culinary School, something impossible given Linnea's age and she's only 13.' said Ciel. 'By age alone, people will doubt her credibility and in turn, affect my reputation and she knows that. So its Sebastian who will be on stage, learning how to cook her creations. Sebastian is a fast learner while teaching Bard takes so much time it'll be way too late.' he said grimly.

'Sooo we got a Curry Specialist.' said Lau. 'But we got less than a week for you to open a Food Department and a store, y'know.' Lau pointed out.

'I have it all planned out. All I need to do is build it.' said Ciel, his well-oiled mental cogwheels rolling its gears.

'Why is West after the Royal Warrant that he had to Blackmail Agni for it? We don't have such thing back home.' Soma asked Ciel.

'Ah, the young Prince hasn't heard of it?' Lau blinked. 'You see, the Royal Family gives a Certificate to stores they are pleased with. That is a Royal Warrant. And a store having a Royal Warrant is a guarantee of incredible high-quality. Stores with a Royal Warrant will have customers flood their stores, wanting products worth the money.'

'There are two methods to obtaining a Royal Warrant.' Ciel continued. 'A public recognition through an event, or a free service delivered to the Royal Family for three years. But the easiest and most powerfully-convincing is public recognition.'

And so...after one day of studying...

'This, is complicated.' Sebastian frowned. While he is perfectly knowledgeable having virtuoso-skill-level in many things, cooking is beyond his scope as he does not eat human food so he never bothered studying it.

'But that's where the fun is!' Linnea gushed out, smiling like a maniac. 'I figured out many dishes by using grounding, roasting and using fresh and dried products itself! Time to wage war!' she hollered enthusiastically. 'Nyehehehe...haHAAAhahahahaha!'

'...Earl, I'm seriously hearing maniacal laughter in there.' Outside the kitchen, they can hear Linnea's maniacal victorious laughter that is seriously creeping them out. 'Is that how a goddess is supposed to sound?' he asked while holding Ran-Mao a little TOO close.

'Don't ask me, I didn't know she has that side to her!' Ciel sputtered. 'She has been prim and proper for years!'

And so...

Linnea took out the first dish. Curry wasn't in Bard's education so he had no idea what its like or what even to say about it other than 'delicious' since this is his mentor he's talking about.

'This dish is called Chinese Medicinal Four Substances Curry using Pork Belly with vegetables! Enjoy!' she presented her curry in small bowls though, as Sebastian poured milk for everyone.

'Chinese Medicinal Four Substances?!' Lau gasped out. 'So this dish is medicinal in nature while still being soupy curry somehow?' he asked as the dish definitely did NOT look like a curry.

'Yes! So Lord Soma please use a spoon and fork. Naan will be usable later.' Linnea advised as they took to their cutlery.

'What is this four substance thingy anyway?' Ciel asked Lau.

'Dihuang or Chinese Foxglove, Dongdanggui or Japanese Angelica Root, Szechuan Lovage and Peony Root.' Lau explained. 'The Four Substances Decoction is said to be a legendary dish that a dying traveler recovered just by merely eating it. It warms up the body by invigorating and tonifying the blood, regulates the liver, and alleviates pain.'

'Along with the Four Substances, I also added Turmeric, Star Anise, Fennel and Coriander and steeped them for an hour to bring out their active components and properties. Then I simmered in the vegetables and meat until tender, then I added Xiaoxing Wine and Coriander. I began with a medicinal dish to help out with what's coming later because the next ones are...stronger. Its safe to say this is 'preparing you' while making one feel better.'

'I feel like a man rebooorn!' Bard exclaimed as the consumers gained a fiery aura about them. 'There's a strange warmth flooding my body!'

'I definitely feel young again! Ohohohoho!' Tanaka beamed with a smile.

'I feel like I got energy I never had before!' Finny exclaimed, wide-eyed.

'This is the real deal...the real Four Substances...' Lau moaned in delightful hunger. 'Considering I've been smoking Opium, I've been feeling out of it lately...'

'This is delicious and the spices are used excellently even though the smell is weak...' said Soma. 'So you aim to strengthen our bodies first for the next curries you have in line?' he asked Linnea. 'This curry definitely feels like I'm in a medicinal spa under moxibustion treatments!' he cried as he imagined himself lying on his stomach with heated cones and even rocks on his back.

'Of course. I even prepared milk as young master can't stand spicy food so spicy foods like Curry never made it into our menus but this dish is something even he can withstand.' said Linnea. 'Milk can instantly neutralize the 'fire' caused by spices. In the actual contest, this dish is definitely gonna lose though, since it really doesn't look like a curry. It looks more like soup. And its fragrance is deliberately mild but very aromatic.'

