Multiverse Gourmet Hunter

The entire square buzzed with discussion after the identical plate totals were announced.

Before long, someone raised the most obvious question.

"So what happens now? You can’t seriously have two champions, can you?"

The surrounding chatter paused for a moment before erupting all over again.

Elder Guan of the Guangzhou Chefs Association looked troubled.

Declaring both sides joint winners was obviously impossible. They could hardly split the championship prize in half.

But forcing a winner would be just as unreasonable. The Dumpling Brothers and Yangquan Restaurant had exactly the same number of plates. No matter which side was awarded first place, the other would never accept it, and neither would the diners who had watched the entire competition.

At that moment, Master Lang Wen suddenly spoke.

"Why not simply have them compete again?"

He turned toward the crowd and raised his voice.

"If you insist on choosing a winner from identical scores, I doubt anyone here would truly be satisfied with the result, would they?"

The crowd immediately responded.

"Master Lang Wen is right!"

"Exactly! If we need a winner, let them compete again!"

"Have another match!"

Master Lang Wen smiled at their enthusiastic reaction.

"Besides, I wouldn’t mind eating both of their dumplings one more time."

He swept his gaze across the crowd.

"I wonder if the rest of you feel the same?"

Countless heads immediately nodded.

"Of course!"

"That’s exactly what we want!"

"I still haven’t had enough of Yangquan’s pan-fried dumplings!"

"Master Lang Wen is absolutely right! Let them compete again!"

Not a single person objected.

After all, if another match meant another chance to eat dumplings from both finalists, why would any diner refuse?

Seeing the overwhelming support from the crowd, Elder Guan had no reason to reject the suggestion.

He stepped forward beside Master Lang Wen and formally addressed everyone.

"Very well!"

"Since everyone here agrees, then on behalf of the Guangzhou Chefs Association, I hereby announce that the final round of this year’s Dumpling Contest will be held tomorrow morning!"

"Yangquan Restaurant and the Dumpling Brothers will face each other once more and settle the championship once and for all!"

The square erupted into deafening cheers.

The shock had already faded from Wu Xiong’s face, replaced by burning fighting spirit.

He looked toward Yangquan Restaurant.

At almost the same moment, Mao looked back.

Their gazes collided across the square as if sparks were flying between them.

Then Master Lang Wen spoke again.

"However, I do have one small request."

Wu Xiong and Mao both paused and turned toward him.

"For tomorrow’s match, I’d like both sides to create an entirely new dumpling dish."

Master Lang Wen smiled.

"How does that sound?"

The request caught not only Mao and Wu Xiong off guard, but the entire crowd as well.

A completely new dumpling?

The match was tomorrow.

They had only one night to come up with something from scratch.

Seeing their surprise, Master Lang Wen chuckled and explained.

"Don’t misunderstand. I simply think eating the exact same thing again would be a little dull."

"This is only my personal request."

Both Mao and Wu Xiong were exceptionally talented chefs in his eyes.

Master Lang Wen wanted to see how much potential they truly possessed and whether pressure could force them to produce something genuinely surprising.

Wu Xiong stepped forward and looked directly at the old master.

"Understood. I accept the challenge."

Creating a completely new dumpling in one night?

Wu Xiong refused to believe he would lose to a brat even younger than himself.

Almost simultaneously, Mao stepped forward as well.

"I accept too!"

"Tomorrow, I’ll make a dumpling that everyone here will be satisfied with!"

Mao also wanted to see just how far he could push himself.

Seeing both young chefs accept without hesitation, approval flashed through Master Lang Wen’s eyes.

The crowd became even more excited.

Brand-new dumplings!

That was far more interesting than simply repeating yesterday’s contest.

Once the rules for the tiebreaker had been settled, the crowd gradually began to disperse.

Haruto returned Ralts to the Gourmet Restaurant and turned to leave as well.

He was already looking forward to tasting Mao’s Rising Dragon Dumplings tomorrow.

But he had only taken a couple of steps when Elder Guan called after him.

"Chef Haruto, please wait!"

Haruto stopped and turned around.

"What is it, Elder Guan?"

Elder Guan approached with a friendly smile.

