Although she said that, she still couldn't help but be surprised when she learned that Li Ke planned to challenge the Elite Ten.
"Um, Mr. Li Ke, you plan to challenge Kuga Terunori?"
Although Mito Ikumi had only spent a short time with Li Ke, his culinary skills had left a deep impression on her.
"Yes, that's right."
Erina, standing to the side, rubbed her forehead. She looked at Mito Ikumi, thought for a moment, and then spoke.
"Actually, you've come at the right time. I have something I'd like to ask you. Could you help me train Li Ke? I've already taught him the basics, but I don't have that much time for some of the necessary techniques."
Erina Nakiri was extremely busy. She had much more to do each day than just this; she had many businesses to manage, and family affairs also required her attention.
Furthermore, she herself needed to hone her culinary skills, so in reality, she had very little personal time, which was mostly devoted to Li Ke.
Therefore, she wanted to find someone to help Li Ke with some basic tasks.
"It just so happens that you speak Chinese, so come and help."
She looked at Mito Ikumi, deciding to lend a hand to her follower.
The Mito family and their family had a very pleasant working relationship, so if Mito Ikumi could improve her relationship with Li Ke, it would undoubtedly help Li Ke quickly establish connections in this area.
And with connections, he wouldn't leave easily.
Moreover, if Li Ke were away for extended periods, he would need some subordinates to help manage his businesses. Nakiri Erina didn't want to support Li Ke indefinitely. She was marrying into the family, not having Li Ke marry into her family. Developing her own businesses using her family's influence was fine, and being almost semi-tied to her family's businesses was also fine, but Li Ke needed to have his own businesses.
That's right, at this moment, Erina was already considering how to develop businesses for Li Ke.
Therefore, Mito Ikumi was a perfect candidate. Even if Li Ke couldn't bring back things like the piglets from the other world, he could bring back special meats for the Mito family's laboratory to research, explore new avenues, and study genetic differences.
Yes, this world already had relevant genetic laboratories. Compared to Earth, the technology advancement was indeed different due to the food.
"Okay, okay! Lady Erina! I will do my best not to disappoint you!"
Mito Ikumi was completely flustered. Looking at Erina's eyes, she felt as if the other was saying, 'I'm giving you a chance, don't miss it!'
"That's true! Mr. Li Ke is a very excellent person, but he's too old! And his cooking skills are terrible, so it's normal that Miss Erina doesn't like it! But Mr. Li Ke..."
Thinking about how Li Ke remained calm and gentlemanly even after what she'd done that day, Mito Ikumi made up her mind and decided to use her winning dish!
It's decided! Today, I'll find a way to seduce Mr. Li Ke!
I'll make it a fait accompli!
Just thinking about the delicious meat that Erina would recommend made Mito Ikumi's mouth water. The feeling of being conquered by Li Ke's seemingly ordinary grilled meat that day also surged through her body, making her tremble with excitement.
Don't even mention a rich girl like her being a glutton! If she didn't love food, how could she have become a chef!
"It's okay, just do your best."
Erina glanced at the overly excited Mito Ikumi with some confusion, not understanding what was so good about her follower doing this kind of hard labor.
Although she could do it herself, she always softened when she saw Li Ke's troubled and embarrassed face, so she could only entrust this method of teaching the basics to Mito Ikumi.
After all, Mito Ikumi was probably more suited to teaching Li Ke.
"It's a pity, I wanted to spend more time with you."
Li Ke looked at Erina with some regret.
"It can't be helped. We both need to work hard given our current identities. After all, building a new business empire isn't easy, and we can't just interfere with the Nakiri family's businesses. So, cherish your relationship with Mito; she's a crucial piece in your success."
Erina tilted her head helplessly, stating her plan directly, then waved to Li Ke and walked outside.
Li Ke roughly understood Erina's thoughts. While he could live off a woman, as a man, it was better to be assertive.
Of course, being assertive was the best option.
Just as Li Ke was sighing, Mito Ikumi, who had somehow gotten close to him, spoke up.
