“Souma Yukihira, a second-year transfer student from the Hunter Division. I heard he has a natural Gourmet Cell and his cooking talent is also very high, it seems he’s already at a two-star level.”
“He seems to have already passed the Silver-Class Gourmet Hunter certification, right?”
“Really? A two-star chef, plus a Silver-Class Gourmet Hunter!”
“If not for Hong Yi’s appearance in this year’s freshman class, Souma Yukihira would have been the most shining star in Totsuki Culinary Academy.”
“It’s a pity that Senior Hong’s brilliance is too dazzling, overshadowing Souma Yukihira’s glory.”
The students’ whispers also allowed Hong Yi to gather some intelligence.
So, Souma Yukihira really is a Gourmet Hunter?
And he has a natural Gourmet Cell!
Hong Yi has been attending classes diligently these past few days, gaining a deeper understanding of Gourmet Cells.
First.
Gourmet Cells are a miraculous type of cell that emerged after the birth of the Gourmet Universe.
They were discovered by the Nitro clan, a highly intelligent life form that can manipulate Gourmet Cells to transform planets, and were scattered onto the ancient Earth (now the origin of Gourmet Cells: Area 0) in the form of meteorites.
Under the influence of Gourmet Cells over billions of years, Earth’s size increased by over 600 times, breeding all kinds of powerful and delicious life forms.
Gourmet Cells are like coordinates, a breeding ground for Gourmet Demons.
As long as one is chosen by a Gourmet Demon, with powerful appetites, dwelling within, they will become a natural talent with Gourmet Cells.
Therefore.
Having a Gourmet Cell doesn't necessarily mean you have a Gourmet Demon.
But natural talents with Gourmet Cells definitely have a Gourmet Demon slumbering within.
And, Gourmet Hunters with Gourmet Demons will be much stronger than Gourmet Hunters with ordinary Gourmet Cells.
Except for those like Jiro, who have consumed Red Nitro since childhood, transforming their entire body into Gourmet Cells, essentially becoming a humanoid Gourmet Demon.
After awakening Gourmet Cells, a Gourmet Hunter’s attack methods will also undergo a revolutionary change.
The most basic is hand-to-hand combat.
Then, there is the “Skill” built upon the foundation of Appetite Energy!
This “Skill” originates from your daily eating and living habits.
For example, Chairman Ichiryu’s “Skill” is chopsticks.
Appetite Energy can condense into giant chopsticks for attacks.
Toriko’s Skills are knives, forks, and nails.
Coco’s Skill is the poison secreted from her body.
Mansam’s Skill is a frying pan.
The Gourmet World’s Big Boss’s Skill is his own tongue.
A step further, it becomes the manifestation of the Gourmet Demon, similar to a Dharmakaya.
If the Gourmet Cell activity is high, the Gourmet Demon can even… “run out” from the body and directly fight in place of the original owner!
Besides that, those with exceptional talent can also awaken some “abilities.”
“I wonder what color Souma Yukihira’s Gourmet Cells are, how powerful his Gourmet Demon is, and what level his cell activity has reached.”
Hong Yi looked at Souma Yukihira’s back, a few rays of light flickering in his eyes.
Teacher Sakamoto began distributing tickets for the Gourmet Train.
One ticket costs 2,000,000 yen.
Two tickets per person!
Teacher Sakamoto, with a beaming smile, handed the last two tickets to Hong Yi, then turned to explain to the students, “After catching the Pufferfish Whale, you need to remove the poison sac immediately before it regains consciousness.”
“Therefore, you can bring your own partner to the Cave Beach. If you don’t have a partner, you can find a chef from the Cooking Division.”
“Two people per group, board the Gourmet Train, the legendary Master of Anesthesia, Jiro, will be waiting for you on the Gourmet Train.”
Some students breathed a sigh of relief, complaining, “So, Master Jiro isn’t coming to Totsuki Culinary Academy to teach?”
“Ah, I thought I could see a living legend!”
“Yeah… ”
“Be quiet!”
Teacher Sakamoto, with a stern face, glared at them, grumbling, “What is Master Jiro? A legendary man!”
“He is one of the strongest beings standing at the peak of the world. He doesn’t belong to any force, usually he comes and goes as he pleases. How could he specifically come to Totsuki Culinary Academy to teach you?”
“Do you guys have the same influence as Chairman Ichiryu?”
Souma Yukihira and other students couldn’t help but twitch at the corners of their mouths.
While Teacher Sakamoto’s words were true, how could they sound so unpleasant?
Stinky-faced Sakamoto continued, “Actually, it was during the General’s middle age, when he went to the Cave Beach to catch a Pufferfish Whale, that he met Master Jiro.”
“Master Jiro loves alcohol, and coincidentally, the General had brought the Nakiri family’s ancestral good wine, and then formed a bond with Master Jiro.”
“The General took the opportunity to say that he hoped that during the decade-long Pufferfish Whale spawning season, he could bring a few students from Totsuki to the Cave Beach to catch the Pufferfish Whale. He would have the students bring wine for Jiro to drink.”
Upon hearing this.
Hong Yi suddenly realized.
He was wondering how Totsuki Culinary Academy could invite Jiro, so it was like this.
“So, it’s a backstage py deal.”
“Speaking of which, Mansam also likes to drink, so he’s close to Nakiri Senzaemon, right?”
Hong Yi stroked his chin and nodded silently.
“The Gourmet Train will stop at the entrance of Totsuki Culinary Academy tomorrow morning at eight o’clock. Hong, Souma Yukihira, and Aita Masaki, remember not to be late. Uh… also, wear the Totsuki Culinary Academy uniform, which will make it easier for Master Jiro to identify you.”
“Alright, class dismissed!”
Teacher Sakamoto clapped his hands.
Before leaving, Hong Yi didn’t forget to take the Rock Plate Rhinoceros that he had anesthetized with acupuncture.
…
Totsuki Culinary Academy, dormitory area.
A manor villa.
Secretary Ko was in the kitchen, helping Mito Ikumi prepare the Rock Plate Rhinoceros.
“The mineral salt contained in the rock plate has a completely different taste from ordinary salt. You can keep it, send it to the Totsuki workshop to be ground into powder, or sell it to the Totsuki supermarket.”
Mito Ikumi, while skillfully removing the rock plate and dismembering the Rock Plate Rhinoceros, said to Arato Hisako.
“No problem.”
Arato Hisako, with a serious expression, responded, her movements equally clean and efficient. The cleaver quickly passed over the chopping board, producing a pleasant sound.
“Clack, clack, clack, clack, clack…”
Piece by piece, the yam was quickly peeled and cut into uniform pieces, falling from the chopping board into the clay pot.
Secretary Ko was preparing to make yam and ribs soup.
“Clang,” a sound.
Mito Ikumi took off a leg of beef and skewered it with a long metal skewer. She placed it on a metal frame and used a sharp knife to slice off a thin piece of ham meat, as thin as a cicada’s wing.
Facing the kitchen’s ceiling lights, the bright red ham meat was so thin that it even allowed light to pass through. Besides the delicate marble-like texture of the meat itself, you could even see the ceiling behind the meat slice.
Mito Ikumi brought the small knife closer, holding the ham meat slice close to her nose and taking a deep sniff. A look of surprise immediately appeared on her face.
“As expected of a Capture Level 10 ingredient, this ham’s ripeness is just perfect!”