As time passed, a week quietly slipped by.
During this week, on the second day of Sonoka becoming an assistant chef, Zane completed the task of increasing the tavern's customer flow to 500 people within 48 hours and received some rewards.
During this period, the tavern continued to experience various emotions and events. However, compared to before, it was indeed much more peaceful.
In the early morning, looking to the east, the entire sky was still immersed in the hazy dawn, with some light orange and pink clouds scattered around.
At the dormitory of Polar Star, everyone was busy packing their luggage, preparing to head to the plaza where the bus would pick them up.
"Megumi, you need to hurry up."
"I heard the bus leaves at 7 o'clock sharp, so we don't have much time!"
Ryoko waited anxiously in the first-floor lobby.
"Okay, I'll be right there."
From room 302 upstairs, a voice quickly responded, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.
Soon after, Megumi arrived, flustered and carrying her suitcase, looking nervous as she faced everyone: "Sorry, I had a lot to prepare, so I kept everyone waiting."
"It's okay, let's hurry up and go."
Ryoko shook her head, signaling that it wasn't a big deal, and then turned to leave first.
"Senpai, while we're gone, please look after Polar Star Dorm."
Before leaving, another dorm resident, Yuki, seemed a bit reluctant.
"Don't worry."
"With me here, Polar Star Dorm will be just fine."
Isami Aldini reassured them, watching Yuki with a somewhat wistful expression, his eyes becoming distant.
He seemed to be reminiscing about his own experience during the dormitory training last year.
Finally, Yuki and Megumi left.
Watching their departing figures, Isami could only sigh deeply.
How brutal was the dormitory training?
As someone who had been through it, he knew it well.
Thus, he could only pray that they all survived the rigorous training!
...
Shortly after Megumi and the others left, a middle-aged man with a travel bag arrived at the entrance of Polar Star Dorm.
He looked up at the building, which bore the marks of time. The slightly gloomy atmosphere and the desolate surroundings made him pause and think:
It's been over 20 years, hasn't it?
Indeed, everything has changed.
Perhaps after I dropped out, this dormitory never regained its former glory!
After a while, he collected his thoughts, hesitated a bit, and then stepped forward to press the doorbell.
"Who's there?"
"Megumi?"
"I saw you rushing earlier. Did you forget something?"
Soon, Isami, looking puzzled, opened the door.
However, the person standing in front of him was not the clumsy Megumi, but a middle-aged man with a lazy gaze.
Upon closer inspection, his hair was somewhat disheveled.
His beard was like unkempt wild grass, and he looked a bit scruffy.
Yet, he had a sturdy build, a resolute and stern face, as if he had weathered many storms but still stood tall.
Just standing there, he gave Isami a strong sense of pressure.
"Who... are you..."
Isami collected himself and asked.
"I used to live in this dorm. I'm here to see Fumio."
As Isami scrutinized the man, the man was also studying him.
Finally, he guessed Isami's identity and replied politely.
"Fumio?"
"Our dorm matron?"
Hearing this, Isami was stunned, then hurriedly called Fumio Daimido.
"Who would come to see me at this hour?"
"I don't know. He said he used to live in Polar Star Dorm."
Fumio came to the door, looking puzzled.
She slightly raised her head and saw a familiar figure, realizing it was the legendary former Totsuki genius, Joichiro Saiba!
"Saiba?"
"Are you really Saiba?"
Instantly recognizing him, Fumio's eyes filled with disbelief!
...
Generally speaking, the dormitory training is an official event organized by Totsuki Academy.
Usually, all first-year high school students gather at the plaza and are then transported by bus to the destination:
The Totsuki Resort.
Then, they undergo six days and five nights of training at the resort.
During this time, if any student fails, they are sent back to Totsuki Academy on the bus and expelled.
As the clock struck 7 AM, dozens of buses gathered at the plaza finally departed from Totsuki Academy.
They formed a long convoy on the winding road, heading towards the Totsuki Resort.
Nestled on the mountainside, the resort is surrounded by a dense forest, with only two or three winding paths leading out.
Though somewhat secluded, the environment is beautiful.
From a distance, many buildings exhibit European architectural styles.
The most striking and well-known is the luxurious five-star hotel, Totsuki Palace!
After getting off the bus, Yuki, who had endured the long journey, lit up at the sight of Totsuki Palace and exclaimed, "Wow, this hotel looks so luxurious!"
"Yes, according to the brochure."
"This hotel should be the five-star Totsuki Palace."
"I heard that staying here for one night costs 80,000 yen!"
Beside her, Ryoko replied with a smile.
"What?"
"80,000 yen for one night?"
Yuki's ears perked up, and she was stunned!
Staying for a month would cost over 2,000,000 yen!
"During the training, our dorm rooms are in Totsuki Palace."
"So as long as we pass the evaluators' assessments every day, we can stay here for free at night."
Dragging her suitcase, Ryoko walked toward the hotel lobby, explaining to Yuki.
"Free? Staying here?"
"Rooms that cost 80,000 yen per night..."
Hearing Ryoko's words, Yuki couldn't help but feel both surprised and delighted.
At that moment, she realized that the dormitory training might not be as terrifying as she thought!
Through competition, the true elite are selected.
