"Tian Can Silk Garment Factory announced completion, tasting begins..."
"Skillful Craftsman Fine Decor announced completion, tasting begins..."
"Muto Lei Real Estate announced completion, tasting begins..."
As time gradually slipped away, the distant sky began to turn pale blue.
With only four hours left until the end of the competition, the number of chefs remaining on the field was dwindling. Many of the spectators couldn't endure any longer and had fallen asleep in their chairs.
"There's something happening at the Eiffel Vineyard... they're dismantling the curtains!"
The host's voice carried from afar, drawing many people's attention.
In the spectator stands, Tang Zhihun leaped to his feet, then slowly sat back down.
The members of the Century Collection Association also sat up straighter, closely watching the situation on the field.
Wu Yong said, "Master Tang, rest assured. This competition is filled with masters. How could a mere Koizumi possibly win the championship?"
"Even so..."
The bet was too significant for Tang Zhihun to relax.
If Koizumi truly won, he feared he would have to hide within the World Collection Association for the rest of his life.
Such a price was truly unbearable.
"Alas, I shouldn't have been so impulsive. If I hadn't made the bet publicly, it wouldn't have come to this."
...
On the other side.
Lou Ming's lips curled into a smile. Judging by the aroma wafting through the air, Koizumi's dish this time should be an immense success.
Eiffel Vineyard cooking area.
The enormous curtain was dismantled, revealing what lay within.
"Is this... a sunflower?"
Elder Jun on the judging panel adjusted his glasses, a hint of reminiscence in his gaze. "Xunyang Flower... a variant of the sunflower. It grows its entire life in dark, damp caves, only seeing sunlight on the day of its reproduction."
"Oh~ Elder Jun is indeed knowledgeable."
"No wonder they had to seal off the outer area..."
"Speaking of which, the sun is about to rise!"
Xunyang Flower.
Capture Level: 42.
Its rarity was self-evident. Even Koizumi had never seen it before, only learning of its habits from inherited recipes.
*Dong~*
The gong sounded again!
"Wangyue Zhai's work is complete!"
"Player Jun Qing has taken the lead, finishing his work before Player Koizumi!"
Everyone turned to look. They saw members of Wangyue Zhai pushing a food cart, the plates on which were adorned with light-colored embroidery, highly characteristic of Wangyue Zhai.
Jun Qing, having cleaned off the oil fumes, changed into a brand-new uniform bearing the words "Wangyue Zhai" on the back.
"Overlord Ham Rice Bowl, please taste!"
The rice bowl was divided into small portions, about 300 grams each. Golden rice grains were topped with various side dishes, appearing incredibly luxurious.
"I smell the aroma of Belly..."
"Wangyue Zhai's creations are truly extravagant. Is this still a rice bowl, known for its dexterity and convenience?"
"As far as I can see, none of these ingredients are below level 30. This small plate is worth more than gold..."
A judge scooped up a spoonful of rice. The grains were round, plump, and golden, emitting a deeply penetrating fragrance.
"Is this... a Gift from the Rice Mage?"
Rice Mage: A peculiar semi-plant, semi-animal creature. Wherever it appears, large quantities of high-quality rice spontaneously grow. This high-quality rice is also known as the Gift from the Rice Mage.
Due to its extreme rarity and the peculiar nature of the Rice Mage, transplantation is impossible.
"As expected of the judges, you recognized it immediately."
"A Gift from the Rice Mage with a capture level of 32. Truly a lavish undertaking, enough to be the main ingredient for an ordinary contestant. But why is it golden yellow? Is it due to the processing method?"
"Well, most of the time I spent was on the fusion of the rice and the meat juices."
As he spoke, Jun Qing lifted a piece of ham, still attached to a large chunk of fat.
Due to the loss of moisture, its texture was somewhat firm.
Under the gaze of the judges, a shimmering drop of liquid seeped from the ham...
"This is..."
"Fat!"
"It actually melts with just the temperature of a finger! Truly Overlord Tree Ham!"
Overlord Tree Ham.
Capture Level: 51-55.
The highest-grade ingredient present in the entire venue, crushing all others with its regal presence!
Jun Qing said, "This fat is light and not greasy, possessing its own saltiness. Regardless of the processing method, it exhibits immense deliciousness."
"After slicing it, I took out those with a fat content exceeding 40% to use as the base for the sauce."
Saying this, Jun Qing produced another item, which turned out to be a basin of golden jelly... no, a savory jelly.
He then took out a bowl of white cooked rice and poured the jelly onto it. Under the heat of the rice, the jelly slowly melted...
"This process takes at least ten hours to allow the Gift from the Rice Mage to fully infuse its flavor."
The many judges suddenly understood and picked up their utensils, beginning to taste.
"These side dishes are crisp and refreshing. They should be the hearts of century-old onion trees... Just this small section would cost at least fifty thousand Belly on the market."
"The rice is smooth and not greasy. Besides the rich meat juices, there must be something else..."
"It's raw egg!"
"The yolk is poured raw, using the heat of the rice itself to cook it..."
"Chicken carcass, bonito broth, sake, soy sauce... the rice has a very rich flavor!"
The lean ham, sliced as thinly as cicada wings, curled up naturally. In addition to the ham, each rice bowl was served with a poached pigeon egg, shiitake mushrooms, fried chicken pieces... each of them at least level 30!
Almost all the judges were captivated by this luxurious feast!
*Dong~*
The gong sounded.
Just as many judges were lost in the deliciousness, Chef Koizumi from the Eiffel Vineyard announced the completion of his dish!
The Xunyang Flower had bloomed, its shape resembling a trumpet flower. It was now dripping nectar from its petals... and beneath the nectar was Koizumi's creation!
Zhang Wei looked towards it.
"Using the nectar of a strange ingredient, a dessert..."
"In such large-scale culinary competitions, desserts do not hold an advantage."
Monotonous sweetness is extremely crude in a banquet. Not only does one not enjoy it much, but it also affects the desire to taste other foods.
Overly sweet foods can create a sense of revulsion, exceeding even that of fat, and diminish appetite.
However, given Koizumi's skill, it shouldn't be that simple.
At this moment, Jun Qing's score was finally announced.
Red: 5!
Exquisitely delicious and immensely impactful!
Orange: 11!
A rare delicacy rarely tasted in a lifetime.
Yellow: 60!
A classic work, a model for chefs!
Green: 34!
Although tasty, it was somewhat conventional and ordinary.
"It's here, an extremely high score!"
"As many as five red cards, and eleven orange... this means at least 16 judges were completely won over by this dish!"
"However, the number of green cards is relatively high. But the score is still extremely high!"
"The result is currently second place, only slightly lower than Player Hei Chengze."
Jun Qing tilted his head up...
After a long pause, he let out a sigh of helplessness.
"Even so, I still can't win the championship..."