"Taste it. This is an apology for making you watch this farce."
Over an hour later, Eizan Etsuya served the dish to the judges' table, his fingers slightly extended forward, five fingers slightly spread, and his face radiating strong confidence.
He then turned back and came to Hoshino Sora, still holding a serving of raw marinated Red Demon Shrimp.
"This is for you. Take a good look at how big the gap between you and the Elite Ten truly is, lest you say those laughable words again!"
He had also prepared a dish for Hoshino Sora. Don't misunderstand, this was merely to make him realize the disparity between them.
Hoshino Sora accepted it readily, his expression calm, and began to taste the dish Eizan Etsuya handed him.
"Mmm!"
As the shrimp shell was peeled, the shrimp meat was exposed to the air, and a rich, fresh aroma mixed with the scent of the raw marinade permeated the air. Smelling this, the judges immediately salivated profusely.
Taking a satisfying bite, the sound of bursting juice filled their ears from their mouths. The exquisite texture and sweet flavor made several judges look as if they had gone to heaven.
"Refreshing! Crispy! Fresh! Sweet!"
The powerful impact allowed them to only utter these few words to express the shock in their hearts, but the charm of this raw marinated Red Demon Shrimp was far more than that.
That elegant and delicate taste permeated their mouths. They closed their eyes, wanting to savor it, but there was no time to savor; the intense impact made them feel a bit light-headed.
"Don't rush, the shrimp brain needs to be drizzled with my special shrimp oil for the flavor to reach its peak!"
Seeing the judges eagerly cracking open the shrimp heads, wanting to taste the deliciousness within, Eizan Etsuya quickly raised his hand to stop them, then brought over a pot of bubbling red hot oil.
The bright red oil exuded an indescribable shrimp flavor. He took a spoon and poured it over the shrimp brains.
The next moment, the pristine white shrimp brains suddenly began to squirm, pulsating rhythmically, which looked quite frightening.
"Gulp."
As the hot oil was poured, the shrimp brains emitted an enticing aroma, and the sound of swallowing echoed through the scene. Without hesitation, the judges swallowed it in one bite.
Then they puffed out their cheeks and widened their eyes. The shrimp brains were incredibly sweet and melted in their mouths, and the intense flavor assaulted their brains, giving them an exquisitely wonderful and super-intense experience!
This feeling! It was like being in the deep sea, with seawater constantly pressing in. Although it was immense pressure, it felt so good—such a delicate yet powerful culinary delight!
"As expected of Eizan! Although it's raw marination, there are different grades of raw marination. To be able to marinate such delicious seafood in such a short time, this is undoubtedly the skill of a high-level chef!"
Eating the raw marinated Red Devil Shrimp, the intense umami flavor left them no time to comment. It was only after they finished the Red Devil Shrimp that they gave Eizan Etsuya a thumbs-up and said,
"Compared to that, what is that kid who hit people doing? Is he stir-frying bean dregs? Is he planning to feed us pig slop?!"
Frowning, looking at Hoshino Sora who was stir-frying bean dregs, the hearts of several judges were filled with galloping alpacas. Bean dregs, wasn't that used to feed pigs in the countryside?
He was planning to humiliate them...
"You, fellow, although we agreed to taste your dish, you can't just give us pig slop! Such a thing is not worthy of appearing on Far Moon's stage!"
Anger surged in their eyes. Although they were worried about being beaten again, they also had their pursuits. How could such inferior garbage, not even considered B-grade cuisine, enter their mouths!
"Shh, don't yell. You should know that I am the champion of the Autumn Elections, and Senior Ruisan, last year, it seems he didn't even make it to the finals of the Autumn Elections, apparently being eliminated in the semi-finals.
You all praise the dishes of such a small character with relish, so why are you unwilling to trust my dish? Do you really know what delicious food is? I'm starting to doubt your abilities as judges."
Hoshino Sora made a shushing gesture with his hand. Facing the judges who mocked him with disdain, Hoshino Sora was also a bit displeased. He hadn't even finished his dish yet, and these guys were already singing its praises.
Such unprofessional judges made Hoshino Sora regret asking them. If he hadn't really had no one else to use, he wouldn't have let these notorious guys interfere with his dish.
