Reborn in Japan as a Chef God
Chapter 164: Lancelot’s Arrogance

Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Lancelot’s Arrogance

"Good afternoon, dear viewers, welcome to Tokyo TV Station’s special broadcast of the live Food Battle event..."

In front of the carpeted Food Battle Stage, an attractive female host clad in a work uniform bowed deeply to the camera, microphone in hand, as she introduced the situation at the venue.

As the camera moved, the crowded scene was transmitted via wireless signal to television screens receiving the program.

Polar Star Dormitory

"It’s about to start, everyone come down—" Yoshino Yuuki shouted from the staircase entrance in the lobby on the ground floor. She lived in room 116, and Sen Tian Makoto was in room 111, the only two girls living on the first floor.

Shortly, the sounds of hurried footsteps echoed as Tanaka Hikari, Shen Liangzi, Xingping Chuangzhen, and others gathered at the kitchen table within a minute or two, their eyes glued to the television on the wall.

"Where’s Makki?"

Tanaka Hikari’s palms were sweating as she looked around for her close friend.

"She went out to Miss Tiqie’s early in the morning, probably at the scene by now," Ichise Hui said from the kitchen doorway.

"Ichise senior, Instructor Xia should win, right?" The one asking wasn’t Tanaka Hikari or Yoshino Yuuki, but the sisterly Shen Liangzi, her face etched with worry.

"Definitely!" Xingping Chuangzhen swung his fist energetically. "He promised me that he can’t lose to anyone else before he loses to me!"

The group rolled their eyes, speechless.

This was a one-sided challenge, as Xia Yu had never directly responded.

Ichise Hui, supporting his chin, said with a wry smile, "Emotionally speaking, I hope Mr. Xia Yu wins too, but in a battle between high-level chefs, there are too many variables, and it’s very difficult to predict the outcome before the results are revealed—"

Aoki Daigo and Sato Shoko, the sibling duo, were busy sizing up the female host of the cooking show.

"Miss Chiyoda has gotten prettier again!" exclaimed Aoki Daigo.

"What do you mean? Hasn’t Miss Chiyoda always been this beautiful?" Sato Shoko snapped back.

Without further ado, the pair started comparing muscles in a corner of the kitchen.

"Chiyoda Aichi!"

The female members of the Polar Star Dormitory gazed at the host with respect and admiration.

To put it simply, Chiyoda Aichi was the Kawashima Reika of Neon’s local culinary world.

Wherever there was a public Food Battle, you’d find this host, and over time, everyone became accustomed to her presence. It’s fair to say that Chiyoda Aichi was the most popular culinary program host.

Her crisp, gentle voice came through the television:

"Let us introduce the five expert judges who have already arrived at the venue!"

The cheers at the scene reverberated through the television into the kitchen of the Polar Star Dormitory.

Shinohara Shigetaro took the stage, followed by Liangzi Lina and Aoki Motota—three heavyweight judges. Chiyoda Aichi already knew them well but still painstakingly introduced them to the audience.

"The other two are special-grade research professors from the IGO Neon Department research institute!"

Research professors?

The dorm residents glued their eyes to the TV. One professor with a baby face, who looked to be just seventeen or eighteen, caused the group at the Polar Star Dormitory to widen their eyes in surprise.

"Wait, this female professor looks so familiar..." Tanaka Hikari and Yoshino Yuuki exclaimed in unison.

"Xijian Run!"

Ichise Hui expressed surprise, "This is our Far Moon’s Professor Xijian Run, an authority in the world of spices and also the youngest genius professor in Far Moon’s history!"

Marui Shanji adjusted his black-framed glasses, "The other one is Professor Miyazaki Takuo, also from our Far Moon. I am currently studying and researching classical culinary literature in the ’Miyagi Research Association’."

"So it was your mentor, Marui!" Xingping Chuangzhen laughed.

