"Please, you must not!" Oki Yoichi exclaimed hurriedly.
The ratio and production method had been the two unspoken secrets of secret sauces since ancient times.
"Okay, okay, relax. It's not like I'm a devil or anything; I won't go blabbing it around." Mo Bai silently added a sentence in his heart. Because I don't know the ratio either.
Regarding Mo Bai calling himself "not a devil," everyone in the cooking classroom shook their heads in unison, expressing their disbelief.
"Actually, being able to think of using sumac powder instead of citrus fruits is enough to show that your standard is quite good." Mo Bai understood well the social wisdom of giving a sweet date after striking with a stick.
Even taming beasts requires rewards.
"Among the chefs I've seen, other than Mark, the NO. 3 of Phoenix Academy, you're the only one who uses sumac powder to pair with seafood to such good effect."
"Mark, the NO. 3 of Phoenix Academy?"
The instructor is actually mentioning me in the same breath as an elite from Phoenix Academy!?
His proud dish was only scored 60, and his cooking was seen through by a peer, yet Oki Yoichi experienced a reversal from hell to heaven.
"Really!?" Thinking that he actually shared the same operation as such a powerful big shot, Oki Yoichi couldn't help but feel a surge of delusional "armchair expert" mentality in his heart: Holy crap! Could it be that the distance between me and becoming a big shot is just that small!?
"Yeah, yeah, the way he uses sumac powder in one of his High-Star cuisines is basically the same as yours."
"It's just that his level is unknown amounts higher than yours." Mo Bai, saying one thing but thinking another, nodded perfunctorily. He could see that the flushed Oki Yoichi was completely high on excitement, so naturally, he couldn't be bothered to keep acting.
"T-Then why did you only give me 60 points?" Oki Yoichi, who was feeling faintly inflated, thought of Mo Bai's score and asked cautiously.
"Good question." Mo Bai, who had bored himself sleepy coaxing the "child," suddenly perked up.
"Please look at the time." Mo Bai pointed to the electronic clock hanging in the center of the cooking classroom ceiling.
The crowd raised their heads in unison to look at the digits marked 8:00 on the electronic clock.
"Although it's a bit late, right now is still the tail end of breakfast time for office workers bringing breakfast to the office."
"Do you understand?" Mo Bai stopped at the point of sufficiency.
Oki Yoichi seemed to think of something, but hurriedly explained again, "But the Shellfish Sashimi Platter is cooked."
"...Nonsense! Of course I know that so-called shellfish sashimi is essentially cooked meat blanched in boiling water."
"But you forgot one thing."
"Raw or cooked, do you think anyone would choose ice-cold seafood sashimi as breakfast for their first meal in the morning? All body organs are in a waking state in the morning; is sending down a seafood sashimi dish meant to actively add a burden to the stomach and intestines?"
"I assume you learned the relevant curriculum in the Tōtsuki Junior High section?"
As he spoke, Mo Bai stood up sternly, and the heartbeats of everyone in the venue involuntarily slowed by half a beat.
"Although I let you bring out your best dishes and gave you the greatest right of choice, that doesn't mean I don't have a standard of measurement."
"Now, there are a total of three students in the venue who completed fresh sashimi or fresh sushi plating. You may put down the kitchenware in your hands and leave the cooking classroom."
Mo Bai waved his hand towards the outside of the cooking classroom, and security guards in black suits immediately came forward to collect people.
The room became quiet again, leaving only the sound of breathing.
It wasn't until a female student, who was being dragged away, began to wail loudly that the ordinary students reacted.
So—what the exchange group said was true!
If we don't go all out, we'll really die!
In the time it took to say a few light sentences, three companions had been eliminated before they could even complete their first culinary probe.
It was laughable that they had previously thought being assigned to this instructor of the same age was a lucky thing.
Thinking about it now, how could anyone capable of standing in the position of a team leader be a kind soul?
The members of the exchange group, on the other hand, revealed expressions of understanding; the development of the situation was indeed not out of their expectations.
What do you mean "not a devil"! From the start, this Demon King dug a huge pit! First, using words to make people lower their guard, and then suddenly launching an attack once the prey has relaxed.
The elites of the exchange group seemed to hear the Demon King's triumphant laughter echoing over the cooking classroom.
Focus, focus, must focus! Absolutely cannot give the Demon King any opportunity!
"Any seafood is cold in nature by compatibility. If there are no corresponding accompanying ingredients to dispel the cold, one should not eat too much." Mo Bai patted Oki Yoichi, who was already scared silly.
"Your secret sauce can be developed in this direction."
"Do you have any other questions?"
"N-N-No!" Seeing Mo Bai staring at him, Oki Yoichi felt his own tongue trembling.
"Then go down. Go to the ingredient storage room to get ingredients and remake the dish, or watch others' scores from the side. As long as you don't disturb others' cooking progress, it's up to you."
Mo Bai sat back on the chair, signaling to Luo Ziyan, who was constantly pushing up her glasses beside him. "Record it, Oki Yoichi, 60 points."
"Oh." Luo Ziyan nodded her little head and recorded the score.
No one condemned Mo Bai for employing child labor. After seeing Oki Yoichi and the three students who were innocently eliminated, the ordinary students began to shake off their wishful thinking and face this elimination seriously.
Even if they brought out their most skilled dishes, it still wouldn't be a sure thing.
Just the exchange group elites made up one-third of the people in this group. If they wanted to survive, they had to go all out and defeat everyone blocking their way.
The exchange group elites sighed; sure enough, the development of events had fallen into the Demon King's control again.
Facing the malicious gazes of the ordinary students who wanted to drag them down with them, the elites could only say sorry in their hearts, then tightened their grip on their kitchen knives.
A wind carrying the scent of blood began to blow; the entire cooking classroom was filled with mutual hostility!
The horn had already been blown, declaring the official start of the battle for the right to survival!
***
"Salt-Grilled White Tilefish."
The fish meat, bearing tempting char marks, had a slight elasticity under the chopsticks, yet became as soft as snowflakes when peeled from the fish's body.
Without excessive culinary methods, cooking purely with salt and cooking wine highlighted the unique fresh sweetness of the tilefish even more.
"Not bad. Sea bream is also in season this season. 75 points." Just as Mo Bai stated the score and wanted to open his mouth to comment, he saw the student who served the dish swish back to his own cooking station in a flash.
"...Am I that scary?" Mo Bai rubbed his chin, instantly feeling a bit unhappy in his heart.
Won't let me posture?
Since you've made me unhappy, then let's stir up some trouble.
Petty Mo Bai, trouble-making mode: Online.
Thus, Mo Bai stood up again. Various noises of pots and pans clashing immediately rang out in the originally silent cooking classroom.
"What shenanigans is this Demon King up to now?" Everyone's expressions froze in unison.
Mo Bai nodded with satisfaction at the deterrent force his appearance could bring.
He cleared his throat.
"I see that many people have chosen fish ingredients..."
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