A Shokugeki Against the Wicked / The Red Emperor Nero

"Hello, Chef Pablo, welcome to the Kingdom of He."

The French chef scanned the blonde woman, his eyes lighting up, and asked, "Wow, who are you?"

"I am Nakiri Erina."

"Nakiri... Ah, I've heard of you. You're quite popular in the restaurant industry, and many people want to invite you to taste their dishes. Although my restaurants don't need to go to such lengths, you're quite impressive, and I'm interested in you." The French chef looked at the blonde woman with a strange gaze and spoke in a deep, enigmatic voice.

When Erina was being stared at like that, she felt extremely uncomfortable.

"Wait, don't you already have me? Don't look for other women," the female model said coquettishly, clinging to the French chef's hand.

Slap! Slap! The French chef slapped the female model across the face, sending her flying, and yelled angrily.

"I don't need women telling me what to do. If you don't want me to have you thrown out right now, shut up! I can have as many bitches like you as I want with a flick of my wrist!"

"..." The female model, who had fallen to the ground, had a red handprint on her face and was completely stunned. Although she had heard that Pablo was difficult to get along with, she never expected him to be like this...

"Wait! How could you be so rude to a woman!" Erina said angrily.

"Erina, your tongue is quite interesting, and your face is pretty too. How about coming back to France with me? This island nation isn't suitable for you; I can offer you more in Paris. If you want, you can even stay in my villa forever. Hehehehe!" Pablo looked at the woman with a wicked glint in his eyes, stuck out his tongue, and licked his lips.

"You! Do you know what you're saying?! Is this your kind of manners?" Erina said angrily.

"Well, I'll let you taste the dish I've prepared then. I'm sure you'll change your mind. I'm really looking forward to seeing you all proud and queen-like now, and then kneeling down and begging me for mercy." Pablo said, reaching out to touch Erina's face.

At that moment, a strong hand reached out and grabbed the groping hand.

A masked man in a red chef's combat suit appeared beside the blonde woman.

"Sir!... Yes, Mr. X, you've arrived!" Erina exclaimed happily.

"Ah, what a surprise. A renowned chef from France, yet he lacks any gentlemanly manners; he's worse than a lowly scoundrel." Shirou said, gripping the other's wrist and pulling him away from the blonde girl. He then turned to Erina beside him and said slowly, "Faced with such a lovely and charming lady, he seems to have no chivalry, no consideration for a lady's feelings. I simply couldn't stand it any longer and took matters into my own hands. Please forgive me, Miss."

"Bastard! Hillbilly! Ugly ghost in a mask! Lowly yellow-skinned Monkey! Who are you calling a scoundrel?! Damn it! Let go!" The French chef tried to break free from Shirou's grip, but found that the other man was as strong as a vise. He used all his strength but could not move. Trying to resist only made his wrists, which were being held, ache terribly.

"It's said that the words a person frequently uses to attack others are often the very flaws they're most afraid to expose in their subconscious. Mr. Pablo! It seems you have a lot of vulnerabilities and insecurities. If you want me to let go, shouldn't you say something beforehand?" Shirou asked calmly.

Chapter 437 Shokugeki Against Villains

"Bastard... bastard... how dare you talk to me like that!!!" Pablo seemed to have been hit where it hurt, his face flushed red with anger, his nostrils flared as if they were about to breathe fire, setting his bearded man on fire.

"It seems you still don't understand." Shirou gently pulled the other's hand away and said calmly. Although he had retired from his dream of being a champion of justice, he still couldn't help but teach villains a lesson if they encountered them face-to-face.

"It hurts! It hurts so much! Stop! Stop!!!" Pablo cried out, falling to the side.

"I know, I apologize. Let go first, young man, you don't need to make everyone unhappy because of a moment of impulse." French chef Pablo rolled his eyes at the red-masked man in front of him and changed the subject.

At that moment, his other hand reached into a hidden spot in his pocket, where a dagger was concealed. He gripped the dagger, ready to teach this offender a lesson.

He was very sensible; as long as he didn't injure his opponent and prevent them from competing, neither this island nation, whose economy had been in recession and stagnation due to aging, the passive and low-desire consumption of the younger generation, nor the organizers of the elaborate event would want any problems to arise in this globally watched competition.

The country hopes to leverage this opportunity to host a world-class conference to revitalize its economy, vigorously develop its tourism industry, and promote its arts and culture.

