Reborn in Japan as a Chef God
Chapter 513 - 512: Gemstone Cuisine

Chapter 513: Chapter 512: Gemstone Cuisine

Late at night.

The hotel where the Research Faction Team was staying.

The television was replaying the Food War from today’s A Block quarterfinals.

In front of the couch, Tiqie Ji was sitting cross-legged, half his face hidden in the shadows, his expression unreadable.

"Gahahaha..."

The ridiculous laughter echoed throughout the hotel lobby.

Hmph!

After hearing it countless times, Tiqie Ji finally grew annoyed, emitting a cold snort as he pressed the remote to turn off the television.

"What, are you getting restless?"

A burly figure appeared out of the shadows, silently watching Tiqie Ji.

This was the Research Faction’s Lin Giant, Lei Zhe, who had clearly just emerged from a bath, wrapped in a white towel, yet none of that diminished his imposing presence, like that of a towering mountain.

"Restless? Ha!"

Tiqie Ji sneered dismissively, "He’s, at best, a No. 3 figure among Far Moon’s elite members... and I, rightfully the No. 1, am in charge of this competition team on Mr.’s behalf!"

"What will you do if the Far Moon Team defeats the Orlando Faction?" Lei Zhe asked, his face expressionless.

"According to the agreement, the Food War is on!"

Tiqie Ji declared decisively, "I’ll claim a victory for the team in the semifinals!"

"You had better not lose!"

Lei Zhe spoke in an even tone, indifferently stating, "No. 1 versus No. 3; if you lose, our team will also crumble, which is equivalent to handing over the A Block championship—"

Tiqie Ji sensed the warning and braced himself internally.

Lose?

Impossible!

...

The next day.

Two esteemed guests arrived at Far Moon Team’s lodging at Ookura Mountain Villa, and both were women.

"Tang Yuqiong?"

"...Elizabeth?"

Tang Yuqiong, dressed in a shirt and jeans and sporting a cap, stared down Elizabeth, adorned in a flowing dress with golden hair fluttering. It seemed like the two already knew each other and viewed each other with hostility, neither willing to back down.

Tiqie Eriina stood by as a spectator, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"I’m very sorry, I’ve already informed them for you. He’s busy practicing in the kitchen and can’t receive you. Please leave," Eriina took on the role of the messenger.

Elizabeth was not content to leave it at that. Last night, in response to Far Moon Team’s open challenge, the members of the Orlando Faction had posted their lineup on their personal blogs. Elizabeth was determined to have a showdown with Xia Yu and had left early by taxi.

"Then tell him, I’ve come to challenge him!" she shouted, completely ignoring the astonishment of those around her.

"A challenge?!"

Before Eriina could respond, Tang Yuqiong had already cried out, "You?"

"You’ll have to defeat me first—"

Taking a step forward, Tang Yuqiong positioned herself in front of the villa’s entrance, playing the role of a guardian deity. She tilted her cap down and hummed, "If you win against me, then you’ll be qualified to challenge him!"

"You..."

With a bang, Tiqie Eriina closed the door. Glancing at the two staring women outside, she muttered to herself, "These two have big issues."

Second floor, kitchen.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle.

The frying pan emitted the sound of fat crackling.

Xia Yu, focused, carefully placed a piece of ’Gem Meat’ onto the pan smeared with olive oil.

When Zhu Qing entered, she saw Xia Yu swiftly turn off the gas and remove the ’Gem Meat’ from the pan, which had been there for only a short while. Inhaling the smoky aroma of forbidden ingredients that burst out like a smoke grenade, she darted over to the cooking station, exclaiming, "This is..."

Swallowing saliva just from the smell.

The Female Qilin Chef couldn’t resist the temptation of the Forbidden Ingredients.

"As you can see," Xia Yu glanced at her aunt who had barged in and continued to frown at a slightly golden piece of Gem Meat, feeling the tricky sensation of facing a priceless treasure, "It’s too fragile; if the heat is too intense, it’ll char and be ruined... I must be extremely careful!"

"Where did you get such an ingredient?!" Zhu Qing asked, trembling.

