Chapter 54: Culinary Battle!

Luo Mu glanced around; the seat he occupied was now the judges' panel. Beside him, apart from Miss A-Feng, sat Miss Joy from the Pokémon Center in Bottle City. All of them had been invited by Master Master Haidai to sample new dishes.

Hearing that Master Master Haidai was to compete in culinary skills against chefs from other regions traveling through the Paldea region, many diners, after finishing their meals, chose to stay in the restaurant, eager to witness the outcome.

Luo Mu's gaze turned toward Zhi Mi, who stood at the cooking station, calmly and seriously preparing. The opponent was wiping clean cooking tools with a clean cloth; the tools were so clean they easily reflected the light.

Compared to Zhi Mi the chef, in Luo Mu's memory, this Zhi Mi more often played another role—Zhi Mi, the Water-type Elite Four member of the Kalos region.

And the achievement of this Zhi Mi that impressed Luo Mu most was commanding a Mega-Evolving Blastoise to defeat Alain's Mega Charizard X, which had not yet unlocked the "Torrent" ability.

Simply put, it was thoroughly satisfying... ahem, it demonstrated the strength of the Elite Four.

Seemingly ready, under the announcement of one of Master Master Haidai's apprentices, the two chefs began handling ingredients as if showing off their skills.

No, it would be more accurate to say that their incredibly fast speed in chopping and butchering ingredients was their normal state when preparing dishes.

After a dizzying process and the inexplicable, rising and falling gasps from the surroundings, two heart-refreshing aromas gradually spread through the restaurant; the two chefs had completed their dishes.

Luo Mu, feeling as if he were in prison, felt he had wandered onto the set of Food Wars, completely out of place amidst the fiery atmosphere around him.

The Poliwag on Luo Mu's lap, however, watched with great delight; it even formed the thought of comparing the grilling skills of the Cang Yan Ren Gui with those of these two chefs to see who was more skilled.

Next, the two chefs, both extremely confident in their own dishes, brought their creations forward one after the other.

On Luo Mu's left was the dish plate Zhi Mi had served, covered with a small silver lid; the aroma he had just "glimpsed" seemed locked inside.

On his right was a small stew pot Master Master Haidai had brought up; from the gaps in the lid, an invigorating aroma constantly seeped out, making one anticipate the deliciousness within the pot even before the meal began.

Based on the ingredients the two had handled earlier, Luo Mu could roughly guess the types of dishes they had prepared.

Master Master Haidai must have made some kind of soup using that dreamlike wakame and sea bass, while Zhi Mi had processed several kinds of vegetables, making it impossible to tell what he was making.

After the two chefs exchanged a glance, Master Master Haidai first removed the pot lid; a fish soup with a clear, bottom-visible broth and a sweet, fresh aroma came into view.

Master Master Haidai smiled: "Wakame Sea Bass Soup made with the freshest ingredients. Please enjoy."

Luo Mu picked up a spoon, first scooping up a spoonful of clear soup, blew away the steam, and drank it in one gulp; his gaze paused slightly.

The multiple flavors bursting on the taste buds were wonderfully and harmoniously interwoven, finally coalescing into a single character that occupied Luo Mu's mind.

Umami!

The natural umami of the ingredients, plus the ultimate umami brought by Master Master Haidai's handling of the ingredients and his Gao Chao technique!

Luo Mu turned his head to look at the other two judges; Miss A-Feng and Miss Joy were both covering their cheeks, swallowing slightly, as if overwhelmed by this ultimate sweetness and freshness.

Zhi Mi also took a sip of his own portion of soup, savoring it carefully; his eyes brightened slightly, and a word of praise escaped his lips: "Bravo!"

Then, Zhi Mi removed his own silver lid and, bowing elegantly, said: "Nine-Treasure Vegetable Terrine with Special Sauce. Please enjoy."

Luo Mu blinked; he felt he had seen this dish somewhere before.

However, this was a flavor from another track entirely.

Nine different vegetables were neatly arranged within the vegetable terrine; just the ones Luo Mu recognized included cabbage, cucumber, corn, zucchini, cauliflower, carrots, okra, asparagus, and so on.

It looked extremely exquisite, and the plating, like in a high-end restaurant, immediately conveyed a sense of luxury.

However, Luo Mu was somewhat curious about the sauce beside the vegetable terrine; such a pure black sauce, rather than being called a sauce, was more like... ink?

Zhi Mi had prepared cutlery specifically for French cuisine; just as Luo Mu cut a piece of the vegetable terrine and was about to put it in his mouth, Zhi Mi suddenly said: "The flavor will be even more delicious after dipping it in the sauce."

Luo Mu's action paused; holding the exquisite knife and fork, he followed Zhi Mi's reminder, dipped it into that somewhat dark-looking sauce, and then put it in his mouth.

One bite revealed the fresh fragrance and crispness of the vegetables; then, the flavor of that mysterious sauce exploded together with the flavors of the nine vegetables.

That flavor was complex and profound; it could not be simply described as sweet or spicy. However, only one feeling was accurate—after the first bite, one wanted to take a second.

While Luo Mu was eating, Master Master Haidai also received the portion Zhi Mi had prepared for him and began to taste it.

Similarly, he also let out a sigh of praise just like Zhi Mi: "What a complex and rich texture and flavor; to be able to blend together so harmoniously!"

The two exchanged a glance; both saw in the other's eyes the mutual appreciation between culinarians.

"Now, it is time for the evaluation."

Although Zhi Mi and Master Master Haidai had already acknowledged each other's strength, since judges had been invited, it was still necessary to determine a winner.

First was Miss Joy on the far right; after pondering for a moment, she solemnly declared: "I swear on the name of the Joy family that what I say next contains not a single shred of falsehood."

Wait, you're swearing on the name of your entire family just to evaluate some food?

Luo Mu's facial muscles twitched wildly.

Joy said: "Although the Nine-Treasure Vegetable Terrine with the mysterious sauce has a very rich flavor, I still feel that the simple Wakame Sea Bass Soup delivers an umami that strikes the soul more powerfully."

Master Master Haidai's smile grew even wider; Zhi Mi was not annoyed at all, merely bowing slightly to thank Joy for her evaluation.

Their gazes turned again toward A-Feng.

A-Feng was somewhat nervous; after guiltily glancing at Master Master Haidai, she stammered: "I feel... the Vegetable Terrine was more stunning to me. Although the vegetable terrine itself has a light flavor, adding that sauce made it feel like a transformation... That is my judgment."

From the audience nearby came murmurs of discussion: "Miss A-Feng actually didn't support her master?"

Hearing this, A-Feng's expression became even more nervous.

Master Master Haidai smiled, patted her shoulder, and said: "It's fine; you simply honestly expressed your own feelings."

Zhi Mi bowed elegantly: "I am honored to receive such high praise from you, beautiful Young Lady."

The center of attention quickly shifted to Luo Mu; after exchanging a glance with the Poliwag that had tasted the food with him, he voiced his Ji De Xiang Fa: "I feel... it is impossible to distinguish a winner."

Master Master Haidai raised his eyebrows slightly: "Oh?"

"Could you elaborate?" Zhi Mi said, remaining calm in the face of change.