Because Totsuki Academy adheres to an elite education system, it must continually implement incentives.
Only by rewarding the survivors can they maintain a sense of competition.
However, this often backfires.
People's greed is insatiable, and once benefits are obtained through competition, incentives become welfare.
The so-called competitive mechanism becomes a formality, failing to serve its intended purpose.
From the fact that the Totsuki Elite Ten's tenth seat, Erina, frequently eliminates research societies through food battles under the pretext of financial issues, this is evident.
...
For someone like Yuki, who hadn't seen much of the world.
Upon entering the lobby, she couldn't stop looking around, noticing the luxurious decor.
The sparkling crystal chandeliers, elegant paintings, and comfortable sofas all showcased the quality of the five-star Totsuki Palace.
[Ding-dong, all new students participating in the dormitory training, please place your luggage in the corresponding room.]
[Ding-dong!]
[This is a reminder for all new students...]
As everyone entered the lobby, the hotel's announcement system began to play.
Following the instructions, everyone went to find their dorm rooms.
Although the evaluator for this year's transfer and entrance exams was Totsuki Elite Ten's second seat, Rindo Kobayashi, whose standards were stricter than in previous years.
Despite this, the total number of first-year students at Totsuki this year was 1,023.
With over 1,000 people gathered in the lobby of Totsuki Palace, it was both intimidating and oppressive.
"This is bad."
"Why... why does the atmosphere around me feel so strange?"
Standing in the crowd, Megumi had never experienced such a scene.
She was so nervous that her hands were sweating, and her delicate, pretty face turned pale.
In the end, she had to resort to writing the character for "person" in her palm and making a swallowing gesture to calm her nerves!
...
Suddenly, Gin Dojima, the head chef of the Totsuki Resort, appeared on the stage.
All the lights instantly focused on him, making him the most dazzling presence in the room!
His appearance naturally caused a stir.
"Wow!"
"Am I seeing things?"
"Isn't that... isn't that Gin Dojima?"
"Yes!"
"That's him."
"The legendary highest-scoring graduate in Totsuki Academy's history and the goal all Totsuki students strive to surpass!"
"Oh my gosh, I can't believe I'm seeing him in person."
"I'm so excited!"
"I never expected to see him at this dormitory training!"
Everyone was in an uproar, expressing deep admiration for this legendary figure.
"Quiet, no noise!"
Sensing the situation getting out of control, Gin Dojima had to grab the microphone and shout loudly.
Once the room quieted down, he continued, "First, welcome all new students. I am Gin Dojima, a graduate of the 69th class!"
"This is the Totsuki Resort, usually open to the public."
"But this six-day, five-night dormitory training is held here every year."
"During this period, the entire resort is closed and will not operate. All resources here are dedicated to this training."
"In short, this is your starting point, but it could also be your end."
"I hope you all work hard and strive to pass this training. I wish you all the best!"
...
In middle school, the curriculum is relatively easy, and the instructors' grading is lenient.
But in high school, even the initial entrance exams have extremely strict standards.
Everyone knew this dormitory training was a reshuffling by the school
.
Who would survive?
Who would be eliminated and expelled?
Their fates were uncertain.
But they all knew that only by giving their all would they have a chance to survive. Otherwise, all their efforts would be in vain.
"Next, I'll introduce the evaluators so you can meet them."
"They once went through this dormitory training like you, but they graduated from Totsuki Academy after various rigorous experiences."
"They have since made their mark in the culinary world, gradually becoming renowned chefs!"
Hearing this, the crowd buzzed again.
Knowing that the evaluators were Totsuki graduates, many showed surprise and excitement.
Kojiro Shinomiya!
Fuyumi Mizuhara!
Hinako Inui!
Soma Kamaji!
Donato Gotoda!
...
Next, the evaluators appeared one by one.
"Wow!"
"They're all graduates!"
"Kojiro Shinomiya, Hinako Inui, Fuyumi Mizuhara—they're all famous chefs featured in food magazines!"
"Wow..."
"I never dreamed..."
"I'd get to meet these culinary stars."
"This is bad. Are they all the evaluators for this training?"
"Yes! With them as evaluators, many of us will likely fail."
"It seems we need to bring our A-game!"
As Kojiro Shinomiya took the stage, his sharp gaze swept over the crowd like ants.
Then, his eyes flickered, and he grabbed the microphone, stepping forward, "That student with the dark brown hair and no glasses—you!"
"I declare you unqualified. You must return to Totsuki Academy now and be expelled!"
"What?" The student named by Shinomiya was stunned.
He was terrified and confused: "Why? The training hasn't even started, and you're declaring me unqualified?"
"You used hair gel."
"As chefs, we have many taboos."
"One is not to use strongly scented products like perfume or hair gel."
"These can affect a chef's sense of smell, leading to incorrect judgments about the food!"
Kojiro said coldly.
Hearing this, the student's face turned ashen.
----------
I have a new fanfic out, its called BTTH: Sun Emperor, here's the synopsis:
In Battle Through the Heavens, growing steadily.
No system, relying on talent.
Not specifically targeting Xiao Yan, not building a harem, reasonably seeking opportunities.
For 10 advance chapters: patreon.com/angelictranslating