Multiverse Gourmet Hunter

While Mao and the others celebrated, Haruto certainly wasn’t sitting idle.

His chopsticks moved faster and faster, picking up one mouthful after another. Before anyone noticed, nearly half the plate of shredded pork with green peppers had quietly disappeared.

By the time the three of them came back to their senses, Haruto had even poured the remaining sauce over rice and polished that off as well.

Mao, Meili, and Sanjie were delighted rather than annoyed.

If nothing else, Haruto’s appetite made it obvious just how much he liked their new dish.

As the night grew late, Haruto decided not to linger. He said goodbye to the three with a smile, then found an inn along the main street and settled in for the night.

Early the next morning, before the sky had fully brightened, Haruto was already out the door.

His first stop was a morning-tea house, where he sampled shrimp dumplings, shumai, and rice noodle rolls while chatting with the other customers about Guangzhou’s most famous restaurants.

There was Fresh Fish House, renowned for river fish and seafood; Hundred Flavors Hall, famous for refined home-style dishes; the Guangzhou Dumpling House, winner of the previous Guangzhou Dumpling Contest; and, of course, Yangquan Restaurant.

Every one of them was an old establishment that had built its reputation over decades.

Once Haruto had gathered enough information, he immediately set out.

His first destination was Fresh Fish House.

As usual, he began by sampling the restaurant’s cooking before challenging its head chef.

Chef Li had spent thirty years cooking river fish in Guangzhou. Although he had heard rumors about Haruto, he didn’t take them particularly seriously.

The Jewel Meat, however, was another matter entirely.

The moment Haruto brought it out as the wager, Chef Li agreed to the match.

Both sides were given the same kind of carp.

Haruto turned his into a plate of sashimi so extraordinary that the entire kitchen was left speechless.

His knife moved with such astonishing speed and precision that he removed every tiny pin bone from the carp without damaging the texture of the flesh. By the time the fish had been filleted, sliced, and arranged on the plate, its gill covers were still faintly opening and closing.

The slices were crisp, tender, and naturally sweet, without even a trace of muddy river flavor. Paired with Haruto’s specially prepared dipping sauce, the freshness was so intense it practically melted on the tongue.

Chef Li took one bite.

Then he immediately put down his chopsticks, cupped his hands toward Haruto, and conceded.

News spread quickly.

The Traveling Chef Haruto had arrived in Guangzhou—and on his very first day, he had defeated the head chef of Fresh Fish House.

Before people had even finished talking about that, another piece of news arrived that afternoon.

Haruto had gone to Hundred Flavors Hall and challenged Chef Wang to a clay-pot rice competition.

He won that one just as decisively.

Two of Guangzhou’s established restaurants had fallen to Haruto in a single day.

His reputation only grew from there.

Over the following days, Haruto continued challenging famous restaurants throughout the city.

Before long, people from the southern end of Guangzhou to the northern districts were talking about him.

And along with Haruto’s name, another rumor spread just as quickly.

The Jewel Meat.

...

One day, several kitchen assistants at Yangquan Restaurant gathered around the stove while working, gossiping so enthusiastically that their hands had visibly slowed.

"Have you heard about that chef named Haruto? Apparently he’s ridiculously good."

"Chef Li from Fresh Fish House and Chef Wang from Hundred Flavors Hall both lost to him on his first day here. You think he’ll come challenge Yangquan too?"

"I heard he’s already challenged a bunch of famous restaurants, and he hasn’t lost once."

Mao and Meili, who were helping in the kitchen nearby, both looked up when they heard the name.

"Wait, what did you say? His name is Haruto?"

"That’s right. Haruto. Why? Mao, Meili, do you know him?"

The kitchen assistants looked at them curiously.

Mao and Meili exchanged glances.

Both stood there stunned.

Neither of them had imagined that the traveling chef they had happened to meet a few nights ago had already caused such a stir throughout Guangzhou.

"Huh? Haruto-san is actually that famous?"

Mao scratched his head, completely bewildered.

Haruto had told them he was a chef, but Mao had never imagined he was that good.

Meili tapped a finger against her forehead, then suddenly remembered something.

"That’s why his name sounded familiar!"

"I heard there’s a traveling chef carrying an unbelievably rare ingredient called Jewel Meat, and that his cooking is incredible!"

She paused.

"Do you think Haruto-san is going to challenge Yangquan too?"

Mao’s eyes brightened with curiosity and a hint of poorly concealed anticipation.

Meili immediately put her hands on her hips and proudly raised her chin.

"Even if he does, there’s nothing to worry about! Dad is a Super Chef!"

"No matter how strong Haruto-san is, there’s no way he can beat my dad!"

Mao quickly nodded along.

He had just as much confidence in Master Zhou Yu’s cooking.

Still, if Haruto had defeated so many famous head chefs already, then his skill had to be formidable.

...

