Reborn in Japan as a Chef God
Chapter 437 - 436: The Duel of Clones (Part 1)

Chapter 437: Chapter 436: The Duel of Clones (Part 1)

Two days later.

Group B’s highly anticipated additional round began promptly at 11:00 AM.

The five judges had successively taken their seats.

The venue was packed, and the female host introduced the judges with a trembling voice.

Backstage.

"Put down my tools!"

Takeomi Aldini, a handsome Italian high school student with blond hair, leaned against a door frame, and coldly addressed a big guy squatting in the lounge.

"Heh, Takeomi, it seems this chef’s knife is a tool you treasure greatly!"

The big guy slowly stood up.

Snap!

With a spit of his mouth, a piece of chewing gum laden with saliva landed on the blade of the chef’s knife.

"You’ve got some nerve!"

Takeomi froze on the spot, his pupils contracted dramatically.

A few seconds later, he regained his composure, and then erupted in rage, "Are you provoking me?"

"Ha ha ha ha..."

Mizuo Ang, the big guy, curled his tongue over his lip, "What a great expression! I like your angry look!"

"Takeomi, there are five judges in this additional round, an odd number, and your respected Instructor Xia is the Chief Judge. Since we’re going to duel, why not make it enjoyable..."

"If you win, you could also seize the opportunity to make an appearance in front of Instructor Xia and get him to notice and value you more."

"Don’t you want to receive personal guidance from Instructor Xia?" Mizuo Ang’s face, hidden in shadows, appeared so twisted.

Takeomi was shaken to his core.

The atmosphere in the lounge dropped to a freezing point.

The perspective switches back to the venue.

"Instructor Xia!"

Ichise Hui walked swiftly to the judges’ seats, whispered behind Xia Yu, whose expression was bizarre as he nodded in acknowledgment, "A Food Duel? Then notify Keiru Kuushou from the Food Duel Administration."

Thus, as a member of the Execution Committee, and holding the seventh position, Ichise Hui hastily took his leave.

Soon.

Far Moon was abuzz.

The additional round suddenly turned into a Food Duel, setting off a blast on the campus forum filled with discussions.

At the scene, hearing the broadcast, Tanaka Hikari, Xingping Chuangzhen, Morioka Makoto, and others felt cold sweat dripping down their foreheads.

"That guy Takeomi..." Xingping Chuangzhen clenched his fists.

Although Takeomi, that Italian, was annoying, in Xingping Chuangzhen’s eyes, he was acknowledged, recognizing him and his culinary skills, "I can’t lose, Takeomi!"

In the judges’ seats, Xia Yu quietly introduced the backgrounds of both parties in the Food Duel to the other four judges.

"Mizuo Ang, as a chef, is nothing but scum."

He said.

"That guy has no respect for ingredients or tools, his mind only interested in victory. The Food Duel has become his hunting ground, and so far, Mizuo Ang has achieved 99 victories in Food Duels without a single defeat..."

The four judges were none other than Dojima Yin, Indira, Yuchuan Ayaka, and Shinohara Shigetaro.

"99 wins, no defeats?"

The four were moved.

Being able to secure such a remarkable record in an official Food Duel certainly proved his strength.

"So, Instructor Xia, whom do you favor?"

Indira asked.

She had flown back to Tokyo late at night two days ago, and after several turns, finally found Xia Yu.

Dojima Yin, looking a bit under the weather, glanced at Xia Yu with a slightly strange and resentful look, seeming to have suffered a great loss and harbored a grievance.

"Takeomi Aldini."

Xia Yu answered without hesitation.

"Oh, Takeomi? That Italian youth? What about his Food Duel record?" Shinohara Shigetaro asked with a smile.

Yuchuan Ayaka, asked by Xia Yu to serve as a judge from his direct lineage, pursed her lips and asked, "What makes him extraordinary?"

Xia Yu simply smiled, his gaze distant.

If the original timeline of the Food Duel world was to be followed, in this battle, Takeomi Aldini would undoubtedly be defeated.

"Because, this duel’s theme remained unchanged—it’s still ’Desserts’!"

"And the theme was unanimously decided upon by Xia Yu and the Ten Master Mechanism!"

"Desserts are naturally suited to be the finale of a banquet, usually being served last during the meal."

"This is an additional round in the preliminary competition, where the first round of Far Moon’s elites will culminate with a dessert, aptly fitting. Two days ago, Xia Yu proposed this at the Ten Master Mechanism, and it was approved unanimously."

"Welcome both contestants to the stage!"

announced the host, Kawashima Reika.

Then,

Tall and unremarkable looking Mizuo Ang and the handsome, blonde Italian, Takeomi Aldini confronted each other on the stage.

"Pick it up!"

Takeomi threw a glove in front of Mizuo Ang and coldly stated, "Let me teach you, you uncouth man, what the proper duel rules are. Throwing a white glove at your opponent’s feet means a challenge, and picking it up signifies acceptance of the duel!"

Mizuo Ang, with a fierce expression, slowly picked up the white glove and muttered, "Aldini, if I win, your precious twin knives will be mine!"

"If I win, I want you to kneel and apologize on the spot!"

Takeomi coldly retorted, then stepped to his cooking station, scanning the ingredients already prepared there.

"The ingredients include eggs, flour, sugar, and fresh cream..."

"And lemon—"

Finally, picking up a strangely shaped lemon, Takeomi’s gaze slightly blurred as his thoughts went back to a day before in Far Moon’s sealed kitchen.

The kitchen, doors and windows tightly closed.

A young man stood before him, arms crossed.

"Takeomi, you will lose."

Surprised by the sudden summoning, Takeomi clenched his fists, refusing to accept it, "I won’t lose!"

"The topic notification has already reached your hands, right? What kind of dessert are you planning to present?"

The young instructor asked with a smile.

"A frozen cake?"

The next words made Takeomi step back in shock, his face covered in cold sweat, "Instructor Xia, is my idea that easy to see through?"

"That’s why I said you’ll lose. You don’t know, your opponent Mizuo Ang is known as the ’Complete Hunter.’ There’s nothing about you he can’t track," the instructor said with a smile.

"I don’t believe it!"

Takeomi calmed down and loudly declared, "My frozen cake is unique!"

"Is it?"

The instructor pointed to the cooking station, "I’ve prepared the ingredients. Make one."

The ingredients were the same: eggs, flour, sugar, and fresh cream.

Without hesitating, Takeomi stood at the cooking station, turned on the full heat, and half an hour later, he presented a freshly baked cake, slightly bowing, "Please taste, Instructor Xia—"

"Just a moment, I also have a frozen cake for you to try."

Instructor Xia, using some of the remaining ingredients at the same cooking station Takeomi had just battled at, made another cake.

Throughout the cooking process, Takeomi’s astonishment never ceased.

"How could..."

Takeomi’s pupils constricted as he watched Instructor Xia place the tray on the dining table.

The two plates together, both frozen cakes.

The top layer covered with caramelized nuts, a sweet fragrance wafting, tantalizingly delicious.

The second layer, a meringue and fresh cream made into an ice cream-like layer.

The third layer, a sponge cake that was exceptionally soft and smooth.

"Takeomi, try your own first, then mine—" the young instructor said with a smile.

"No!"

Takeomi objected, "I know my own dish the best; I’ve tasted it countless times during experimenting. My soul remembers that taste!"

Saying so, he took a spoon and cut a piece of the cake.

Undoubtedly, this was the instructor’s creation.

As he ate, his spoon clanged and fell.

Shock!

His entire body froze. Takeomi murmured, "It’s exactly the same feeling! Isn’t this my own dish?"

"No, it’s not!"