Reborn in Japan as a Chef God
Chapter 481 - 480: Monster Review

Chapter 481: Chapter 480: Monster Review

Accessing Chef God Space, Xia Yu was in no hurry to leave. After instructing the system to remind him when the next match started, he fully immersed himself in practicing the golden recipe, "Golden Smile."

He had a vague premonition that this recipe would determine the victory or defeat of a crucial battle ahead.

Outside.

Xia Yu and Bernard left the stage. There was a fifteen-minute break before the start of the second round.

The staff busied themselves cleaning the cooking stations and bringing in brand new kitchen equipment.

"Clang—"

The sound of the golden gong rang out once more, and the second-round contestants from the Far Moon Team and the French Academy Team took to the stage amidst the tense background music.

Roland Chapele was the main player for Far Moon’s second round.

The main player for the French Academy was the serious-looking female professor with gold-framed glasses.

"Chapele, I’m going to win this battle!"

The two were apparently well-acquainted, as the female professor addressed him directly.

Hearing this, the old professor’s stern face showed a slight smile. "I’m sorry, Christina, but I also intend to win this battle!"

He glanced at the young instructor resting with closed eyes below the stage.

"Instructor Xia has set a good start for the Far Moon Team; I must pass the baton to the third round—"

The words were plain yet full of determination.

"Please throw the dart to select the subject!"

Chiyoda Aichi was pushed to the edge of the stage by the strong auras radiating from both players and spoke timidly.

"Miss Chiyoda, you go ahead!"

"Agreed!"

Said the female professor Christina.

"Uh..."

Chiyoda Aichi, under the director’s gaze from the audience, reluctantly stood again in front of the spinning circular target.

The ’French cuisine’ subject of the first round had already been marked with a red cross.

So, nine subjects remained.

Pop!

In a close-up shot, the dart hit the spinning target directly. Without a ridiculous miss, when the target stopped, the audience let out exclamations of surprise.

"Chinese cuisine!"

"Wow, Miss Chiyoda is quite lucky, letting two famous French chefs cook Chinese cuisine?!"

A wave of awkwardness swept through the venue.

Chiyoda Aichi twisted her body, appearing on the verge of tears again. The director, quite mischievously, ordered the cameraman to give her a close-up of her expression, prompting good-natured laughter from the audience, including countless viewers watching the live broadcast who likely burst out laughing.

"...Ha... Ha... Chinese cuisine!"

From the Polar Star Dormitory, Yoshino Yuuki laughed heartily, gasping for breath.

Regardless of the audience’s reaction, once the subject was chosen, there was no going back.

The two French chefs, almost simultaneously, beckoned to the staff. The recording staff came up with expressionless faces, listening while taking notes. Once they stepped off the stage, they notified the stockroom via intercom.

When Xia Yu was alerted by the system that the match had started, he exited the Chef God Space and was met with a scene that left him amused.

The female professor from the French Academy was kneading dough.

Roland Chapele was using a glass mixing bowl, adding sugar, wheat starch, and glutinous rice flour, creating a white liquid by mixing.

"You’re awake?"

Eriina moved her chair closer. Though she turned her head to look elsewhere, she quietly spoke words of concern. "Was the previous match too mentally draining? Indeed, you mimicked the opponent’s recipe on the spot, learning and modifying it—it must have been exhausting!"

She declared with certainty.

"The subject is Chinese cuisine; one is making pasta, and one’s making a dessert?"

Xia Yu withdrew his gaze from the large screen above and then fixed his eyes on Eriina’s delicate profile. "What did you just say?"

"N-nothing!"

Her tone suddenly cooled down as Eriina moved her chair away and ignored him further.

Zhu Qing chuckled softly nearby, seemingly amused.

Tiqie Leonora also glanced over with a glimmer of laughter in her eyes but also a trace of imperceptible concern.

Recalling how, about half a month ago, after her daughter Alice lost in the "fall selection" quarterfinals, she called for a nine-hour-long international call to cry, Leonora naturally remembered that Xia Yu and Sen Tian Makoto were the names Alice mentioned the most.

Having interacted in recent days, Leonora noticed that the instructor Xia mentioned by Alice was indeed talented but also had a bit of a problem with his style. His ambiguous relationship with another princess of the Tiqie Family, along with his talented childhood friend, led Leonora to decide to have a good talk with her daughter back in Tokyo after the Legendary Cooking Utensils Tournament concluded.

