"Please, may I sit here?"
Hearing this familiar yet somewhat detestable voice, Aglaea knew who it was without even turning her head.
"You're actually late? This doesn't seem like your style at all. I thought you'd be waiting for us early."
"Hahaha… Aglaea." Caenis sat down beside Aglaea without any hesitation. "I was just accompanying one of my clients—no, I should call him my partner—to the hospital. He's doing much better now."
"Partner?" Aglaea looked at Caenis with some suspicion. "From your expression, your partner seems quite exceptional?"
Caenis gave a smug smile. "Exceptional? That's an understatement. With his support, the outcome was decided long ago."
Sitting in the row behind, Kiana furrowed her brows tightly. She whispered to Hyacine beside her, "Who's this old hag? She talks so pretentiously!"
"Kiana-bao, she's a former shareholder of the Golden Grand Hotel. Later, she incited other board members to impeach Lady Aglaea, taking away most of the hotel's funds and nearly destroying the Golden Grand Hotel.
Fortunately, Lady Aglaea used her own savings to fill the gap, preserving the hotel."
At this point, even the usually gentle and kind Hyacine couldn't help but feel a surge of indignation.
"Although I didn't quite understand, if it made even you angry, Hyacine, then she must be a huge villain!"
The whispers from the back row went completely ignored by Caenis, who maintained the smile on her face. "Aglaea, there are 7 groups of contestants inside. Have you considered that 6 of them are mine?"
"No need to tell me—I can see it." Aglaea replied coldly.
"Unfortunately, it's more than that. With my partner's help, the upcoming victory is assured. Contestants, judges, backers—everything is in place. So this God of Cooking competition is definitely ours.
It's just like a variety show: designate one person, inherit a title, then manipulate things to make that title famous throughout the culinary world, attracting self-proclaimed high-class tycoons to spend money. You should understand the logic."
"So what exactly are you trying to say by coming to me now? Give me a business warfare lecture? Or prove you're commercially savvy?" Aglaea was not provoked; on the contrary, she remained completely calm.
"To be honest, the championship means nothing to me anymore, but my partner insists I must win it." Caenis gave a wicked smile.
"Honestly, don't blame me. I don't want to offend my partner. I hope you understand this is all just business."
"You've talked for so long—who exactly is your partner?"
"The Dream Grand Hotel. In other words, you can think of it as Mihoyo Film Company. So, on stage, which side do you think Judge Ratio will stand on? You should know better than anyone.
With the judge I selected—Tang Niu—how exactly do you plan to win? Even if you found Anaxa's student as your contestant, will that great performer really stand on your side?"
Aglaea: "…"
Behind them, Kiana was grinding her teeth in anger. "I want to punch her!"
Just as she was about to stand up, a hand pressed her down. "Don't rush—the real show is just beginning."
Kiana turned and saw it was Su Chen, who had somehow sat behind her.
"Boss, when did you get here?"
Su Chen made a shushing gesture and spoke softly, "A while ago. At least I've heard everything worth hearing."
"Boss, look at that old hag next to Auntie Aglaea—quick, use your sister's reserve vocabulary to curse her! I don't understand what she's saying, but I'm so pissed! (｀ﾍ´)=3!"
"You're getting impatient again. Just watch patiently."
——
On stage.
After Mydei and Phainon finished preparing the ingredients, they placed them in front of Castorice.
However, Castorice still hadn't started.
Mydei asked with concern, "What's wrong, Castorice? Haven't decided what dish to make yet?"
"No, Lord Mydei, I just don't know…" Castorice raised her gloved hands. "Will I have to wear gloves forever to make delicious food from now on?"
Faced with this question, Mydei was momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond.
The Phainon trio stood stunned, while the other contestants had already begun cooking vigorously.
"No matter what—win or lose—don't put too much pressure on yourself. We still have a chance." Phainon didn't really know how to comfort her either; he could only reluctantly offer some chicken soup consolation, since he hadn't even figured out his own issues.
