Reborn in Japan as a Chef God
Chapter 232 - 231: Fish Leaping Over Dragon Gate

Chapter 232: Chapter 231: Fish Leaping Over Dragon Gate

Dojima Yin turned to instruct the IGO staff to prepare the ingredients.

Dubian Yuuki closely followed him, her face flush with excitement.

"Mr. Dojima, can you talk about which researcher is inside that altar?" Dubian Yuuki, holding a recorder, gasped slightly.

"Is this supposed to be an interview?"

Dojima Yin glanced at the striking professional woman and shook his head. "For on-site interviews, my subordinates should suffice. Why do you, as the chief editor, need to come all the way from Tokyo?"

Dubian Yuuki could only smile wryly: "Because, the people we sent last year returned empty-handed; I had no choice but to come myself!"

Dojima Yin nodded.

Had it not been for the ’Four Noble Families’ Dubian family’s information channels, this ’Taste Weekly’ chief editor would not have known so much about the Chiyoda Shrine’s background and decided to stake out. But aren’t connections and interpersonal relationships also qualities a leader should possess?

"His identity alone is big news."

Dojima Yin’s lips curled into an amused smile.

"But, unless I get his permission, I will only reveal some news to you. Miss Dubian, you should understand the significance of a ’reasearcher’. Inquiring about their privacy without permission or publishing their dish information recklessly... to put it bluntly, could trigger a food duel!"

"I know!" Dubian Yuuki frowned.

’Researchers’ are top-notch chefs with social statuses, and some who manage gourmet conglomerates wield incredible power.

"Just wait!"

"You can try his cooking first—"

Dojima Yin pointed to a dish of grilled fish on the table.

The previous batches of grilled fish had already been distributed by the staff to the gathering areas, one area at a time.

Now, the two remaining dishes on the table were exactly the ones Dojima Yin had just brought over, still fresh and steaming.

"May I?"

Dubian Yuuki was delighted.

"Of course. How can you write your article if you don’t taste it?" Dojima Yin said with a hearty laugh, handing Dubian Yuuki a pair of clean chopsticks.

She swallowed quietly.

Dubian Yuuki had spotted the culinary delights on the table long ago. Earlier she could restrain herself, focusing on work, but now, the words from Dojima Yin made her painstakingly built defenses crumble.

Her appetite broke free!

However, just as her chopsticks barely touched the fish, without any force applied yet, Dubian Yuuki’s eyes widened in astonishment.

"Clank"

The fish flesh, which had been clinging tightly to the bone and was well-cooked, bloomed like a flower in an instant!

Indeed, it burst forth!

It was as if a hallucination appeared in her field of view.

The golden-baked fish flesh, which blossomed, faintly ignited ethereal flames.

"Huh?!"

A surge of heat rushed at her, her cheeks burning, Dubian Yuuki stumbled back several steps, her heart thumping wildly as if seeing a Crucian Carp breaking through the firewall and charging at her, only to regain her senses and finding those hallucinatory images all gone upon a closer look.

It was truly just a hallucination.

She sighed in relief. Dubian Yuuki pursed her lips and finally picked up a piece of fish with her chopsticks and placed it into her mouth.

Sizzle.

Faintly, she heard the sound of her dress tearing, her distracted pupils reflecting Lake Ashi under the moonlight, sparkling, and at that moment, the tranquility of Lake Ashi was shattered by a ferocious Flame Dragon.

Lightning struck!

A live Crucian Carp actually leaped high out of the water, heading straight for the lightning.

The fish was instantly cooked through, but immediately afterward, a roar that shook heaven and earth made Dubian Yuuki tremble, a newborn Flame Dragon soared into the sky and spotted her, twisting its powerful, snake-like body and roaring as it charged at her with ferocious momentum.

"No—"

Dubian Yuuki screamed, but the Flame Dragon mercilessly swallowed her whole, heat spreading throughout her body.

"Huff, huff, huff..."

She came back to her senses, breathing erratically.