Xia Yu didn’t expect that he was labeled by Alice’s parent as having "questionable lifestyle conduct."

"What kind of dessert is Professor Chapele making?"

Dojima Yin wondered aloud.

Zhu Qing and Xia Yu exchanged smiles: "Osmanthus cake!"

At that moment, the camera happened to focus on Chapele’s cooking station. Xia Yu glanced over. "Mixing wheat starch, glutinous rice flour, and sugar with warm water, followed by adding salad oil and stirring until integrated. This step is to make the batter; note that this kind of batter needs to be rested for 30 minutes to an hour."

Just as he said, Chapele poured the batter into an oiled container to rest and then, at ease, observed the female professor Christina.

"Dragon beard noodles?"

Xia Yu raised an eyebrow.

The female professor was making dragon beard noodles, and her actions were expertly seasoned, twisting and spinning the dough into countless thin strands with ease.

"Bang!"

Thunderous shockwaves filled the room.

Despite being an academic-looking female professor, her arms held explosive power. With a forceful jerk of her hands, the noodles burst open. The white strands, as fine as hair, danced in the air, leaving many spectators in awe.

Again and again.

Xia Yu counted silently, watching as the female professor pulled the noodle strands 16 times in half an hour, which amazed him. This level was achievable only by high-level Chinese pastry chefs. Ordinary pulled noodles could be stretched 8 to 10 times, and a skillful and experienced master could pull them to 13 times at most.

The 16-strand noodles, pure and immaculate, after briefly frying, were piled on the cooking station like bird’s nest clusters, captivating countless curious gazes.

The second round ended half an hour early.

Roland Chapele presented a large plate of ’Crystal Osmanthus Cake,’ the blue and white plate sprinkled with crushed osmanthus flowers.

Under the lights following him, it was no illusion—a wonderful array of colors shimmered in the translucent cake, exquisite and beautiful.

But Christina immediately presented steaming dragon beard noodles.

Her noodle soup emitted a rich seafood aroma, as if a maritime whirlwind swept through the site!

"Is this medicinal bee honey?"

The hunched elder at the head, after eating a piece of crystal osmanthus cake, trembled and exclaimed, "Fantastical honey! Who would have thought it would blend perfectly with traditional Chinese desserts... Hm, is it topped on the cake crests after they cool, using a brush to carefully apply the delicate and easily damaged ’bee honey’?"

"No wonder!"

The second reviewer, Nois from North America, stripped off his suit, then his checkered shirt, revealing a robust upper body like a strongman demonstrating muscles in the reviewing panel. "Ah, I’m now filled with strength; I could punch a cow to death with one blow!"

Next came the assessment of the dragon beard noodles.

It had to be said, these five judges were quite distinctive. Even if most Neon citizens didn’t know them, it didn’t stop them from laughing.

"I say, President Dojima, were these eccentric reviewers specifically invited by the event committee?" Xia Yu was speechless, thinking of that French female porn star and foodie who called him ’darling,’ and goosebumps rose again.

Such an international event, with a female porn star as a judge, was inherently unusual.

"You just realized?"

Dojima Yin asked in amusement, pointing beyond the guest seats. Following his hand, Xia Yu saw a bunch of ordinary spectators enthusiastically watching the varied critique of the judges.

Instantly, Xia Yu understood.

Wasn’t this all just for show effect!

"The higher-ups mandated it, and the IGO could only comply," Dojima Yin explained. "It’s a great opportunity to boost the economy and promote tourism."

Xia Yu shook his head, smiling inwardly.

It seemed the Neon authorities knew they couldn’t keep the legendary cooking utensil and could only capitalize on its buzz to reap more benefits.

"I’m heading back."

He got up.

"What, you’re not watching my third-round duel?" Dojima Yin was taken aback.

"Don’t tell me you’ll lose."

Dojima Yin was at a loss for words.

Xia Yu left one last comment, hands in his pockets, and walked away as Tiqie Eriina bit her lips and followed him.

If there were no surprises, in the A-block elimination match on the first day, the Far Moon Team would sweep the French Academy Team with a score of three to zero!