Reborn in Japan as a Chef God
Chapter 512 - 511: The Battle Resumes

Chapter 512: Chapter 511: The Battle Resumes

Perhaps it was because the first match had been so spectacular, or maybe it was the topic, but the second match made the audience drowsy, unable to muster any enthusiasm.

Until Chiyoda Aichi announced the winner, many in the audience raised their heads from their phone screens, as if awakening from a dream, and exclaimed in shock,

"Far Moon has 2 to 0 already?"

"Is the overall situation decided?"

Dojima Yin stepped off the stage with a composed expression.

As for the loser, Tang Jingtiao, he seemed to have anticipated the defeat and did not show any signs of despondency as he stepped down.

Saito Chiyokuro took to the stage; the third match was beginning.

Xia Yu, however, slipped away quietly.

Ookura Mountain Villa.

Kitchen.

Egg mixture and rice were placed separately in containers. Xia Yu spent another 10,000 Fame Points to purchase a piece of "Gem Meat." He placed this flawlessly translucent perfect meat on the cutting board and took out the long-unused "Jade Fragment Knife," carefully chopping the gem meat into fine mince.

As evening approached, the entire team returned from the A Block venue with a sweeping victory.

Upon entering, everyone saw Xia Yu sitting in the living room, absorbed in watching TV, and they looked at each other in surprise.

"Weren’t you going to come back to practice your cooking skills?"

"During the halftime break..." Xia Yu shrugged.

At that moment on TV, the Sapporo Legendary Cooking Equipment Contest Committee was holding a press conference, celebrating the conclusion of the A and B Block quarterfinals, and were about to randomly shuffle the order and draw the matchups for the third segment.

Two transparent glass containers appeared on the screen, labeled with the letters A and B on the left and right, respectively.

Inside the glass containers were four spheres, each containing a slip of paper representing each competing team.

Chiyoda Aichi and Dubian Yuuki, the two hosts, were drawing lots in a crisscross fashion.

"We’re now conducting the draw for the first round of the A Block..."

Both female hosts stepped forward, reached into the containers to pick up a sphere, opened it to take out the slip, and then unfolded it in front of the camera—

Far Moon Contest Team.

Orlando Team.

The two teams will join forces to deliver an exciting matchup in the first round.

And the remaining two teams in the A Block, the Research Faction and the "Southeast Asia Chef Alliance Team," will decide the winner, advancing to the semifinals.

"Semifinals, facing off against the Orlando Team?"

The Far Moon members, whether standing or seated, did not appear relaxed despite their convincing victory today. Indeed, neither Xia Yu nor anyone else showed much ease. In fact, the arrangement of troops by both sides had been very strategic, with Far Moon betting on the first three matches, while Tang Family placed their strongest two individuals in the fourth and fifth matches.

One could say that the outcome of the first match determined the trend for the entire round. Tang Yuqiong’s defeat meant a comprehensive defeat for Tang Family unless they could snatch a victory from Dojima Yin or Saito Chiyokuro in the second and third matches to turn the situation around.

"It’s time for us to discuss the strategy for the semifinals."

Zhu Qing sat down, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the room.

"Hold on a second—"

Tiqie Zongwei returned quickly with a bag of intelligence files.

Slap.

Five photographs were spread out on the table, among them, Xia Yu recognized Mars, a former ’Culinary Union’ magnate who had once threatened him, and the familiar beauty, Elizabeth, who was smiling brilliantly and elegantly in her picture.

The other three special chefs were strangers to Xia Yu.

"Mars is ranked third among the special members of this contest team," Tiqie Zongwei said, noticing Xia Yu’s eyes locked on Mars’ picture, and pointed at the first woman’s picture, "This woman, named Madeline, carries Indian blood in her veins. Her ’Gourmet Cells’ have a strength grade of A. She’s Lin Giant Desani’s mistress and most important confidante, usually in charge of the Orlando Faction’s daily affairs."

After a pause, Tiqie Zongwei looked at Xia Yu.

"According to intelligence, her strength is roughly equivalent to Nakamura Ayame’s."

Pointing to the second photo, it showed a middle-aged man in a suit with a stern face.

"This is the Orlando Faction’s second-in-command special chef, Leon, nicknamed ’Lion King.’ It’s said that his Gourmet Cells come from an ugly and rare species, the repugnant lion. The Culinary Union had to deploy a significant armed hunting effort, but after ten years of research, Leon was the sole successful awakening case..."

