Reborn in Japan as a Chef God
Chapter 628 - 627: Before the Summit (Part 1)

Chapter 628: Chapter 627: Before the Summit (Part 1)

Before the competition started, Xia Yu received an invitation and took a seat in the guest area instead of staying in the team’s designated seats.

He sat next to Governor Ishino Harumi of Hokkaido, originally Ishino Ai’s seat, but the little girl had graciously given it up and was now sitting on her mother’s lap, swinging her legs.

At that moment, the camera shifted from the judges to the guest area, and a cheer erupted from the arena. Xia Yu and Ishino Harumi, who were in conversation, had to pause and smile for the camera. Ishino Harumi’s smile was dignified and reserved, while Xia Yu’s had a hint of helplessness.

"Your popularity is quite high," Ishino Harumi said with a smile, glancing over at the judges.

Xia Yu noticed that she was also curious about the identity of those five judges.

"Chef Xia, do you know who those five are?"

"Do you not know, Governor Ishino?"

She tucked her hair behind her ear and said, "The second stage of the competition is entirely directed by Mr. Kogawa, and according to Secretary Sanjing of the competition committee, the selection of the judges was successfully aided by the help of Far Moon Commander and Yizhen. You wouldn’t believe the uproar online and offline; everyone is speculating whether they are the legendary Dragon Chefs..."

Xia Yu felt a bit strange.

Dragon Chefs? They were clearly five demons, and not just any demons but Great Demons who dared to show themselves on camera in broad daylight. Ishino Harumi, a political figure and a member of the powerful Ishino family of Hokkaido, should have known about the existence of these mysterious beings from her social position.

He shook his head, not wanting to dwell on it.

Even if they were not Dragon Chefs, these Great Demons had lived for countless years and tasted all the delicacies of the world. Their culinary expertise could even surpass that of the current Heavenly Kings, making them fully qualified judges for the second stage of the competition.

Let others speculate about their being Dragon Chefs, Xia Yu was content to watch the drama unfold.

"Chef Xia..."

Someone tapped his chair.

Turning around, he found Jintan Shun seated in the second row of the guest section, indicating a not insignificant status. Xia Yu and he exchanged a glance and gave each other a fox-like smile.

"Aren’t you nervous at all?" Jintan Shun scrutinized him. "Your calm doesn’t seem feigned..."

"Feigned?"

With a slight twitch of his lips, Xia Yu said in disbelief, "Why would I feign it!"

"The 10 to 3 elimination round is just one round away, and the Legendary Culinary Tools are within grasp, yet you’re not nervous?" Jintan Shun widened his eyes, incredulous. "The Far Moon Team is leading with 5 points, and the Legendary Culinary Tools are right before us!"

He pointed.

On the stage, a few steps away from the judges’ side, was a glass display case containing one of the eight legendary tools, the "Jade Dragon Pot", lying quietly with its rusty patches.

Tulip, Ishino Harumi, and other nearby well-known chefs and political figures also gave him puzzled looks.

Xia Yu was far too composed, not at all like a captain regretfully missing the match due to illness.

Shrugging, Xia Yu replied, "Actually, senior Saito is much more skilled than I am. I trust him."

He didn’t elaborate further, as the female host had started her routine introduction of the judges after the 10 teams that had made it to the second round took the stage with their boxes or mysteriously covered kitchen tools, arranged on the stage.

"First up, the Far Moon team who scored 99 points in the first round earning the top spot, will now present their culinary performance at cooking station number one!" the female host announced loudly.

There were cheers and also considerable booing from the crowd.

The booing was naturally directed at Saito Chiyokuro, whose popularity paled in comparison to the somewhat more modest Dojima Yin and Saito Chiyokuro.

"Saito, feeling the pressure yet?" Zhu Qing glanced sideways.

Saito Chiyokuro touched his nose, his eyes lighting up with eagerness, and chuckled softly, "It seems they are questioning whether I can deliver a brilliant culinary performance like Instructor Xia."

"Well then!" he said, gripping the black case tightly, "I will prove it!"

Zhu Qing nodded, "That’s the spirit we need!"

"Dad..."

Meanwhile, in the Polar Star Dormitory kitchen, the young version of ’Shura’ clenched his fists as Xingping Chuangzhen watched his father on the live TV broadcast—red hair, the familiar black sweatshirt and trousers outfit, with an apron tied around his waist exuding a rugged, mature charisma. In his heart, he shouted, "You must win!"

Beside him, Tanaka Hikari, Shen Liangzi, Yoshino Yuuki, and other dorm members also tightened their expressions.

They recognized Saito Chiyokuro.

Moreover, the students were unaware of the private agreement between Far Moon and the Xia Family, so in the eyes of Far Moon students, the stepping-up of this Lin Chef and special chef duo meant representing the glory of Far Moon.

Snap!

A bamboo water diversion device named ’Chasing Deer’ filled up with water and suddenly tilted downward, the bamboo colliding with the floor and emitting a lingering sound.

Tiqie Xianzuowen sat cross-legged on the porch, behind him the teahouse’s TV broadcasting the shouts from the competition venue.

"The competition begins—"

The Far Moon General had just hung up the phone.

He and another elderly person far away on the Chinese Continent seemed to have engaged in some sort of negotiation.

At least, Saito Chiyokuro replacing Xia Yu required his approval. The task of Far Moon’s people was essentially completed in the first phase.

"Supreme good, like water..." Xianzuowen murmured thoughtfully, then turned to focus intently on the live TV broadcast, "Not sticking to the form of the dish, but looking at the ’intention’... To what extent can their creations reach?"

"How do ’Shura’ and ’Change’ work together in culinary meaning?"

Xia Yu was also very curious.

Jintan Shun’s skepticism echoed his own thoughts.

Was he really not nervous?

After two months of hard work, so close at hand, Xia Yu found himself surprisingly indifferent; at this critical moment, he couldn’t muster even a hint of nervousness in his heart.

Watching the 10 competing teams take their places at their cooking stations, Xia Yu couldn’t help but ask the system, "Hey, can Fame Points really not buy legendary-tier culinary tools? Even replicas that inherit a fraction of the original’s capabilities would do!"

"Sorry, no replicas of legendary culinary tools can be found."

"Moreover, the eight legendary culinary tools are unique legendary items. Please assist the system in collecting relevant items to help record data, meeting conditions may upgrade and unlock the Legendary Mall."

Hearing this, Xia Yu was stunned for a while.

Unique legendary items?

There were even higher ranks like ’legendary’?

"Oh—"

A loud exclamation suddenly filled the arena, interrupting Xia Yu’s conversation with the system.

The camera directly locked onto the highly-anticipated Station No. 1, where Zhu Qing and Saito Chiyokuro were; one was pouring flour and kneading dough with cold water, while the other was engrossed in picking out kelp and dried shiitake mushrooms from the complex array of ingredients, placing them in a clean stainless steel pot to boil.

Zhu Qing was making the dough, while Saito Chiyokuro was preparing the broth.

Seeing this, Xia Yu reacted much like any ordinary viewer, astonishment written all over his face:

"Is this... ramen?"