The night was long.
After defeating the three-star chef, Asahi Saiba, with half of his face covered, slowly appeared in a dim alley.
"Commander, you're as handsome as ever!"
A shadowy figure emerged from the depths of the dark alley.
She wore military boots, walking steadily and forcefully, each step leaving a deep impression on the ground.
She was dressed in a money-blue female military uniform, tailored to fit her body, highlighting her curves while maintaining a sharp look.
Her collar was crisp, her epaulets straight, exuding a sense of authority and dignity.
She also wore a military hat, completing her uniformed appearance.
Just her presence made it hard to breathe.
"Speak, what's the matter?"
Asahi Saiba pulled down his mask, staring intently at Saji in front of him.
"Anne contacted us. She wants us back in Japan within three days."
Saji said softly.
"Is it finally starting?"
Asahi Saiba's eyes flickered.
He then put his mask back on and walked out of the alley.
---
Totsuki Academy, the Archive Room.
Few people ever entered here. Upon entering, an old bookish smell filled the air.
All around, tall bookshelves were neatly arranged, each layer filled with a plethora of documents and archives.
From the lists of former Elite Ten members to various grand events, policies, and partnerships, almost everything could be found here. Some data were recorded in meticulous detail.
"Ha ha ha!"
Suddenly, an evil laugh echoed in the archive room.
Eishi Tsukasa, the Ninth Seat, was flipping through the "69th Totsuki Elite Ten List" and finally found a name:
Third Seat, Jōichirō Saiba!
"So that's it, the mastermind behind the American restaurant industry is Jōichirō Saiba!"
"This explains why his Subway restaurants have always been against me."
After the laughter, Eishi Tsukasa spoke coldly.
He knew some past events, as did other Elite Ten members.
Totsuki Academy once had a "Golden Age" during the 69th generation under Gin Dojima, where many geniuses suddenly emerged.
They brought Totsuki to greater heights, representing that era!
However, oddly enough, many events from that time were little known.
It seemed Totsuki officials intentionally kept it secret, but some details could still be gleaned from scattered records.
"What could have happened to force Jōichirō Saiba, the second seat at the time, to drop out midway, and have all of Jōichirō Saiba's records erased, like he vanished?"
For some reason, Eishi Tsukasa felt that the Subway restaurant incident was far more complex than he had imagined!
"Jōichirō Saiba?"
He murmured the name.
He reviewed Totsuki's history again, deducing all possible scenarios.
As a "businessman," he had a natural keen insight and a strong sense of crisis, increasingly feeling that Totsuki Academy might soon face a major upheaval.
---
Totsuki Academy, Shiomi Research Society.
Jun Shiomi wasn't sleepy; she was carefully observing a tarragon leaf.
Its shape was slender and elegant, showcasing a natural streamlined beauty, like a dancer among the green leaves, as clear as jade, making one happy at first sight.
"Sigh!"
"You all must grow quickly!"
Jun Shiomi gently touched the tarragon leaf, smelling its faint fragrance, talking to herself.
"Jun, you're still up?"
"Great, come help me identify this herb!"
At this moment, Ryo Kurokiba returned from outside, carrying a pot of herbs, slightly out of breath.
Although it was the internship period, with all new students dispatched to various restaurants and suppliers for internships, some students were exceptions.
Well!
Not exactly exceptions?
After all, Totsuki Academy had many research departments and institutions.
Currently, Ryo Kurokiba was interning at the Totsuki Ingredient Department.
So, every day after completing his internship work, he would return to the Shiomi Research Society.
"What's this?"
Jun Shiomi turned to look.
Seeing it, she was shocked: "Oh my! This… this is vanilla!"
"What's vanilla?"
Ryo Kurokiba realized he had found a treasure.
---
Herbs are also graded!
Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans account for over 75% of the world's production.
After vanilla beans develop aroma, they are generally called vanilla.
The main factors determining its quality are the processed aroma and taste, along with the bean's flexibility, length, and vanillin content.
Grading is based on length, aroma, color, moisture content, defects, pests, and mold, divided into five grades:
Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, and Substandard.
"Vanilla."
"It's a climbing plant that can grow several meters long."
"It contains over 170 aromatic compounds and 17 amino acids essential for the human body, making its unique and pleasant fragrance a valuable natural green spice."
"It's native to Central and South America, rare in production. Moreover, 40% of the world's perfumes contain vanilla, earning it the title of the queen of spices!"
"From early March, it begins to bloom in batches."
"After artificial pollination, it can be harvested from October to December."
"Fresh pods are processed for about six months to develop aroma, becoming fragrant dried pods."
"In terms of price, it's second only to saffron, making it the world's second most expensive spice!"
---
"I've read about it, but I didn't know it looked like this in reality."
Ryo Kurokiba was enlightened.
"Jun, even though I have the God Tongue."
"In terms of spices, I still can't compare to you!"