At that moment.
Castorice removed her gloves and went to the sink, washing her hands repeatedly.
"I think… I'm still better as my original self."
Mydei and Phainon exchanged smiles and gave her big thumbs-up together.
"Looks like our Chef Castorice has completely figured it out. Just say whatever you need."
"This time in the Suspended Edge Dictionary, there will definitely be your instructions."
Castorice nodded slightly. "Thank you both for indulging my willfulness. I want to cook a bowl of soup."
...
"Alright, everyone! After a long wait, contestant Castorice from the Golden Grand Hotel has finally begun! Let's see what kind of awakening she'll bring us!"
Owlbert energetically narrated the situation on the field.
At this moment, Anaxa looked at Castorice with a relieved smile. "She's finally learned something."
He cast a glance toward Aglaea in the audience. Their eyes met—no words, just a tacit nod.
Soon after.
"Time's up! Now, please have each contestant bring their dishes to the three judges for tasting in order. First up, contestant number one…"
Under Owlbert's direction, the competition entered the judging phase.
"Hello, judges. This is my Super Invincible Ocean-View Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, made with black-bone chicken, abalone, wild ginseng, shark fin…"
Contestant number one rattled off an endless introduction of their dish.
——
Seeing this, Caenis couldn't help laughing. "This is part of the tactic too. Your chef appearing as number seven already has a natural disadvantage.
So number one deliberately starts with this slightly greasy dish to disrupt the judges' palates.
And the later contestants will follow the same strategy. The further back you appear, the bigger the disadvantage!"
Aglaea remained silent, quietly observing the judges' table.
At that moment.
Two sharp voices rang out.
"Zero points. Next."
"Eliminated!"
Beside them, Tang Niu hadn't even brought the spoon to his mouth before noticing Ratio and Anaxa had already raised elimination signs.
"What the— so fast?"
Anaxa looked at contestant number one. "Diners will taste the deliciousness with their own tongues—not through the chef's endless mouth introducing the work. Did you make this dish with your mouth?"
Ratio added from the side, "Food ultimately serves only to provide nutrition to the body. Your approach can be defined as putting the cart before the horse."
"Contestant number one has already been eliminated? But Judges Ratio and Anaxa haven't even tasted it!" Even host Owlbert was shocked. "Don't be discouraged, number one. Bring that Super Invincible Ocean-View Buddha Jumps Over the Wall backstage—I'll taste it for you.
Next, contestant number two!"
Hearing this, contestant number two immediately deleted the little essay about introducing their dish from their mind.
They placed the dish directly in front of the judges without saying a single extra word.
But the next moment.
"Negative points. Next."
"Get lost."
Contestant number two was stunned—what was this now?
Anaxa sighed deeply. "Seeing that foolish look on your face, I know you're completely clueless about your own actions.
To a chef, a dish is like their own child—yet not a single introduction! If you don't even understand your own child, why expect us judges to understand it?"
Contestant number two blinked. "Hey, I—"
"Didn't expect number two to get eliminated so naturally either, burp~." Owlbert had overeaten and lost composure. "Sorry, contestant number two, don't be discouraged—come back next year. Remember to bring the dish backstage; I'll say a few words for you. Next, contestant number three."
Next came the third contestant.
From their expression, it was clear they were panicking—speak or not speak? Was this a God of Cooking competition or a crosstalk show?
They never imagined the first skill a chef needed to train was eloquence!
"Uh, my dish, uh… is called…" Contestant number three kept glancing at Ratio and Anaxa's expressions. "Uh… it's called… Twin Wings Soaring Together."
Anaxa and Ratio exchanged a glance and nodded.
Contestant number three let out a long breath—good, at least the plate made it to the table before elimination.
Just as they felt relieved, Ratio spoke. "Next."
"Huh? Why? This isn't wrong, is it?"