The organizers have already invested a huge amount of resources, manpower, and financial resources, which would be a huge burden even for a developed country. If the project starts strong but ends weakly, they simply cannot afford such a loss.

Pablo that his connections with the European media would put pressure on them. As long as the masked man wasn't seriously injured and hospitalized, he was very experienced in stabbing him in whatever pain he was in.

Pablo's eyes flashed with malice, and he grabbed a hidden dagger with his other hand.

"You two, stop right there!! Don't forget, this is Wa Province!" At this moment Nakiri Senzaemon walked over and shouted loudly.

"Yes, yes, just as you said." Shirou released Pablo's wrist; he had been prepared to break it if Pablo had made a move.

"Hmph!! You're lucky!" Pablo glared fiercely at Shirou, gripping his aching, trembling hand, and said in a deep voice, "Kid! I'll remember you! Watch out for this hand of yours."

"Pablo! This isn't the European underworld, a place where you can run wild!" Nakiri Senzaemon shouted angrily. He wasn't the kind of person who would stand by and do nothing while his granddaughter was being bullied.

The famous French chef chuckled strangely and took two steps back, looking at the old man and saying, "I'll give you face this time, Nakiri. But you're really meddling in other people's business. You're practically an old man on your deathbed, don't die here, or I'll take over the power of this island nation for you, including your family, hehehehehehehehehehehehehe."

Pablo was not afraid of this old man who was already quite frail and whose influence was mainly limited to the country and Northern Europe.

"You! You unrepentant wretch..." Erina shouted angrily.

At that moment, with a creak, the door to the lounge at the very front of the passage opened, and out stepped a tall, robust old man with a thick, white beard as heavy as a mountain, wearing a red headscarf. The surroundings immediately fell silent, and everyone turned to look at him.

"Master Liu!" Erina exclaimed in surprise.

"Brother Liu!" Nakiri Senzaemon greeted him with clasped hands. Although the media assumed he and the old man were of the same generation, he had actually heard of the culinary master's name when he first graduated from his apprenticeship.

"I'm sorry to bother you," Shirou apologized.

"I'm sorry, Senior Liu! Here's what happened!" Erina tried to explain.

"No need for further explanation. Your argument was so loud; I could hear it all clearly with my hearing." The Elder Liu stopped Erina, glanced at everyone, and then said, "Pablo, I only have one thing to say to you."

This time, the once arrogant underground emperor, Pablo, put away his domineering face and respectfully lowered his head, saying, "Yes, please speak."

The Elder Liu, opened his eyes wide, which were as sharp as a dragon's or a falcon's, and in an instant they were like a peerless sword drawn from its sheath. The light reflected from them was so sharp that one felt a chill as if being pierced through.

The Elder Liu, said slowly and deliberately, "This is a cooking competition. Whatever your grudges, settle them with food. Everything else is up to you."

After saying this, the Elder Liu put his hands behind his back, nodded slightly to Shirou, Erina and the others, and then walked away.

"Yes, as you wish." Pablo bowed politely from behind the old man, placing his hands down. He was the emperor of the underworld, having built an unimaginable empire from his humble beginnings as a chef. He wasn't an arrogant fool; he was simply being humble only towards those stronger and of higher status than himself.

If an internationally renowned chef treats King and heads of state exactly the same way he treats ordinary people, even the important figures would feel uncomfortable.

Even if a street food stall owner treats you the same way he would treat a beggar rummaging through a trash can on a street corner, you, as a customer, would still feel very uncomfortable.

When he stood up again, his cold, arrogant gaze returned, fixing on Shirou as he said, "Then let's use your methods! Shokugeki! You shameless country bumpkin brat! I'll bet your hand! If I win, I'll cut off the hand that just injured me!"

"Pablo, the famous French chef, the underground emperor of Europe, you have a terrible reputation in the industry. Some people say you're domineering, and now it seems you're practically a dictator." Shirou showed no intention of backing down, looking at the other party with neither humility nor arrogance.

"Hmph, you like to hide your true feelings, and you talk so much. Well then, let's add your tongue to the list!" Pablo threatened.

Shirou said, "Is that so? Well, if I win, I'll investigate the crimes you committed, make them public, and bring you to justice."

Pablo sneered and said, "Crimes? Are you talking about the crime of helping the Queen of Britain host the President and members of Congress at a private banquet, getting them to agree to cooperate with the Little Prince in a staged war, using arms to clean up the Middle East and plunder oil? Or are you talking about the crime of helping those private arms dealers who were doing business to prepare a nice banquet dinner?"

