"Hey, hey, I really didn’t expect that a chef as inexperienced with handling as you could actually make such delicious cuisine, damn it!" Soma Yukihira grumbled as he ate the Magical Mapo Tofu, then scooped up another big spoonful.

Even now, Soma Yukihira still hadn’t figured out why this Mapo Tofu was glowing?

This is simply unscientific, even at Totsuki Academy, he had never eaten such a unique dish that glowed.

Is this some new scientific technology? That was the only thing Soma Yukihira could think of; he had no other ideas for the time being.

"The Mapo Tofu you made is really delicious too, it’s the same tofu, but why does the tofu you make feel so much more tender and smooth?" Chen Ze genuinely admired the dish.

The tofu, because it had been left out a bit too long and had gotten a bit tough, was miraculously turned into a soft and smooth delicacy by Soma Yukihira’s skill.

And Medicine King truly deserves his title; his skill can’t be denied, although compared to a talent like Liu Maoxing, he still falls quite short.

But he is still an amazing chef, Chen Ze thought that Soma Yukihira was already capable of being a head chef, and a first-rate one at that.

"Yukihira, you said you’ve just joined a place called Totsuki Academy?" Chen Ze and Soma Yukihira were sitting aside sipping tea when Chen Ze curiously inquired about Soma Yukihira’s timeline.

"You can just call me Soma. My old man said he’s off to open a restaurant in Manhattan, so he dumped me in this kind of place," Soma Yukihira took a sip of tea and let out a contented sigh.

"What do you think about that school?" Chen Ze was a bit curious.

Totsuki Academy is the main setting in Food Wars, famous for having a graduation rate of less than 10 percent, representing elite education, and holding high prestige.

"Heh heh, at first, I thought it was one of those places where a trembling old man teaches us to cook. But when I got there, I found out it wasn’t. However, I’m not going to lose to those guys who’ve never even served customers," Soma Yukihira stretched lazily. He had been pondering over his culinary skills today and continued to hone his basics.

"That’s not guaranteed." Chen Ze said with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, watching Soma Yukihira. He didn’t say much, but at the very least, with Soma Yukihira’s current cooking skills, he could already outdo the Elite Ten of Totsuki.

Chen Ze had always thought that the protagonist couldn’t lose, until he saw the ’Divine Nose.’ So, it seemed that the only ones who could beat the protagonist were truly game-breaking, right?

"There seem to be few customers here," Soma Yukihira glanced around. Up to now, he hadn’t seen a fourth person enter.

"Because this is Another World Restaurant, the problem lies in when the portal opens, and whether any customers can actually come through," Chen Ze wasn’t too concerned; customers would come, it was just a matter of time.

"For a restaurant like yours, you must have some pretty strange and unusual ingredients, right?" True to form, while others were more interested in the other worlds, Soma Yukihira thought of ingredients. Is this a common illness among chefs?

"There are some, like this item." Chen Ze promptly took Soma Yukihira to the kitchen; maybe with Soma Yukihira around, they could develop some new dishes? 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Then Chen Ze showed Soma Yukihira his automatic supply tentacle, as well as rare and high-quality ingredients like Moonlight Mushrooms, and Ice Fish.

"They are truly... beautiful ingredients..." Soma Yukihira caressed the scales of an Ice Fish, a specimen even more special than any fish he had seen before.

And as Chen Ze told him some of the characteristics of the Ice Fish, as well as its taste when eaten.

"Could I buy one from you?" Soma Yukihira looked up. If a chef isn’t moved by such precious ingredients, that would be the real anomaly.

"This fish is quite pricey," Chen Ze said outright, feeling that Soma Yukihira was not the type to beat around the bush.

"Uh, about how much would it cost?" Soma Yukihira was a bit embarrassed. Although his dad sent him a considerable allowance every month, he was well aware that the price of such fish was astronomical.

"Sorry, because this is Another World Restaurant, currency is basically worthless here, we accept payment in the form of ingredients or knowledge," Chen Ze shook his head; even if he wanted yen or US dollars, it was no use.

Gold bars and such were even less needed; without a legitimate source, Chen Ze wouldn’t be able to sell them.

"Ingredients and knowledge, huh..." Soma Yukihira was a bit distressed. When it came to ingredients, Chen Ze’s restaurant basically had everything and didn’t need any from him.

As for knowledge...

Soma Yukihira suddenly recalled something. During the cooking earlier, he noticed a problem—that was Chen Ze’s basic skills, which could be described as somewhat lacking.

In Totsuki Academy, such skill would earn a scolding of epic proportions.

"I can teach you the basics, because I noticed that your fundamental skills are quite lacking. And I can also teach you some common knowledge about buying ingredients," Soma Yukihira offered his bargaining chip, and Chen Ze promptly agreed.

Originally, Chen Ze had registered at a culinary school, but because of recent events, the school had closed, and he got half of his tuition refunded.

And Chen Ze didn’t want to spend a full day studying like before. The main reason was that his own culinary skills were still improving, and unless he had guidance from a true master, it would be difficult to make rapid progress.

Soma Yukihira certainly seemed like a good choice. Even though Soma Yukihira isn’t yet the culinary powerhouse he would become, his current abilities were clear for all to see.

Moreover, Soma Yukihira’s dad was a true boss, so Chen Ze felt the trade was quite worth it.

Then Chen Ze saw Soma Yukihira off, who left excitedly holding an Ice Fish.

"Manager, this customer didn’t order any food," Betty, who had changed into a new set of clothes, commented leisurely.

"It’s okay," Chen Ze waved his hand; Betty hadn’t heard their conversation just now.

Just as Chen Ze was about to go back to the kitchen to check on his Edelman wild boar tail, the door was pushed open, and Chen Ze saw the superstar rookie.

"Pika, Pikachu~" And, of course, there was the Pikachu who had zapped Arceus.

"Ash?" Chen Ze was a little thrilled.

Last time Ash visited, he gave Chen Ze milk from a Big-Nosed Milk Tank and an empty Pokeball. Chen Ze wondered what he had brought this time.

Then Chen Ze noticed a purple orb following behind Ash, with a pair of bright, intelligent eyes looking straight at him.

What’s this?