"Cool!"
"This is the finished Dragon Song Strawberry."
"Would you help taste it and see if there's anything that needs improvement?"
Alice softly spoke, offering a finished Dragon Song Strawberry to Ryo, who had dark circles under his eyes.
At first glance, the Dragon Song Strawberry looked no different from a real strawberry, but upon closer inspection, the texture was completely distinct!
Even though the ingredient used was strawberries and the outcome was also strawberries, after dozens of intricate processes, this Dragon Song Strawberry became the most complex molecular cuisine in the world.
From gelatin with gelatin, siphon bottle whipping, liquid nitrogen freeze-drying, low-temperature slow cooking...
Not only that, but the combination of traditional techniques like sugar blowing and precision laboratory equipment made Ryo, who was about to taste it, feel that the small "strawberry" on the plate was extremely complex!
Puff!
Ryo then lightly tapped the strawberry with a spoon.
In an instant, the thin and crisp sugar shell on the surface shattered, as if the most perfect piece of art had been destroyed.
Next, Ryo swiftly drizzled a spoonful of hot strawberry jam over it.
This combination of cold and hot truly brought the visual effect of the "Dragon Song Strawberry" to a stunning level.
His skilled drizzling action showed that he had tasted the Dragon Song Strawberry more than once.
Lastly, to Alice's anticipation, he slowly opened his mouth to taste it.
...
After a taste, the sweetness of the strawberry surpassed that of a regular strawberry, immediately bursting in his mouth.
As for the texture, it was definitely a "dual heaven of -196°C and +99°C".
Sour!
Sweet!
Icy!
Cold!
Crispy!
Soft!
And even a sensation similar to popping candy.
All sorts of unexpected flavors were concentrated in one small strawberry, directly causing Ryo to be unable to describe the impact of this taste on his tongue with any words!
"Miss Alice."
"Your Dragon Song Strawberry has improved a lot compared to the previous times."
In the end, with a slight gulp, Ryo continued with an expressionless face, "But this level of culinary skill probably won't be able to please Miss Erina."
"That's for sure."
"She's a monster with the God's Tongue, no matter what dish I make, she won't be satisfied."
As she said these words, Alice unexpectedly packed up the remaining Dragon Song Strawberries and then said casually to Ryo, "I just want her to understand."
"Now, I'm no longer the person who only made snacks and cakes!"
After speaking, she hurriedly left the cooking room.
Seeing Alice like this, Ryo couldn't help but heave a light sigh.
...
At the same time, in a quiet courtyard at the Far Moon Academy.
Here, everywhere was grand and elegant, and walking among the shady flower paths, the eyes were greeted with rare flowers and exotic plants.
Not far away, a winding stream flowed beneath a corridor, then poured into a small pond, like a fairyland, intoxicating the mind and soul.
As usual, Erina had to taste all kinds of dishes.
And now, placed in front of her was the last dish, Oyster Congee.
This bowl of congee had a few strands of green onions, a few chopped green cilantro sprinkled on the surface, and occasionally a few playful oysters with plump and creamy white abdomens swimming in the congee...
Delicious aromas wafted up from below, permeating the entire courtyard and even making Fushiroshi beside her feel intoxicated!
Grumble!
Grumble!
Afterward, Erina took a sip.
It was more like a seafood congee than an oyster congee.
Apart from oysters, there were also scallops, abalones, eels, shrimp, and other seafood products inside.
There were even dozens of ingredients such as carrots, lilies, wolfberries, and walnuts, all cooked together in a clay pot, boiled over a high flame for 4 hours with cold water, until the marrow seeped out from the bone joints, and the bone broth reached a milky white color.
Overall, the taste was delicious, thick and smooth, with a lingering fragrance.
But it was very clear that this kind of oyster congee still couldn't please Erina.
A "tasteless" evaluation might even cause the chef who carefully made the oyster congee to end his career in the future.
...
"So tasteless."
"Why can't those famous chefs be like Zane?"
"Just using a few simple ingredients to make dishes that even the God's Tongue finds amazing?"
Leaving the courtyard, Erina looked troubled.
She seemed to be influenced by Zane's cooking, or perhaps her God's Tongue had become even more discriminating.
Now, every time she tasted various dishes, she couldn't help but think of those Reincarnation Spring Rolls, Ascending Dragon Dumplings, and Buddha Jumps Over the Wall...
Certainly in this period, it seems that Erina has developed a dependency on Zane's cooking.
But she seems to not have fully realized this, simply feeling that everyone's cooking is not as good as Zane's!
"Hey, Hisako."
"Do you have any more work arrangements for the rest of the day?"
"Miss Erina, all your work for today is finished."
Following behind her, Hisako, seeing Erina lately mentioning Zane on one side and Ascending Dragon Dumplings on the other, couldn't help but stifle a light laugh.
"Everything Is finished?"
"It's rare to have a whole day off, it's so relaxing."
Knowing there was nothing to do today, Erina couldn't help but let out a deep sigh.
Then, she finally couldn't hold back her restless heart, carefully observing her surroundings, and when she was sure there was no one, she whispered to Hisako, "The latest volume of 'The Stick of Valor: Revenge Saga'..."
"I just bought it."
Hisako quickly continued, "Miss, it's on the sofa in your villa's living room."
"Really?" Upon hearing this, Erina's eyes lit up instantly.
She couldn't help but reach out and pat Hisako's shoulder, saying with a smile, "You've worked hard recently, if you don't have anything to do, go and take a rest!"
"Okay, okay, Miss, I won't bother you anymore!"
Knowing that Erina was anxious to go back and read those 'pure' comics, Hisako nodded wisely.
...
Returning to the villa, Erina eagerly pushed open the door.
However, the first thing she saw was her cousin, Alice, sitting on the sofa reading a manga, and it was the same "The Stick of Valor: Revenge Saga".
"Erina."
"Where did you go? Why are you only coming back now?"
Putting down the manga, Alice raised her head slightly and blinked before asking Erina.
"Huh?"
"Alice?"
"How come...how come..."
For Erina, Alice's appearance here was definitely unexpected.
But when her eyes looked at the manga, she suddenly blushed!
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