"Law?! Hmph!" Pablo sneered again, turned and walked in the opposite direction from the Elder Liu, swinging his hands as he went, looking furious.

"What?! She's so famous, and I never expected her to be like this." Erina said angrily, crossing her arms.

"Erina, don't mess with him. He's known as the underground emperor of the European culinary world. He's shady, arrogant, and ruthless, yet he's never been punished. It seems he's used some underhanded methods. Now, quite a few people in both the political and business circles have been caught red-handed by him."

Nakiri Senzaemon grim and his expression grave, spoke, but then he burst into laughter, saying, "Well, as long as we're on the land of Wa, as long as the Nakiri family wants to stop him, he can forget about causing trouble, and there's nothing to worry about, ahahahaha."

"That's right, I know, Grandpa. I'll arrange for more security personnel to come," Erina said with a smile.

"Well, then this old man will take his leave first." Nakiri Senzaemon crossed his arms and returned to the door of his dressing room, saying, "I'm going back inside to rest. Erina and Shirou, no, that Masked One... anyway, you be careful."

"Yes, I understand, Grandpa," Erina said, embarrassed and annoyed.

During the time the Nakiri family was talking.

The female model, who had been knocked away by Pablo, sat dazedly on the ground.

"Are you alright?" Shirou stepped forward and extended his hand to her.

"Thank you." The female model grasped Shirou's hand and was pulled to her feet, still looking dazed. Her gaze wandered around, finally settling on the violent figure heading outside.

"What are you planning to do next? Go back? Or go with Pablo?" Shirou asked calmly in French.

The female model, clutching her aching face, glanced at Shirou. While grateful for his concern, she knew it was just a facade he wouldn't reveal. Head bowed, she hesitated, then couldn't help but look in the direction Pablo had gone. She looked up, gave Shirou a slightly embarrassed smile, and then chased after the famous French chef, who was angrily walking away.

Beneath the mask, Shirou's usual deadpan expression returned. This was no longer his concern; whatever the outcome, it was all the female model's own choice...

At that moment, the blonde woman walked over and put her hand on Shirou's shoulder.

"Well, at least my taste is much better than his, don't you think?" Shirou removed his mask, tilted his head to look at the beautiful blonde woman beside him, and asked with a light laugh.

"Yes, but not as good as my taste!" Erina said proudly, affectionately hugging Shirou's shoulder.

On the other side... Pablo walked to the bathroom, turned on the tap, and let a lot of water flow out as he washed his wrists, where a red mark was left where he had been restrained.

For the proud man, this was an utter disgrace. He hadn't suffered such humiliation in over a decade since he stole his master's exclusive recipe and rose to power. He kicked over a toilet door.

Pablo was destroying everything around him, but that wasn't enough to vent his anger. He needed a more thorough way to release the fury in his heart...

At that moment, the female model walked over, stood in front of the restroom door, and knocked.

Pablo glanced back at her and said, "So you did follow me after all. Oh well, looks like you're a woman with a brain after all."

"Darling, I love you," the female model said as she strode into the restroom.

Public toilets in the country are famously clean, which is why toilet food is so popular; there's really no need to worry about stench or bacteria. Pablo simply unbuttoned his pants, pulled them down, and sat directly on the toilet, ordering the female model, "Come here."

The female model, her face still bearing the red handprint of a slap, greeted him with a sweet smile befitting a beauty pageant contestant.

"Wait!" Pablo coldly stopped her.

"Eh..." The female model froze on the spot.

Pablo's cold eyes said, "Kneel down and crawl over here!"

Before long, a rustling sound came from the toilet, the sound of clothes rubbing against the floor, and the crawling sound of some large animal.

Pablo dialed a number, and the name displayed on the phone was... Koyanskaya.

"Hey, it's me! I've agreed to your condition from last time. Give me that colorless and odorless poison!"

He spoke in a low, menacing voice, as if cursing, through gritted teeth.

"Damn it! One after another, you dare to offend me! Just you wait! Once I obtain the title of 'God of Cookery' and that sacred pot, none of you will escape. I will overthrow everything you're so proud of, bankrupt you, and enslave you! Then I will buy you all, cut off the tongues and hands of the men and feed them to the fish, and lock the women up as slaves!"

The female model kneeling between his legs, servicing him, trembled with fear.

