The Four Semifinalists Enter

"No, no, you are the real hero." Caesar was shaken by the slap, his fat rippled like waves, but compared to his idol's business boasting, these were minor matters. He didn't care at all and still smiled happily as he agreed.

Human civilization needs to be divided according to its era. Otherwise, when you look back, you will only come up with various prejudices and wrong perceptions.

The Analects, for example, records the words of scholars during the Spring and Autumn period, a time when the Zhou Dynasty King was virtually powerless and the rites and music had collapsed. If we don't consider the customs and social context of the time and force a modern mindset to interpret it, it will only become a far-fetched, out-of-context motivational book.

The gentleman in Confucius's mind is a completely different species from the gentleman in the minds of modern people. In fact, he is also very different from the gentlemen of each dynasty, including the Qin, Qin, Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing Dynasties.

Reading is certainly a good thing. Knowing history and mastering some idioms and proverbs can be very helpful to a person.

However, if someone wants to cultivate a noble character and become a refined gentleman by studying traditional Chinese culture, it's really no different from going to the gym to get a V-shaped physique and eight-pack abs, or going to a beauty salon to get a haircut. It's all for that processed and packaged image.

As for the realm described in the book, it never existed in the first place, or rather, even if you cultivate it, it's not the kind you want.

This is why the stories told in Hundred Schools of Thought Forum, and social media, though captivating and seemingly full of wisdom and philosophy, are ultimately considered lowbrow and unacceptable, just as many people praise them as criticize them. This principle applies not only to books but also to people in general.

If we judge people from a thousand years ago by the moral standards of later generations, almost every one of them would be an uncivilized barbarian. Many of them would also be murderers, slave owners, bloodthirsty butchers, and destroyers of nature.

Even for the Chinese people, whose traditions have never been interrupted and who have been deeply influenced by Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, and Daoism, these ancient rules are no longer practical in modern times; in fact, many have become dross. People value legal justice and human rights more than the etiquette and morality established by Confucianism.

Going back to the point, if humanity had continued until 3000 AD, then by their standards, people in the 21st century would undoubtedly be considered backward, ignorant, and hopelessly barbaric ancient people.

Two thousand three hundred years later, if someone were to repeat what the Conqueror King did, he would be condemned like Hitler and regarded as an enemy of all mankind.

However, for the world more than 2,300 years ago, what the Conqueror King did was an unprecedented feat. At least for the Western Europeans who admired ancient Greek civilization, he was undoubtedly Great Hero excelled in both literature and martial arts. Even though Christianity had not yet been established when he lived, and their religious beliefs were different, they at least shared a common origin in civilization.

Therefore, Alexander the Great was the first true world hegemon in the Western world, or rather, among Europeans. At his peak, the territory he ruled covered an area of five million square kilometers, which was the largest in the world at that time.

Before this, the world rulers were either people from the Middle East region, such as the Persian Empire, the ancestors of the Iranians, or nomadic barbarians from the steppes, or the Chinese in the Eastern world.

At its peak, it occupied three of the Four Great Ancient Civilizations. With its charismatic personality that made rulers and people feel at ease wherever it went, and its strategy of allowing soldiers to marry local women, it quickly gained the support of the local people.

By modern standards, he would be very popular wherever he went abroad, earning him an honorary citizenship. He would also be flattered by the local authorities and receive warm hospitality, thus never missing out on any exquisite cuisine.

His conquests not only led to the expansion of his territory, but also fostered the integration of Greek and Eastern civilizations, which were then spread various parts of Europe and inherited and further developed by Rome.

Although his reign was short, his influence was far-reaching. He established a port city in Egypt named after himself and was recognized as a 'Pharaoh' by the Egyptian nobility and the people. The cities he established in Afghanistan, Kandahar and Herat, are now the country's second and third largest provinces, respectively.

He built dozens of such prosperous cities, and most of them were accepted by countries of different faiths and have survived.

Moreover, his lofty ambitions set a good precedent, inspiring later generations to have the ambition to conquer the world. To some extent, what he did for the West was indeed similar to the achievements of Emperor Wu of Han in employing Wei Qing and Huo Qubing.

Emperor Wu of Han led the Han Dynasty to its first peak, making the name of the prosperous Han Dynasty the collective name of the Chinese nation, which has a history of five thousand years.

Under his rule, the lands lost when the Qin Dynasty fell were recovered from foreign tribes, and the Xiongnu, Nanyue, and various kingdoms in the Western Regions were defeated, more than doubling the territory of the Han Dynasty. He also pioneered the Silk Road, making many countries in the Western Regions aware that there was a superpower in the East named 'Han', and the people of this great power were called Han people.

He brought together people from different countries, different regions, and different languages, creating a great nation with strong vitality.

