The competition ended, and people in the venue began to leave.
The Polar Star Dormitory members also cast aside their worries and walked towards the center of the arena one by one.
"Megumi, you're really amazing! Did you hear just now? The judge said your dish was at the Elite Ten level!"
Yoshino Yuuki excitedly ran to Tadokoro Megumi, grabbing her hand and shaking it continuously.
"Megumi is truly something else now!" Sakaki Ryoko also teased.
"Oh, come on, you're exaggerating too much," Tadokoro Megumi smiled helplessly. She still wasn't used to being praised in public.
Liu Ming also came over, looking at Tadokoro Megumi gently.
"This month's cultivation seems to have yielded extraordinary results."
"Master, I won." Tadokoro Megumi also saw Liu Ming and quickly walked up to him.
"Hmm, you did very well." Liu Ming gently patted Tadokoro Megumi's head.
"Hehe." Tadokoro Megumi smiled shyly. Liu Ming's praise made Tadokoro Megumi even happier than anyone else's.
"This time you've received high praise, and you've also been targeted by many people. Are you scared?" Liu Ming pointed his finger around the venue.
At this moment, everyone realized that besides them, there were still many people lingering at the scene.
Their gazes were almost all focused on Tadokoro Megumi, their eyes flickering with fervor.
Tadokoro Megumi's expression froze for a moment, then she said seriously, "I will never back down."
"Haha, well said! Megumi, you don't need to be afraid at all, because I've got your back!" Thor proudly patted her chest, not caring about other people's stares at all.
However, she really seemed to have the strength to say such words.
They had just felt that aura not long ago. Although they didn't understand what was going on, they had no intention of provoking Thor, that dangerous person.
With Thor protecting Tadokoro Megumi, the others felt there was no point in staying, so they left one after another.
After helping Tadokoro Megumi clean up, everyone prepared to return to Polar Star Dormitory; they still had class later.
"En, I must demand an explanation from that guy." Erina said angrily. She had never been so embarrassed before.
Liu Ming and his group left the venue, talking and laughing.
However, they were stopped at the exit.
Erina glared at Liu Ming, fuming.
"Oh, isn't this the murderer, Lady Erina?" Liu Ming's tone was full of teasing.
As soon as the four words "murderer" came out, everyone present immediately gasped in surprise.
One by one, they looked at Erina in shock.
They never expected Erina to be a murderer.
Even Saki, who had always defended Erina, was a little at a loss for words.
After all, killing a chicken and killing a person were two completely different concepts.
"Erina, you actually… killed someone. How daring!"
Nakiri Alice, who had been eavesdropping nearby, could no longer hold back and jumped out directly, with Kurokiba Ryo following closely behind her.
She quickly ran in front of Erina, carefully examining her cousin Erina up and down.
It hadn't been long since they last met, and she didn't expect her to dare to kill someone.
"Why are you all looking at me like that? I haven't killed anyone! He's just talking nonsense."
Erina was going crazy with anger. She never expected Liu Ming to still be playing that trick. Did she look that stupid? She had fallen for it once, would she fall for it again?
Everyone couldn't help but turn their gaze to Liu Ming, their eyes full of suspicion.
They also realized that although Erina was usually a bit arrogant, she didn't look like a murderer at all.
Liu Ming shrugged and said seriously, "Although she hasn't killed anyone yet, she has always been planning to kill people."
"You're still talking!" Erina pointed at Liu Ming, her whole body trembling with anger.
"Isn't that the truth?"
"Hmph, what you're saying can't possibly happen, and no one would be so stupid as to rather starve to death than eat. You're simply distorting the concept."
Erina blurted out all the answers she had thought of during this time.
Liu Ming raised his eyebrows. He had also considered that such an argument couldn't withstand scrutiny. However, was Erina being too complacent? She wouldn't think that solving the "murderer" issue was the end of it, would she?
Liu Ming suddenly smiled strangely.
"What do you mean by that smile? Did I say something wrong?" Erina couldn't help but feel a tightening in her heart, sensing that something bad was about to happen.
Liu Ming looked at her calmly, then slowly said, "You still don't seem to understand the essence of the matter."
"What do you mean?" Erina's bad feeling grew stronger.
"What I mean are those nonsensical ideas of yours. As long as such ideas exist, the dangers they might cause will always exist."
"I'm talking nonsense? This time I won't fall for your trick." Erina snorted coldly.
"Heh heh, do you think only you know the benefits of high-end ingredients? But have you ever considered the huge cost of eating a high-end dish? Some people might never get to eat one in their entire lives."
"In that case, what's the point of your dishes being super delicious? They're just catering to the rich."
"Commoner cuisine is trash? Don't use your incompetence to show off your nobility.
Inferior ingredients shouldn't exist? Bringing out the taste of high-end ingredients from inferior ones, isn't that precisely what we chefs need to do?
Bringing out the characteristics of all ingredients, making them even more delicious, and then promoting them to the whole world, giving everyone in the world the opportunity to taste them. Isn't that our duty as chefs?"
"Cuisine is something that brings happiness to people."
"Yet you turn a blind eye to it."
"At best, you are merely an ingredient processor. An ingredient processor full of the smell of money, utterly devoid of soul."
It was like this again, just like last time, not giving her any face at all.
Erina was trembling all over with anger, being openly criticized by Liu Ming like this.
"Well said!" A cheer suddenly came from afar, followed by a round of applause.
Then a burly figure appeared in everyone's sight.
Seeing the newcomer, everyone present secretly gasped in surprise.
It was Totsuki Academy Director General Nakiri Senzaemon.
He had actually appeared as well.
Was it because of Liu Ming?