Unbelievable.

Dubian Yuuki couldn’t taste anything specific, only feeling as if small snakes, transformed from the Flame Dragon, were wriggling through her limbs.

It was just a small bite of fish, and yet, Dubian Yuuki’s fair cheeks were so red they seemed almost to bleed.

Seeing this, Dojima Yin merely smiled and asked, "Would you like some more?"

Dubian Yuuki’s tasting reaction was as he anticipated, because he had just reacted in the same way.

"Eat!"

The chopsticks couldn’t stop.

After gobbling down a plump crucian carp, Dubian Yuuki’s pupils slightly contracted, "These fish bones..."

It seemed not just a reflection of the light—on the plate, the pristine white fish bones faintly shimmered with a chilling gleam akin to cold steel weapons.

It took a full ten or so seconds before the light vanished.

At that moment, Dubian Yuuki slapped his burning forehead in regret, "Damn, I didn’t bring a camera!"

"What do you think of this ’Intern’s’ cooking?" Mr. Dojima asked with a smile, emphasizing the word "Intern."

Dubian Yuuki’s gaze was complex as he replied, "It was absolutely shocking!"

"I don’t know how to describe it..."

"Just say your most direct impression."

"The fish, it came to life!" Fear lingered in Dubian Yuuki’s eyes from the culinary illusion she had experienced, "The crucian carp ascended through Dragon Gate and transformed into a Flame Dragon that could devour everything!"

"This isn’t just any simple ’fish’ dish!"

Dubian Yuuki took several deep breaths until her breathing stabilized.

"Want to eat more?" Mr. Dojima pointed to the second fish on the same plate.

Hesitation and fear were clearly written in her eyes.

After a moment, Dubian Yuuki stepped back a few steps, suppressing her appetite, and said calmly, "Let’s stop here for now..."

"I’ll take you to taste the dishes from the other two ’Interns.’"

A hint of a smile passed through Mr. Dojima’s eyes.

Perhaps due to the unprecedented scale of the festival this time, the originally single dining table, according to the altar layout, had been divided into three sections, each manned by IGO staff distributing food.

Takai Masashi’s dining table.

Dubian Yuuki picked up a plate, sniffed it, and her eyes sparkled.

"Assorted vegetable stew with chicken!"

"The main ingredient is chicken, the side ingredients are konjac, lotus root, carrots..."

"And there’s a faint taste, like ginseng, yet resembling coffee... is it burdock?"

True to her role as the editor-in-chief of a major culinary magazine, she had roughly identified all the ingredients in the dish.

"Try it," Mr. Dojima said.

"Okay."

Dubian Yuuki picked up a piece of stewed chicken with her chopsticks and gently bit down.

Hisss.

Juice from the chicken spurted out, filling her mouth with the flavor of the vegetables.

After eating a few pieces, Dubian Yuuki felt her appetite ruined; she frowned and put down her chopsticks.

"Didn’t taste good?" Mr. Dojima asked.

"It’s not that..."

Dubian Yuuki herself was conflicted.

Was it delicious?

Of course!

As an ’Intern’, Takai Masashi’s skills were unquestionable, but, having experienced the previous shock from the grilled fish dish "Fish Ascends the Dragon Gate," any other dish now tasted too bland in comparison.

"Come with me."

Mr. Dojima led her to the third dining table.

This time, Dubian Yuuki didn’t wait for Mr. Dojima’s invitation; she took the chopsticks and picked up a piece of sushi herself.

Hase Ichiro’s dish was indeed sushi.

After chewing slightly, with a bitter expression on her face, Dubian Yuuki abruptly put down her chopsticks and said with a trembling voice, "Director, let’s go back and try the grilled fish again!"

Coincidentally, Hase Ichiro came over with freshly made seafood sushi at this time.

"Grilled fish?"

Hase Ichiro laughed, "Miss Dubian, you should try my freshly made seafood sushi, you’ll definitely enjoy the ultimate freshness!"