In fact, regarding the understanding of meat dishes, Mito, though not as skilled as Zane, was certainly more proficient than Soma!
If the initial selection had included "beef" or "rice bowls," Mito might have replaced Soma and advanced to the quarterfinals.
Unfortunately, history does not entertain "what ifs."
The theme for this initial selection was curry.
Coming from a small restaurant background, Soma had a far better grasp of spices and curry than Mito, who, following Erina, only recognized high-end meats.
Thus, Mito's defeat was inevitable.
At that time.
She felt despair, even devastation.
However, her strong-willed nature quickly helped her regain confidence and start self-reflecting.
After the rice bowl incident, she realized that even though she was an expert in meat dishes, she lacked knowledge and skills in handling many other ingredients.
So, she kept striving, moving in the direction Zane had pointed out, to create and develop more perfect meat dishes!
...
One has to admit.
The feeling of eating meat is truly blissful.
The key is that the light and thin beef slices, when put in the mouth, are spicy and crispy, becoming more fragrant the more you chew.
Finally, after some savoring, Mito asked for two more bowls of rice to pair with the lamp shadow beef.
The beef.
Really thin, really thin.
It tasted very tender, very flavorful.
The rice grains were also very full, even just dipped in some sauce, they tasted delicious!
In the end, Mito, having eaten to her heart's content, couldn't help but show a look of lingering enjoyment.
The visual beauty of food can undoubtedly enhance its flavor, just like the beef slices of lamp shadow beef. No matter how they are plated, whether horizontally or vertically, they are still just beef slices.
But Zane could cut them as thin as cicada wings and present them in such a light and delicate form, which was also very delicious.
This naturally left Mito completely surprised.
...
The tavern.
Compared to those star-rated restaurants recognized by WGO, it may seem ordinary and small, but it is not mediocre.
The sake offered here might not be the most expensive, and the menu prices may not be shocking.
But through the excellent handling of ingredients, it can still present exquisite dishes, paired with delicious sake, allowing guests to enjoy a moment of relaxation during pleasant conversations.
This atmosphere.
This experience.
Is also refined.
This is the sense of relaxation that belongs to each guest.
"Zane, what's good to eat?"
"One more cup?"
These are the most common topics in the tavern.
Plus, the L-shaped design of the cooking counter makes it easy for the owner to talk with the customers, even if it's their first visit and they don't know each other.
In short, conversations, sake, and food are the charms of a tavern, and none of them can be missing!
...
At this moment, slicing a small piece of sea bream sashimi, the texture was smooth and delicate, with a fresh and sweet flavor.
For Mana, perhaps turning a sea bream into sashimi is the best use of this ingredient, bar none.
Fresh.
Smooth.
Delicate.
The fish belly, after slicing, was white with a touch of pink, with evenly distributed fat.
With one bite, the fragrant fish belly filled her mouth, yet it remained chewy.
Thinking about how she had the fortune to taste Zane's blazing ice sea bream mountain dish right after coming to the tavern, Mana felt a great sense of happiness.
Afterwards, she swallowed and her gaze fell on Hisako, who was busy with the cashier.
"Hisako."
"Why are you working at the tavern too?"
She blinked her bright eyes and couldn't help but ask curiously.
Actually, Mana already had an idea why she was here.
After all, as a member of the Nakiri family, even though she wasn't a judge in the Autumn Selection, she had contact with the Totsuki Academy Director and Nakiri Leonora, so she was well aware of many things within the academy!
"Mana… Mana-sama."
"I lost to Alice's follower in the quarterfinals, felt ashamed to face Erina, so I decided to come to the tavern to calm down."
After finishing with the cash, Hisako nervously responded to Mana.
"Follower?"
Searching her memory, she had no impression of this person.
Mana could only awkwardly cough twice and continued, "So, you feel that as Erina's secretary, you aren't qualified?"
"Yes!"
"I… feel very sorry for her."
Hisako clenched her fists, her eyes full of disappointment.
"I see."
Knowing she felt regretful and helpless, Mana's eyes flickered, and she couldn't help but smile a little.
...
The God's Tongue!
The pain it brings, she knew it all too well.
Over the years, without Anne's devoted care, she might have died long ago, so she understood Hisako's work and pressure to some extent.
"Hisako, you and Anne are quite alike, being loyal and devoted to both me and Erina."
"I know that during the ten years I was away, you were the one who stayed by Erina's side, accompanying her and taking care of her. So, let me, as the irresponsible mother, take this opportunity to say thank you."
Mana looked at her affectionately and finally spoke with a choked voice.
"No, no, Mana-sama, please don't say that."
"It's me who didn't do well enough. I really feel guilty towards Erina-sama. Even though she had high hopes for me, I failed to live up to her expectations."
Hisako, hearing this, hurriedly waved her hand and expressed her thoughts.
"Oh, you!"
"Maybe you're taking Erina too seriously?"
"While it makes me happy and gratified that she holds such an important place in your heart, you also need to take care of your own feelings a bit, right?"
Seeing her always like this, Mana could only shake her head and sigh.
"I… I can't."
Hisako muttered.
"You are her secretary, responsible for all her affairs."
"But before you take on this job, you need to ensure your own affairs are in order. When she needs you, you need to be there."
