Capítulo 957: Chapter 956: I, Chef

Returning to Ulan Bator, the mood was completely different from when they first came.

No need to hurry on the road, no need to think about hunting ingredients, and the curiosity about the so-called ‘GOD ingredients’ was fully satisfied. Xia Yu stretched his arms leisurely in the back seat. The jeep’s cover had been removed, turning it into a convertible, allowing the wild wind to whistle past his ears. The ruin city on the horizon, amidst revival, was gradually drawing closer.

Another dusk.

Their squad was the last to evacuate, entering Ulan Bator, the streets filled with chatter about the chaotic battle at Benchagan Lake.

An IGO institution bus, brand new and starkly contrasting with the ruinous backdrop, caught up with the jeep, moving side by side on the street.

The window opened, Luther and Adelaide waved friendly hands at the young man in the third row of the jeep.

“Uh…”

Xia Yu, who was very relaxed, had a frozen smile on his face.

As expected.

Tulip and Jintan Shun both turned around, eying him curiously, “Are you familiar with the IGO higher-ups?”

“Ha, haha, not really,” Xia Yu casually replied, “Uncle Jintian, you know they once visited my farm, and since then, our farm has established various collaborations with the IGO research institution.”

“Is that so?”

Jintan Shun chuckled, clearly skeptical, but didn’t dwell further.

In the rearview mirror, Tulip’s spirited face also bore an unfathomable smile, “I knew it, you showed no greed for this piece of meat we have, preferring to return empty-handed. Seems we misjudged some things.”

“Cough—” Xia Yu feigned a cough, some things were better left unspoken.

Now, he was probably the focus of discussion and research from various parties.

…

In fact, Xia Yu was quite self-aware.

Apart from the IGO higher-ups who knew his identity from the start, on the first night the eight giants of the Food Society returned to Ulan Bator for rest, they convened a high-level meeting.

At the conference table, the first seat was empty, Tiqie Ji with the golden crow badge pinned on his chest sat beside the first seat as the Heavenly King Envoy.

He was the host of the meeting, his cold gaze swept across the other seven giants below, tapping a remote, with a soft beep, a video began playing on the conference room screen. Tiqie Ji paused the image at the moment the colorful stream of light formed a fist that smashed violently at Huang He.

“Does anyone know who he is?”

Tiqie Ji spoke.

Among the seats, the eyes of the seven giants flickered.

Lin Qingfeng chuckled lightly, “Your Excellency, does it matter who he is?”

“Yes, the ingredients have been hunted and this trip can be considered complete. Why fuss over this mysterious hunter? A mere wild Qilin Hunter doesn’t need much attention,” Andrea yawned.

The seventh seat’s ‘Phantom’ Bas rasped, “Stop with the chatter, let’s divide the ingredients, distribute what we deserve, and offer the rest to headquarters.”

“Isn’t your task to return with the portion that should be offered?” Lei Zhe eyed Tiqie Ji mockingly, his gaze filled with disdain.

However, Lei Zhe was very envious of the golden crow badge on Ghost Father’s chest, it not only represented the envoy status but also granted unlimited access to the vast and secretive ingredient vaults of the Food Society!

“What if I say, the leader is very curious about this person?” Tiqie Ji’s voice deepened.

“…”

There was a long silence in the conference room, no one spoke.

“No one knows, right?”

Tiqie Ji announced expressionlessly, “Then, tonight’s meeting ends here. Regarding the ingredient competition event in Ulan Bator, I need an assistant. Who among you is willing to stay and serve as a judge for the competition?”

The footsteps of the seven didn’t pause; soon they emptied the room, leaving nothing but cold tea.

“No one, huh?”

In the empty conference room, only Tiqie Ji remained, his face gradually showing an enigmatic smile.

He turned and, with great interest, reviewed a few video footage, “This is predictable. After all, although the Sapporo event still seems fresh, it is now the spring of the following year, and you have finally reached the level of Lin on your path to becoming a Food Dominator.”

Delete!

The computer hard drives and all forms of data backups on USB drives were wiped clean. Tiqie Ji chuckled softly, “This way, before the right moment arrives, you don’t have to worry about being exposed.”

“And then, when will you finally reveal your Food Tyrant Chef identity in open culinary battles and Food Wars through actual cooking?”

Tiqie Ji found it amusing.

Unlike Huang He, and different from Lei Zhe, although Ghost Father was a defeated opponent of Demon King Xia, his daughter, after all, was already under Demon King Xia’s guardianship.

Guardianship being a more palatable term.

In the legends of the Neon Campus, the story of Demon King Xia defeating Ghost Father was portrayed as a hero saving a princess. As for what happened afterward, a popular doujinshi artist named Ying Lili had already continued season after season in manga format.

The next day.

The IGO and Food Society’s event office, like a marketplace, was densely surrounded by Hunters.

