"You… aren't one of the Elite Ten?"
Kujo Eisuke asked again for confirmation.
"That's correct," Sui nodded.
At that moment, Sui received a notification from the system.
"New Mission Received"
Mission Description: Complete the food tasting at Kujo Restaurant and help resolve the subsequent challenges.
Mission Reward: Random Kitchenware Package
Mission Duration: One day
"Complete the tasting and help resolve challenges?"
Sui was momentarily stunned. He vaguely remembered one of the chefs mentioning something about maintaining a one-star rating. Could this be related?
Regardless, he knew he had to complete the mission. The Derous Knife he received from a previous task was top-quality, and perhaps he could get something equally impressive this time.
Speaking of which, Sui suddenly recalled that he still had some unused dried monster ingredients stashed in his system space. He had completely forgotten about them until now.
"Wasn't it supposed to be Miss Erina doing the food tasting? We've been waiting for over a month."
"Yeah, and we paid a hefty deposit. But instead, they send an ordinary student? This is outrageous."
"Totsuki Academy really dropped the ball this time."
The murmurs from the restaurant's chefs grew louder, expressing their dissatisfaction with Totsuki.
"Silence! Don't speak ill of Totsuki!"
Kujo Eisuke snapped, turning to address them seriously.
Though disappointed that it wasn't Erina herself conducting the tasting, he still had faith in Totsuki. Surely, they wouldn't send someone inexperienced.
"Did Miss Erina send you?"
He inquired.
"Yes," Sui replied. "If you're unsatisfied with my review, you can request a full refund or ask Erina to come for another tasting."
Kujo Eisuke sighed, forcing a smile. "We don't really have the luxury of time for that."
Then, turning to his fellow chefs, he instructed, "Bring out the prepared dishes."
"Chef, are you sure you want him to taste it? He's just an ordinary student," one of the chefs objected, surprised.
"Yes," Kujo Eisuke confirmed. "I trust that Totsuki wouldn't send someone without talent."
As a Totsuki graduate, he had immense pride in his alma mater and firmly believed that it wouldn't make such a rookie mistake. Though Sui wasn't part of the Elite Ten, he might still possess extraordinary abilities.
Turning to Megumi and the others, Kujo Eisuke said with a smile, "You're his friends, right? Feel free to enjoy some food at my restaurant before you leave."
"Really? Haha, in that case, we won't hold back," Sōma said with a grin.
"I'll cover the bill," Sui offered.
"Haha, no need! It's rare to meet fellow Totsuki juniors," Kujo Eisuke laughed, leading Sui to a table in the center of the restaurant, which had originally been set for Erina.
Soon, a chef brought out the dish for tasting: Canandaigua Chicken Francese (French Lemon Chicken).
On the plate lay a piece of beautifully roasted chicken breast, surrounded by a few slices of lemon, releasing a fragrant citrus aroma.
"Is this the dish?" Sui asked.
"Yes, it's our signature dish. We hope you can point out any flaws and help us perfect it," Kujo Eisuke said respectfully.
The other chefs stood by, watching curiously. However, many of them still wore skeptical expressions.
They found it hard to believe that an ordinary student could have talents on par with the renowned "God Tongue."
Sui nodded and began tasting the dish. The roasted chicken was tender and flavorful, infused with the subtle fragrance of lemon and white wine.
"How is it?" Kujo Eisuke asked nervously.
The other chefs were also watching Sui intently. At that moment, he was their only hope.
"It's quite good," Sui said, nodding. "I assume you marinated the chicken breast with lemon zest, mustard, minced garlic, soy sauce, and honey before roasting it?"
"Yes! That's exactly what we did!" Kujo Eisuke was visibly shocked. He hadn't expected Sui to accurately deduce the entire recipe just by tasting the dish.
The others were equally stunned. The skepticism they initially felt was replaced by awe.
Could it be that this student really had talents rivaling the God Tongue?
"After roasting, you pour a sauce over it, right? The sauce is made from lemon juice, white wine, honey, soy sauce, and mustard?"
"Exactly! You're spot on!" Kujo Eisuke's voice trembled with excitement. By now, he was certain—this student was far from ordinary. He possessed talents on par with the God Tongue, if not more.
"The overall flavor is good, but there are still a few minor issues," Sui continued. "The lemon you used for the dish is a yellow lemon, correct?"
"Yes," Kujo Eisuke nodded.
"I suggest using green lemons instead. Yellow and green lemons have different properties. Green lemons contain more vitamin C and have a sharper tang. Using them would make the lemon flavor more pronounced and help cut through the richness of the chicken," Sui explained.
"What else?" Kujo Eisuke asked, eager for more feedback.
"And the mustard you used—is it traditional Dazang mustard? Dazang has a strong flavor, but honey mustard would balance the dish better," Sui pointed out. "Also, the sauce is a little too thin. You should let it simmer a bit longer. And the chicken could use a few more minutes in the oven to let the honey and lemon flavors fully penetrate."
Sui listed several other improvements, and Kujo Eisuke nodded fervently, absorbing every suggestion.
The chefs standing behind him now gazed at Sui with expressions of deep respect and admiration.
At first, they thought Sui might have talents comparable to the God Tongue. But now, they were certain—his abilities were no less, and perhaps even superior.
Even Kujo Eisuke was shocked. He couldn't believe such a genius had emerged from his alma mater.