"Go ahead and send whoever else you want to have a Shokugeki with me."
Saiba Asahi looked at the numerous Totsuki members before him with an elegant yet cold smile. Holding dual knives, he crossed Seiichiro's kitchen knife with Dojima Gin's kitchen knife, their radiance making it seem as if the twin stars of Polar Star Dormitory's golden age stood behind him.
This was precisely why Totsuki could become the leader of the culinary world.
Before today, Saiba... or rather, who should now be called Yukihira Seiichiro, who had the implicit title of world's number one chef, and the living legend who was also Totsuki's greatest cornerstone, Dojima Gin.
But now both of them had lost to Saiba Asahi.
Both their kitchen knives were in Saiba Asahi's hands, and Saiba Asahi possessed the ability to master any chef's culinary skills and experience just by touching their kitchen knife with one hand.
Moreover, he could activate this ability called Cross Knives with both hands.
In other words—he was now an existence who simultaneously mastered the culinary skills of both Seiichiro and Dojima Gin, crossing their techniques and reaching an even higher dimension in culinary arts!
A true world's number one chef!
That's why he could say such words on Totsuki's territory.
Looking at the silent chefs on Totsuki's side, his gaze swept around before finally settling on Erina.
"My main purpose in coming here was a task commissioned by Toyo Electric... but speaking of which, although I didn't have any before coming, after arriving at Totsuki, I now have some other thoughts."
Saiba Asahi stared at Erina with predatory eyes as he said this.
"I've finally found her—the woman worthy of my dedicating everything about my cuisine to."
His words made Seiichiro's eyebrows twitch and caused Erina to frown directly.
But Saiba Asahi continued speaking.
"The possessor of God's Tongue, the successor of the Nakiri family that governs Totsuki—Miss Nakiri Erina, I desire to obtain you!"
Saying this, Saiba Asahi's face bore a trace of confidence, but there was no love for Erina on his face—only a hint of self-satisfaction or arrogance about achieving some kind of accomplishment.
"The most outstanding woman can only be matched by the strongest man, isn't that right?"
Saiba Asahi said this, and just as Erina was about to say something, a voice rang out from the side.
"That makes a lot of sense~"
With this voice appearing, even Saiba Asahi's gaze turned toward the entrance.
The door had been pushed open, and Mutou Judai walked over with a briefcase, smiling.
His expression was smiling, but there was no trace of amusement in his eyes as he looked at Saiba Asahi.
"I heard before coming that this was for a Shokugeki... but you said the strongest man?"
Mutou Judai quickly walked to Saiba Asahi's front, standing between him and Erina, using his slightly superior height advantage to look down at Saiba Asahi.
"I thought modern society had moved past this kind of thing, but hearing you say this... do you want to fight me?"
With Mutou Judai's words, his Conqueror's Haki directly spread out!
Mutou Judai's Conqueror's Haki was truly weak when placed in the One Piece world.
Even ordinary people in the One Piece world probably had a chance to ignore Mutou Judai's Conqueror's Haki.
But it was different here.
Although the intensity wasn't high either, the moment Conqueror's Haki activated, whether it was Saiba Asahi or the Totsuki people behind Mutou Judai, they all felt as if only Mutou Judai remained in heaven and earth!
That intense presence and oppressive feeling was completely beyond the level where you could look away if you wanted to. Even their thinking melted in an instant, and some with weak willpower simply fainted directly without Mutou Judai deliberately targeting them.
Although Saiba Asahi, who bore the full brunt of Mutou Judai's Conqueror's Haki, had relatively firm willpower, his legs went weak and he directly knelt before Mutou Judai.
Seeing Saiba Asahi like this, Mutou Judai raised an eyebrow.
In the One Piece world, resisting Conqueror's Haki just required being strong—aside from some advanced techniques, for simple resistance, being strong was enough.
In this world—it seemed to have a direct relationship with the strength of one's willpower.
Those with weak willpower would be directly stunned, while those with strong willpower could resist—but someone like Saiba Asahi, whose willpower could barely resist his particularly weak Conqueror's Haki, had too weak physical constitution. Just relying on willpower to resist his Conqueror's Haki specifically aimed at him would make him feel tired and even weak in the knees.
But if he used Conqueror's Haki to suppress fighters with very strong willpower, they could probably ignore his current level of Conqueror's Haki.
It seemed like if his Conqueror's Haki could become a bit stronger, preferably reaching Doflamingo's level—at that level, it would feel completely sufficient for this world!
However...
This Saiba Asahi's ability to master others' culinary skills by touching their kitchen knives, and those Wu Clan members from before... this world might not be as simple as it appeared...
Thinking this, Mutou Judai walked to the cooking station opposite Saiba Asahi, casually set down his briefcase, pulled out the kitchen knife he used—or rather, used before his awakening when he was still studying at Totsuki to make some snacks—and walked toward Saiba Asahi who was still kneeling on the ground.
Then, under Saiba Asahi's somewhat fearful expression, Mutou Judai spun the kitchen knife in his hand and handed him the handle.
"Take it."
With Mutou Judai's command-like words, Saiba Asahi instinctively took the kitchen knife from Mutou Judai's hand.
"I heard you have the ability to replicate others' culinary skills just by using their kitchen knives. If that's the case, here you go—use my culinary skills as you please!"
Seeing Mutou Judai's action, Seiichiro and Nakiri Senzaemon were first stunned, then Seiichiro expressed his admiration.
"Just this spirit alone is admirable... truly worthy of a man who can emit such an aura."
Saying this, Seiichiro then teasingly looked at Erina.
"Good eye, Erina~"
Hearing Seiichiro say this, Erina lowered her head and her ears visibly reddened, while Nakiri Senzaemon also smiled, seemingly acknowledging this matter.
And Saiba Asahi, who had obtained Mutou Judai's kitchen knife...
He felt as uncomfortable as if he had eaten shit!
Initially, when he first felt Mutou Judai's aura and knew that Mutou Judai was the person Totsuki had found to save the situation after he defeated Seiichiro, he actually felt inexplicably uneasy.
But when he saw the opponent actually hand him the kitchen knife, he almost laughed out loud.
—What a foolish and arrogant guy!
Then...
If he weren't afraid of Mutou Judai finding an excuse to directly start a fight, he would have almost thrown this broken kitchen knife on the ground!
What garbage was this!
The experience on this kitchen knife only had experience making some snacks, and they were made poorly too!
Even without using Cross Knives ability, he couldn't possibly perform at such a poor level!
—This kitchen knife was too garbage!
Thinking this, Saiba Asahi barely managed to collect his mindset that had almost been directly destroyed by Conqueror's Haki, slowly stood up, and handed the kitchen knife back to Mutou Judai.
"We still have to compete later, so I'll return it to you..."
"No need!"
Mutou Judai snorted, without any hesitation, speaking very firmly!
"You want to use my culinary skills? Go ahead! I don't care!"
...