"What's that amazing smell?"
On the street outside the Shōkei-en Inn, a complex, rich, and savory aroma filled the air, causing passing pedestrians to can't help but stop and look.
"Step right up, don't miss out! Accommodations include free meals, first come, first served, until we're full!"
Just as the pedestrians were curious and reluctant to leave, Dylan's voice suddenly rang out, infused with immense internal energy, audible throughout the entire street.
"Aren't free meals standard for a hotel stay? What's so special about that? Anyone who didn't know better would think they were offering some huge discount!"
Across the street, the manager of the "Hyakuchō-kyo" inn was also drawn out by the aroma. Upon hearing Dylan's shout, a cold sneer immediately appeared on his face as he scoffed.
"Indeed. Besides, the three meals provided by inns are usually very ordinary. While not bad, they're definitely not delicious. When you're out traveling, you'd obviously go eat at a restaurant. Offering three meals is hardly an attraction!"
Most of the pedestrians on the street shared this thought. Even after hearing Dylan's voice, they remained unmoved, continuing to search for the source of the aroma in the air.
But after searching for a long time, they found nothing. There were no restaurants nearby, only two inns and some snack stalls.
Where on earth was the fragrance coming from?
Until…
"This is the meal provided by our inn, and it's also the town's specialty: Gyozatsu Nabe. Guests staying at our inn can all receive a complimentary tasting."
Dressed in a chef's uniform, Megumi Tadokoro strode out of the Shōkei-en Inn, carrying a large iron pot in her hands, which she placed directly on the wooden table in front of Dylan.
When she lifted the lid, a dazzling golden light burst forth from the pot, blotting out the sky and sun, instantly capturing the gaze of everyone present.
They were shocked to discover that the source of the fragrance they had been searching for was inside that very iron pot!
And what surprised them even more was...
"What... what is this? The dish is actually glowing?!"
"Fluorescent agents! Could she have poured fluorescent agents into it?!"
"Could it be... could this be the legendary glowing-grade dish?! Something a Special Grade Chef has a chance of making, and a top-tier delicacy that only a Five-Star Special Grade Chef can consistently produce!!"
Although most people were baffled by the glowing dish, even suspecting Megumi Tadokoro had added fluorescent agents.
But there were also many connoisseurs in the crowd who knew that exceptional dishes could glow, and they immediately recognized it as a glowing-grade dish that only a Special Grade Chef could create!
To be able to bring out a glowing dish so casually and display it in public, was usually something only a Five-Star Special Grade Chef would do.
Because only a Five-Star Special Grade Chef could consistently produce glowing dishes and be willing to let others eat them.
When an ordinary Special Grade Chef creates a glowing-grade dish, they either taste it themselves, break it down for research, or in some extreme cases, even put it on an altar for blessings.
Could it be that this young girl before them was a Five-Star Special Grade Chef?!
How is that possible, she's so young!
"Spaces are limited, first come, first served."
Seeing everyone in a brief daze from the golden light, Megumi Tadokoro's voice rang out again. This sentence was like flipping a switch; in an instant, everyone on the street ran towards the Shōkei-en Inn.
Some who had just arrived in town and hadn't checked in yet immediately went to register, ready to move in with their bags.
Others had already checked into other inns and were now asking Megumi Tadokoro if they could buy the dish with money, only to be flatly refused.
One had to be a guest at this inn to enjoy its cuisine; otherwise, no amount of money could buy it. This was the only strict condition.
Helpless, those who had originally stayed at other inns, in order to get a taste of the supreme delicacy, checked in on the spot and then went back to get their luggage.
The inn "Hyakuchō-kyo," being right across the street, suffered the greatest impact. A large number of guests poured out frantically, went to the opposite side to check in, then came back here to check out, dragging their suitcases over.
This whole operation thoroughly infuriated the manager of "Hyakuchō-kyo." He understood in his heart that the other party was targeting them, but there was nothing they could do.
Once a glowing-grade dish appears, all are equal. To counter it, one must present a dish of the same caliber.
But they ran an inn. Although their chef's skills were decent, they weren't at the level where they could casually serve a glowing-grade dish.
"No wonder they dared to propose a Shokugeki. The other side actually has a chef who can make a glowing-grade dish. It's a good thing we didn't rashly accept the challenge."
The manager's name was Tsubasa Hyakuchou, the third son of the "Hyakuchou Group." At this moment, he was grinding his teeth, because this was a training project his father had given him. He absolutely could not fail, otherwise he would lose the right to inherit the Group's "Inn" sector.
