"I really don't know the purpose behind these actions of yours," Satoshi Isshiki said with a trace of helplessness, though he still shook Lexon's hand directly.
"Just a way of expressing friendliness," Lexon replied with a smile.
"A custom from your hometown?" Isshiki didn't dwell on it and changed the subject. "I heard you joined Professor Jun Shiomi's research society?"
Lexon stopped paying attention to the [SIGN-IN SUCCESSFUL] [CONGRATULATIONS, YOU HAVE OBTAINED 'SATOSHI ISSHIKI'S COMPLETE CULINARY SKILL'] messages and answered, "Yes."
After his Shokugeki with Ikumi Mito, Lexon had gone to the Jun Shiomi Research Society and joined it.
Akira Hayama, a member of the society, was originally quite reluctant. He only wanted to mind his own business and didn't want others intruding—especially a transfer student who had caused trouble right at the opening ceremony...
However...
Once Lexon spoke with Professor Jun Shiomi, she happily agreed to his request.
As Akira Hayama's guardian, Jun Shiomi was desperate for the lonely, friendless boy to have someone his own age to interact with in the research society.
So, for a while, Lexon had been "shearing the wool" off both Akira Hayama and Jun Shiomi.
Akira Hayama possessed extensive knowledge of spices and pairing techniques, along with a sense of smell that could be called the 'God's Nose.' Jun Shiomi was a former member of Totsuki's Elite Ten and a professor hailed as the 'Authority on Spices.'
Both of them were highly valuable for sign-ins.
So, Lexon had spent some time signing in for most of their abilities.
And only after bleeding them dry did he return to the Polar Star Dormitory to squeeze out the last bits of value from Satoshi Isshiki.
"That's good then." Unaware that he had lost his value, Satoshi Isshiki said with a smile, "Professor Jun Shiomi's level is very high. The member of her research society named Akira Hayama is also quite famous. Many students have tried to join, but they usually end up leaving because they can't help much and their own skills aren't up to par... You should be careful, Lexon..."
"Thanks for the warning, Senior Isshiki," Lexon said, beaming.
He couldn't help but recall Akira Hayama's existential crisis. The boy had tried to make things difficult for him, only to be rebutted until he had no answer... and then he was utterly crushed in a culinary 'exchange' in the kitchen using spices, the very field he excelled in most...
'The one who needs to be careful probably isn't me...'
Lexon thought to himself.
"Speaking of which, the first-year Hell Camp starts tomorrow, doesn't it? Don't you need to prepare, Lexon? Yuki and Megumi seem so worried they haven't slept well for two nights..." Isshiki brought up another matter.
"No need for preparation... and they should be fine," Lexon responded flatly.
"But more than half of the first-year students will be eliminated during this camp... How can you say it'll be fine?" Yuki Yoshino's figure suddenly popped up from the side, her panda-like dark circles showing her distress.
Totsuki Academy's evaluations were just that cruel.
Before things even began, the proportion of students destined for expulsion had already been made clear to everyone.
"Lexon-kun will definitely be fine... and so will everyone else... it's just me... Ugh, if I get expelled, how will I explain it to everyone back home?" Megumi Tadokoro also emerged from the side, looking just as dejected with her own dark circles.
As the student who ranked dead last in the promotional exams, Megumi naturally felt her position at Totsuki Academy was precarious.
"You have to believe in yourselves! I share Lexon-kun's view; I believe everyone in the Polar Star Dormitory will be fine!" Satoshi Isshiki had somehow slipped back into his naked apron. He stood there, baring most of his backside, as he encouraged the two girls.
"Senior Isshiki... I'd prefer if you put some clothes on before talking to us like that..." Yuki Yoshino said dryly.
"Thank you for the encouragement, Senior... I'll head back and look at my cookbooks some more..." The humble Megumi Tadokoro lowered her head, intending to return to her room.
"Tadokoro-san," Lexon suddenly spoke up.
"Hmm?" Megumi stopped in her tracks and looked at Lexon in confusion.
"If you're worried, cook something for me to taste. I'll help you improve it," Lexon said, looking her in the eye.
Huh?
Satoshi Isshiki and Yuki Yoshino both looked at Lexon in surprise.
This was the first time since he had entered the Polar Star Dormitory that he had proactively offered to help someone improve their cooking...
What was going on?
They didn't doubt his ability to help. For someone possessing the 'God's Tongue,' such a feat was child's play.
"Really? Lexon-kun..." Megumi said, pleasantly surprised.
"Yes," Lexon nodded slightly.
"Thank you so much, Lexon-kun!" Megumi exclaimed excitedly.
She had been worrying about the Hell Camp for days. Now, with the help of Lexon's 'God's Tongue'—the same ability possessed by the incredibly famous Erina, one of the Elite Ten—her cooking would surely improve, and her mind would be put at ease.
Lexon smiled at her happy face, his thoughts churning.
In the original plot, the cooking of the gentle and considerate Megumi Tadokoro contained something others lacked...
A manifestation of a chef's heart...
Something that could truly warm a person's soul...
Although he had signed in for Isshiki's skills and could even replicate everything from the seventh seat of the Elite Ten...
But...
Generating it for his own consumption wasn't particularly useful.
Being someone who didn't truly love cooking and possessed a cold personality, he ultimately couldn't pour his own heart as a chef into his work.
Perhaps tasting Megumi Tadokoro's dishes might lead to some inspiration...
Thus, helping Megumi improve was merely a way of using her to help himself.
"Me too, me too!" Yuki Yoshino, who was just as worried about the Hell Camp, naturally wasn't going to miss out. She raised her hand and shouted.
"Fine." Although Yuki wasn't particularly useful, he was still a member of the Polar Star Dormitory, so it didn't hurt to help her as well.
And...
"Senior Isshiki." Lexon looked toward Satoshi Isshiki.
Isshiki, who was happy that Lexon was helping everyone in the dorm, looked at him and asked, "What is it?"
"How about a Shokugeki? We'll bet your seat on the Elite Ten." Lexon's calm words fell.
The room instantly fell silent. Megumi Tadokoro and Yuki Yoshino both gasped and stared at Lexon in disbelief.
A Shokugeki with Senior Satoshi Isshiki, the seventh seat of the Elite Ten?
Betting his seat?
Isshiki also seemed stunned by Lexon's sudden declaration, remaining silent for a moment.
"Are you joking, Lexon-kun...?" After a long pause, Isshiki finally replied with a smile. "Moreover, to initiate a Shokugeki with a member of the Elite Ten with their seat as the condition, you need to offer an equivalent stake... That's a condition that wouldn't hold up even if you offered your own expulsion..."
"Then how about this? If I win, arrange a match for me against another member of the Elite Ten... and..."
"That's still an invalid condition..." Isshiki interrupted before Lexon could finish.
"I will provide guidance to improve your cooking," Lexon stated the rest of his condition.
Hearing this, the smile on Isshiki's face vanished. His expression turned solemn, and his gaze grew incredibly sharp as he stared at Lexon. "Are you serious, Lexon-kun?"
"I am."
"And if you lose?" Isshiki asked.
"It's impossible for me to lose," Lexon replied calmly, meeting the gaze of the man who had abandoned his usual easygoing demeanor.
"Very well, I accept your challenge." The hem of Isshiki's apron fluttered under the pressure emanating from him as he nodded and agreed in a low voice.
Although Satoshi Isshiki was a man who preferred to stay hidden and rarely showed his true self...
He couldn't simply ignore such a blatant provocation from his junior.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]