Cuisine Beyond Perfection / Three Old Grandpas!!

At this point, they were less than two floors away from the top floor. Although the woman spoke very softly, the two elderly people still sensed something!

"Hmph--humph!!!" A glint flashed in the Elder Liu's eyes as he raised his muscular arms, displaying his astonishing biceps and triceps.

"His clothes ripped open--!!!" Nakiri Senzaemon, not to be outdone, unleashed his signature move, pulling off his shirt to reveal his eight-pack abs.

"My grandpa who saved me isn't a muscle-bound Superman like that, chu~!" Enma-tei protested shrilly. 'A muscle-bound old man like that? He's just as perverted as a gatekeeper who's so bored he'd use swordsmanship involving Second Magic to slay a swallow!!!'

Shirou nearby, couldn't help but complain, "Grandpa... what are you guys doing? Forget it, let me just enjoy the taste of the world's finest cuisine."

"Oh my god! Time to eat! Masked X's identity is about to be revealed!" At this moment, everyone outside held their breath, staring intently at the scene on the screen.

However, Shirou's next move was beyond everyone's expectations.

Iskandar, King of Conquerors was also taken aback, then covered his forehead and burst into laughter, saying, "Hahahaha! This man is truly a masterpiece!"

"Oh wow, I didn't expect it to go this far. So this man really has his own unspeakable troubles." Caesar looked at the red-masked man below and felt a strange sense of kinship. He thought he might be able to understand this man's thoughts.

Just like how he ate himself into a ball to avoid getting involved again, that Masked X probably had a similar predicament.

"Eh? Eh? Eh?" Enma-tei's eyes widened as well.

"How could you possibly see this so easily..." Erina said irritably as she watched the live broadcast on TV in the lounge. She had put in so much effort to get Shirou to talk to her, but she still hadn't managed to get him to say a word.

Shirou slowly pressed the mechanism on the mask, and the mask changed shape, revealing a small square space where chopsticks could be inserted. He took out the chopsticks, held the bowl, and began to taste the fish and rice prepared by Elder Liu.

Viewers watching the relaxing live stream couldn't help but send comments and criticisms in the chat:

"It's so dark you can't see anything at all."

"Even masked men from the Gundam series like Char and Jack at least show their chins."

"Your mouth is so small, yet you eat so fast! Your movements are so elegant, but the rice seems to disappear layer by layer. How do you do that?"

"Damn it, I want to eat it too!"

In Shirou's memory, he often saw himself taking care of 20,000 hungry younger sisters, so busy every day that he was like the Duke of Zhou in the classic novel, even eating three times a day. He would pick up a piece of meat, but before he could even chew it, something would come up and he would have to put it down.

Fortunately, he had many good role models around him, so Shirou honed his life skills to be quick and decisive in whatever he faced.

Of course, Shirou, a lazy Shirou, was far from being able to do these things. However, because he often saw them in his memories, he gradually learned this elegant skill of the king. As long as he used this method, he could do it quickly.

When the white rice, drizzled with a special fish sauce, entered his mouth, the moment he chewed it, the aroma of rice and fish blended together, and Shirou felt a surge of flavor on his taste buds.

Haydn. Six hundred years ago, Zheng He, in the name of the Yongle Great Emperor, spread the glory of the Celestial Empire and embarked on seven voyages to the Western Ocean with his treasure ships and a fleet of hundreds of ships.

Zheng He led his fleet on a world-class maritime expedition decades earlier than the West. They left their mark in Indonesia, bringing back large quantities of spices such as pepper and medicinal herbs such as sappanwood. They reached West Asia, bringing back sappanwood from the Middle East; and on the east coast of Africa, they established diplomatic relations with local kings and chieftains, bringing back giraffes and opening up sea routes connecting the western Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean.

"This is the taste of history's sedimentation. It's truly remarkable. I've learned a lot." Shirou closed his eyes, savoring the taste carefully. Finally, he let out a long breath, clasped his hands together in appreciation, and put down his empty bowl.

"Alright, now that you've eaten, let this old man see your cooking, young man," said the Elder Liu with a smile.

