Reborn in Japan as a Chef God
Chapter 515 - 514: The Once Big Client

Chapter 515: Chapter 514: The Once Big Client

Before the competition.

As the end of October approached, it signified that the 43rd "Autumn Selection" had ended and a month had passed. During this period, aside from Tiqie Helinai, who had accompanied the team to Sapporo for the Legendary Cooking Implements Battle, all the first-year freshmen were involved in a new assignment—

"Field Research".

Perhaps it was the influence of the world’s will on Xingping Chuangzhen’s growth. The second stop of his original "Shokugeki" protagonist’s field research was still SHINO’S branch run by Shigong Xiaoci Lang in Tokyo. However, the location of this branch had changed; astonishingly, it had now opened in Xia’s renovated and formally inaugurated Shopping Street. Shigong Xiaoci Lang had rented a street-front shop at a lower rent to complete the renovation.

Today was the final day of the trial operation for the SHINO’S branch.

"Ugh—"

Yawning, Xingping Chuangzhen cleaned inside and outside the store, but no customers were in sight. The entire restaurant was empty, and the sound of his own yawns echoed clearly.

"Mr. Abel!"

Upon seeing a man coming out from the kitchen dressed in a chef’s uniform, Xingping Chuangzhen raised his hand to greet him.

Abel paused briefly, pointing toward the open restaurant door, "Xingping, close the door. We’re not open for business today."

"Huh?"

Xingping Chuangzhen was baffled.

"Today is the first match of the Sapporo tournament’s quarterfinal knockout round!" Abel chuckled, "That’s why there are no customers today. Go take a look at the other restaurants in the shopping street."

"Quarterfinal knockout round?!" Xingping Chuangzhen jolted sharply, finally realizing and quickly closing the glass door of the restaurant. He also took a moment to glance at Xia’s Main Store and Xia’s branch deeper in the neighborhood, only to see that both restaurants were closed as well, and it wasn’t just Xia Restaurant; Morioka Pastry Shop and a few others that had just opened for business were all not operating.

The belatedly aware Xingping Chuangzhen was full of regret for forgetting such a highly anticipated event!

It was all because he had been contemplating food recipe innovations and had stayed up all night, only falling into a groggy sleep close to dawn!

Thump, thump, thump...

After closing the door, he followed Abel to the second floor of the restaurant.

The second floor was a specially designed premium dining area. There was a television above the bar. As Xingping Chuangzhen went upstairs, he realized that it wasn’t just Shigong Xiaoci Lang present. Other familiar faces of the Far Moon alumni, like Sekishou Hei, Mizuhara Fuyumi, Qian Rixiangzi, Donato Wutongtian, and others, sat in front of the bar, chatting and laughing quietly.

Hearing the footsteps, a few of them glanced over.

"Oh, Xingping, you’re here—" Wutongtian greeted.

Xingping Chuangzhen found an empty chair to sit down, slightly out of breath, "Hasn’t it started yet?"

"Starts on time at 10 o’clock, there are still 10 minutes left..."

The television showed the official newsroom set up for the event, with a well-known male host in the center, flanked on both sides by two professional chefs who had been invited to participate in the commentary and predictions for the competition.

Of course, these four professional chefs were all familiar faces. Xingping Chuangzhen swept over them, dumbfounded, "What’s this about?!"

To the right hand of the male host, astonishingly, were Xia Yu’s opponents from the round of 16 and quarterfinals: Bernard and Tang Yuqiong.

This was Xia Yu’s losers’ line-up.

And to the left hand side, was Mars’s losers’ line-up:

A Nordic man with a large braid.

A middle-aged woman from Egypt who was wearing a traditional white gauze gown and a silk headscarf.

These two groups of vanquished commentators clearly ranged in age, just like the first round of the A Block semifinals where the opponents consisted of a young versus middle-aged duel.

Undoubtedly, the commentary served as a way to stir up excitement before the match and enhance the show’s effect.

The male host asked with a smile:

"Chef Bernard, we know you are a special class member of the French Academy Team and you lost to Xia Yu in the round of 16 advancing to 8. Now, as the Far Moon Team faces off against the Orlando Team in the quarterfinals, we have just received the definite table of match-ups. In the first round, Xia Yu will be up against Mars... Do you believe Xia Yu can maintain his winning streak and secure the first victory for the Far Moon Team?"

That last half of the question was the key point.

The named Bernard kept a composed face; anyone would be uncomfortable when their wounds were prodded, but his good upbringing didn’t show, as he lightly said, "I believe he will still maintain his winning streak."

"Oh?"

The male host raised an eyebrow, amusement in his eyes, "And do you know that his opponent, Mars, is the vice principal of the Orlando Academy, a giant figure recognized in the culinary world of the United States?"

"I know," Bernard remained unfazed, insisting on his point of view, "No matter who the opponent is, I believe he will win!"

At this, the group of Far Moon alumni watching the television burst into laughter.

"Instructor Xia is still formidable, huh? Even his former defeated opponents have been seduced by the radiant aura he emits!"

Qian Rixiangzi clasped her hands with stars in her eyes.

Xingping Chuangzhen scratched his head, not sure what to say.

On the television, even Tang Yuqiong cast a look of surprise at Bernard.

"Cough, cough."

The male host smiled winningly, turning to Tang Yuqiong and asking, "Then, Chef Tang Yuqiong, what are your thoughts?"

"I don’t have much to say," Tang Yuqiong spoke deeply into the camera, "Everyone knows about the ’Tang’s Rebirth Spring Rolls’ dish that I presented in the round from 8 to 4, right? I added that special secret sauce specifically to give the dish an irreplicable personal touch. Don’t underestimate him and think he can be caught off guard with on-the-spot recipe replication and innovation – doing that, you’ll definitely suffer a crushing defeat!"