"You continue to cook. I want to see what level the champion of this year's Autumn Elections is!"
Stunned speechless by Hoshino Sora, the man in the middle of the judges said coldly, but what he was thinking was, is this the level of the Autumn Elections champion?
No wonder Far Moon needed reform.
On the other side.
Hoshino Sora, who had stir-fried the bean dregs dry, refocused his attention on the steamed duck in front of him.
The method for preparing this duck was very simple.
Add Pixian bean paste, broth, and salt to the pot, bring to a boil, filter out the bean paste and chili, add green onions, ginger, and rice wine, then put the whole processed duck into it.
Set up a rack in the pot, heat it with water, and steam it.
At this point, the duck was already steamed, and the bones could be removed with a slight pull, but achieving perfect deboning was still a bit difficult.
Hoshino Sora put on his gloves, his expression serious, and operated with sharp movements.
In a few minutes, an entire duck was disassembled using the bone-separation technique in front of the live stream audience. The technique was so beautiful it was almost unbelievable.
He neatly arranged the disassembled duck, specifically the breast part, skin-side down, in a bowl, then returned it to the pot for reheating over a low flame.
With this step completed, the dish was nearing its end.
In another pot, sauté chopped green onions and ginger, add bean dregs and the broth used to process the duck earlier, drizzle with some chili oil, and stir-fry over low heat until the moisture evaporates.
This technique in Sichuan Cuisine is called "Nan Chao," and the bean dregs will be fully flavored, softened, and colored as a result. Before serving, add some salt, Sichuan peppercorn powder, and sesame oil for seasoning and aroma enhancement.
As the moisture from the bean dregs evaporated, a rich aroma permeated the room, forming a vivid aroma dragon that coiled around the pillars, making the scent even more profound.
"Gulp."
Just smelling the aroma, saliva began to secrete in large quantities. The judges looked at each other. Eizan's dish had already been tasted, so this smell could only come from...
They collectively turned their gaze to Hoshino Sora's dish. At this moment, Hoshino Sora had already inverted the slow-cooked duck breast onto a plate. As he removed the bowl, the rich, fragrant juice immediately overflowed.
At the same time, a long river of aroma seemed to appear before Hoshino Sora's eyes. He knew this was the spice inequality at work. As he poured the stir-fried bean dregs onto the duck breast, this Bean Dregs Duck Breast was truly completed.
And as the long river of aroma collided with the aroma dragon, the dragon entered the river, stirring up surging waves, and the rich aroma instantly conquered the few people in the room.
When the dish was brought to the judging table, the judges' eyes were fixed on the dish, revealing a deep desire. The sarcastic words they had prepared to say when the dish was served were stuck in their throats.
"Eat, then tell us whose dish is stronger and whose is weaker."
Seeing the judges' reactions, Hoshino Sora's face showed a satisfied smile. Then he pressed one hand on the table, a faint arrogance showing on his face.
"Senior Ruisan, I also made your portion. The gap between Elite Ten and me, I think you are the one who should see it most clearly."
Hoshino Sora retorted Eizan's words exactly as they were said, a smirk on his lips. After tasting the raw marinated Red Devil Shrimp made by the other party, his few worries immediately vanished.
He had originally wondered whether to use a fantasy spice for Senior Ruisan, but now it seemed completely unnecessary. The gap between them was obvious.
When the other party uses high-end ingredients for victory, and everything he does is only to highlight its original flavor, then the upper limit of this dish is already set.
Although it was also delicious, it definitely couldn't compare to the wonderful taste produced by the superposition of multiple ingredients after collision!
So...
Looking at the judges, whose faces were flushed and speechless after eating his dish, their eyes slightly bulging, looking as if they had received a huge shock, Hoshino Sora smiled proudly.
"Using bean dregs to absorb the cooking oil instead of directly stir-frying the meat perfectly preserved the juice and freshness of the duck meat.
It not only preserved the original flavor of the ingredients but also used spices to stimulate deeper flavors. The two harmonized and progressed, finally achieving a two hundred percent taste effect!"
"Can't stop, absolutely can't stop!"