"Of course!" Shirou replied.

"Eh? It's time to move on to the next one?" Francis Drake finally put down her bowl, rice still clinging to her lips. She looked apologetically at Shirou and said, "Sorry, handsome masked guy, unless the food is incredibly delicious, I probably won't be able to taste it."

"It's alright! I anticipated this from the beginning," Shirou said.

With a thud, a large draft beer glass with handles was placed on the table.

Shirou pulled a thermos from under the food cart, took out a large keg of beer from the box filled with ice, turned on the tap, and the golden beer flowed out, falling into the beer mug. The golden liquid bubbled and rolled, and the rich aroma of malt immediately filled the air.

A layer of snow-white foam formed at the top, and the level continued to rise as beer was poured in.

"This is my special sea fast food, please enjoy." Shirou pushed the beer and his food in front of the female captain and opened the thermos lid.

Shirou's dish consists of fried chicken and potato chips served with clean lettuce leaves—a simple yet satisfying meal that also provides sufficient vitamins. Its biggest selling point, of course, is its extreme simplicity and ease of preparation.

In fact, as long as Shirou writes down the recipe, anyone with a little cooking experience can make a dish that's about 70-80% similar to what he makes. So even a rough sailor sailing at sea can make the dish.

Hot, crispy fried chicken and potato chips paired with ice-cold beer are a perfect match. Francis Drake, who didn't have much of an appetite before, saw the beer and felt its refreshing coolness, which slightly opened up his previously closed appetite.

Drake grabbed her beer mug, tilted her head back, and downed it in one gulp. A little golden liquid leaked out and trickled down her neck.

The golden liquid, seemingly imbued with the mystical power of Dionysus, awakened the woman's memories. Drake felt as if she had returned to her 16th-century seafaring life, when she had just made a name for herself, having retired from the Navy and established her own pirate crew with her old crew members. The brand-new Golden Deer had only recently set sail. Her head was on a wanted poster, with a reward of 220 million Berries... wait, no, actually it was Spain.

She led her men to a life of unparalleled freedom on the high seas, free from the constraints of the law, wantonly plundering the empire's merchant ships, using them to transport enslaved people and all sorts of luxury goods, making a very profitable business.

Then she indulged in the spoils of her plunder, fighting with others by day with a matchlock gun and a sword, and drinking all night long on ships and in secret bases. This was all part of her youth.

While Shirou's cuisine may not be as ornate and elegant as Nakiri Senzaemon's, nor as dazzling as the dishes of the Elder Liu, he has created his own style. The perfectly balanced dishes, illuminated by warm, beige lighting, create a unique and cozy atmosphere that makes one feel natural and comfortable.

The entire glass of beer was quickly finished. Drake wiped her mouth, laughed, and exclaimed loudly, "Ahhhhh! Great beer! So satisfying!"

"Delicious! Whether it's the luminous dishes, the sashimi, the fish rice, or even this fried chicken, everything is so good! What I ate in my previous life was absolutely awful!" Sister Drake exclaimed, raising her empty glass and shouting, "Beer! Another one!"

"Hey, hey, don't just drink alcohol! This is already your fifth beer. Are you going to drink until you pass out?" Shirou frowned, but still poured the female captain another beer.

"It's alright, it's alright! Whether it's wine or beer, it won't kill anyone! Even if other pirates invade now, I can kill them all back! Hiccup~!" Big Sister Francis chuckled and hiccuped.

"Don't die, even though you've already died once... And what about the judging results? Can you tell me now?" Shirou asked, feeling that if he didn't ask now, he'd never have the chance again.

"Yes, of course! This beer is the perfect match for fried chicken, it's absolutely perfect! Passed!" Francis announced, raising her hand. If the occasion weren't so inappropriate, she would have liked to pull out her gun and fire a few salutes.

"Oh! I'm sorry for the poor hospitality!" Shirou replied with a smile. It was worth the effort he put into finding a manufacturer and obtaining the beer stock. After some processing and blending, he finally recreated the beer flavor of the 16th-century Britain coastal region, perfectly suited to the pirates' tastes.