"Three chefs of special grade or above, along with two authoritative professors in the field of scholarly research—a total of five people—that’s what can be called the most scientific structure for judging!" Ichise Hui said with a sparkle in her eye. "For the evaluation of the special grade chefs, the judging panel would indeed be something like this."

A special grade judging panel!

Everyone understood and couldn’t help but let their imaginations run wild.

At that moment, on the TV screen, there suddenly appeared a close-up of a blonde young man surrounded by an army of press, with food magazine and newspaper journalists all around him.

Chiyoda Aichi squeezed in, extending a microphone and saying, "Mr. Lancelot, please share your thoughts about this Food Battle. Are you confident in your victory? Also, if possible, please give us a brief introduction to your opponent. We have no information on him; it’s all blank..."

"Gratitude? Confidence? Introduce my opponent?"

Lancelot slightly turned his head to face the TV station’s camera, with a trace of barely noticeable scorn in his eyes. "Many people, grand stage—that’s my thought. Thank you!"

"And as for my confidence in winning," Lancelot shook his head and stared sharply at the camera, "my odds of winning... are 100 percent. No, for me, there is only the option to win!"

"Besides, concerning the information of a defeated underling, I have nothing to say to you..."

This statement sent the surrounding journalists into an uproar, causing commotion among the crowd that was packed tight around the stage. A buzzing noise of conversation came through the TV screen.

The kitchen of Polar Star Dormitory was silent for a moment, before Xingping Chuangzhen’s dissatisfied voice broke the stillness.

"What the heck, this guy is really arrogant!"

"Exactly, can’t he be a bit more modest in front of the camera?" Yoshino Yuuki was also visibly indignant.

Ichise Hui furrowed his brows. Although he said nothing, his darkening expression made clear his displeasure with Lancelot.

At the windowsill on the second floor of Xia’s shop.

Nishimura Eiki listened to the humming noise from the ground and shook his head, "This Five-Star Chef is still confident, but he does have the capital to be confident... Eh, where did Yu go?"

He turned and did not see Xia Yu.

Sakamoto replied, "He went to change clothes."

"Change clothes? What kind of clothes?" The absent-minded Nishimura Eiki had obviously not paid attention to the names on the promo flyer. He walked to a bedroom with an open door and happened to see Xia Yu adjusting his appearance in the mirror.

He had taken off his complete high school uniform and changed into an outfit similar to Neon’s traditional clothing called "jinbei," very classical.

"Yu, why are you changing into jinbei? It’s not even summer yet!" Nishimura Eiki asked, puzzled.

"Look closely, this isn’t jinbei!" Xia Yu, feeling the comfortable and breathable roughness of the hemp fabric on him, was quite satisfied, "This is our Chinese traditional short jacket; the two kinds of clothing do look quite similar!"

Wrapping around a white apron also made from cotton and linen material and tying it at the waist, Xia Yu rolled up his sleeves and walked down to the stair landing to put on his shoes.

"What are you going to do?"

Nishimura Eiki called out from the second floor.

"Food Battle," Xia Yu casually replied, and after putting on his shoes, he gave a little jump on the spot.

Thinking about it, he didn’t wear a white chef’s uniform because the light gray cross-collared short jacket paired with loose-fitting long pants of the same color were, in fact, the standard fare of Xia’s Kitchen. The old man had always worn that, and although Xia Yu used to disdain it, he had recently come to a realization. For important occasions, it was indeed better to wear the traditional attire of the shop.

Nishimura Eiki was utterly confused when he saw Xia Yu make a phone call which immediately led to a large group of police officers, tasked with maintaining order, flooding in through the side door.

Ando Keisuke, an IGO staff member typically in charge of delivering ingredients, respectfully said, "Chef Xia Yu, the Food Battle will officially start in ten minutes. Please make your way to the stage."

Afterward, Xia Yu was escorted by the police in a tight circle, exiting from the side door of the shop.

"Ah—"

Nishimura Eiki exclaimed in shock and was left speechless.