World Chef Rankings.
It appeared in the original work and had a considerable presence.
It is said that every four years, during the grandest food expo in the world – the Cooking Festival – streets across the globe become deserted.
The purpose of the Cooking Festival is to determine the number one chef in the culinary world. Only ten-star chefs are eligible to participate.
In the original work, the protagonist's partner, Komatsu, participated with a ranking of 88.
The perennial host of the Cooking Festival is this mysterious gourmet publication.
Zangma, standing before them, is not only a ten-star head chef but also ranked 92nd in the previous Cooking Festival! This is an achievement only those with exceptional skill among all ten-star chefs can accomplish!
Zangma said, "According to the traditions of the Human World, the establishment of an academy requires a ten-star chef or above to serve as the overall supervisor to be qualified as a regular academy! Only by achieving a ranking in the World Chef Rankings can one be considered qualified as a high-tier institution!"
"Secondly, to establish a school, one must possess sufficient academic knowledge to impart. The requirement of ten-star chefs as co-funders is also to leverage their endorsement to prove the correctness of the academy's foundational theories."
"The final element is capital, meaning the academy needs a venue and a sufficient quantity of ingredients."
"The aforementioned three points form the foundation of an academy and are crucial conditions for us to evaluate an academy's teaching qualifications!"
In any world, education is paramount to society, and supervising academies is reasonable.
It can be said that the people bestowed upon the Gourmet Journal the responsibility of inspecting academies.
Zhang Wei had no particular reservations about this; in terms of teaching qualifications and faculty strength, he was confident in an open comparison!
Zhang Wei surveyed the surroundings and asked, "And you, are you witnesses to this inspection?"
Zhan Lu, representing the Blade Forging Villa, stood up and said, "No, no, I am merely here to discuss business. Of course, it's good to join the fun."
Shintaro of the Healing Nation stated, "Our nation's purpose is to eliminate suffering and sorrow for humanity through medicine, to ward off harm and evil. If possible, we would also very much like to cooperate with the Gourmet Bank."
The Four Great Salt Merchants remained silent, their objectives evidently not for disclosure in a crowded place.
Apart from these major powers, there were also representatives from fabric merchants, hotel chains, breweries, ingredient distributors, and Gourmet Hunters. Their objective was to seek cooperation.
Whether or not they passed the Gourmet Journal's evaluation would determine the future of the Gourmet Bank and their attitude towards collaboration.
The best proof of this was capital!
In other words, ingredients!
Zangma waved his hand, and over a dozen elegantly dressed merchants stepped forward.
"These are representatives from thirty-four ingredient distributors. To be honest, to prove your financial strength, you must meet their transaction demands..."
One of the merchants stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "We have long heard of the Gourmet Bank's reputation, but we always thought it was mere rumor..."
Transaction demands?
Such a good thing?
Zhang Wei looked at Zangma with a complex expression. This guy's intention was likely to mobilize capital and clear out the Gourmet Bank's ingredient reserves through transactions.
This would allow them to estimate the Gourmet Bank's financial worth.
However, they were unaware that Zhang Wei possessed the Treasure Hall, which offered an ever-increasing variety of goods and higher daily output with more transactions!
Exchanging goods that were constantly replenished daily for new increments seemed like a hugely profitable endeavor!
Zhang Wei smiled and said, "Excellent, you are welcome!"
The merchant frowned and said, "Boss Zhang, don't underestimate us. Although the northern lands are cold, with our resources, we can easily mobilize immense quantities of ingredients for transactions."
"Then mobilize them."
"Heh, very well!"
Legitimate trading platforms are extremely fearful of "sweep purchases."
Firstly, it disrupts normal inventory levels, putting pressure on logistics.
Secondly, it affects normal supply, causing regular customers to be unable to find what they need.
Thirdly, as shops, they need a comprehensive range of goods, which means insufficient stock of each item. Sweep purchases lead to an imbalance of goods!
In short, although sweep purchases are extremely profitable, they have a detrimental impact on business.
Especially in this era, supply capacity is weak, entirely dependent on Gourmet Hunters, who in turn depend on the whims of heaven...
The completeness and sufficiency of a shop's goods directly represent its strength and determine its credibility.
After all, distributors do not want their daily sales to be unsecured.
The thirty-four distributors exchanged glances, having decided to teach this new colleague a lesson.
Zhang Wei quickly assessed the ingredients in his Treasure Hall, his smile becoming even more confident!