Chapter 446 Beyond the Ultimate Cuisine

Since the start of the final four rounds of the God of Cookery Cup, the competition has gradually become more intense due to the amazing performances of these three. The five judges on the rooftop have also expressed their growing anticipation for the competition, which has also generated a great deal of buzz on television and online.

"What a wonderful match! I knew I wasn't wrong. By connecting different regions, different food cultures will give birth to new culinary brilliance, which will become even more dazzling in the hands of these people," Caesar said, spreading one hand in admiration.

"As expected of Lord Caesar!" Cleopatra exclaimed, clasping her hands together in praise.

"Hehehe, Batra, no need to praise me like that. It's all thanks to the players' hard work that we had such a wonderful match. But that beer... I'd like one too!" Caesar said with a smile and a wave of his hand.

"Lady Boudica, tell that female pirate captain to drink less and leave some wine for us," said Iskandar, King of Conquerors, also craving a drink.

"Haha, this is such a big bucket, we probably can't finish it all," Boudica said with a gentle smile.

At this moment, Captain Francis, her face flushed from drinking, stretched out her arms to hug the beer keg, turned on the tap, and poured herself a full glass. Facing the camera, she raised her mug high and cheerfully said, "Cheers!"

Viewers online are chatting using bullet comments.

"All the dishes look delicious."

"I guess I really am a pufferfish sashimi fanatic. Wild pufferfish, that's a limited-edition delicacy every year!"

"I grew up by the sea. The fish rice dish made with leftover small fish is cheap and delicious, and it feels especially familiar. Although I've never eaten a dish that glows before."

"Pufferfish sashimi, a seafood rice bowl reminiscent of the 'Great Voyage' series, but next up is a beer set meal?! Are you kidding me?!"

"Haha, I didn't expect that Masked X would be making beer combos."

"But I didn't expect the gatekeeper this time to be such a heavy drinker."

"But it looks really delicious! I suddenly feel like going to a bar."

"I kind of miss the taste of stir-fried snails from the street food stalls."

"Let's go to an izakaya! Anyone want to meet up in Shinjuku? Let's drink our fill tonight!"

As the saying goes, the layman sees the spectacle, while the expert sees the craft. Shirou's cooking brought smiles to the faces of the audience. But to the experts, the meaning was entirely different.

Although Shirou broke the deadlock only by using the power of the chilled beer, Shirou did manage to get Francis Drake, the gatekeeper who had already had a hearty meal, to eat and drink to his heart's content once again.

You have to understand that the subtle flavors of a luminous dish meticulously prepared by a master chef from China are not something an ordinary person can easily bypass.

"Wow, I didn't expect such an unconventional approach. It's not about expressing your own personal journey to the fullest, but about giving the other person the warmest and most considerate experience. That's quite a gentle approach. But you've certainly embarked on a path that's uniquely yours..." The Elder Liu looked at the masked man with great surprise, sighed, and seemed to be deep in thought.

"I just want everyone who has eaten my cooking to feel happy." Shirou nodded to the Elder Liu beside him. This was his answer. This dish did not conform to common sense or the righteous way of moderation, nor did it rely on the ultimate deliciousness to conquer the world and dominate everything.

Instead, it is the most ordinary and commonplace humanity, using empathy to embrace the hearts of others, allowing those who miss local cuisine to taste the flavors of their hometown; and preparing home-style dishes for those who miss the warmth of family.

The city is developing, being demolished and rebuilt, changing its appearance every year. Prices are soaring, the quality of ingredients is declining, vegetables have lost their luster, and the eels and shrimp in the streams have all disappeared.

However, food prices have changed from single digits with few customers to three digits with everyone scrambling to buy them and demand exceeding supply. Everything is changing, even the types of gutter oil and the recipes for its preparation have changed dozens of times.

When people look back, they want to find that flavor they enjoyed more than ten years ago, but they can no longer find it.

