The Demon King of Cuisine, Senzaemon Nakiri?
Hearing this name, Luo Shu blinked and asked:
"The head of Totsuki Group?"
"Yes."
Daichi Fujiwara nodded and then explained:
"Senzaemon Nakiri controls a significant portion of Japan's aquaculture, forestry, and land holdings, essentially being a major landowner. He also wields considerable influence in the culinary industry and operates Japan's premier high-end chef training academy."
"If we're conducting derivative research on new ingredients, he would indeed be an excellent candidate."
"Of course, most importantly, he's one of our people."
At this point, Daichi Fujiwara couldn't help but chuckle lightly:
"Since Shu-kun is also aware of him, I imagine you can judge for yourself that he's the ideal collaborator."
'No, I don't know him—I know his granddaughters...' Luo Shu silently thought to himself.
The grandfather of Food Wars' heroines Erina Nakiri and Alice Nakiri—that was why Luo Shu recognised Senzaemon Nakiri.
To put it bluntly, he knew the character as a bonus from watching beautiful girls.
But if Senzaemon Nakiri existed in this world, then Erina and Alice Nakiri likely did too. He just didn't know how old they were now.
And given the quirks of the Divine Pantheon Reconstruction System, these two heroines were probably recruitable Familia members.
New ingredient research, though? That was a decent pretext for contact.
As Luo Shu mentally plotted how to recruit Erina and Alice Nakiri, he even mapped out their future roles.
Edible development of artificial yokai flesh seemed a promising research direction.
China has always had a rich tradition of medicinal cuisine, not to mention the elixirs commonly featured in cultivation novels.
If Erina and Alice could develop something similar, the benefits would far outweigh the mere points gained from recruiting them.
After all, points required talent and time to accumulate, plus luck in obtaining powerful Abyss Artefacts. However, with artificial yokai flesh, the Research Department had already obtained some results.
Picking up the tuna sushi from the exquisite small plate before him, Luo Shu chewed thoughtfully before smiling:
"Since Daichi-kun knows experts in this field, I'll leave the introductions to you."
Of course, Luo Shu wouldn't admit he had his eyes on Senzaemon Nakiri's two granddaughters. But by his estimation, if this succeeded, contact with Erina and Alice was inevitable.
After all, Senzaemon was over seventy—hardly likely to oversee R&D personally, was he?
Not to boast, but with a young collaborator like Luo Shu, whether to groom the next generation or expand the Nakiri family's connections, Senzaemon would undoubtedly dispatch his two phoenix-like granddaughters.
This went without saying.
Seeing Luo Shu agree to let him make introductions, Daichi Fujiwara's smile deepened.
He'd explicitly stated Senzaemon was "one of our people," and Luo Shu's agreement tacitly endorsed that claim.
Politically speaking, they'd now reached a consensus on forming an alliance of interests.
For Daichi, having the support of an SDS department director was a substantial pillar stabilising his ministerial position.
Thus genuinely pleased, he raised his glass to Luo Shu:
"Then let me toast in advance to Shu-kun's imminent success!"
"Thank you." Luo Shu responded with restraint, while feeling slightly amused inwardly.
His prospective father-in-law had just played matchmaker for him twice—an experience that was truly rather peculiar.
Though it felt somewhat improper to think this way, Luo Shu couldn't help but hope Daichi Fujiwara would redouble his efforts and achieve even greater heights.
'Daichi-kun, I have high hopes for you~'
With a strange smile, Luo Shu raised his tea cup in a toast as Daichi Fujiwara downed his sake in one gulp.
...
Late at night, at four in the morning, when the sky was just beginning to lighten.
A tremendous explosion erupted on the outskirts of Kyoto.
Following this, thunderous detonations rang out one after another, shaking the mountain range.
Yet beneath the deafening noise, the residents living near the outskirts remained sound asleep in their homes, as if they hadn't heard a thing...
Boom!
A bolt of blue lightning streaked down from the sky, striking a massive figure darting through the mountains.
The enormous figure crackled with electricity, black smoke billowing from its body as it raised its arms defensively, standing its ground as if bracing against something.
As the arcs of lightning dissipated slightly, the giant's true form was revealed under the moonlight.
Standing seven metres tall with four arms and a Hannya mask, its body was charred black from the lightning strikes, making its already demonic appearance even more terrifying.
"Hahaha!"
The giant's laughter echoed through the mountains:
"To think the Bujin-shū would dispatch two clan heads armed with high-tier Abyss Artefacts to ambush me! I can't decide whether today is my lucky day or my unlucky one!"
After bellowing these words in his thunderous voice, Tsuchigumo's gaze shifted, locking onto the two figures standing on tree trunks, flanking him from both sides.
A voluptuous white-haired woman wielding brilliant white lightning, and a towering, broad-shouldered young man with white hair and tanned skin.
Studying them, Tsuchigumo identified the newcomers:
"The current head of the Nagi family from the Bujin-shū's Twelve Houses—Makiko Nagi, and the Iron Man of the Hotaru family, I presume?"
"I've long heard of your reputations. Now let me see what level these so-called martial arts masters truly operate at!!"
With booming laughter, the seven-metre-tall giant launched his fists towards the two!
...
Tokyo, Shinagawa Ward.
In the basement of a certain villa.
Kyokotsu clutched a skull, entering the dimly lit basement with slight panic as she whispered:
"Elder Sister, we've received news from Kyoto."
Three or four seconds after she spoke, a cool female voice emerged from the darkness:
"Report. What were the retreat results?"
"Lord Jūhyakuyaku Senju and Lord Kidōmaru have fallen in battle. Lord Tsuchigumo is severely wounded and missing. Our Tokyo headquarters has been completely purged by the Bujin-shū and Onmyou Agency."
Silence engulfed the basement after these words.