The thirty-four gourmet distributors activated their communication channels to mobilize ingredients from their shops; the exact quantities were unknown...
This would take some time, allowing Zangma to proceed with the second stage of evaluation: textbooks!
Zhang Wei handed him the three volumes, upper, middle, and lower. The content within was sufficient for one to reach the level of an eight-star chef.
Furthermore, textbooks are not like martial arts manuals; there is no need for secrecy. The wider they are distributed, the greater the academy's influence.
While Zangma and a group were studying the textbooks, Yan Yan, the representative of the Four Great Salt Merchants, found Zhang Wei and requested a private meeting.
In a private room, Yan Yan said, "Boss Zhang, you must know why I've come, right~"
"It's about Salt Essence?"
"Precisely. The Four Great Salt Merchants have been overseeing the salt industry for many years. Salt Essence is just one of our many seasonings, and not a particularly important one."
As one of the four most powerful merchant guilds in the Human World, Yan Yan had the confidence to say this.
Yan Yan continued, "To mine Salt Essence, the Four Great Merchant Guilds employ hundreds of thousands of people and thousands of grinding machines annually, processing it through twenty-two steps... yet, our daily output is still less than 150 kilograms!"
"But according to my knowledge, the Gourmet Bank's daily sales are at least over 90 kilograms... This leads me to wonder if the Gourmet Bank has mastered new extraction techniques!"
So that was it!
The reason Salt Essence is rare is that it only exists on the continental rock strata, the Saltrock Walls!
The hardness of the Saltrock Walls far exceeds that of tungsten alloy, and for every ton of Saltrock Wall rock, only 1.5 grams of Salt Essence can be ground. The cost is astronomically high!
In terms of production difficulty, it is more challenging than Uranium-235 on Earth!
After all, uranium ore does not possess such astonishing hardness!
"So, what do you want?"
Zhang Wei did not deny it.
Nor could he deny it. Would he claim it was replicated by the Treasure Hall? Or deny the fact that they sold Salt Essence? Or forgo the profits from selling Salt Essence?
Yan Yan said, "I hope the Gourmet Bank can share its new extraction method and utilize it jointly. The patent would remain with the Gourmet Bank, and we would pay a high patent usage fee!"
"I am very sorry! I refuse!"
Yan Yan was taken aback. "Why?"
"The Four Great Salt Merchants are incredibly powerful; I don't believe a mere patent could bind you... I cannot hand over the method of obtaining Salt Essence to you."
Yan Yan was silent for a moment. "The reputation of the Four Great Salt Merchants is renowned in the Human World... and..."
"And what?"
"You wouldn't want any issues to arise with the evaluation of the Delicious Treasure Academy, would you?"
Yan Yan said, "The influence of the Four Great Salt Merchants is sufficient to partially alter the evaluation criteria. With the support of the Four Great Salt Merchants, the capital evaluation can be directly bypassed!"
Bypassed?
That wouldn't do at all!
He was counting on this transaction to become rich!
"I still maintain my decision."
Seeing that it was not working, Yan Yan stopped insisting. He stood up and said, "If Boss Zhang changes his mind at any time, remember to contact me."
Stepping outside.
Yan Yan immediately told his assistant, "Immediately send word to headquarters. Use our influence to mobilize a batch of extremely precious and rare ingredients, then hand them over to those distributors."
"I will bankrupt the entire Gourmet Bank!"
"Bank... heh, isn't it just a money changer? Let's see how you handle this sweep!"
When the Gourmet Bank has no goods to trade.
This bank will lose its most important credibility!
According to intelligence from the Four Great Salt Merchants, the Gourmet Bank's businesses are thriving in various locations, and they have signed numerous supply contracts, with daily supply exceeding 150 million Bery!
Once in breach of contract...
Heh heh~
...
The thirty-four distributors this time are from all continents of the Human World, and it will take about half a month to transport the ingredients.
For the next few days, they will have to make do with the Legal Mammoth and the Carnivorous Forest.
Zhang Wei also needs to work overtime to accelerate the collection process and fully prepare for this transaction!
A surprise sweep would be more effective, but then Zhang Wei would have a reason to refuse. With this arrangement, Zhang Wei has no retreat!
Fiber Land - Plant Hell.
Zhang Wei circled overhead. After feeding for some time, the second fifty-meter-tall corn had finally grown to completion.
"National Chef!"
"Cleaver Strike!"