Undoubtedly, Alexander and Caesar are two figures who cannot be ignored in Western history. Both are the King of cards, representing clubs and diamonds respectively. They are also two of the four greatest military strategists in Europe, the other two being Hannibal and Napoleon.

They were all military leaders who spent their lives traveling and fighting. Wherever their armies went, they ate there, and they had a good understanding of the cuisines of various countries and regions.

"Ahhhhh, I never expected... I never expected to see two great men standing together on the same stage! Although Lord Caesar looks shorter and fatter next to you, he is still so dazzling. This is just too unfair!" Cleopatra clasped her hands together, watching the two on the stage with excitement.

"Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic! It's a miracle! Clap! Cheer!" Cleopatra shouted to the reporters below the stage, raising her hands repeatedly.

"Ohhhhhhh!!!" The reporters below the stage cheered. Although they were just there to support the beauty, they felt sorry for her seeing how hard she was working. They just wanted to share their energy with her.

The two, who were enthusiastically exchanging compliments on stage and possessed a strong presence, suddenly transformed into beauties acting like irrational fans. Fortunately, their microphones weren't on, so the people at the press conference couldn't hear them. Otherwise, this inexplicable press conference would have ended before it even began.

'Tsk... What's the quality of that female host... Looks like another vixen who rose to fame based on her looks!' The female host, who was covering the scene, thought to herself. She decisively gestured for the camera to switch the focus, started talking about the scenery, and began with an interactive lucky draw for the audience.

After a while, the press conference finally returned to normal, and the introduction of the judges began.

The quick-witted host said, "Alright, alright, let's turn the camera around and take a look at the female judges that everyone's audience is interested in!"

She announced loudly, "Alright, alright, now that the two outstanding men have been introduced, let's welcome the next three female judges!"

The large screen then panned to the second seat from the right, to Caesar's right. A gentle woman with long, flowing red hair walked in from the aisle. The woman on screen waved to everyone.

Hello everyone!

She was like a gentle older sister, and the men around the venue in front of the big screen couldn't help but raise their hands, wanting to respond to her.

"She is Miss Boudica from Britain. She is of noble birth, but she is actually a chef who has satisfied many highly skilled individuals, including some legendary ones."

"Hello, you seem to be a very gentle and well-mannered young lady." Caesar stepped forward, pulled out a chair for her with great poise, and extended his hand as he spoke.

Boudica shook her head, not shaking hands with Caesar, but said gently, "Although we had no prior enmity, and the war against my country only occurred after your death and has no direct connection to you, you are undoubtedly an important figure representing Rome. As the mother of this child, I will not reconcile with you. I am here only to witness the birth of a divine dish."

Next came a woman with long, straight hair and red eyes, draped in a black coat. She had a slender figure and an extraordinary, otherworldly charm. However, her cold, almost hostile gaze told everyone not to get too involved with her; she had no interest in humans. But she was not ignorant of human affairs; she had forged deep connections with many kings and nobles.

Although she is True Ancestor, she restrains her bloodlust because her beloved protects humanity; in fact, she even hates this instinct. Therefore, for thousands of years, she has eaten the same food as humans, making her the absolute authority in Chinese cuisine.

"She comes from the ancient country of China, which has a culinary heritage spanning five thousand years. Her aloof appearance is like that of a fairy, and she possesses an unimaginable nobility."

"Well? Fairy, won't you say a few words?" the Conqueror King asked the woman beside him.

"I heard that you once charged into a battle formation of ten thousand men single-handedly and returned unscathed. Are you a general in the West who can be compared to Lord Xiang Yu?" Consort Yu asked curiously, sizing up the red-haired burly man.

"Hahaha, Xiang Yu of China! If I could, I'd like to recruit someone like him into my army. What do you say? You want to join me?" The Conqueror King said with a hearty laugh.

"No need. Your domineering ways are not the destiny recognized by Xiang Yu. Besides, I only wish for a peaceful life now. I came here because I heard there are delicious foods here that even non-human creatures can find satisfying." Consort Yu said coldly, disgusted by the mention of war.

"Finally, we have the culinary master of all the ingredients for this Culinary God Competition —an inexhaustible supply of delicacies from land and sea, and delicious rice. Her name is Enma-tei, Red Sauce!"

The figure who stepped onto the stage was small, yet possessed a certain majesty. In fact, she was no small fry. In her previous life, she was human. After death, she went to Hell, where she was adopted by King Enma, the King of Hell. As a chef, she reached the pinnacle of the yokai world.

Tamamo-no-Mae, Kiyohime, Hime no Toki, Tomoe Gozen, and many other goddesses were all her disciples, respecting and fearing her.

The absolutely fair and just Lord Enma, a righteous swordsman who specializes in vanquishing Chaotic Evil.