Insulated boxes made of styrofoam contained popsicles sold by vendors, and crunchy pies. Street food vendors and various cheap and delicious snacks from the small shops outside the school made you feel like a tycoon if you had ten yuan in your pocket. You would be surrounded by all your classmates, who would beg you to treat them.

Traditional street food stalls are gradually disappearing, replaced by milk tea, cakes, and Western fast food. These foods will become homogenized memories for the next generation and the generation after that.

Even if you painstakingly find a similar little shop in the old town, the taste is never the same as it used to be. The most delicious food you ate in your childhood, the dishes your mother made, the dishes your grandmother cooked—they all contain a mysterious power that you cherish for a lifetime. People try to find something forgotten deep in their memories through food, but they can never find it again.

Shirou didn't want such a thing to happen. Food, clothing, shelter, and transportation are the basic necessities for human survival. Basically, as long as these four needs are met, there won't be any major disputes. At least, during the changes of dynasties and the alternation of power, the peasant uprisings and banditry that inevitably occurred would not escalate.

However, survival has always been difficult. Faced with the ruthlessness of nature and the unavoidable laws of birth, aging, sickness, and death, we are helpless. Even in modern society, which has undergone earth-shattering changes compared to the past, countless tragedies still occur every day. Once they happen, people can only bear them in their own ways.

Therefore, people's needs for clothing, food, housing, and transportation are not just the most basic: being warm and well-fed, having a draft-free place to live, and being able to squeeze onto a subway. They also need to continuously improve their quality, bringing some comfort and encouragement to wounded hearts. Even if it's just a little bit, it's hoped that it can help some people.

Just as a professional hero must put the people's lives after his own, Shirou sincerely believes that a professional chef's dishes should also be designed to bring happiness to people.

Even if this kind of happiness seems insignificant, in fact, if even these insignificant little moments of happiness are lost, people will feel immense pain and regret.

Yes, this red-masked chef is neither a simple cook like the Elder Liu, who only pursues the ultimate in culinary skills, nor a great educator like Nakiri Senzaemon, who establishes culinary academies, expands his influence, and diligently spreads the cuisine of Japan throughout the world.

He's just a humble cook working in a small, ordinary canteen, diligently preparing meals that bring happiness to ordinary, hardworking people every day.

"..." Nakiri Senzaemon crossed his arms and silently looked at Shirou, as if he were seeing him in a new light. In fact, he was also deeply shocked. The pufferfish sashimi that he had meticulously prepared for three months and put all his effort into was clearly inferior when compared to the old chef's fish rice.

Of course, if his opponent was the veteran chef, he would accept defeat wholeheartedly. However, Shirou's beer set meal also received praise from the gatekeeper.

Nakiri Senzaemon thought to himself, "I thought I had a higher opinion of Shirou than anyone else, but I was wrong after all. Shirou was never my type from the start, which is why his cooking is so unique and has reached the pinnacle of perfection."

Shirou's cooking style is actually just ordinary home cooking, but it is this ordinariness that has made him who he is today. Every day, he makes a hundred dishes without interruption, bringing people the warmth of food that feels like being cared for by a mother.

This is the heart of a chef who puts people first, which in English is one-for-all-!!! or Everyone's Mom. In the world of One Piece, it's BIG-MOM!

At this moment, in Nakiri Senzaemon had become a rising star, a hopeful person who might one day catch up with the old master chef Liu.

"Well then, it's time for the French chefs to take their turn," Francis said.

At this moment, Pablo, who had just finished cooking, finally pushed his food cart up. He had become surprisingly low-key since returning from the lounge.

Francis Drake looked at Pablo and said with a smile, "You have quite the eye, aren't you? Full of ambition, those are menacing eyes."

For pirates, observing the survival of the fittest and the law of the jungle on the high seas, embarking on expeditions in an era of imperfect navigation technology, everything was in accordance with fate. If they were protected by God, they would turn danger into safety even when encountering storms, tornadoes, and towering waves.

If you're unlucky, even a small storm can capsize the boat, sink it to the bottom of the sea, and feed the sharks.