[Collection Complete: BB Corn]
[Replication Time: 140 days]
"Not bad!"
"After consuming so much of my meat, it's finally yielding some results!"
"Currently, the top five tallest corns are at 46 meters, 45 meters, and 41 meters! With these and 12 plants at level 35 following them, the replication time should soon be compressed to one day!"
Plant Hell let out a painful groan.
It waved its vines at Zhang Wei, like a slapped child begging for candy.
After days of feeding, Plant Hell had become quite familiar with Zhang Wei. Zhang Wei was its benefactor...
"Heh, this little guy is begging now!"
"Fine, you look pitiful..."
With a wave of his hand, one-tenth of his meat inventory rained down!
This quantity would be enough for Plant Hell to catch for a week!
"Warm Harbor, next let's head to Legal Island!"
Similar to Carnivorous Hell.
As soon as he saw the dense fog rising in the distance, the Legal Mammoth ran over with leaps and bounds, like a small baby weighing eighty million tons.
"Grunting~ grunting~"
The Legal Mammoth's grunts were similar to a pig's.
Now, upon seeing Zhang Wei, the Legal Mammoth was overjoyed.
Previously, to find a bite to eat, it had to repeatedly search the Legal Plateau, spending half the day driving around to find just a small mouthful.
It was never enough to satisfy its hunger!
But since meeting Zhang Wei, things were different. Mountains of ingredients appeared out of nowhere, raining down from the sky.
The Legal Mammoth had not eaten its fill in a long time since it grew larger!
And Zhang Wei had brought it satiety!
"Little guy, let me see how the regeneration of Jewel Meat is going!"
He scattered a large amount of ingredients, spread out widely.
While the Legal Mammoth was focused on eating, Zhang Wei landed on its head.
Probe current!
The outline of the Legal Mammoth appeared in Zhang Wei's mind, like a clear X-ray scan.
In another more hidden corner within the Legal Mammoth, the newly regenerated Jewel Meat had already reached a size of 600 kilograms!
"The previous Jewel Meat had accumulated over many years, making the meat slightly aged. The new Jewel Meat is like lamb, and its culinary radiance is even more alluring!"
Even through electromagnetic induction.
Zhang Wei could tell that the new Jewel Meat was more tender and delicious than the previous one!
It's almost there...
"Alright!"
"Today, I'll give you a super delicious meal!"
Saying that.
A fifty-meter-tall BB corn descended from the sky, the very one Zhang Wei had just harvested.
Feeding elephants with corn, and corn with Jewel Meat...
A perfect cycle!
The greatest characteristic of BB corn is its immense energy and nutritional content. A single ear can produce tens of thousands of servings of popcorn, enough for hundreds of people!
Despite its size, if this fifty-meter-tall BB corn were all made into popcorn, its volume would be at least half that of the Legal Mammoth.
Keep in mind that the Legal Mammoth is a terrifying creature weighing 80 million tons!
...
Returning to the North.
Xi Feng ushered in a group of prisoners.
Zhang Wei took one look and found them familiar!
"Aren't these the Gourmet Hunters who came with the Four Great Salt Merchants? They are all excellent hunters from the continent!"
Xi Feng snorted, "Excellent hunters? They're just thieves!"
"Thieves? Did they break into the Gourmet Bank? I'm not saying this to you guys, but while the ingredients are enticing, the Gourmet Bank is occupied!"
"No, their target was the Century Soup!"
Century Soup!
A tall Gourmet Hunter stood up, easily breaking free of his shackles with a gentle exertion of force.
Hmm?
As expected, they had some strength.
The Gourmet Hunter said, "You should be able to tell that it's not difficult for us to leave with our abilities. We surrendered to explain the misunderstanding!"
Xi Feng was displeased. "What misunderstanding? Did we arrest the wrong people?"
The Gourmet Hunter's old face turned red, then he said, "I... we were just attracted by the unprecedented aroma and wanted to take a look! We had no intention of stealing!"
To be a Gourmet Hunter, one naturally had an obsession with the deliciousness of naturally occurring ingredients.
It was a logical thing to want to take a look. However, despite saying all this, Zhang Wei would not let them off easily and would require them to pay some price.
"What do you mean by breaking your shackles? Do you intend to use force to evade legal sanctions? Or do you want to transform into criminals and go on a spree of killing and robbery?"
The captured Gourmet Hunters blushed and quickly retorted, "You... no, this is a misunderstanding. I just wanted to prove..."