"Miss Erina is truly cool and elegant, but also very beautiful..."
Li Ke then noticed that the other person's breathing was somewhat rapid, and she was very close.
Remembering what had happened earlier, Li Ke speechlessly placed his hand on the girl's face and then pushed her away.
"Alright, let's start teaching me the basics, mainly the use of knives."
He had no interest in doing anything to this girl; he was almost twelve years older than her.
"Hmm, more than the basics, I want to know your current level of mastery of meat cooking. After all, as your teacher, I only specialize in meat dishes."
Mito Ikumi looked at Li Ke and extended her index finger.
"So you'll put all your effort into making me a delicious grilled meat dish, and I'll make one for you with all my might, showing you what I, as your teacher, can do."
Mito Ikumi's statement made perfect sense. Li Ke nodded; he was quite interested to see Mito Ikumi's grilling skills. After all grilled meat and a protagonist with a powerful personality are a perfect match! And most of the time, he can only eat grilled meat during his adventures in the wild, so learning more grilling techniques would definitely not hurt! Erina having Mito Ikumi help train him wasn't entirely without this reason.
"Oh? Okay."
So, Li Ke took out a piece of beef and quickly started cooking.
Meanwhile, Mito Ikumi took a deep breath, called to have some beef delivered, and quickly began cooking.
Li Ke's cooking method was mediocre; he even burned it.
But it must be said, the "Meat Fairy's" grilled meat was truly a feast for the eyes.
Whether it was the rapidly moving longsword or the speed and smoothness with which it sliced through the meat, Li Ke couldn't match it. And most importantly, the way her large breasts swayed as she cooked made Li Ke crave the meat even before the aroma filled his nostrils.
"No wonder she's called 'Meat Master'..."
Li Ke couldn't help but mutter.
Barbecued meat is undeniably sexually suggestive; it evokes associations and desires.
This is an ancient tradition and custom, because being able to eat meat generally signifies the ability to mate.
So, under the suggestive cooking of the "Meat Master," a large, juicy, and fragrant piece of grilled meat was placed before Li Ke. He glanced at what he considered a charred piece of meat, thought for a moment, and then activated his ability.
Although this would trap Mito Ikumi in an illusion, Li Ke looked at his nascent muscles and smiled confidently.
"She's just a little girl, how much power could she possibly have?" "Didn't I subdue her last time?"
So, Li Ke activated his ability on his grilled meat, causing Mito Ikumi's eyes to light up instantly.
"Is this what they call the 'return to basics'?"
Looking at the smoky, charred meat, which made her mouth water despite its rather shoddy cooking method, Mito Ikumi felt her saliva practically overflowing.
However, she still politely offered Li Ke a bite of her grilled meat.
Li Ke didn't care. He could somewhat resist Erina's cooking, but Mito Ikumi, a third-rate character defeated early on, probably didn't have any real skills, right?
However, the moment the grilled meat entered his mouth, Li Ke knew he had made a huge mistake.
He felt like he had returned to a barbaric era.
In that era, there was nothing but grilled meat. Delicious grilled meat was everything, delicious grilled meat was civilization, delicious grilled meat was everything for survival and reproduction.
Everything before him changed. He was no longer in the modern world, but in a snow-covered mountain cave. Beside him was a warm fireplace, and he was eating sizzling chunks of delicious meat. Crawling beside him was his wife, whom he had lured from outside with roasted meat, then knocked unconscious and brought back.
This wife was also incredibly voluptuous. Her wheat-colored skin resembled roasted meat, and her full figure evoked images of sizzling, tempting roasted meat, coupled with the words "fertile."
So, Li Ke reached out to his abducted wife…
"Wait, this is an illusion…"
His consciousness cleared for a moment, but at that moment, Mito Ikumi, completely unaware that Li Ke's mind was becoming hazy, finally couldn't resist her appetite and took a bite of the roasted meat that Li Ke had imbued with his power.
And so—
The two naturally embraced.