Dojima Yin kept his eyes firmly on the photo of the German, a flash in his gaze, "Let me handle Leon!"

Zhu Qing shook his head, "We don’t yet know how the opponents will arrange their matches. It’s too early to talk about handing him over to you. We need to discuss a secure strategic plan, like today’s, putting all our bets on the outcome of the first match is too risky."

Everyone was silent.

Dojima Yin and Saito Chiyokuro both twitched their brows.

The match schedule against the Tang Family was decided by Zhu Qing, and her talking about risks now was quite amusing.

"I’ll take the first match, and continue being the vanguard—"

Unexpectedly, Xia Yu suddenly stood up, tossed out those words, and waved his hand as he went upstairs.

Now that the semifinal opponent was determined, he should ponder over several counter-recipes and properly prepare.

"Uh..."

Dojima Yin and Saito Chiyokuro exchanged glances, finally realizing what was happening, and then looked at Zhu Qing, who had a triumphant smile spreading across her face, breaking out in cold sweats down their backs, "So this woman was using reverse psychology."

Seeing everyone looking at her, Zhu Qing shrugged nonchalantly and said, "Well then, it’s settled. Our first contestant will be Yu to continue taking the lead—"

The Tiqie Zongwei couple and Roland Chapeau frowned.

"Isn’t that too risky?"

"That line sounds very familiar. I heard it not so long ago when we were deciding on the match schedule against the Tang Family..." Zhu Qing chuckled lightly with her hands on her hips.

"I actually think it’s quite appropriate to have him anchor the first match," declared Saito Chiyokuro slowly. "After today’s battle, neither the Orlando Team nor the Research Faction Team will underestimate him. At this moment, they must be having headaches deciding who to send for the first match."

"How about we announce our match schedule in advance to provoke a tough confrontation across the air?"

Zhu Qing smirked, resting her chin on her hand.

...

Saito Chiyokuro’s guess wasn’t off. The chefs from the Orlando Faction, who had returned to their hotel from Area A, were currently arguing non-stop in a closed conference room.

"Dad, let me handle the first match!"

Elizabeth requested once again, staring stubbornly at the Lin Giant sitting at the head of the table, "He’s sure to continue leading. Let me take him on. It’s perfect!"

"How confident are you?"

Asked a dignified middle-aged woman, who was none other than Madeline, the number one special chef of the Orlando Faction.

"...Sixty percent!" stated Elizabeth.

"Sixty percent?"

The conference room erupted with good-natured laughter.

Madeline sighed, "You’re roughly on par with Tang Yuqiong, and even with her Gem Meat sauce that invisibly elevated the quality of her dish, she still lost. Even if you fully utilize your Grade-B gourmet cells and harness every Resonance Ingredient you control, I’m afraid your chances of winning are still less than 50%."

Elizabeth pouted.

"Let me try!" she insisted, her eyes shimmering with cunning, "If I lose, the victory of the following three matches will be in the hands of Uncle Mars, Uncle Leon, and Aunt Madeline!"

She seemed exceptionally confident.

Upon hearing this, the mentioned special chefs shook their heads. "The first match is crucial! If we lose, we’ll be at a disadvantage!"

Ding ding.

At that moment, Lin Giant Dizani, who had remained silent at the main seat, received an urgent call from a subordinate.

"Sir, the Far Moon Team’s Dojima Yin and Tiqie Zongwei have posted the semifinal match schedule on their personal Twitter. It’s exactly the same as today’s lineup against Tang’s Team!" the voice was hasty.

After putting down the phone, Dizani’s gaze swept across the five special chefs in the room.

"Mars, you take the first match and seize the first victory for our team!"

"Leon, Madeline, you take the second and third matches, respectively!"

Dizani spoke in an indisputable tone:

"One, two, three... all matched up, a head-to-head battle of the strong!"

"Number three..."

Mars’s gaze became slightly unfocused, as if transported back to about half a year ago at Xia’s Restaurant. When he had flown directly to Japan to visit Xia’s Restaurant, he could hardly imagine that half a year later, he would have a day when he’d face Xia’s Restaurant Manager.

That young chef had, in this half-year, grown into a towering tree capable of sheltering the industries under his name.

Moreover.

Among the teams that had broken into the semifinals, that young man was quite prominent, just like him, both of them were their team’s number three...

As for the chances of winning... Mars wasn’t sure either.

"I will show you the true power of the ’Culinary Federation’ chefs!"

Mars looked forward to the semifinals in three days.