"It’s about your Golden Broth Dumplings."

"The flavor was rich and deeply savory, the wrappers had excellent elasticity, and the proportions of the filling were exceptionally well balanced. In my opinion, they were every bit as good as the Dumpling Brothers’ Flame Dumplings or Yangquan Restaurant’s pan-fried dumplings."

He paused and looked Haruto directly in the eyes.

"With cooking skills of that level, I’d like to ask you something."

"Would you be interested in taking this year’s Super Chef Examination here in Guangzhou?"

"The Guangzhou Chefs Association would be willing to provide you with an official letter of recommendation."

In truth, Elder Guan had already begun suspecting Haruto’s intentions some time ago.

After tasting the Golden Broth Dumplings, he became even more certain.

A chef capable of producing food of that caliber had operated his stall for less than two hours and shown absolutely no concern for winning the Dumpling Contest.

And yet Haruto had deliberately traveled throughout Lingnan and Guangzhou challenging famous chefs, steadily building his reputation.

There was only one logical explanation.

He was preparing for the upcoming Super Chef Examination.

After all, applicants needed either a recommendation from a recognized organization such as the Guangzhou Chefs Association or sufficient reputation and accomplishments within the culinary world to qualify independently.

Haruto blinked at Elder Guan’s offer.

Then he understood.

Apparently, the old man had seen straight through him.

Haruto really had spent all this time challenging famous restaurants and building his name for one purpose: obtaining the qualifications to enter the Super Chef Examination.

Strictly speaking, his reputation had already grown enough that he probably would not have had much trouble applying without a recommendation.

Still, if Elder Guan was offering one voluntarily, it would save him a great deal of unnecessary hassle.

Haruto cupped his hands and smiled.

"In that case, thank you, Elder Guan."

"I’ll remember the favor."

Elder Guan’s smile deepened at Haruto’s straightforward acceptance.

He thought very highly of the young chef.

Haruto was remarkably young, yet his culinary skill seemed almost impossible to measure. More importantly, he carried himself with unusual composure.

He did not chase empty prestige.

He was neither arrogant nor impatient.

Someone like that could go astonishingly far in the future.

A small favor now might eventually bring an unexpected return.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Haruto left the square in an excellent mood.

His qualification for the Super Chef Examination was settled.

For now, all that remained was to enjoy the food.

...

Early the next morning, before the sky had fully brightened, the Dumpling Contest grounds were already bustling with activity.

Unlike yesterday, when dozens of stalls had competed across the square, only two cooking stations stood at the center today.

The Dumpling Brothers occupied the left side.

Yangquan Restaurant stood on the right.

Outside the competition area, diners had already packed themselves several layers deep around the barriers, leaving almost no room to move.

Haruto found a spot with an excellent view and leaned casually against the railing, holding a plate of Cantonese morning-tea snacks he had bought on the way over.

He leisurely ate while waiting for the match to begin.

Master Lang Wen was already seated at the judges’ table, with Elder Guan beside him.

As the hour approached, the host once again stepped onto the platform.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for waiting!"

"Yesterday, this year’s Guangzhou Dumpling Contest produced an unprecedented result—a tie between the two strongest competitors!"

"The Dumpling Brothers and Yangquan Restaurant both achieved the same record-breaking score of one thousand two hundred and forty-two plates!"

"After discussion by the Guangzhou Chefs Association, we have decided to hold a special tiebreaker today to determine the final champion!"

The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers.

The host raised one hand and waited for the noise to settle before continuing.

"The competition begins now and will end at noon!"

"Within the allotted time, both sides will complete their respective dumpling dishes and serve them to everyone present!"

"Each diner has been given two colored balls—one red and one white!"

The host pointed toward two enormous urns beside the stage.

"The red ball represents the Dumpling Brothers!"

"The white ball represents Yangquan Restaurant!"

"After tasting both dishes, please place the ball representing whichever side you believe made the better dumpling into the corresponding urn!"

"At the end of the competition, whichever side receives more votes will become the final champion of this year’s Guangzhou Dumpling Contest!"

He raised his arm high.

"I hereby declare the Guangzhou Dumpling Contest tiebreaker—officially underway!"

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