"Forget it."
"You're just like Anne, a bit stubborn."
"Anyway, you can stay at the tavern for now."
"When you feel ready to return to Erina's side, you can go back whenever you want."
Finally, Mana could only say this.
Then she turned her gaze back to Zane, who was wiping the clean knife with a cloth after handling the sea bream with the Hokushin Sirius Blade.
Looking closely, his eyes were always gentle, yet focused.
Turning back.
She noticed Hisako secretly glancing at him.
Her cheeks were always blushing.
...
"Hisako, what do you think of Zane?"
Understanding something, Mana leaned in and whispered in her ear.
"Huh?"
"Mana-sama, what are you talking about?"
Hisako, snapping back to reality, blushed even more.
She couldn't believe that at this moment, Mana would discuss this matter with her.
"I knew it. The reason you ran away and temporarily stayed at Zane's tavern wasn't just because you couldn't face Erina. You also have thoughts of living with Zane, right?"
Seeing her reaction, Mana's eyes filled with a bit of mischief.
Hisako, being so accurately guessed, panicked, "Mana-sama, that's… that's not true!"
"I assure you, I have no thoughts of living with Zane."
"The reason I'm temporarily staying at the tavern is that I left in a hurry, without preparation or planning, so I could only..."
"Oh? Really?"
Mana asked with a smile.
"Yes, yes, Mana-sama, please stop teasing me!"
Hisako replied nervously.
...
Moo, moo!
Moo, moo!
At that moment, a Tajima cow angrily charged into the tavern.
It was very restless, especially with a visible temper that scared many people.
"What?"
"Where did this cow come from?"
"Wow, that looks like a Tajima cow. I never thought I'd see one here at the tavern!"
"Not good, it's charging at us!"
"So fierce!"
Immediately, the whole tavern was in an uproar.
"Oh no, my cow…"
Realizing something, Mito tried to catch the cow.
But just as she was about to move, she saw Zane stride up to the cow and, to everyone's surprise, he reached out to touch its head.
"Calm down! Don't run around."
"I will make sure you pass away peacefully without fear or pain."
Perhaps understanding Zane's words, the Tajima cow gradually calmed down.
Then it mooed a few more times at Zane.
"What?"
"It's tamed?"
Mito's eyes widened in disbelief.
Not just her, but also Mana, Sonoka, Ryoko, Hisako, and all the customers were amazed!
...
Everyone knows.
The world's most expensive beef comes from Kobe, Japan, one of the nine most expensive foods globally.
As the largest beef supplier in Japan, the Mito family certainly doesn't lack high-quality Kobe beef!
Kobe beef.
Is a type of black Tajima cow.
Named after Kobe city in Hyogo Prefecture.
It's said that the best Kobe beef can sell for over 2000 yen per kilogram in the market...
More astonishingly, out of the two million cows consumed annually in Japan, only about 3000 meet the "Kobe" standard.
Therefore, Kobe beef is very rare and hard to come by. Having money doesn't guarantee you'll get to eat it.
The reason for its scarcity is that only cows born, raised, and slaughtered in specific areas qualify for the certificate.
And during their upbringing.
They are fed beer, listen to classical music, and even receive massages.
"Mito, this cow was supposed to be delivered to a customer, right?"
"But now it's broken free from the truck and entered the tavern. Why don't you sell it to me?"
"Sure!"
"I can decide on this!"
Mito agreed without hesitation.
After all, a Tajima cow weighing around 1500 pounds, priced at 2000 yen per pound, would cost at least three million yen.
...
After the transaction.
Zane took out an ordinary kitchen knife, the Sazuru Knife.
The sharp blade gleamed brightly, making Mito and others puzzled.
You should know, a cow like this needs to be handled by professionals because any mistake could mix the blood with the meat.
It would affect the quality and give the meat a strong, unpleasant taste, ruining the dish!
In Mito's view.
Zane, though an excellent chef, handling a Tajima cow perfectly was impossible.
At least theoretically, it was:
Fantasy!
However, at that moment, Zane's black pupils glowed red.
In Mana's and Hisako's surprised expressions, he held the kitchen knife like a warrior on an ancient battlefield, exuding an overwhelming aura.
"Superpower?"
"Is his superpower emerging?"
Mana was stunned!
...
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Several flashes of cold light.
Zane quickly sheathed the knife, then pulled out a talisman and placed it on the cow's forehead.
"Amitabha."
"Life and death are destined, everything is preordained."
Then, Zane closed his eyes and chanted.
The Tajima cow lay on the ground, looking untouched.
This scene confused everyone even more, as they had heard the sound of a knife cutting beef, yet the cow seemed unharmed.
"What's going on?"
"Isn't the cow still uncut?"
Hearing this, Zane shook his head and smiled, "No, it's already cut!"
"Cut?"
"But this Tajima cow looks..."
Just as Mito was about to speak, her eyes widened.
A sound like "pop, pop, pop," and the cow opened up like a blooming flower, its meat extending outward, revealing internal organs and the spine.
Even though the cow was completely dissected, not a drop of blood was shed.
"Gasp!"
"How… how is this possible?"
Beside her, Mana's eyes widened in disbelief.
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