"A Food Mercenary sold it to me; oh, his name is Jintan Shun."

Xia Yu casually fabricated, inadvertently setting up the mercenary uncle in the process. It’s worth mentioning that two days ago, Jintan Shun had secretly transported the Five-Headed Bird Meat and Five-Headed Bird Egg to the storage warehouse of the Ookura Mountain Villa, and only Xia Yu knew the exact storage location and retrieval password.

"Is there more?"

Zhu Qing asked eagerly, licking her lips.

"Not much left—" Xia Yu answered.

"Are you planning to use Forbidden Ingredients for the semi-finals?" Zhu Qing, suppressing the agitated impulse to seize the rare treasure upon discovery, patted her hot forehead and tried to calm her racing heart before she finally managed to change the topic, "You know who your opponent in the semi-finals is, right? Number three from the Orlando Team, Mars!"

"Uh..."

Xia Yu responded offhandedly, then suddenly turned the valve with a click, and the stove flared up again with blue flames.

He grabbed a plate, intending to return the ’Gem Meat’ that had been resting for a while back into the pan for searing, but he grabbed at air; Aunt Zhu Qing had walked away with the ceramic plate, causing Xia Yu to fume, "Hey, quit it!"

Zhu Qing jumped away and said with a scowl, "You’re wasting the Forbidden Ingredients! Understand?!"

"Wasting them or not, they’re mine! I’m not upset!"

"Don’t make me use force!" Xia Yu got a bit angry; he was previously controlling the heat, and this piece of ’Gem Meat’ was not to be discarded yet, "Give it back to me; in another 10 seconds, it’ll be beyond my control!"

Seeing Xia Yu’s face gradually turning angry, Zhu Qing suddenly became skeptical.

"Can you really handle Forbidden Ingredients?"

"Give it to me—"

Xia Yu rolled his eyes, snatched back the plate, and sizzle—the flawless ’Gem Meat’ was back in the pot.

Zhu Qing watched with her mouth slightly agape; in the blink of an eye, Xia Yu had flipped the ’Gem Meat’ in the pan several times, each movement skillful and gentle, as if flipping a delicate piece of paper.

A rich aroma took over the kitchen.

"Gurgle~"

Swallowing saliva, as Zhu Qing watched, the ’Gem Meat’ began to cook.

Finally, it was time to sprinkle the seasoning.

No need for any special or distinctive spices, just a bit of coarse sea salt, a handful of black pepper, and at the time of plating, a sprig of rosemary with a few slices of lemon, and thus the ’Pan-Seared Gem Meat’ was complete.

"System, assess this!" Xia Yu thought to himself as he finished plating.

"The completeness of this ’Pan-Seared Gem Meat’ is 79%."

"Detected errors in heat control by the host during cooking, we suggest the host to improve heat control!"

Damn!

Xia Yu couldn’t help but glare at his drooling aunt, "I knew something went wrong!"

"What is this dish?"

Zhu Qing reluctantly pulled her gaze back.

"Pan-Seared Gem Meat..." Xia Yu replied and carried the plate, opening the kitchen door with a bang, and the rich aroma finally escaped through the open door. He walked towards the dining room on the first floor, while Zhu Qing followed like an enchanted fool.

When Xia Yu set the plate down in the villa’s dining room, Dojima Yin, Saito Chiyokuro, the Tiqie Zongwei couple, and Roland Chapele were all attracted by the fragrance and opened their doors, gathering in the restaurant.

All eyes were fixed on the source of the aroma.

A beautiful piece of flawless Gem Meat that glimmered faintly even in broad daylight, lay on the simple plate.

"Try it, my latest dish—"

Xia Yu untied his apron while calling everyone over.

Tiqie Eriina covered her mouth by the table, her eyes expressing amazement.

"Such beautiful meat!"

"Even though it has been seared, the fibrous textures of the inner meat are still visibly clear, almost translucent..."

Outside the dining room windows, two female chefs who hadn’t left yet crowded together, casting investigative glances into the dining room, their eyes slightly glazed.