Saito Sumiaki closed his eyes, his brows furrowed as he asked, "With the drone's live broadcast, wouldn't Ruiyama Shizuya hesitate to kill you?"
He lacked conviction even as he said those words.
Hong Yi let out a derisive laugh, replying, "What if he destroys the drone?"
"Even if Ruiyama Shizuya destroys the drone by accident, then throws me to the beast horde to be devoured until nothing remains, without any direct evidence, what can you do to a Ninth Seat!"
"This..."
Saito Sumiaki was speechless.
Violating the rules of the Shokugeki!
Utilizing a GT robot!
Suspected Gourmet Society spy!
Threatening a classmate with lethal intent!
With all these blemishes on him, even if Ruiyama Shizuya didn't die, who would?
Ruiyama Shizuya wouldn't only die, but he would die a most satisfying death!
Hong Yi's intimidation, surprisingly, had truly taken hold in Totsuki Academy.
"Since all the Totsuki Ten are here, let's follow 'tradition' and hold a Ten Council meeting to decide whether I should kill Ruiyama Shizuya."
"I, Hong Yi, the Ninth Seat of the Totsuki Ten, vote to kill him."
Nakiri Erina said, "Agree."
Aoi Kubo Momo followed closely behind, "Little Bear agrees."
Kobayashi Ryouko said, "One vote in agreement."
Sima Eisuke, "Agree."
Kinokuni Nene pushed her glasses up, "Agree."
Isshiki Satoshi spread his hands, "I have no objections."
Kugane Terunori quickly said, "I agree too."
Finally.
The Totsuki Ten and the numerous teachers and students all looked towards Muki Shima Fu and Saito Sumiaki.
The two men nodded weakly, "We agree."
Ten votes!
All passed!!
"New student is awesome!"
"What new student, he's the Ninth Seat of the Totsuki Ten now!"
"Hong Yi is too OP, right?"
"I thought he was done for, but he managed to turn the tables."
"I think Hong Yi planned everything out beforehand."
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Seeing this, Mansam reached for the metal flask hanging from his waist, twisting open the spout as he whispered to the Totsuki Headmaster, "Senzoemon, it seems the 'softness within hardness' you perceive is because it's not hard enough."
Nakiri Senzoemon's eyelids twitched.
He originally saw Hong Yi as a rough gem that he wanted to polish, but instead, he was the one who got polished.
Mansam tilted his head back and "glug-glug" drank a few mouthfuls of alcohol before turning to Muki Shima Fu and Saito Sumiaki, "The two of you, come with me, cooperate with IGO's investigation."
Nakiri Senzoemon nodded, "Your Ten Seats are suspended for now, until the investigation is complete."
Muki Shima Fu murmured with a grim expression, "Headmaster, Mansam-san."
"What? You calling me handsome?"
Mansam turned back abruptly.
But he then burst into hearty laughter, "Calling me handsome won't do you any good."
"Lechi!"
A strong wind whipped through the air, and a giant leopard cat with wings, its smooth fur like that of a golden leopard, descended from the sky, landing in front of Mansam, obediently bowing its body.
【Haon Cheetah (Human Realm Variant)】
【Capture Level: 35】
Mansam stood on the back of the Haon Cheetah, arms crossed, his sturdy arms bulging with rock-like muscles.
He looked at Hong Yi and shouted, "Kid, I like you, come to Ligar Island anytime, I'll treat you to my complete life menu!"
Hong Yi nodded, "Alright, handsome."
"Ahahaha, I didn't hear wrong this time, did I? Someone called me handsome."
Mansam rode on the Haon Cheetah and turned to leave.
This Shokugeki finally came to an end.
With Ruiyama Shizuya publicly executed, two Ten Seats and their cronies under IGO investigation, and Totsuki Academy's new student, Hong Yi, becoming the new Ninth Seat, the event drew to a close.
"Kid, you've got guts."
"To be honest, when I saw you kill Ruiyama Shizuya through the live broadcast, I thought you were finished."
"Didn't expect it was all part of your plan."
Kobayashi Ryouko raised her hand and lightly patted Hong Yi's shoulder, then walked from behind Hong Yi to the front with her hands clasped behind her back.
"Hey, nice to meet you, Kobayashi Ryouko, the Second Seat of the Totsuki Ten."
Kobayashi Ryouko extended a pristine, white hand.
"Hong Yi."
Hong Yi glanced at Kobayashi Ryouko and extended his hand as well, shaking hers.
Kobayashi Ryouko leaned closer, angling her body, one hand covering her mouth, her eyes smiling and revealing a sharp canine tooth, she whispered, "How about it, are you interested in being my partner?"
"I'm quite good at cooking 【Rare Ingredients】, my overall strength is at the three-star level among chefs~"
Three stars!
Two stars higher than Mito Ikumi's cooking skills!
Before Hong Yi could respond.
Two pairs of eyes, shrouded in shadow and twinkling with starlight, appeared to his left and right.
"Kobayashi Ryouko, what are you doing?"
"Hong-kun already has a partner!"
"You're not allowed to lay a finger on Hong-kun!"
Kobayashi Ryouko saw Nakiri Erina and Aoi Kubo Momo "guarding" Hong Yi, helplessly shrugged, spread her hands, and replied, "Hong Yi's partner is Mito-chan, why are you guys getting so worked up?"
"Besides, a powerful Gourmet Hunter having multiple partners is quite normal."
"I heard..."
Kobayashi Ryouko lowered her voice, her golden eyes not covered by her bangs twinkled with a hint of light.
"The Gourmet Society's big boss has thousands of chefs cooking delicious food for him."
Nakiri Erina's beautiful eyes widened in surprise.
She looked at her daring senior with astonishment.
You see,
The teachers and students of Totsuki Academy kept their mouths shut about the Gourmet Society, avoiding them like the plague, not wanting to mention them.
But Kobayashi Ryouko dared to talk about the Gourmet Society's big boss, her boldness was truly remarkable.
Seeing this, Hong Yi changed the subject, "Everyone, I just captured Rainbow Fruit, please come to... well, Niku-me's house to share this legendary fruit together."
Aoi Kubo Momo jumped up and down, excitedly holding up her stuffed bear, and said happily, "Let me cook the Rainbow Fruit."
"Rainbow Fruit is so dreamy, I want to make it into a cute dessert."
Hong Yi thought about how Mito Ikumi wasn't good at making Western desserts, so he nodded.
Kobayashi Ryouko smiled faintly, "Rainbow Fruit has a market price of five billion yen per piece, is the junior willing to treat us?"
"What's there to be unwilling about, senior you underestimate me."
At this moment.
Nakiri Senzoemon, with wooden clogs on his feet, walked slowly towards them, his fist clenched, he coughed softly in front of him and said, "Hong Yi, according to school regulations, the Ninth Living Garden's ingredients, Capture Level 5 or below are free, Capture Level 5 and above are charged at market price."
"Three Rainbow Fruits, fourteen Chocolate Mushrooms, eight Cream Matsutake, one Pocket Pudding Pumpkin, plus the Hunter Division's tuition, I'll give you an 80% to 90% discount, um... let's call it 1.6 billion yen."
"Niito Hisako, remember to collect this money from Hong Yi."