Chapter 503: Challenging the Strongest Right Away?
Soon, a figure in a black robe trailed behind Qi Han like a ghost, keeping a careful distance.
After Fang Qing raised the alarm, the Secret Intelligence Division immediately sent a Level 7 Spirit Engineer skilled in stealth to follow him.
The reason for sending someone at that level was simple: according to intelligence, Qi Han was at Level 53. Sending someone two rings higher would be much safer.
Qi Han, however, had absolutely no awareness that he was being followed by a stealth-focused Level 7 Spirit Engineer. The gap in strength between them was simply too great, and since the other party hadn't taken any direct action, Ru Yi didn't give him any warning either.
Even after more than ten days, Qi Han still hadn't noticed anything unusual about the diners or his neighbors.
It wasn't that there were no oddities. Early on, he had noticed that many customers stared at him intently when they came to Han Shi, and his neighbors' attitudes toward him were somewhat strange. But Qi Han had simply attributed all of this to differences in customs between the two continents.
After all, just like how an "OK" hand gesture could be an insult in some places on Earth, it was normal for there to be cultural differences between two continents that had never communicated with each other.
Since he had never even considered the possibility that the Sun Moon Continent already knew about the Douluo Continent, Qi Han had never thought along those lines. What he worried about instead was accidentally exposing the differences between a spirit master and a spirit engineer, which might attract the attention of powerful Spirit Engineers.
Walking openly down the street, Qi Han casually began observing Mingdu City.
The city's architectural style carried a strong sense of technology. Many buildings were constructed entirely from metal, resulting in structures completely different from those on the Douluo Continent. In fact, they even resembled scenes from certain sci-fi films he had seen in his previous life.
When he first arrived in Mingdu City, everything had been too rushed. Only now was he truly taking the time to observe these unique buildings, and he couldn't help but marvel along the way.
The Level 7 Spirit Engineer secretly following him saw Qi Han constantly looking around and immediately became more alert.
It seems Fang Qing was right, this person really is gathering information about Mingdu City.
Better stay closer, just in case he stumbles upon any confidential details.
With that thought, the Spirit Engineer quietly closed the distance between them.
Before long, following the street signs, Qi Han arrived at Sun-Moon Avenue.
He had never been here before, though he had heard of it many times. It was the most prosperous street in all of Mingdu City, famous even throughout the entire Sun Moon Empire. One end of the avenue led to the imperial palace gates, while the other connected to the city's main gate.
Qi Han had two destinations today.
The first was the Mingdu City Culinary Association, which oversaw culinary showdowns. He needed to learn the detailed rules there.
The second was Heavenly Star Palace. He wanted to see just how popular one of the top two restaurants on Sun-Moon Avenue really was—and possibly challenge it to a culinary showdown on the spot.
The sooner he completed Side Quest 10-2, the sooner he could return to the Douluo Continent. Wouldn't that be perfect?
The Mingdu City Culinary Association was located in the middle section of Sun-Moon Avenue, only a few hundred meters from where Qi Han currently stood. After asking a passerby for directions, he quickly arrived at the entrance. Glancing at the metal plaque above, he stepped inside without hesitation.
"Hello, who are you looking for?"
A guard at the entrance of the Culinary Association looked Qi Han up and down, his expression becoming slightly more serious as he politely stopped him.
"Uh, I run a newly opened restaurant…"
"You're here to register with the association?" The guard seemed to understand immediately, a look of realization appearing on his face.
"Register?" Qi Han shook his head. He knew about this so-called registration—once completed, the restaurant would fall under the Culinary Association's jurisdiction. But since he didn't plan to run a long-term business in Mingdu City, there was no need for that. "No, I'm here to learn about the rules of culinary showdowns."
"A culinary showdown?" The guard's look of realization turned into astonishment. Thinking back to Qi Han saying he had just opened a new restaurant, his gaze toward Qi Han suddenly became rather strange.
This kind of situation wasn't unheard of. Many newly opened restaurants struggled with business, and in order to attract customers, they would take the risk of initiating a culinary showdown. But once they lost, they would quickly become a laughingstock and often shut down soon after.
Any restaurant that could thrive in Mingdu City had its own strengths. Everyone was wary of such challenges.
Some restaurants even deliberately concealed certain signature dishes so challengers wouldn't know the true skill level of their chefs. Many inexperienced newcomers would foolishly rush in to challenge them, only to end in miserable defeat.
Another one of those naïve rookies?
The guard didn't try to persuade Qi Han, but his earlier warmth and politeness diminished slightly. "After you go in, the first room on the right, the one labeled 'Competition Management Department,' is in charge of culinary showdowns. Just go straight in."
Qi Han didn't pay much attention to the change in attitude. Having gotten the information he needed, he still politely thanked the guard before heading inside. Following the directions, he quickly arrived at the Competition Management Department.
The person who received him was a plump man dressed in an elegant long robe, with a friendly smile on his face. After learning Qi Han's purpose, he gave a detailed explanation of the rules for culinary showdowns.
There weren't many differences from what Meng Yun had described. The only addition was that in the three rounds of themed cooking battles, each side could send up to three chefs.
Qi Han naturally had no helpers, so he would have to handle all three rounds himself. That meant he would essentially be facing a one-versus-three situation against other restaurants.
Of course, Qi Han wasn't worried at all.
Did it make a difference how many opponents there were?
Not really.
"Sir, are you planning to initiate a culinary showdown?" The department head surnamed Zhang took a sip of tea after explaining the rules and looked at Qi Han with curiosity.
He seemed unfamiliar—probably a new face?
"Yes, I do have that intention," Qi Han nodded.
"In that case, what is the name of your restaurant? Has it been registered with our association?"
"It's called Han Shi. It hasn't been registered."
"Not registered?" Director Zhang nodded. "That's fine. Which restaurant do you intend to challenge? If the other party is registered with the association, we can help contact them."
That certainly made things easier.
As such a well-known restaurant on Sun-Moon Avenue, Heavenly Star Palace was almost certainly registered with the association.
"In that case, please help me contact Heavenly Star Palace. I'd like to initiate a culinary showdown with them," Qi Han said with a slight smile.
"Heavenly—" Director Zhang casually picked up his pen to write, but after jotting down the first character, his entire body trembled slightly. He suddenly looked up at Qi Han as if he had seen a ghost. "Who did you say?"
"Heavenly Star Palace."
Director Zhang immediately felt a toothache coming on.
When Qi Han said his restaurant wasn't registered, he had already guessed the situation.
Another reckless newcomer trying to make a name through a culinary showdown.
While most of these rookies ended in failure, there had been rare exceptions.
For example, a hundred years ago, Heavenly Star Palace itself had risen through a series of culinary showdowns, defeating opponents left and right and eventually standing toe-to-toe with Bright Court Pavilion.
But even back then, Heavenly Star Palace hadn't been this bold.
Challenging the strongest right from the start?!
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Tn: I updated the story once every 2 days, but if you want to see more chapter of this story ahead of time, please go to my Patreon.
Latest Chapter: Chapter 538: Walking Straight into the Trap?[1]
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[1] https://www.patreon.com/Avicebron/posts/becoming-food-in-160492301
[2] https://www.patreon.com/Avicebron/posts/becoming-food-in-160492301