While Mao and Meili were talking about him, Haruto was strolling through the streets, considering which restaurant to challenge next.

He had just turned into a quiet alley when three cloaked figures silently stepped into his path.

The woman standing in front had alluring features and wore revealing clothes beneath her cloak. A pair of short blades hung at her waist, and a faint, knowing smile curved her lips.

Haruto recognized her immediately.

Xiang En, one of the chefs of the Dark Cooking Society.

Beside her stood two men.

One was Shao An, whose gloomy face and vicious eyes made his hostility impossible to hide.

The other was Luo Ke, arms folded across his chest with an arrogant expression, a pair of specially made steel claws fitted over his hands.

Haruto stopped and looked at the three of them.

"Need something?"

Xiang En stepped forward, her voice soft and deliberately charming.

"Traveling Chef Haruto. I’ve heard quite a lot about you."

"Your exploits throughout Guangzhou these past few days have been very impressive."

She smiled.

"I was wondering... what exactly are you hoping to accomplish by challenging one famous restaurant after another?"

"If there’s something you need, perhaps we could help."

Her words were polite, but her eyes were constantly studying Haruto.

Naturally, the Dark Cooking Society had not approached him out of simple goodwill.

Their primary target was the Jewel Meat in his possession.

An ingredient of that caliber had immeasurable value. Whether it was used to improve their own cuisine or as a bargaining chip to win over powerful people, getting their hands on it would be enormously beneficial.

And if they could recruit Haruto into the Dark Cooking Society as well, that would be even better.

Haruto casually leaned back against the wall behind him and folded his arms, raising an eyebrow with obvious interest.

He hadn’t expected the Dark Cooking Society to notice him this quickly.

"You want to help me?"

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Perfect. There actually is something I’d like your help with."

Xiang En’s expression brightened.

Then Haruto continued.

"I’m pretty interested in the Dark Cooking Society’s secret techniques. Things like the Mighty Bull Blue Dragon Slash, the Arhat Crystal Slash, and all that."

"Think you could make me a copy of the manuals?"

Xiang En’s smile froze.

She had come here intending to probe Haruto for information and, ideally, learn where he kept the Jewel Meat without revealing too much herself.

Instead, Haruto had identified them as members of the Dark Cooking Society immediately.

Worse, he had turned around and started eyeing their secret techniques.

Shao An’s face darkened.

He stepped forward and glared at Haruto.

"You know about the Dark Cooking Society? Who the hell are you?"

"Relax."

Haruto waved a hand dismissively.

"I’m not interested in whatever shady crap your organization gets up to."

"Do whatever you want. As long as you don’t come after me, I have no reason to stick my nose into your business."

Strictly speaking, what the Dark Cooking Society was doing wasn’t all that different from plotting a rebellion.

If the waters of this world weren’t quite so murky, Haruto might almost have been tempted to give them a hand just to see what happened.

"But like I said, I am interested in your secret cooking techniques."

Haruto looked back at the three of them.

"Obviously, I don’t expect you to hand them over for nothing."

"So how about a cooking match?"

"If I win, you make copies of whatever secret techniques you have and give them to me."

"If you win, you get the Jewel Meat."

Haruto’s expression turned serious.

"How about it? You willing to take that bet?"

Xiang En’s eyes flickered.

She hadn’t expected Haruto to show absolutely no fear toward the Dark Cooking Society, much less challenge them outright.

But Haruto was clearly no ordinary chef.

If they accepted recklessly and lost, not only would they fail to obtain the Jewel Meat, they would also have to surrender some of the Dark Cooking Society’s secret techniques.

Xiang En personally wasn’t too concerned about that, but something this significant still needed approval from higher up.

Shao An leaned closer to her and spoke through clenched teeth.

"What are you hesitating for? There are three of us. Are we seriously supposed to be afraid of one brat?"

Luo Ke nodded as well, his arrogant expression full of contempt.

"My Arhat Tiger Claw has never lost to anyone."

"If he wants a match, I’ll take him on."

Xiang En shook her head and shot both men a sharp glare, silently warning them not to act rashly.

Then she turned back toward Haruto and forced another smile.

"You must be joking. We only came today because we wanted to make your acquaintance."

"There’s no need to rush into a competition."

"I’m sure we’ll meet again soon."

With that, Xiang En gave the other two a look.

The three turned and left the alley.

Haruto wasn’t particularly surprised.

He could have simply captured them if he wanted to, but he knew Xiang En probably possessed only a small fraction of the Dark Cooking Society’s secret techniques.

It was better to let the three of them carry his proposal back to their superiors.

Besides, the Dark Cooking Society was not known for giving up once it wanted something.

Now that they had set their sights on his Jewel Meat, there was no chance they would simply forget about him.

Sooner or later, they would come looking for him again.

Haruto rubbed his chin, anticipation filling his eyes.

He genuinely wanted to see just how impressive the Dark Cooking Society’s legendary secret techniques really were.

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