That crazy look was even more intense than before.
"One—" ZX.
While Gin was eating, Link also came before Sanji.
The two exchanged their spoons and the food in them simultaneously, then put them into their mouths.
"As expected of Sanji!"
As soon as the extremely delicious seafood fried rice entered his mouth, a wonderful taste instantly bloomed on Link's taste buds, making him narrow his eyes for a moment.
"This taste..."
Sanji, on the other hand, looked at the empty spoon in his hand with some shock, still savoring the taste of that single bite of rice bowl.
That enchanting taste... This was simply the best-tasting rice bowl he had ever eaten in his life!
"I lost!"
He let out a long sigh, sounding a little downcast.
Being defeated in his most proficient field certainly didn't feel good.
Without needing any further judgment, he had already chosen to concede.
Moreover, he lost wholeheartedly; he truly couldn't replicate such an ultimate flavor that seemed to hit one's taste buds perfectly.
"You're too kind."
Link also smiled, not at all surprised by the victory.
"Yay!"
Luffy immediately jumped up.
Although not being able to eat their dishes was a great regret in his life, seeing Link win the competition meant that this highly skilled vice-chef would join them.
Once he was on the ship, he could still eat the dishes Link made, and Luffy was happy from the bottom of his heart.
"Indeed..."
Zoro also showed a knowing smile, "You can always trust Link."
"Mhm!"
Usopp, as well as his two subordinates, Joseph and Johnny, all nodded repeatedly.
And quietly swallowed the saliva in their throats; they really wanted to taste both of their dishes!
"What a shame..."
Nami secretly pouted; it seemed her chance to seize financial power would have to be postponed again.
As for the judge, "Demon Man" Gin, after finishing the tomato and egg rice bowl, he also showed a satisfied expression. Having recovered his strength, he noticed no one was paying attention to him, so he quietly left his seat and disappeared from the restaurant. Everyone's attention was focused on Sanji and Link.
"May I ask, how did you make this rice bowl?"
Sanji was quite puzzled by this.
With his discerning eye, he could naturally tell that the color of this rice bowl was quite ordinary, not at all indicative of such a taste.
"Oh, the taste? It's thanks to this too."
A small, seasoning-like bottle suddenly appeared in Link's hand.
Tool: [magic seasoning].
Description: No matter what kind of dish it is, as long as a little of this seasoning is sprinkled on it, it will become the most delicious food!
For specific details on its effects, please refer to when Gian invited Nobita and his friends to his house to eat his cooking.
Even Gian's cooking, after Nobita sprinkled this on it, became incredibly delicious, let alone this rice bowl.
"Just with such a small gadget?!"
After Link finished explaining, Sanji was still somewhat unconvinced.
"If just this thing can achieve such a taste, then what do we chefs do?!"
"It only affects taste and taste buds; the pairing and nutritional composition of the food still need to be done by a chef."
Link patiently explained.
"But this..."
"Sanji!"
A doctor's stern reprimand from the ladder made Sanji instantly shut his mouth.
He looked up and saw the Stinky old man (referring to Garp) glaring at him with a serious expression.
"No matter how he did it, you lost is lost, don't forget to fulfill the contract of the competition!"
Sanji's face was grim: "Do you really want me to leave, Stinky old man (referring to Garp)!"
"Heh, I can't wait for a troublemaker like you to get away from my restaurant!"
Zeff snorted, "Losing so easily shows that your cooking skills are absolutely terrible."
"My restaurant doesn't need a trashy chef like you; get out to the Grand Line, broaden your horizons, and come back after a few years of training!"
"Since such a magical thing as seasoning can appear on this Grand Line, there are countless more rare treasures related to cooking. You stubborn fool, go out and gain some knowledge!"
His words were filled with all sorts of disdain, belittlement, and contempt.
But to Sanji's ears, this only made his mood and eyes incredibly complex.
He couldn't help but grit his teeth: "Stinky old man (referring to Garp)..."
Having gone through life and death together, and having followed him since childhood, Sanji was perfectly clear about Zeff's intentions and thoughts.
"You won't get rid of me, Stinky old man (referring to Garp)!"
Sanji's tone was exceptionally firm, "I won't let you achieve your goal just like that, absolutely!"
Zeff glanced at him, ignored him, and turned to walk back to his room.
"Hmph..." Sanji could only scratch his blond hair, looking quite dejected.
And just then—
Clap.
A soft, elastic arm landed on his shoulder.