The "Hyakuchou Group" had industries in various sectors, the most famous of which were "Inns," "Restaurants," and "Poultry Meat."
The "Restaurant" and "Poultry Meat" sectors had already been claimed by his two older brothers, leaving him with only the "Inn" sector.
A sector where profits weren't particularly high, but it had the advantage of stability.
And below him, there was still a younger brother and two younger sisters. If he failed this assessment, the inheritance rights to the "Inn" sector would no longer belong to him, and he could only go to some smaller sectors to live out his days.
For someone with great ambitions, this was something he absolutely could not accept. No matter what, he had to get the guests back!
The only option now was probably a Shokugeki.
Looking at the Shōkei-en Inn not far away, Tsubasa Hyakuchou's brow was furrowed so tightly he could have crushed a fly. Since the other party was so stubborn, he didn't mind using some extraordinary measures.
"I never expected the daughter of a countryside inn owner to be a top student from Totsuki, and the champion of this year's Summer Selection, capable of making a glowing-grade dish…"
Because his subordinate had just been taught a lesson yesterday, he had someone investigate the identities of Dylan and Megumi Tadokoro overnight. In the end, they only found information on Megumi Tadokoro.
As for Dylan, there was no mention of him in the files, so he was likely an insignificant figure.
It was also possible that he was a Totsuki student, but his skills were probably inferior to Megumi Tadokoro's, otherwise he wouldn't be so unknown.
"Manager, what should we do now?"
Beside Tsubasa Hyakuchou, the big man from yesterday had already recovered from his injuries and was now wearing a black suit. Also looking at the crowded Shōkei-en Inn across the street, whose threshold was about to be worn down, his tone was extremely respectful, appearing very humble and subservient.
"Has Elder Wang arrived yet?"
Tsubasa Hyakuchou glanced at the big man, asking about the whereabouts of the outside help he had requested. The man was his secretary, responsible for handling and conveying his orders.
"You previously said to delay for a while, so I didn't notify him. With the short notice just now, even if he takes a plane, the earliest he can arrive is tomorrow afternoon."
The big man opened the file in his hand, took out Elder Wang's schedule, and handed it to Tsubasa Hyakuchou, then stepped aside without another word.
"I can wait for a day. If it's Elder Wang, even if the opponent is a Special Grade Chef, we have a high chance of winning."
"Let's go check out the situation first. Maybe we won't even need Elder Wang to step in. I don't believe that little girl can make a glowing dish on her own. It must be the power of the recipe."
Looking in the direction of the Shōkei-en Inn, smelling the unique, rich aroma of the Gyozatsu Nabe in the air, Tsubasa Hyakuchou considered this possibility.
Judging by her age, it could be inferred that she couldn't possibly be a Five-Star Special Grade Chef. There weren't many of those powerful individuals in all of Japan.
The only possibility was a high-precision recipe.
If one possessed the skill of a Special Grade Chef and paired it with a recipe accurate down to the gram, there was a high probability of replicating a glowing-grade dish.
This was not uncommon in the culinary world.
Many head chefs of large hotels don't cook personally. They are only responsible for developing new dishes, writing down detailed recipes, and quality control.
As a student of Totsuki, it wouldn't be surprising for Megumi Tadokoro to have one or two such high-precision recipes.
A real culinary duel involves a theme given on the spot, with time constraints. That's when she'll show her true colors!
With a hint of malice in his eyes, Tsubasa Hyakuchou left the "Hyakuchō-kyo," deigning to line up in the queue at the Shōkei-en Inn, preparing to personally taste the dish the opponent was using to attract customers.
As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.
However, just as he had been waiting in line for nearly half an hour and was about to be next to register, a staff member in uniform walked out of the Shōkei-en Inn. She first stood there and counted the people, then walked straight up to him and gave him a bow.
"I'm terribly sorry, we've calculated the remaining vacant rooms, and the customer right in front of you happens to be the last one. So, we must ask you and the guests after you to please come back tomorrow."
After saying this, the staff member paid no mind to their reactions and quickened her pace to leave. She had no desire to hear a pile of complaints.
"Huh? How can this be! I've been waiting for so long."
"What a shame. Looks like I'll have to come earlier tomorrow."
"We missed it by just two people, damn it! If we had been five or six minutes earlier, it would have been perfect! I guess we'll have to make do with the inn across the street for now."
Complaints like these rose and fell. They had arrived only a little late, and now there were no rooms left. Are inn rooms really in such high demand now?