The number of hunters lining up to register for the competition was overwhelming.

In the distance, at a corner of the alley, Xia Yu and Jintan Shun look around. The bearded Qilin Hunter tosses his cigarette butt to the ground, steps on it with his boot, and says with a click of his tongue, “Ulan Bator’s enthusiasm has been ignited by the culinary competition.”

Xia Yu shrugs.

Half the city is in a frenzy, and in the following days, powerful Qilin Hunters like Singh and Female Qilin Chef Maria are likely to register and participate in the ingredient contest.

“Uncle, are you interested?” Xia Yu asks, smiling.

“No—”

Jintan Shun waves his hand hurriedly, “I choose to keep a low profile. Besides, the piece of meat I won with Tulip is enough for research!”

“And you?” He glances sideways at the young man, “This is a great opportunity to make a name in the Hunter circle.”

Xia Yu shakes his head, glancing at the task bar.

In fact, after obtaining the ingredient yesterday, a new task of mastering and using the ingredient was added.

“I want to quickly get to grips with that ingredient…”

Just as he starts to speak, there’s the sound of a door opening from the nearby house, and a deep voice says, “So Mr. Huang, our deal is struck. Wishing you success in your food battle!”

Another old, rather unsteady voice responds, “Thank you very much for providing the ingredients, as agreed, Xia Qing is yours, and that Demon King Xia is mine.”

“Hahaha, we have extremely high-quality ingredients, there’s no reason to lose!” Laughter echoes down the street.

Xia Yu and Jintan Shun exchange looks.

Mr. Huang isn’t dead?

Xia Yu isn’t surprised by this; if a grand Dragon Chef could be easily dispatched, the Chinese Realm would have long fallen and been conquered by the Gourmet Assembly’s absolute power.

Without a word exchanged, the two retreat into the corner with great understanding.

Observing in secrecy.

They see Luo Tiangang assisting an elderly man wrapped in white bandages into a jeep. Jintan Shun’s gaze sharpens, focusing on the box of ingredients carried by Luo Tiangang’s other hand, his eyes narrowing, “Shall we…”

He makes a throat-slitting gesture to Xia Yu, his face instantly cold.

Xia Yu shakes his head without hesitation, using lip language to signal, “Let them go.”

Luo Tiangang in the driver’s seat presses the gas pedal, and the jeep drives straight into the wilderness beyond Ulan Bator. They clearly intend to return home.

Having watched enough and encountering those they shouldn’t have met, Xia Yu and Jintan Shun chat as they walk back to the hotel.

Regarding Jintan Shun’s repeated mentioning of “cutting the grass at the roots,” Xia Yu merely smiles.

“Uncle, isn’t Lei Zhe your arch-enemy? Ulan Bator is chaotic, you just met him, he had no entourage, no other juggernauts; it was the best chance to eliminate him, why didn’t you act?” Xia Yu retorts.

At the hotel’s doorstep, Jintan Shun pauses, responding in a low voice, “Because I have no confidence in killing him!”

“What about with my help?”

“You might not understand the resilience of Qilin-level life. Without an absolutely higher level of force, even facing several Qilin Hunters, Lei Zhe isn’t thick-headed and can choose to escape.”

“Besides…”

Jintan Shun’s eyes ignite with the flames of fighting spirit, “Since I’m a chef, I’ll discard the unnecessary thoughts and on the arena of food battles, straightforwardly, eliminate him!”

Hearing this, Xia Yu nods, a look of earnestness on his face, “My thoughts are the same as yours… with the sacred food battle, I’ll pass judgement on the archenemy.”

“Me, chef, food battle.”

He compresses his words into a few rhythmic syllables.

Me…

Chef…

Food Battle?

Jintan Shun laughs heartily as he pats his shoulder, “I greatly anticipate you taking down a seasoned Dragon Chef face to face, honorably, and sitting on the Dragon’s Throne. At that time, no one will dare underestimate you because of your age!”

Xia Yu acknowledges with a free and clear ring in his eyes.

Step on a Dragon Chef to leap the Dragon Gate?

Interesting indeed!

…

Rumble.

The jeep accelerates down the highway.

Luo Tiangang glances at the rearview mirror inside the car, his master Mr. Huang tightly clutching the ingredient box, treating the contents as their lifeline.

“Tiangang, how long until we reach Erlian Border?”

Mr. Huang suddenly raises his head.

“The quickest is before dusk. Don’t worry, Master, by midnight we’ll fly directly from Inner Mongolia Airport to Jing Chu; I’ve arranged the flight.”

“Good, very good!” Mr. Huang pats the metal box in his arms, his face momentarily displaying hatred and harassment, “Once I master the ingredient, it’ll be the death day of that old bastard Xia Qing! With the old man dead, the Xia Family, ten years from today, will truly be annihilated!”