With the reminder, the male host’s smile stiffened slightly.

Probably many viewers had also just then recalled Xia Yu’s stunning debut in the first match.

"Well then, Chef Andrew, Chef Conness, what are your views?" the male host turned to the Mars’s losers team on his left side.

The Nordic big man with Danish royal lineage, maintaining a serious face, said, "Mars cannot lose."

The Egyptian beauty chef, clad in a white chiffon dress with a silk headscarf, also nodded:

"I can’t deny the overflowing talent of Xia Yu, but he is young, and I’m afraid he hasn’t faced chefs with special techniques. Mars, he..."

The Egyptian female head chef paused, seemingly cautious of Mars’s identity and not openly stating that Mars was a ’Dark Chef,’ but her eyes conveyed deep implications as she hinted, "Once he gets serious, there’s no possibility of him losing."

"Moreover, I hope he does get serious," sighed the head chef. "I hope Xia Yu can force him to bring out his forbidden dish!"

The two losing teams were divided in their opinions.

"Forbidden dish?"

Xingping Chuangzhen murmured to himself.

"Forbidden ingredients are the main components of forbidden dishes!" declared Shigong Xiaoci Lang, who had already passed the elite exam. He shifted his gaze away from the television screen and seriously added, "Forbidden ingredients refer to those that are banned from use in public venues such as restaurants and hotels. Of course, that’s just one interpretation. Most cooking competitions have explicit rules against the use of forbidden ingredients. However, this international contest is different. There aren’t so many restrictions."

"What’s your take on the first round matchup, Senior Shigong?" asked Xingping Chuangzhen, curious.

"Heh!"

Shigong Xiaoci Lang shook his head. "I actually lean towards Mars winning and Instructor Xia losing."

Xingping Chuangzhen fell silent, as did the other graduates, with nothing to say.

"If Mars brings out a forbidden dish, can you beat him?"

Meanwhile, backstage in the rest area, Zhu Qing, Dojima Yin, and Saito Chiyokuro surrounded the young chef about to take the stage.

Xia Yu just put down his phone.

A staff member had notified him that the various ingredients he brought had passed warehouse inspection and could be called upon at any time once he stepped on stage and determined the theme.

"All the better, a showdown of forbidden dishes!"

Stretching lazily, Xia Yu stood up and picked up the kitchen utensil box next to a single sofa, leaving a relaxed and carefree figure to the Far Moon team members.

"This kid!"

Zhu Qing crinkled her nose and bared her teeth, complaining unhappy, "Hmph, acting so arrogantly confident. If you lose, once you’re off the stage, see if I don’t give you a good beating..."

"Miss Zhu, you’d better hope he doesn’t lose."

Dojima Yin laughed heartily, "Number 1 against number 1, number 2 against number 2, number 3 against number 3... In such an arrangement, every position’s victory is critical. If he loses, our team’s chances of winning will plummet!"

"I’m not taking the blame for this," Zhu Qing yawned, "He insisted on going first himself."

The group fell silent.

...

Tap, tap, tap.

Footsteps echoed down the silent corridor.

Xia Yu’s steps suddenly paused.

"You’re here."

Mars had been waiting early at the end of the hall, the magnate also carrying a case. He slowly turned, squinting under the corridor’s lights to take a serious look at Xia Yu’s familiar face, "Come to think of it, it’s been months since I’ve ordered from Xia’s Restaurant."

"Mr. Mars, you are a valued customer; Xia’s Restaurant welcomes you anytime!" Xia Yu chuckled.

"Um, Mr. Mars, let’s discuss something..."

Xia Yu blinked, attempting to broach, "Could I throw the dart to choose the topic later on?"

Upon hearing this, Mars was taken aback for a moment before replying with a profound gaze, "Chef Xia, I’m sorry, but I don’t think you’re an easy opponent to defeat, so I need to be cautious and attentive at every step."

"Let’s leave the topic choice to Miss Chiyoda!"

With that, this large customer who Xia Yu had once looked up to and had to carefully entertain, stepped forward out of the corridor and onto the stage.

"Sigh—"

Watching Mars take the stage, Xia Yu released a helpless breath, his face showing little regret.

In fact, had he been allowed to throw the dart and choose the topic, with his "Super Vision" and "Insightful Eyes," plus the added bonus of his martial arts’ speed and agility, hitting a perfectly suited topic would have been too easy.

But obviously, others were no fools. After so many days of competition, it had become clear that leaving topic selection to Chiyoda Aichi means everyone was playing it safe.

"But... victory is still mine!"

Lifting his head slightly to let the familiar arena lights illuminate his face, Xia Yu, carrying his kitchen utensil box, felt the same rush of excitement that surged through him during his culinary battle with Yuchuan Ayaka from his chest to his entire body.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Whether it was an illusion or not, as he stepped onto the stage, the "Seven Stars Knife," even the "Soul Suppressing Stick" inside the case, seemed to respond to their master, slightly vibrating and sending out excited calls.

"Welcome Xia Yu to the stage—"

As he stood at the cooking station, Chiyoda Aichi called out, and the enormous arena filled with tens of thousands of people burst into endless screams.

The familiar stage setting!

His gaze swept over Mars opposite him, then went to each familiar face in the guest seats. Xia Yu’s eyes stopped on a middle-aged man dressed in black, "You just wait—"

"I await your challenge!"

Their similar cold gazes collided across the distance.