Currently, she works as proprietress of Enma-tei Inn, a legendary hot spring resort exclusively for gods and sages, and also trains many culinary masters.

After the little girl in red took her seat, she looked earnestly at the audience and said, "I swear on my profession as the proprietress of a hot spring inn, I will strictly and fairly select the chefs who truly deserve the title of 'god,'"

"Yes, yes~ That concludes the introductions! These five are the judges for this year's Culinary God Cup Competition!" Cleopatra raised her hand and cheered.

"..."

"..."

"Wait a minute! What's wrong with that woman? She was gushing over the two men, but when it came to her own female counterparts, she just glossed over everything with a single sentence!" The female host in the audience couldn't help but complain.

Chapter 436 The Four Finalists Enter the Arena

The Hisako watching on TV protested the host's criticism!

"To a secretary, this person on the stage is practically a 'god'!" Hisako said, clenching her fist with great admiration.

At first, when she saw Cleopatra going to great lengths to speak favorably of the red ball, she felt a familiar sense of closeness. Then there was the person who helped serve, doing all the work, overcoming difficulties, and making up for any mistakes made by their master. Wasn't that just a god-like secretary?!

Not to mention, seeing her less-than-successful love life made her even more relatable.

"Is... is that so?" Erina asked uncertainly.

"Did you cause her any trouble before?" Shirou lowered his head and whispered in Erina's ear, asking suspiciously.

Erina glanced back at Shirou, shook her head, and seemed unsure herself. She looked apologetically at her trusted friend and said, "But thinking back, she might have been under pressure because of my stubbornness. I'm sorry... Hisako- chan."

"No... no, how could that be! I genuinely want to stay by Erina's side, and we're best friends," Hisako explained, waving her hands.

"Really? That's great!" Erina leaned against Shirou's chest and breathed a sigh of relief.

"But if you have any suggestions, please feel free to let us know. Don't be shy," Shirou added.

"Is that so?" The Hisako hesitated before saying, "Well... I really will say it. If... but... if in the future, Erina- sama, Shirou- sama, when you two are together, could you please be mindful of my feelings?"

Shirou and Erina both fell silent.

'Sigh... so she was lonely after all...'

"Next time, keep an eye out for her, a good match..." Shirou patted Erina on the shoulder and whispered.

"Mmm-hmm." The blonde woman nodded repeatedly, hugging Shirou tightly for comfort. She thought sadly to herself, "Hisako- chan, so pitiful. I didn't know anything at all; I've really failed as a friend."

"Haha..." The Hisako stared blankly at the ceiling.

But what she said wasn't wrong.

Compared to television presenters, Cleopatra, as Egyptian Pharaoh, truly possessed such guiding and hosting abilities. Her charm wasn't due to Magecraft, Magic Eye, curses, or innate talent, but rather her genuine inner charisma. (Monthly membership group: 694936135)

Cleopatra thought with absolute confidence, "Because there's already such a radiant woman on stage, no further introductions are needed."

Cleopatra raised his hand, pointed one index finger to the sky, and exclaimed, "Look up, everyone!"

It appears to be a Black Shadow aircraft, but these flying objects are far too quiet for drones and small planes. Judging from the outline, it does look somewhat like one. Perhaps this is the secret weapon possessed by the mysterious group; they have advanced technology that has not yet been revealed to the public.

The flying machines were actually sparrow monsters disguised in black ninja outfits. They stood shoulder to shoulder, huddled together, flew to the top of the building, grabbed a curtain to cover them, and flew into the sky while hanging from the curtain.

At the same time, the wooden planks and barriers were lowered one by one, and it was vaguely visible that some small Monkey, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, were nimbly carrying the planks without revealing themselves.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the barrier slowly disintegrated like an automatic mechanism, finally revealing the true face of the competition venue. For the Servant, this was nothing special, but when these sights were seen by the crowd, they were considered quite magical, and everyone exclaimed in admiration.

On that very day, the grand opening ceremony of this enormous and unique building was broadcast worldwide via the internet.

The day of the competition has arrived!

A long, luxurious train followed closely behind.

A long-legged mannequin draped in a white mink coat stepped out and opened the car door. Then, a middle-aged man with a large nose, a curly bearded man, and short, dark brown hair emerged. He was of medium height, but his eyes were sharp and brooding, suggesting he was a ruthless character who would not easily hold a grudge.

He is none other than Pablo, the famous French chef, a prominent figure in the European culinary world since the 21st century, and a key figure frequently featured in cooking magazines in bookstores.

Although the Elder Liu are world-renowned and influential, and Nakiri Senzaemon "Demon of Food" in Japan, is also a respected and highly respected figure in Japan, their most glorious era was ultimately a thing of the past. The younger generation and middle-aged people prefer the new generation of chefs to the white-haired old men.