Ratio gave a mocking smile. "You hesitated even on a simple dish introduction—it shows you lack confidence in your own work. How can judges have confidence to taste such a dish?"
At that moment, Owlbert's voice rang again. "Burp~, I can't eat anymore. Burp~, contestant number three eliminated. Leave it backstage; I'll eat it later… Eh? Miss Kiana, why are you here?"
Owlbert quickly cut the microphone.
——
Watching this scene, Caenis below the stage widened her eyes in shock, completely stunned. It felt like Ratio and Anaxa had coordinated in advance. "How could this happen?"
A smile finally appeared on Aglaea's face. From all the signs, someone was clearly setting up the situation.
And that person was sitting right behind her.
At this moment, Aglaea could hardly suppress the upward curve of her lips. "Looks like your strategy failed. Seems the judges aren't buying it at all."
"Hmph, just wait and see. You think I don't have a backup plan?"
——
Next, Ratio and Anaxa eliminated all the remaining contestants with various reasons.
Yet their explanations seemed to carry an air of truth that compelled belief.
Finally, number seven—Castorice—took the stage. She carefully carried her tray to the judges' table.
She lifted the cover, revealing a bowl of black soup to the three judges.
"This is soup? Why make a soup?" Anaxa asked.
Castorice nodded slightly and said softly, "Yes, because drinking soup before the main course lubricates the digestive tract, activates digestion, and makes subsequent eating smoother."
Anaxa smiled faintly, clearly satisfied with the answer. He pointed at the black soup. "What's its name?"
"I named it 'Styx River'."
"Styx River? A very bold name—I like it."
"Isn't naming it that really unlucky for eating?" Tang Niu couldn't help complaining, but his stomach was indeed hungry. He ladled a bowl and immediately took a sip.
Suddenly, he clutched his throat tightly, his expression extremely pained and twisted. "I think I just saw my great-grandma waving at me."
Thud—he collapsed face-first onto the table, motionless.
Below the stage, Caenis was greatly shocked. As expected of the Tang Niu she carefully selected—his acting was so realistic, just like he really died!
She grinned wildly at Aglaea. "See that? If I can't win, at least you won't win either!"
Aglaea made no response, but her furrowed brows showed she still had concerns.
Even Su Chen couldn't help sighing. "Is this the moment of judgment? No way—Jane told me Castorice's cooking has improved tremendously. Why does this seem even more ridiculous than the previous cake?"
——
Meanwhile.
Seeing Tang Niu's tragedy, Anaxa and Ratio felt a chill inside.
Anaxa stared at the black soup on the tray and took a deep breath.
Then resolve filled his eyes. Believing in his student, he drank a sip without hesitation.
Suddenly.
Anaxa opened his eyes to find himself in an unfamiliar place.
Before him flowed a river, its banks covered in white flowers.
Not far away stood a striking red bridge, and on the bridge was an old woman holding a bowl, saying to him, "Young man, come have a bowl. Drink it, and you'll forget all your troubles!"
Slap—
Anaxa gave himself a hard slap, shook his head, and finally returned to the competition site.
"So magical—this experience is so wonderful! Professor Ratio, you must try it!"
Ratio was half-doubting, but Anaxa's eyes were too sincere. With a testing mindset, he also took a small sip.
The moment it went down, his body felt light, as if floating among clouds.
After drifting who-knows-how-long, several figures appeared before him.
The knowledgeable Ratio recognized them and called out their names: "Newton? Einstein? Darwin? Da Vinci? Edison? Curie? Tesla?"
The great scientists of history waved to Ratio.
"Come, Ratio. Join us. Seek truth together with us."
Ratio clenched his fists and pounded his chest hard.
Through relentless effort, he felt a rapid falling sensation.
"Huff~ huff~ huff~"
Ratio wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "I almost found the truth!"
He turned to Anaxa.
Both spoke in unison: "Castorice, qualified!"
——