Meanwhile, in the magnificent hall, on the very top floor of the building specifically used for hosting events, the five judges were resting.

At that moment, Cleopatra, the female pharaoh who was handling various matters outside, pushed open the door and walked in.

"Oh, well then, gentlemen, the conference is about to begin," Caesar said, standing up and clapping his hands.

"Hahaha, that's wonderful, I've been looking forward to it for a long time." Iskandar, King of Conquerors was playing the Civilization series on a large screen while holding the handle connected to his home console, laughed and agreed.

"Yes, I have no problem. And Miss Yu?" Boudica, sitting on either side of the sofa, one in red and one in black, smiled warmly at the girl who True Ancestor.

"I have no objection either." Consort Yu, sitting opposite, seemed a little uneasy being stared at so affectionately. She was not good at dealing with humans, especially those who were kind to her.

If the person is a malicious villain, although she hates killing, she will kill them when there is no other way. However, if the person is a kind human being, she cannot bring herself to do it.

She could only feel restless and uneasy, with goosebumps rising on her skin. Fortunately, Boudica on the other side was already Servant, so to some extent, she could accept it.

Chapter 438 The Red Emperor Nero

Four out of the five judges approved, so everyone turned their attention to the last key figure.

"I'm ready too, chu~! Oh right!" the red-haired little girl replied, then suddenly seemed to remember something and jumped off the chair.

"Cleopatra, take them with you. I feel more at ease with them here!" Enma-tei walked up to Cleopatra, looked up and said.

"Yes? Little Boss Hong, did you bring any other helpers?" Cleopatra asked curiously.

"Chirp chirp~ Chirp chirp chirp~!" At this moment, three blue sparrows hiding behind Enma-tei's hair peeked out and looked over, tilting their heads at the female pharaoh. They were three Noble Bird from a certain monster apartment, and because they were all acquaintances, they were brought over by Enma-tei.

For some reason, Cleopatra seemed to sense a strange, oppressive aura emanating from them.

For a fleeting moment, it seemed like the Sun King, Goetia, and Kira Yoshikage Kira, who adored Da Vinci —no! Ashiya Douman...

Cleopatra rubbed her eyes and looked again, finding that they had turned back into three Noble Bird. She breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It was just my imagination. It's because I've been staring at Lord Caesar for so long, it's just too dazzling, and my eyes can't take it anymore."

"Don't worry, I won't let anything escape!"

"Beautiful and delicious food, muah~!"

"Leave it all to us, chirp!"

"Chirp chirp~ chirp chirp ah chirp~!" the three little birds said as they flew to Cleopatra's shoulder.

When Shirou saw the girl's face, his eyelids twitched, and his mind jolted as memories of another version of himself from another world surged into his head.

Atop the small buildings in the European-style residential area, bursts of eerie sounds emanated intermittently—sometimes vibrations of sound waves, sometimes the breath of a dragon. There were also thunderclaps without light and howling tornadoes swirling above the high-rises.

"Anisama ~! But this karaoke thing is so much fun~! It can create all sorts of accompaniment effects without using magic. Mmm~ Mmm! Daily practice is very important, I'm so happy~!" A little girl with bright red hair and blonde hair said, holding up a microphone.

"Shirou -chan, please! Once we've finished practicing, we'll definitely invite you to be the first to audition!" A Little Dragon Girl with long pink hair said with a smile.

"Is... is that so? Well then, you guys practice well. I have something to do, so I'll go out for a bit." Shirou replied with a wry smile.

"Hey... are we leaving already? We haven't even finished the first song yet!" Little Nero said, puffing out his cheeks.

Little Dragon Girl patted Little Nero on the shoulder and said confidently, "It's alright, my Destined Rival, let's not worry about now, we'll still be together in the future!"

Hearing her sisters' words, Little Nero couldn't help but let her imagination run wild. Finally, a bright smile appeared on her face as she nodded repeatedly, saying, "Yes! She truly is my destined rival! A grand concert! That's right! We'll hold a special gratitude concert for Anisama, a massive banquet with 20,000 seats!"

"Hahaha... Well then, goodbye." Shirou strode out the door, letting out a helpless sigh. This was the top floor of a European-style apartment building, with soundproofing both inside and out, making it practically perfect as a music room. But...

"Shirou." Waiting by the wall near the door was Artoria Lancer Altera, a powerful woman dressed in a black women's suit. She wasn't busy today, so she came to visit Shirou.