In this world, closely connected to the upper class is this Emperor of the French catering industry. He is not always in restaurants, but frequently attends lavish parties hosted by nobles and the wealthy, associating with powerful and influential figures.

He only accepts banquets with just one table, and limits the number of times he cooks each month. Unless you have an extremely wide network of connections, you can't even get an appointment, and his services are incredibly expensive. But within his European circle, everyone considers it an honor to have him cook at their home.

What's even more legendary is that he was once a poor boy of foreign descent who didn't even know what caviar was before becoming an apprentice to a master chef. Now, he has become a prominent figure in the upper echelons of Europe. Many young people regard him as their idol, saying that he is the Gates of the culinary world.

He also became a media darling, with photos of him standing alongside world-class celebrities frequently appearing in magazines. He even graced the cover of Time Magazine and was hailed as the world's most influential chef. It is said that he uses the beauty of food to promote peace between nations and is a strong contender for next year's Nobel Peace Prize.

"Hey~! Chef Pablo, welcome to JP. Culinary God Liu has already entered the venue. May I ask you for a few minutes? Just three minutes will do." At this moment, a reporter ran up to him with a big smile and said.

"Hmph!" He was met with a snicker, and the French chef, arm in arm with the female model, continued walking down the passageway.

"Honey, aren't you going to give them an interview?" the female model asked, hugging the French chef with a puzzled look.

The French chef ignored the yellow-skinned reporters and walked straight into the venue, saying, "Let's go. I don't accept interviews from Asian Monkey who don't even understand French. Honey, if you can serve me well, you'll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy being hit by flashing lights. I can provide you with better places, like the runways of world-renowned brands at Paris Fashion Week."

The female model jumped up excitedly, gave the famous French chef a kiss, and said with a fawning smile, "Yes, darling, you're amazing! Tonight, I'll do whatever you say."

The French chef said coldly in a commanding tone, "Then hide your country accent properly, don't embarrass me. You need to understand that in France, apart from Paris, the rest of the country is the countryside! You don't want people to know that I'm holding a country bumpkin, something so unseemly, do you?"

"Yes." The female model paused awkwardly for a moment, then quickly regained her demure demeanor and sweetly agreed.

At this moment, the female model put her arm around Pablo's shoulder, pressed close to his chest, and walked towards the inner passage.

"Damn it... these Frenchmen! What era are we living in that they still dare to look down on us?" The Japanese reporter, ignored, gritted his teeth in the back.

"Stop talking. He's not an ordinary chef; he's the Emperor of the European underworld. He's not someone a small-time reporter like us can mess with," a familiar face in the group said, tugging at the reporter's sleeve.

At that moment, someone shouted from the other side:

"Here it comes! The Totsuki Academy's special bus! The Demon of Food is here!!"

"Our nation's hope! Let it pass quickly!"

At this moment, Nakiri Senzaemon, accompanied by his family member Erina, had arrived at the entrance of the passage and was being interviewed.

"Lord Nakiri, what are your thoughts on the outcome of this competition? Do you think it's possible to defeat that Chinese Culinary God Liu?" a reporter from Japan asked nervously.

Nakiri Senzaemon his hand, took off his shirt to reveal his muscular physique, and laughed loudly, "Hahaha! Sushi, rice, ramen—none of them originated in Japan, but it was Japan that popularized them! Perhaps I'm not as comprehensive as Culinary God Liu, but of course I'm not without a chance! I stand here to tell the world that when it comes to the Divine Power pursuing culinary perfection, we will never lose to anyone!"

"Ohhhhhhhhhhh!!!"

"As expected of the Demon of Food! So reliable!" the surrounding Japanese people exclaimed in admiration.

"Grandpa... why don't you put your clothes back on?" Erina, covering her face in embarrassment.

After making their impassioned declaration, the Nakiri family entered the passageway.

"In that case, there will only be one player left in the semifinals," the reporters whispered among themselves.

"Where's Mr. Mask X? Why haven't we seen him?" a reporter asked loudly.

"What! He's already in the preparation room? How is that possible?"

"I've been here since dawn, there's no way I could miss it!" a reporter exclaimed.

"Could it be that Masked X is actually a disciple of the Ninja Master? Is this rumor true?!"

At this moment, Shirou, who was wearing the modified invisibility cloak of the Faceless King, took off his spirit dress after entering the passage.

While it was noisy and bustling outside, the lowest level of the venue's passageway did not require a parking lot. Therefore, the organizers provided a luxurious and thoughtful reception area for the four chefs, where everything they needed for daily life could be found. In addition, separate lounges were prepared for each of the four contestants.

When Erina came out of her grandfather's dressing room, she bumped into Pablo, the French chef, who was carrying a female model. Although she didn't like the middle-aged man's behavior, Erina still went up to greet him so as not to be impolite.