"Since that's the case, then we'll go with this guy. And no need to wait a whole week — three days from now, we'll hold the Shokugeki. Help me reply to her."
Since the candidate was recommended by Bunnyhair, Kael agreed immediately and set the match for three days later.
Like before, the Shokugeki had no theme. Both sides simply had to present the dish they were most confident in.
The judges were the same three as last time. In truth, aside from Senzaemon Nakiri, the other two had only planned to watch Kael's cooking once before heading home.
Given their status, attending a match between juniors was already rare. But this time, they changed their minds ― and the reason was simple: Kael's Fierce Bull Azure Dragon Slash.
They had never seen anything like it — a technique that could butcher an entire cow in an instant. They stayed only because they wanted to see what kind of surprises Kael would bring next.
The video of Kael's match with Bunnyhair had already gone viral worldwide.
Most chefs who watched it simply couldn't understand what they were seeing.
To them, the way Kael disassembled the cow was straight-up mythological.
Many doubted the footage was real — but witnesses insisted it happened, and the witnesses were all respected figures in the culinary world. No way they would join forces to lie.
So whether they believed it or not… they had no choice but to believe it.
"Unbelievable… He just got back and he's already causing a global uproar. And he was hiding such a technique? Ann, can you make any sense of this?"
At WGO headquarters, Mana Nakiri was staring at the video, speechless.
She knew Kael would be fighting the Midnight Chefs after returning home — but fighting was one thing, this impossible technique was something else.
The moment she saw the video, she called her father.
Even she thought the footage looked fake. Who on earth could do something like this?
But Senzaemon's reply only left her silent: Kael really did perform this technique. No tricks. No illusions. And no one knew how he did it.
Everyone who saw it — whether in person or on video — was now burning with curiosity.
"I can't figure it out. Even with the footage slowed down to the extreme, his knife speed is still terrifying. And the angles he cuts from… it shouldn't be physically possible to disassemble a cow like that."
Ann was completely lost. They had watched the slowed video dozens of times, but the conclusion was the same — unreal.
But Senzaemon confirmed it. And with so many witnesses, it wasn't something that could be faked.
"The cuts definitely shouldn't work. But what if the problem isn't with the cuts… but with the cow itself?"
Mana rubbed her chin and offered her theory.
If Kael were here, he'd give her a thumbs up.
Because the reason he could perform the Fierce Bull Azure Dragon Slash was thanks to his Food Control ability.
Food Control didn't just restore ingredients to peak form — it also allowed him to manipulate them.
Kael had altered the cow's internal structure beforehand, making the impossible possible.
"The cow itself? You mean he changed the cow's anatomy? But how? If its structure was actually like the one in the video, that cow shouldn't even be alive. Yet he led it into the arena himself!"
Ann still couldn't wrap her head around it.
"Hard to believe, yes. Outside our understanding, absolutely. But it's the only explanation that makes sense. Ann… there are many things in this world we don't understand. Special Abilities come in all shapes and forms."
Mana smiled as she spoke.
"Special Ability? You mean he used a Special Ability to do this? But his ability is Divine Hearing, right? Divine Hearing can't do that!"
Ann felt her brain starting to shut down. The more she thought about it, the less logical it seemed.
"Divine Hearing alone can't do it. But what if he has other abilities?"
Mana said calmly.
"You mean he has more Special Abilities? But how? One person having multiple Special Abilities… is that even possible?"
Ann's worldview took another direct hit.
"Just because it wasn't possible before doesn't mean it isn't now. Based on everything he's shown so far, he definitely has more than one or two. Otherwise, he couldn't become… whatever he is now."
Mana shook her head. Kael had been displaying more and more abilities as his cooking improved—Anyone paying attention had already noticed.
She also told Ann not to spread this information.
Others would eventually figure it out, but she wasn't going to help accelerate the chaos.
"Right, Mana-sama — the matter you told me to keep an eye on… there's been a development."
Ann suddenly remembered and handed Mana a file. She had been so distracted by Kael's video that she nearly forgot her original purpose for coming.
Mana looked confused as she accepted the file.
"You told me to watch Azami Nakiri's movements." Mana froze.
Right. She had told Ann to keep track of Azami. With God's Tongue temporarily fixed, her relationship with Erina restored, and Kael's situation demanding attention, she had almost forgotten Azami existed.
And when she finally stopped paying attention… he started acting up again.
Mana opened the file — and her expression turned strange.
"So he's been frequently contacting the Elite Ten… I see.
So that's what he's trying to do."
Her expression was somewhere between disbelief and ridicule.
Ann couldn't help being curious. She had compiled the report herself, so she knew what Azami had been doing, but not why.
Mana noticed Ann's expression.
"Ann, you're curious, aren't you?"
Ann nodded. "Yes. Why is he contacting those students? What is he even planning?"
"That's because Totsuki has a… certain rule."
Mana continued:
"As long as more than half of the Elite Ten agree, they can even replace the Director.
Of course, the position must still stay within the Nakiri family."
Ann blinked, stunned.
"He's trying to rope in the Elite Ten… to replace the Director?"
Mana nodded.
"Can that even work? That rule is basically just for show, right? Something to make students feel powerful?"
Ann had already analyzed it.
That rule existed only to make the Elite Ten seem important.
In practice, it was impossible to use.
Even if it could be used, it just replaced one Nakiri with another.
No real change.
Any Elite Ten member with a functioning brain would never get involved.
They were students — their power only existed inside Totsuki. After graduation, unless they came from powerful families, they were nobodies.
Using their authority to meddle in Nakiri family power struggles? That was suicide.
And replacing the Director?
Only a fool would do something so destructive.
Ann sighed.
"And Azami doesn't see this? He's an adult! How is he falling for a rule meant to trick children? Even if he becomes Director, what's the point? This isn't feudal Japan."
She couldn't help roasting him.
The Director position only mattered if the Nakiri family acknowledged it. Otherwise, he had zero authority — teachers and students could simply ignore him.
Fire staff? They'd find better jobs instantly.
Expel students? Without Nakiri support, Totsuki's prestige would collapse overnight.
Now Ann finally understood Mana's ridiculous expression earlier. Azami's plan wasn't just naive — it was laughable.
Mana sighed.
"His brain might… truly be malfunctioning."
She put it politely.
Mana called Senzaemon immediately.
Even if Azami's scheme wouldn't actually cause damage, if it somehow worked, it would still be disgusting to deal with.
Senzaemon listened quietly — and then froze.
He had completely forgotten that rule existed.
No one with basic intelligence would ever try to use it.
Senzaemon rubbed his forehead, torn between laughter and disbelief.
Azami wasn't just morally bankrupt…
He was apparently also an idiot.
This was a new discovery.