Ryo Kurokiba sighed.
"After graduation, I ventured into tropical regions to explore spices."
"It was then that I conducted extensive research on vanilla."
"My discoveries on spice cultivation and long-term preservation made me famous in the spice field!"
Jun Shiomi, hands in her white coat pockets, seriously told Ryo Kurokiba.
"Oh, I didn't know you had such a background."
Ryo Kurokiba nodded.
He placed the vanilla pot in the planting room.
Attentive as he was, he noticed that Jun Shiomi had been more cheerful since returning from the tavern.
---
Cooking has countless flavors and varieties.
The credit goes not just to oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, but also to various dry spices.
Some spices are used for sterilization, some for enhancing aroma or removing fishy smells, and others for balancing all flavors.
In short.
Cooking requires attention to different spices for different roles.
Spices can enhance taste, color, and aroma. For example, star anise, cinnamon, and cloves improve a dish's fragrance.
Spices like Sichuan peppercorn and cumin mask or neutralize strong flavors.
Spices like chili, mustard, and turmeric add color to dishes.
Proper use of spices not only makes food delicious but also has health benefits.
If new spices are well-paired, they can create top-tier dishes!
Whether a restaurant chef, a small eatery owner, or a master chef, spices are invaluable, so Ryo Kurokiba often searches for new spices for Jun Shiomi to study.
Jun Shiomi usually provides detailed reports on these spices' values after thorough research.
Clearly, from a chef's perspective.
Especially for a spice expert like Ryo Kurokiba, Jun Shiomi is:
A sharp weapon!
---
"Lately, you seem less troubled."
Ryo Kurokiba, gathering his thoughts, smiled.
"Yes, you noticed."
"After meeting a talented and handsome genius like Zane, how could I not be happy?"
"Though I was too shy to mention my iris cultivation issue in front of him then, I believe with his help, I'll succeed soon!"
Jun Shiomi replied with a smile.
"Do you think the tavern's chef is better than you in spices alone?"
Ryo Kurokiba was surprised.
"Yes, but what deeply moves me isn't just his skill, but his personality."
"Maybe we who chase fame overlook and discard many things!"
Ryo Kurokiba was silent, deep in thought.
---
In the original plot.
After the autumn selection finals, Gin Dojima sharply evaluated Ryo Kurokiba: "Great talent will eventually show its claws. I hope you can accompany it well!"
What does this mean?
Why would great talent have negative effects?
The counterpart to great talent might be "heart," meaning magnanimity and capacity.
Soma Yukihira lacks experience in many areas, but he calmly faces his shortcomings with strength!
In short.
Great talent.
Without corresponding magnanimity and capacity, it will backfire.
As an orphan from the slums, Ryo Kurokiba doesn't have the ideal of "illuminating a new culinary world."
Thus, in his values, rationality is less important than his emotions.
He loves not the essence of cooking, but his existence at Totsuki.
This leads him to often consider issues from his perspective, or that of the Shiomi Research Society.
Hence, his later betrayal of the Director and joining Jōichirō Saiba's side was foreshadowed!
---
The next night.
A full moon hung high, casting a soft silver glow, cloaking the earth in a mysterious veil.
Everyone, in this tranquil and beautiful night, wrote their own wonderful stories.
In the tavern, Zane was making a recipe he had just signed for last night:
Crown Dumplings.
They say nothing tastes better than dumplings, nothing is more fun than...
*Cough cough!*
Due to their shape,
dumplings often look like gold ingots.
So, during the Chinese New Year, especially in northern regions, people eat dumplings symbolizing "bringing in wealth."
Another saying is that during the New Year, people stay up late and eat dumplings at midnight, signifying the transition between years, symbolizing good luck in the coming year.
With continuous innovation and rising living standards.
People now demand dumplings that satisfy "meaning" and "taste," also paying attention to "appearance."
Simply put, they want both "taste" and "looks," with diverse fillings and different wrapping methods, such as:
Gold ingot dumplings.
Crescent dumplings.
Four-joy dumplings.
Fish-shaped dumplings.
Among many dumplings, Zane believes the essence of dumplings is the Crown Dumplings!
These dumplings are relatively easy to make. Simply scald wheat starch with boiling water to make dough, add lard, knead until smooth, and use fresh shrimp with the veins removed and water drained.
Add seasoning to make the filling, wrap the filling into the dough.
Shape them into triangles, steam the raw dumplings for five minutes.
However, Zane was making a more advanced dish called "Crown Dumplings."
This dish is from "Cooking Master Boy."
In the original plot, during the Dragon Train banquet, Logan made a dish to intimidate, but Shilau countered with Crown Dumplings.
Crown means "crown" or "top."
Is it the shape or the peak of dumpling dishes?
Shilau's dishes always had golden proportions or crown levels, with elegant names and appearances!
----------
For 10 advance chapters: patreon.com/angelictranslating