Chapter 207: The Supreme Kai of Time's Cooking
"You jerk! The moment you show up, you steal all the spotlight! You're so annoying!"
"Dead... Demigra is dead! That's amazing!" Chronoa finally snapped out of it and threw her arms around Time Patrol Trunks' neck.
Time Patrol Trunks blushed deeply, his hands awkwardly flailing in the air. "Supreme Kai of Time... c-could you not..."
"So, it's really over?"
Time Patrol Goku scratched the back of his head and turned to look at the shadow-shrouded Time Patrol Gohan. "Gohan, what's wrong?"
"My study notes... My homework notebook... They're all gone…"
Time Patrol Gohan curled up in the corner of the ruins, crouching and drawing circles on the ground while tears streamed down his face.
"By the way, that magical girl who got away—are you sure she's not a problem?" Time Patrol Pan turned to the smiling Chronoa.
Chronoa let go of Trunks and crossed her arms. "Don't worry about her. She's just a little secretary—no real threat!"
"Well, I'll leave the cleanup to you guys. I'm heading back! Chronoa, hurry up and send me home," Lin Qi said as he smoothed back his hair and landed on the ground.
"The battle's over—bet you're all starving!" Chronoa clapped her hands together and looked at Lin Qi with enthusiasm.
"Uh?" Lin Qi was momentarily confused. Was that a bit too abrupt...?
"I didn't get to throw you a proper farewell party last time, so no matter what, you're staying to try the food I made myself!"
"Food?" Lin Qi blinked in surprise, staring skeptically at Chronoa. "You're a Supreme Kai... and you can cook?"
"Whoa, maybe we should pass on that... The Time Nest still needs serious repairs!" Time Patrol Trunks broke out in a cold sweat, raising both hands in front of him and waving them nervously.
Seeing Trunks' frantic gestures not to agree, Lin Qi grew more curious. He turned to Chronoa again. "You really know how to cook? We're not talking some culinary disaster here, right?"
Chronoa, full of confidence, pumped her fist. "Of course! You have to stay and taste my cooking!"
"It tastes amazing!"
At those words, the entire Time Patrol took several large steps back, expressions of horror plastered on their faces—leaving no room for doubt.
"Never mind, I'll just head home and order delivery," Lin Qi said, catching on instantly. He looked over at Chronoa, who was already busy.
A time-space portal opened in front of her, and when the door swung open, Lin Qi could see kitchen utensils inside.
"No way!" Chronoa objected firmly, winking at Lin Qi. "Just give me three minutes!"
As she vanished into the portal, Time Patrol Trunks immediately rushed up to Lin Qi. "Come on, we've gotta go—now! I'll send you back right away!"
"Is it really that bad?" Lin Qi asked, unconvinced. He glanced over at Time Patrol Goku and Time Patrol Vegeta, who were both gagging and clutching their throats.
"Just remembering it makes me nauseous..." Time Patrol Goku wiped his mouth, then immediately started retching again.
As the time-space passage opened, Chronoa stepped out with a pitch-black dish in her hands.
"Hey! Didn't we agree—you'd taste my cooking before leaving?" she said, glaring at Time Patrol Trunks, who was already halfway through the portal.
Lin Qi noticed the ominous dish and his mouth twitched uncontrollably. "Yeah... no thanks. I'd rather not die from your cooking."
Sweat pouring from his forehead, Time Patrol Trunks tried to steer the conversation away. "Supreme Kai of Time! Uh... Lin Qi just remembered he has urgent business! It's not that he doesn't want to try your cooking!"
"What?! Lin Qi, that's slander! Everyone else said it was good! They said my cooking was the best in all space-time!" Chronoa protested angrily, looking around at the others for support.
Everyone took another synchronized step back and shook their heads violently—clearly wanting nothing to do with it.
All eyes shifted toward Trunks.
Utterly embarrassed, Time Patrol Trunks stammered, "Uh... Supreme Kai of Time, l-let me explain, it's not what you think—"
"Trunks!!!" Chronoa roared. She wasn't stupid—she was starting to piece it all together.
So Trunks had been the first to say it was good. Turns out it was all a lie!
"Sigh... this batch was a bit rushed anyway. If you really don't like it..." Chronoa tossed the plate aside and pulled out a box of cookies from who knows where, pressing it into Lin Qi's hands. "Here! These cookies I made with extra care!"
"They're guaranteed to taste amazing!"
Lin Qi eyed the unnaturally colorful cookies, from which a strange and disturbing aroma wafted, and silently pushed the box back into Chronoa's arms. "No thanks. You're too kind."
If you actually ate that stuff... even a god would lose half their life, if not all of it.
"No need to send me off…" Lin Qi said, and leapt straight into the time-space portal, his figure looking more than a little desperate.
"Damn it…" Chronoa growled, then turned her fury on Trunks. "Trunks... you said it was delicious!"
"Uh..." Trunks looked helplessly at the others, but everyone pretended to be busy and didn't meet his eyes.
Earth – Kami's Lookout
Lin Qi rubbed his forehead with a sigh. "I left too quickly… forgot to ask my Super Saiyan Blue self a few things… Oh well, next time."
"Honestly, I'd rather face my Super Saiyan Blue self than eat that nightmare dish…"
"Mr. Popo, has Dende returned yet?" Lin Qi asked, noticing Mr. Popo peeking around the edge.
"The Kami only left about ten minutes ago…" Mr. Popo turned and blinked when he saw Lin Qi.
"Alright, I'll go myself then!" Lin Qi said, and instantly used Instant Transmission. If the delivery food had arrived, he could just return to the Realm of the Gods afterward.
After all, with Broly fighting Goku, who knows how that's going right now?!
Back at Bulma's house
As Lin Qi reappeared, he was greeted by a few familiar grumbles.
From a room down the hallway, Pilaf was sweeping with a broom several times taller than himself, looking exhausted and irritated.
"This is the worst... Every time we clean, I'm half-dead by the end. Trunks' house is way too big!"
"Come on, Lord Pilaf... We have to get everything spotless today, or Lady Bulma's going to be furious again!" Mai, wearing a face mask, urged as she dusted with a feather duster.
"Keep it up!" Lin Qi called into the room with a grin. "If you slack off, you're gonna get chewed out!"
As soon as the dog Shu realized someone was watching them, he quickly barked, "This area's already done—we're moving on to the next one!"