'Yes, this is a level I can deal with.' Ciel agreed as he had some. 'Its just right for me. Bring out the next one!'

'OK!'

And so...

'Here's my second one, Fish Hot-Pot Curry! Its also still a soup!' and when they ate it, they got to taste it and somehow...were they sitting together around a Kotatsu inside a warm cozy room like a dysfunctional but happy family?

'The savoriness is incredibly strong but somehow, I had a weird image in my head that projected hospitality somehow...' Bard stammered out.

'This is also delicious but the scent is stronger than the last one!' Soma exclaimed as Ciel was twitching and his face turned a slight tinge of red.

'Third! Dongpo Pork Curry!'

'I see shiny marble...I swear its like shiny marble considering how the sauce caused the pork belly to shine like this...' Bard gawked out, wide-eyed at the sensually-tantalizing shiny pork swimming in sauce with vegetables.

'This is just so sensual and yet another chinese dish~you sure have a considerate chef, Earl...the pork belly literally jiggles with just a tiny move and...' Lau choked out with his dining knife. 'It's easy to cut! Its so tender!' it's good!' this time, Ciel downed some milk.

'Fourth! Two variations of Kozhi Varutha Curry! Fresh and Roast Varieties!' and the smell is considerably strong even if they look the same!

'O-Oh wow! It's getting there!' Soma cried excitedly. 'It's getting close!' and when they ate it... 'Ohhh!'

'I used fresh Kari Patta leaves I bought from Indian Stores downtown.' said Linnea. 'In this version I used Fresh Spices that have ten times more aroma than dried spices! Oh, please eat the one in the black bowl and compare!'

'T-the scent is definitely stronger with the fresh variety...but the one with roasted spices have a very distinctly deep flavor...' Bard choked out. 'The difference is as clear as morning and night!'

'So has everyone gotten used to the spices by now?' Linnea asked her taste-testers. 'I will now bring out my Knock-Out Three.'

'Knock-Out Three?' Ciel narrowed her eyes.

'Yes. These other curries were to accustom you to the spices and get used to them so you can last a bit longer as you understand the taste of my three strongest dishes because while very delicious, they're also quite hot.' Linnea beamed. 'Use the milk to wash away the flavors of the previous curries as I bring my third strongest out!' and she ran into the kitchen with her pushcart...and came out with several paired bowls of yellow rice, and a lobster curry dish.

'The rice is gorgeous despite how simple it looked...and the side dish is a work of art in vibrant color and luster...' Bard drooled. 'How's it taste?!'

"Come to think of it, Linnea stole the largest Lobsters from the market with her magic..." Sebastian thought as earlier, Linnea used her powers to steal them off the market for this dish.

'This time, this is French Curry Lobster with Saffron Rice! But there's a twist here! I used a complementary variety of spices combining it with Cognac and Crustacean Shells to create Sauce Americaine. Its meant to be eaten with the rice that is also influenced with spices. By the way, I used Napoleon-Class Cognac so its quality is very certain.'

'Cognac? What's that?' Soma asked her.

'It's brandy, a liquor stored in wooden barrels for years to age.'

'Curry with liquor? Now I haven't tried that out before...' said Soma incredulously. 'Its always been spices and herbs back home.'

When they took a bite with the rice...their expression is that of sheer tantalizing palette arousal as they moaned due to how delicious it was while enjoying the fragrance of wood caused by the brandy.

"For even the young master to make such a face...!" Sebastian nearly choked out in laughter. If they weren't eating...such a face would have belonged in the throes of pleasure in the bedroom.

'By the way...after you eat all that...' said Linnea as she took out small sauce platters containing a very small amount of Cognac. 'I want you to put that in the tomalley...the head of the lobster and slurp them both since even if you ask to crack the shell and put it on the plate, its impossible. Slurp it and then combine it with the rice.'

Sebastian really has to STRUGGLE to maintain a poker face now as the diners let out rather indecent facial expressions and moans of sheer pleasure delight. "Ahhh I'll bury that in my memory forever...definitely!"

And he meant Ciel's expression.

'If this is how they reacted to my third-strongest...I really wonder about about two strongest.' Linnea giggled as her diners were like jelly in their seats.

'T-this curry...' Soma gasped out, clearly robbed of his strength from how delicious it was, his expression in utter bliss. 'It's wonderful! Marvelously sensually delicious!' he burst out. 'I have no idea curry with liquor tastes THIS good!' he cried with teary eyes. 'The deliciousness is on par with Agni's curry!'

