"Then let's check it out." Shiraki gestured for Kuga Terunori to lead the way and suddenly asked, "By the way, do you have a detailed map showing all the research societies at Totsuki Culinary Academy?"
"If it's a map, I'll have someone send it over immediately." Kuga waved dismissively, finding the request trivial. However, he was curious about Shiraki's sudden interest in such a thing. Could it be...
Something seemed to click in Kuga's mind, and his demeanor shifted dramatically. His previous sleepy and disinterested expression transformed into excitement. He eagerly dragged Shiraki toward a massive, grandiose building.
"Behold, the Chinese Cuisine RS Workshop! This fortress is my pride and joy, something I poured my heart into building. Honestly, it could double as a five-star hotel!"
Kuga Terunori introduced the building with great enthusiasm, his tone brimming with pride.
"First, drop that awful suffix when talking to me," Shiraki replied dryly.
"I told you, it's not awful! Why are you just like Erina?!"
Ignoring Kuga's protests, Shiraki began inspecting the building.
The Chinese Cuisine RS Workshop was massive—easily hundreds of times larger than an average classroom. Its architecture combined traditional Chinese and Japanese elements, resulting in a grand and elegant style. Beyond the main building, there were farms, vegetable gardens, and warehouses. The entire area was vast, making Shiraki wonder how he'd double such a territory for his task.
Soon, Kuga handed Shiraki a map detailing all the research societies at Totsuki. Shiraki scanned it briefly, marveling at the sheer size of the academy and the vast number of cooking workshops scattered across its grounds.
One name caught his attention: Sumo Hot Pot Workshop.
If his memory of the original story served him correctly, this was the same workshop Erina had targeted and defeated in a Shokugeki, taking their territory as her prize. However, thanks to Shiraki's actions during the opening ceremony, this workshop had avoided destruction.
Looking at the map, Shiraki was struck by how disproportionate the Sumo Hot Pot Workshop's territory was. Though the group was a minor player in the original story, their land was surprisingly vast, spanning a quarter of the size of the Chinese Cuisine RS Workshop.
No wonder Erina had targeted this workshop—it was far more "profitable" than it initially appeared.
In contrast, Shiraki also noticed the Donburi Workshop, which had played a role in the original story. Its territory was laughably small, barely more than a cramped classroom.
After questioning Kuga about the Sumo Hot Pot Workshop's large territory, Shiraki learned that it had once been led by an Elite Ten member three years ago. Back then, it thrived and expanded significantly, even maintaining three ingredient gardens. However, its influence waned over the years, and other research societies gradually chipped away at its territory.
"Alright, my first target is the Sumo Hot Pot Workshop," Shiraki declared.
Kuga, who had been waiting for this moment, gleefully sprang into action. Shiraki noticed that Kuga had somehow called a renovation crew to the scene, complete with decorators jumping off a truck nearby.
Shiraki sighed. Clearly, Kuga wasn't helping out of goodwill; he just wanted to stir up chaos and have some fun.
"Fine," Shiraki muttered to himself, already planning to make Kuga handle the upcoming Shokugeki if one occurred.
With the renovation team in tow, Shiraki and Kuga made their way to the Sumo Hot Pot Workshop. Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the location, only to be greeted by an unexpected sight.
Parked across from their own convoy were several large trucks filled with construction materials. The other side's team looked just as formidable. To Shiraki's surprise, a luxury car was also present, its window rolled down to reveal none other than Erina Nakiri and Hisako Arato.
Both groups froze, staring at each other in awkward silence.
After a beat, Shiraki scratched the back of his head and awkwardly greeted Erina through the window.
"Yo, it's been a while, Erina, Hisako. So... you're here to grab land too?"