"Send whoever you want."
"Anyone you want to challenge me to a Shokugeki."
Asahi Saiba stood calmly on Totsuki's grounds, a graceful yet indifferent smile on his face.
In his hands were two knives.
One belonged to Yukihira Joichiro.
The other to Gin Dojima.
He crossed them lightly, and for an instant, the reflected light made it seem as if the twin stars of the Polar Star Dorm's golden age were standing behind him.
This-
This was why Totsuki ruled the culinary world.
Before today-no, even now-Saiba was implicitly recognized as the world's number one chef.
Joichiro Yukihira.
And Gin Dojima, the living legend, the backbone of Totsuki.
Yet both of them had lost.
Both of their knives were now in Asahi Saiba's hands.
And Asahi Saiba possessed a terrifying ability.
By touching another chef's knife, he could obtain their cooking skills and experience.
An ability known as Cross-Blade.
And he could activate it with both hands.
Which meant-
At this very moment, Asahi Saiba commanded Joichiro's skills and Gin Dojima's techniques simultaneously.
Their culinary paths intertwined within him, forming something that surpassed them both.
A higher dimension.
The true world's number one chef.
That was why he dared to speak so casually here.
Looking at the silent Totsuki chefs before him, Asahi's gaze slowly swept the room.
Then it stopped.
On Erina Nakiri.
"My original purpose for coming here was a mission assigned by Toyo Electric."
His tone was calm.
"But after arriving at Totsuki... I've gained some new ideas."
Asahi stared at Erina.
His eyes were those of a predator.
"I've finally found a woman worthy of dedicating all my culinary efforts to."
Joichiro raised an eyebrow.
Erina frowned instantly.
But Asahi continued, unbothered.
"Miss Erina."
"Successor of the Nakiri family."
"Bearer of the God's Tongue."
"The one who governs Totsuki."
"I desire you."
There was confidence in his voice.
But there was no affection in his expression.
Only self-satisfaction.
Only arrogance.
As if claiming her were merely another achievement to check off.
"Only the strongest man deserves the most outstanding woman."
"Wouldn't you agree?"
Erina was just about to speak-
When a voice interrupted.
"That makes perfect sense~"
The sound came from the side.
Even Asahi Saiba turned toward it.
The door opened.
Jaden walked in.
He was smiling.
A briefcase hung casually from his hand.
There was a smile on his face-
But no warmth in his eyes.
"I heard this was a Shokugeki when I came in."
Jaden walked forward, his steps unhurried.
"But you mentioned 'the strongest man.'"
He stopped directly in front of Asahi, placing himself between him and Erina.
Using his slightly taller height, he looked down at him.
"I thought that kind of thinking was outdated."
"But judging by what you're saying..."
Jaden smiled faintly.
"Do you want to fight me?"
The moment the words left his mouth-
His Conqueror's Haki erupted.
In the world of One Piece, Jaden's Haki would have been considered weak.
Even ordinary people there might have resisted it.
But this was not that world.
Here-
The instant it spread, Asahi Saiba and everyone behind Jaden felt as if the world had emptied out.
As if only Jaden remained.
That pressure couldn't be ignored.
Couldn't be looked away from.
Thoughts stalled.
Some of the chefs with weaker willpower collapsed instantly, fainting on the spot-even though Jaden wasn't targeting them.
And Asahi Saiba-
Who was bearing the full weight of that pressure-
His will was strong.
But his body wasn't.
His legs gave out.
He dropped to his knees.
Jaden raised an eyebrow.
Interesting.
In One Piece, resisting Conqueror's Haki depended largely on strength.
Here-
It seemed tied directly to willpower.
Weak-willed people lost consciousness immediately.
Strong-willed ones could resist.
Asahi had barely managed to endure it.
But his physical body couldn't keep up.
Resisting Haki with will alone drained him dry.
If Jaden used this on a seasoned martial artist with both strong will and body, they could probably ignore it at this level.
So-
If his Haki grew just a little stronger...
If it reached Doflamingo's level-
That would be more than enough for this world.
Still...
Asahi's Cross-Blade ability.
The Kure Clan.
This world clearly wasn't simple.
Jaden's thoughts stopped there.
He turned and walked to the cooking station opposite Asahi.
He set the briefcase down casually.
From it, he took out a knife.
Not a famous blade.
Not a master's knife.
It was the knife he-his pre-awakened self-used back when he made cheap snacks at Totsuki.
Jaden walked back to Asahi, who was still kneeling.
He spun the knife once.
Then offered the handle.
"Take it."
Asahi hesitated.
Then, almost reflexively, he accepted it.
"I heard you can copy a chef's skills by using their knife."
Jaden's voice was calm.
"If that's the case, I'll give it to you."
"Use my cooking skills if you want."
For a moment, Joichiro and Senzaemon Nakiri were stunned.
Then Joichiro laughed.
"That spirit alone is admirable."
"To give off that kind of presence..."
He glanced at Erina.
"You have good taste, Erina~"
Erina lowered her head instantly.
Her ears flushed red.
Senzaemon stroked his beard, smiling faintly.
As for Asahi Saiba-
Holding Jaden's knife-
It felt like he had swallowed something revolting.
At first, when he sensed Jaden's presence, he had felt genuine apprehension.
This was the man Totsuki brought out after Joichiro fell.
But when Jaden actually handed him the knife-
He almost laughed.
What arrogance.
What foolishness.
If not for the fear that Jaden might use it as an excuse to attack him physically, he would have thrown it to the ground.
What is this garbage?
The experience stored in this knife was pitiful.
Just crude snack-making.
Badly done, at that.
Even without using Cross-Blade, he wouldn't cook at this level.
Utterly worthless.
Asahi forced his shaken mind to stabilize and stood up slowly, offering the knife back.
"We still have a match later."
"I'll return it to you."
"No need."
Jaden scoffed.
No hesitation.
No wavering.
His words were absolute.
"If you want to use my cooking skills-go ahead."
"I don't care."
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