Chapter 230
The diners were vetted and proven to be ordinary citizens with no malicious ties.
Even though the managers threw money and apologies at them instantly, the news leaked anyway.
That was the killing blow. Azure Skillet emptied out entirely.
They were forced to shutter all locations indefinitely for an internal audit.
The seasoned executives knew there was a mole, but hunting them down was a logistical nightmare.
They couldn’t just fire the entire kitchen staff—they’d lose their recipes and face the risk of hiring fresh saboteurs.
They could only tighten the screws on management and increase internal surveillance.
Mira called Master Ellis. “If we opened a competing restaurant right now, could we put Azure Skillet in the ground permanently p>
“You have beef with the Porters p>
“I do. But I’m not the one trashing their kitchens right now p>
“I know, it’s the Mercers. But taking out Azure Skillet won’t be easy. They’ve dominated for years because their food is objectively phenomenal. They have secret techniques and a seasoned culinary team. An amateur operation can’t replicate that p>
“I know, Master Ellis. EcoRide is still our priority. But while the Mercers are crippling them, I want you to track down the Lennox family. If we find them, and they agree to partner, we launch. If not, I drop it p>
Azure Skillet was originally founded by the Lennox family, who owned the legendary secret recipes.
The Porters had recognized the goldmine and executed a hostile takeover.
Outgunned and outmatched, the Lennox family had been violently forced to sell.
Afterward, they fled Melvion City and vanished.
Master Ellis hesitated. “If you do this, you’re going to war directly with Shane Porter. Your identity won’t stay hidden p>
“We’re going to war eventually anyway p>
At least now, she had the financial artillery to fight back.
After ten days of auditing, Azure Skillet reopened.
They launched a massive social media
campaign: finding anything
foreign in their food guaranteed a
ten thousand dollar payout
The audacious guarantee brought back a decent crowd, but the peak numbers were gone.
The elite circles simply didn’t trust them anymore.
A week later, Master Ellis confirmed he had located the Lennox family.
On Sunday, Mira brought the Iron Wolves and Owen to the gym to meet Quinton Lennox.
He was a tall, lean man in his thirties, dressed in understated casual wear.
He had a tanned complexion and sharp, piercing eyes.
“These are my students. They’re the ones looking to do business p>
“Miss Mercer? You’re the Mercer heiress p>
Quinton asked, stunned by the introduction.
“I used to be. Not anymore. I have zero ties to the Mercer Group, so don’t factor them into this content,
“That’s a relief p>
“I heard Azure Skillet used to belong to your family before you
surrendered it to Porter
Entertainment
“Surrendered? They stole it from us. They forced us out of the city p>
“Why p>
“They were terrified we’d partner with a competitor and destroy their monopoly p>