Being suddenly called out by Kyosuke Toono left Bai Mo in an awkward spot.
Just moments ago, he had been reading about a hundred ways to prepare cheese—but that definitely wasn't the knowledge he was supposed to be focusing on right now!
Standing up, Bai Mo glanced at the blackboard, then back at Kyosuke Toono, as if trying to figure out what the question had been. His reaction only made the buttons on Toono's shirt strain even tighter.
After taking a deep breath, Toono was about to say something when Bai Mo suddenly spoke up.
"Ah—the Westward Expansion? Personally, I think it was just another act of aggression against the indigenous people!"
"Alright, sit down," Toono said helplessly. "The question I just asked was about how many Native Americans were left after the massacres of the Westward Expansion reduced their population from 30 million to possibly 100 million."
"The answer is fewer than 800,000. Please pay attention next time, Bai Mo."
Bai Mo nodded in acknowledgment before sitting back down. Once seated, he couldn't help but grumble to Kato Megumi, who sat in front of him.
"So, Kato-san, were you deliberately trying to embarrass me just now?"
"Not at all~" Megumi showed him the half-written note in her hand. "You were just too impatient, Bai Mo-kun. I hadn't even finished writing before you jumped in to answer."
Bai Mo looked at the partially written note—"massacre of the Westward Expansion"—and realized he had indeed answered before reading the full context.
"My bad."
"Mhm~"
The classroom exchange was just a minor incident.
After this, though, Bai Mo made sure to split his attention between his extracurricular reading and Toono's lectures.
As for not reading outside material? Absolutely out of the question.
Another school day came to an end.
When the final bell rang, Bai Mo bid farewell to Megumi and the others before vanishing in the blink of an eye.
It wasn't that he didn't want to chat with the two original heroines about life—it was just that, during class, Senzaemon Nakiri had sent him a report.
The samples he had provided that morning already had their inspection results by the afternoon. He had to admire the efficiency of the Totsuki Group and the Mizuhara family.
So, Bai Mo hopped onto his motorcycle and sped straight to Totsuki Resort Academy.
In the Headmaster's office, he finally got to see the full contents of the inspection report.
The dense terminology and English made his head spin a little, but after reading through it all, he grasped the significance of the findings.
The report indicated that out of the seven samples Bai Mo had provided, four had been tested so far. The meat from these samples contained energy, protein, fat, and minerals far exceeding those found in ordinary meat.
In fact, there was almost no ingredient in this world that could compare. However, a special active component had been detected in all of them.
This component didn't seem to have any negative effects. Instead, when absorbed by the human body, it appeared to enhance vitality, stamina, and even overall strength and antioxidant capabilities.
In simpler terms—it could strengthen the body and slow aging!
Thinking about it, this made sense.
After all, in the world of Gourmet Hunters, there were plenty of hunters in their seventies or eighties who could still take down dragons.
Most hunters died in battle, so their average lifespan might actually be greatly extended due to their lifelong consumption of dragon meat.
This was why Bai Mo understood why Senzaemon Nakiri had summoned him so urgently.
After reviewing the full report, Bai Mo looked at the elderly man sitting across from him.
"So, Headmaster, you want a share of these ingredients, right?"
"Indeed. If possible, I'd like Totsuki to secure the exclusive distribution rights for these ingredients within Japan."
Senzaemon Nakiri, having been the head of Totsuki for so many years, knew his limits well.
Ingredients capable of slowing aging weren't something he could monopolize alone. In fact, even Totsuki taking Japan's share would be a stretch—he might need to bring in some trusted allies to share the burden.
As for markets outside Japan? Senzaemon had no intention of overreaching.
However, Bai Mo only tapped his fingers on the table in response to Nakiri's proposal.
After a long moment of silence, he finally shook his head.
"Sorry, Headmaster. These ingredients are too rare. Even I can't guarantee a steady supply, so I can't agree to your request."
Just as Senzaemon was about to present his prepared bargaining chips, Bai Mo continued.
"But out of respect for you and Grandpa Kobayashi, I can promise that Totsuki will have a place in the distribution."
"Sigh... That's more than enough."
Senzaemon finally relaxed the hand he had clenched inside his sleeve.
He knew that if Totsuki couldn't secure these ingredients, the culinary world would soon face a seismic shift.
But for now, the outcome was acceptable.
"The full inspection report isn't complete yet. What about the tests for viruses or other contaminants?"
"Don't worry, Bai Mo-kun. The researchers screened for viruses and pathogens from the very beginning. We even conducted three emergency clinical trials—no issues whatsoever."
Bai Mo didn't press further about the so-called "clinical trials."
Senzaemon Nakiri, known as the "Demon King of the Culinary World" and the head of a gourmet mafia, wasn't just a kindly old man.
And this was Japan, after all.
Some things were better left unsaid.
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T/N:
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