Even if you survived and drifted to an island, there was no way to call for help from your homeland. No ships would be passing by, and no planes would be coming to search for you. Even if you resigned yourself to your fate and prepared to survive on this deserted island like Bear Grylls, you might not become Robinson Crusoe. After all, the uncivilized island might not only be inhabited by Friday, but also by a bunch of ferocious cannibals.

Pirates are incredibly cunning and cruel, like sharks, sometimes ganging up on their prey, sometimes fighting amongst themselves, and mercilessly killing their former comrades.

If it were the other way around, and she were slightly weaker and killed or captured, then she would deserve it. No matter how she was treated—whether she was eaten by cannibals or captured by the enemy and enslaved to do hard labor—it was all fate, and she could only accept it, whether she laughed or cried.

If it were Francis, perhaps he could have understood Pablo's ambition, but unfortunately Pablo didn't appreciate it.

"I don't know what you're talking about, please hurry up and taste it," Pablo said coldly. He had no good feelings towards these British man.

Pablo's dish was French steak, served with a few slices of onion and cauliflower, accompanied by a glass of fine red wine.

The steak is dipped in egg wash, then deep-fried in a pan until medium-rare, just turning a reddish-brown color with a hint of brown, leaving a nice diamond-shaped pattern. Finally, it's drizzled with a layer of bright red tomato sauce.

Pablo also added four red dots with tomato sauce on the lower right side of the steak, enhancing the visual appeal of the food.

"Okay, okay, I'll eat now." Francis agreed, picked up his knife and fork, and began to taste the Pablo steak. As he cut into the steak with his knife, bloody myoglobin flowed out from the inside, mixing with the tomato sauce.

After tasting a piece of beef, the female captain put down her knife and fork, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Hmm, how should I put it, this time your cooking just feels a little lacking."

Francis Drake's assessment was correct; Pablo's performance was like being a level below par, even weaker than in previous matches.

"What! You mean to say my cooking is no good?" Pablo asked angrily.

"Well, it was quite delicious, but I ate too much beforehand, so I was too full. However, it's true that it felt a little lacking in flavor. I can't quite put my finger on it, is it because I couldn't feel the chef's sincerity?"

"Alright, alright! I tasted your cooking on the rooftop before, and it was indeed very good. I'll let you pass this time! I look forward to your future performances! Make even more delicious food!" Sister Francis laughed heartily and patted Pablo on the shoulder.

"Hmph! That's more like it!" Pablo snorted, but he had already made up his mind. This woman had a scar on her face and was quite pretty, but she wasn't his type. And she was so ungrateful; it seemed she was only fit to be a slave.

"Then may I go upstairs to the next level?" Pablo asked coldly.

"Oh, all the contestants, please go upstairs," the female captain replied with a smile.

At this moment, on the rooftop, the stunningly beautiful Consort Yu with long, dark brown hair stood up. She crossed her arms and looked down, sneering, "Hmph! Finally, it's my turn! I've brought in the most brutal and ruthless being! Let's see if he doesn't wipe out all these humans!"

Shirou and the others walked upstairs and arrived at a dark palace with an ancient Chinese style. There stood a tall and majestic figure with an aura as strong as a pine tree.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a lean elderly man with short gray hair and sunglasses. He was only 1.66 meters tall, with a thin build and almost no excess flesh. He was wearing a red long robe and mandarin jacket, black trousers, and gray cloth shoes.

Incredibly, he seemed to possess a unique aura, appearing much taller and stronger than he actually was. Even a burly man, over six feet tall, seemed to lose some of his imposing presence in his presence, making him impossible to underestimate. Even just standing there motionless, his presence was impossible to ignore.

"During my time at Enma-tei Inn, I accepted the fairy's invitation to serve as the gatekeeper for this occasion," said a lean, elderly man with short, gray hair, wearing small round-framed sunglasses and a red mandarin jacket.

Chapter 447 Three Old Men!!

This old man is none other than the guardian of the fourth level! The martial arts master from China invited by Consort Yu — the Iron Fist Unrivaled and the Li Shuwen the Divine Spear! Master Li!