The judges' voices were slightly muffled, but their hand movements were not at all. Their chopsticks skillfully picked up the duck meat and put it into their mouths. The rich duck meat aroma mixed with the slightly numbing and spicy seasoning was truly wonderful!
The duck meat was also accompanied by small bok choy, which was only simply blanched, making it very crisp and refreshing. Paired with this slightly numbing and spicy duck breast, it was simply the perfect match among perfect matches!
The rich textures intertwined in their mouths. Eizan Etsuya's eyes widened. The taste lingering on his tongue was endless and continuous. A slight aftertaste brought infinite wonderful flavors!
The spiciness of the chili, the saltiness of the salt, the saltiness of the Pixian bean paste, the crispy skin and tender meat of the duck, the tender and smooth texture with abundant juice, one bite made them want another, and when they came back to their senses, the dish on the plate had already been emptied.
"How is it? Senior Ruisan, how does my Bean Dregs Duck Breast compare to your raw marinated Red Devil Shrimp? Is there really as big a gap as you said?"
Looking at Eizan Etsuya's grim face, Hoshino Sora mocked him with a wide smile. That uncontrolled eating behavior really should be filmed and preserved for a long time.
"So now... now let's start scoring."
Feeling the atmosphere on the scene, the emcee couldn't help but swallow his saliva, his voice a bit unconfident. And as his voice fell, almost at the same time, the judges raised their hands, their fingertips pointing in unison at Hoshino Sora.
The outcome became very clear at this moment.
"Hoshino Sora!"
His voice was filled with resentment and unwillingness. His proud dish had become so vulnerable at this moment. High-end ingredients did not give him much advantage in this battle; instead, they became the key to his defeat!
A dish with a 100% upper limit can never defeat a dish with an upper limit exceeding 200%!
"You lost, Senior Ruisan!"
Looking down at Eizan Etsuya, who had fallen to the ground, Hoshino Sora's voice was cold. If the other party hadn't been so obsessed with making money and had put all his efforts into cooking, he might not have been able to win.
It can only be said that this guy's direction was wrong. Since he wants to be a businessman, why come to a culinary academy? Wouldn't it be more profitable to go to a finance academy and directly study finance?
"He won, Hoshino-kun won!?"
The voice first carried a hint of surprise, then intense delight. Mito Ikumi, from the Donburi Research Society, jumped three feet high, her face filled with excitement.
"He actually defeated an Elite Ten member!?"
Different places, different people, but the same emotions and the same admiration. Looking at the spirited young man in front of the live stream, everyone's heart trembled slightly.
Elite Ten Council.
Eishi Tsukasa looked at Hoshino Sora in the live stream and fell into deep thought, his eyes calm, showing no signs of joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness.
Nakitiri Residence.
Nakitiri Senzaemon's mouth curved slightly as he watched Hoshino Sora making a scene at Far Moon. Should he say he truly was a genius? A genius's thoughts were indeed different from ordinary people's.
However, using this method to gain temporary stability would be impossible to maintain without formidable strength.
So, what should he do next?
Hoshino.
— — — — — — — — — —
"I'm back~"
His voice carried a hint of pride. It was almost dusk, and Hoshino Sora opened his mouth with a wide smile as he saw Alice Nakiri, Tadokoro Megumi, Shiina Mahiru, Shiina Mashiro, Yumeko Jabami, and others who had been waiting for him at the door.
"You really worried me to death just now!
You just rushed in on your own, and even challenged an Elite Ten member at the cost of expulsion! Do you know that's an Elite Ten member? The ten strongest young chefs at Far Moon! It was too reckless!"
As soon as they met, Shinohiru grabbed Hoshino Sora's arm and started chattering, her eyes full of worry.
She just didn't know that her overly intimate action made the several girls beside her start to imagine things.
As a result, their gazes towards Hoshino Sora carried a hint of displeasure. How many days had it been? How could there be another one? This guy's efficiency was simply too astounding!
"It's quite cold outside, let's go in and talk." Tadokoro suggested.
Pushing open the door of Yōbi Dormitory, hot dishes and rice were already prepared inside. At this moment, Eri Nai was wearing an apron. Seeing Hoshino Sora approach, she tsundere-ly turned her body. These dishes were clearly made by her.