As for Tsubasa Hyakuchou, who already held strong animosity towards the Shōkei-en Inn, his face was now terrifyingly grim.
In the end, he returned without a word.
Shōkei-en Inn, the kitchen.
Megumi Tadokoro was operating three iron pots at the same time. Looking at the guests waiting outside for their food, she was so busy she was running off her feet, but she was enjoying every moment of it.
Mieko Tadokoro was helping beside her, responsible for bringing the prepared Gyozatsu Nabe to the guests, one small portion per person with a bowl of rice, with refills available.
"When the number of dishes being cooked simultaneously increases slightly, the quality drops so quickly. Even with the same proportions, I can no longer produce a glowing dish."
Looking at the pots of food being completed one after another, Megumi Tadokoro couldn't help but sigh. Although these dishes all reached a Special Grade standard, not a single pot reached the level of a glowing dish; they were generally Special Grade Two-Star.
However, even a Special Grade Two-Star Gyozatsu Nabe still left the visiting guests incredibly satisfied, their faces filled with enjoyment and fulfillment.
It couldn't be helped. Even a Special Grade Two-Star dish was a rare delicacy for ordinary people, something they would never have the chance to eat on a daily basis!
"This is absolutely delicious!"
"I've had a rather unique Gyozatsu Nabe in town before. Although it was also very tasty, it's not on the same level as this one at all."
A fashionably dressed young woman's face was flushed, her mouth gently exhaling warm air as she savored the supreme delicacy before her, unable to hold back a soft cry.
The freshness of the fish meat and the sweetness of the seafood blended perfectly. The soup was rich but not greasy, with a hint of the ocean's fresh breeze.
"During the stewing process, both the fish offal and the seafood have absorbed each other's flavors. Every bite is delicate and smooth, practically melting in your mouth!"
The man sitting next to her was enjoying it just as much, his voice carrying a certain lightness. It was hard to imagine that such a delicacy would appear in an inn.
"I prefer the potatoes inside. Because they've soaked up all the broth, when you bite down, the soft exterior and the warm interior intertwine, releasing a faint sweetness that forms a subtle balance with the savory flavor of the seafood."
A girl at the next table overheard their conversation and couldn't resist joining in. Compared to the fish offal and seafood, she much preferred the potatoes that had soaked up the juices. The satisfaction from that one bite was priceless!
"It's not just the potatoes, but the other vegetables too. The sweetness of the carrots, the slight bitterness of the burdock, the richness of the shiitake mushrooms, and the freshness of the crown daisy are all dancing on the tip of my tongue! If you ask me, this is how Gyozatsu Nabe should be made. Adding some vegetables makes it much more delicious than just pure seafood!"
A local commented. Compared to a Gyozatsu Nabe that purely showcased the flavor of fish offal and seafood, adding vegetables not only made the flavor richer but also added a touch of freshness to the broth.
"Gyozatsu Nabe, Gyozatsu Nabe, the focus here is the 'gyozatsu'—the fish parts. Don't think it's just ordinary fish offal; the mystery within is deep! Take the pot we're eating now, for example."
"The fish head in this pot is from a carp. After stewing, it releases a rich umami and gelatin, making the soup thicker and more full-bodied."
"There are two types of fish bones, from crucian carp and grass carp. After a long stew, they release the rich flavor of the marrow, adding depth to the soup base. It's also paired with root vegetables like daikon radish. These vegetables absorb the umami from the fish bones while adding a clear sweetness to the soup."
"Then there's the fish skin, the fish meat…"
An elderly man also spoke up, tasting and talking endlessly: "It is the combination and pairing of these elements that can create such a complex and delicious soup base. The person who first chose these few types of fish to pair together was a true genius!"
"I've decided! I'm staying here for a month, until I get sick of eating this dish, then I'll leave!"
Wiping a trace of broth from the corner of her mouth, the fashionably dressed young woman thought to herself. With such a delicacy, it's impossible for anyone to be willing to leave!!!
"Exactly! Staying at an inn for a day is only a few thousand yen. If you went to a restaurant for a dish of this level, you couldn't get it for less than tens of thousands of yen!"
The man next to her agreed. Others also raised their glasses. For a moment, the place was filled with laughter and cheerful voices, the clinking of glasses creating a lively atmosphere.
"The initial phase of the plan is complete. Now we just have to see if the fish will take the bait."
Watching this scene in the main hall, Dylan crossed his arms. Under these circumstances, unless the other party was willing to admit defeat, there was no way they would just sit back and do nothing!
_____
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