While everyone was happy and all, someone is mortified and horrified.

"This dish...is dangerous!" Ciel swore, red-faced as he can't believe he made that kind of face and sound. "Too dangerous that cannot be served in public! Even though it's damn good!" he can only imagine what happens in the judge panel and considering there's a large audience including kids...! And Queen Victoria's reaction alone...! The horror it presents given her point of view combined...! If she of all people made the same indecent face and moan as they had, it would create one hell of a controversy through the media!

'My second dish is...Curry Risotto Omelette Rice.' This looks tame in comparison at least...

'T-this is somewhat a little milder looking than the third one...' Bard commented as this one looked TOO innocent. 'I'd say innocent!'

'You sure about that...?' when they broke the surface with a spoon...strong fragrance assaulted their nostrils.

'Risotto inside an omelette?!' Bard gasped out. 'But what a fragrant Risotto! So the omelette was to seal all that aroma in?!'

'Of course. Curry is all about Aroma, Color and Spiciness. This is my second strongest dish.'

'The rice enclosed within the omelette is seriously glistening...' Bard commented as the rice is somehow shiny from the sauce.

'Oh, eat that with the omelette since the sauce is on it.' Linnea reminded them.

From a bite...the impact, is strong!

'This rich bouillon is made from chicken bones and beef tendon...it's so juicy...the ground beef and onions are fried in butter and the savoriness seeped into the rice!' Bard moaned in sheer happiness. 'The viscosity of the risotto harmonizes well with the moist omelette and the aftertaste is refreshing!'

'For the spices I used Cumin, Cardamom and Clove. I mixed in Mango Chutney to create a deeper curry flavor.'

'C-Chutney?! That's a condiment!' Soma gasped out. 'And you mixed it into the rice?!' he asked in astonishment as people dip food into it for an extra taste!

'Yes, but for the sake of progress, I stomped on that tradition to create something that enhances the spices used. Besides, Chutney is mashed fruit mixed with spices no? So its essentially a practical use of spices as well!'

"This is the second-strongest dish..." Sebastian thought as he tasted it in order to understand it but due to his tongue, its barely there even if humans find it incredible.

'This, is an induced explosion of aroma.' said Linnea as she took out her final dish...a bowl covered in Naan. 'But this one, has an even stronger smell.'

'...a bowl covered with Naan?' Soma has had question marks all over his head.

'Of course. Its for the sake of a more stronger explosion of aroma. The others are a see-saw of aroma and taste but this is my strongest dish for a reason...making it both a more powerful burst of aroma, taste and color. And with this naan lid, the aroma is tightly condensed and should a hole be bored into it, a powerful assault of aroma will tingle one's nose. Now...savor my best curry dish!' and when everyone bore a hole...she definitely wasn't kidding.

'The smell...its so strong and yet mellow...' Soma sniffed the aroma as everyone made weird faces again. And when they ate it, combining the Naan lid...exquisite! 'This is more powerful and stronger than Agni's curry!' he cried. 'This is a definite winner!' Ciel, Lau and Sebastian quickly took note of that.

'With this, lunch time is over, no?' Linnea chimed. 'So dinner is all that's left.'

xxx

'Hyaaa...that was quite superb, Earl.' said Lau as in Ciel's Office, those involved in the case are present.

'It was incredible...and you made it so easy when normally it takes a minimum of a year of dedicated study to master spices...' Soma sighed in bliss. 'And to think you took only a day to study all those spices! A day!'

'By the way, I'll pay you well, can I purchase the Four Decoctions from you?' Lau asked Linnea who sweatdropped. 'I'm willing to pay 100 Pounds for the recipe.'

'E-eh?!' Linnea squeaked, doing a double-take.

'That's what you get for smoking Opium too much.' Ciel twitched. 'And 100 is too cheap for a Legendary Medicinal Dish! At least pay her 500!' he grunted.

'Sold!' Thus on the side, Linnea had to write it down using Ciel's paper and pen.

'With this, we're ready for the Curry Fair. Sebastian, do you know how to make her Naan Pot Curry?' Ciel asked him.

'Yes. I have paid careful attention to her teachings.' said Sebastian. 'I can make it onstage after practice. The remaining few days will be sufficient.'

'Good.' Ciel nodded. 'With our Goddess of Cuisine who will be represented by one hell of a butler, we will be taking that Warrant from West!' he declared.

A:N- Recognize these dishes? I have to borrow some ideas so they're understandably, not mine. I'm no chef, I'm a fanfic writer.