Hisako was helping nearby and walked out of the kitchen when she heard movement outside.
"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and wash your hands and eat! It's rare for Eri Nai-sama to cook personally."
Looking at Hoshino Sora, who stood at the Yōbi Dormitory entrance with a slightly bewildered expression, Hisako Arato put her hands on her hips and spoke. Why was this guy so indifferent? Did he not know that this was the result of Eri Nai-sama's entire afternoon of preparation!
"Okay~"
Deliberately drawing out his words, Hoshino Sora quickly went to the kitchen to wash his hands, then sat down in the dining room to taste Eri Nai's cooking. As he ate, he kept making appreciative sounds.
"As expected of Eri Nai's cooking, your Elite Ten Tenth Seat is much stronger than Eizan, the Ninth Seat. It feels like they're not even on the same level of cuisine!"
"Although Senior Ruisan is the Ninth Seat, that's because Eri Nai-sama doesn't want to compete. If Eri Nai-sama wanted to compete, she would at least be among the top five of the Elite Ten."
Hisako Arato said as a matter of course. In her heart, Eri Nai was perfect, and her cooking was also perfect!
Although she might not be able to defeat the top few Elite Ten members now, that was because Eri Nai was young and lacked experience. Once she gained experience and her wings were fully grown, no one would be her opponent!
"By the way, how is the petition collection going?"
"Very smoothly, at least eighty percent of the students have signed their names." Tadokoro took out a stack of petitions and replied softly.
At the dinner table, Hoshino Sora suddenly asked this crucial question. Everything he did today was for this. If it failed, he was ninety-nine percent likely to be expelled.
Although he didn't want to leave, no one could kick him out, after all, his strength was there, and he had confidence.
"Then, according to the plan, the selection of the new Elite Ten will begin in seven days, with the competition held in Tsukiten Space. But will it really go that smoothly…?"
His voice rarely revealed a hint of fatigue. There were too many variables in a week's time, but to hold a new Elite Ten selection from scratch, it would take at least a week.
The competition venue, theme, judges, and various other conditions for the competition all needed time to prepare.
It's worth mentioning that the preparation for the Autumn Elections took Eri Nai, Eizan Etsuya, and Isshiki Satoshi a full month, meticulously refining every detail, before it could finally conclude smoothly.
"It will go smoothly. With such widespread indignation, even Uncle Azami wouldn't dare to pull too many strings behind the scenes. After all, Far Moon students being obedient is the foundation of his control over Far Moon."
Alice Nakiri said from the side. In this situation, the best way to handle it was not to play dirty tricks behind the scenes.
The best way to handle it was to rely on solid strength to regain six or more elite ten seats, because with the power of Azami Nakiri's side, it was entirely possible to do such a thing.
So Azami Nakiri had no need to play dirty tricks behind the scenes. On the contrary, this Elite Ten selection was his best opportunity to solidify his position, and he should pay special attention to this competition.
"You're right. Then the focus will be on how to secure six of the elite ten seats."
Hearing Alice Nakiri's words, Hoshino Sora nodded slightly in agreement. Although the opportunity had been gained, this opportunity was clearly not so easy to succeed with.
His side currently only had him, Eri Nai, and Isshiki Satoshi as strong combatants.
Yumeko Jabami, Tadokoro Megumi, Yukihira Soma, Kurokiba Ryo, and Hayama Akira were considered mid-tier combatants, with a chance to contend for an Elite Ten position.
Alice Nakiri and Hisako were another notch below.
Shiina Mashiro's strength was unknown, but looking at Akikubo-senpai's evaluation of her and Mashiro's own setting, her strength should not be weak, but to what extent was it not weak?
Hoshino Sora dared not say for sure.
In short, this was a very difficult battle to win!
"Alice, Xiao Hui, Yumeko, Eri Nai, Hisako, Miyu, Mashiro-nee, we're starting special training tomorrow!" Hoshino Sora announced loudly.
No matter what, special training was always the right choice. To achieve ultimate victory, their strength must improve further. Simply maintaining the status quo would definitely not be enough!
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