Kikuchi Sonoka said that after so many years of working as a chef and running a restaurant, this was the first time she had heard such criticism. What was this even about? She did not understand. She truly did not understand. Why was there no personal evaluation, but instead a comment about others? This situation seemed somewhat strange.
Although Kikuchi Sonoka reacted more slowly at first, she quickly composed herself and looked at Shiro.
"Sir, I would like to hear your evaluation."
Shiro clearly understood that the other side would not give up without a concrete evaluation, but how could he evaluate it at all?
"Emmm… If this beautiful head chef insists on hearing my evaluation, I can only say this."
"Perhaps you noticed that I did not show any expression on my face and that I did not seem to enjoy myself while eating, so you began to doubt yourself. I can only say that there is no need."
"Unless you possess Chef's Heart, I will not consider it truly delicious. Otherwise, everything is roughly the same to me."
"So there is no need to use me as a standard. Talk to me when you have Chef's Heart. For now, it should be clear to you that you do not have it."
Shiro did not hold back, he spoke directly. After all, it is often best to say things openly. It may sound arrogant, but it is better than stuttering, hiding, saying nothing, and mistakenly believing that effort behind the scenes will move someone.
Kikuchi Sonoka was stunned when she heard that. What kind of requirement was that? Wasn't that a bit too much? How many people had mastered that? Every one of them was a world-renowned chef.
How could someone who had graduated only three years ago have such a level?
"Sir, are you sure you are not joking with me?"
Shiro openly nodded.
"I am telling the truth."
"But the only comment I can give is that you are still far from it."
"It could even be said that your level of skill is simply better than many, on par with so-called star chefs."
"However, regarding that 'thing', you have not even touched the threshold, mainly because you yourself are not clear about what you actually want."
Shiro saw that the other side was quite beautiful and attractive, so he decided to say a few more words. Otherwise, he usually would not say such things.
Kikuchi Sonoka, hearing that, had eyes full of confusion.
Had she not even stepped through the door?
At that moment, the waiter ran over and whispered something in her ear. Only then did she remember that today she had invited someone to try her new dish, which she planned to launch as one of her main specialties.
"Sir, thank you very much for what you just said. I still have something to take care of, so please excuse me."
The other side bowed slightly, and then left.
Kirishima Shoko then spoke and dropped a real bomb.
"Are you interested in her?"
Although Shiro was aware of her directness and remembered their first meeting, was it really appropriate to be this direct at this moment? Fortunately, Kikuchi Sonoka had already left.
"Ahem, ahem, ahem, I can only say that she is quite good."
"Of course, the most important thing is that I am a superficial person, so when I see a beautiful woman, and she is also somewhat special, that is why I said a few more words."
Shiro had nothing to hide, mainly because from their first meeting she had already known what kind of person he was, so after that she did not comment much.
Kirishima Shoko knew exactly what Shiro was like. She could even say that even if 99.99% of people offered themselves and lay in bed, he would not touch them, mainly because he was extremely picky.
Those who caught his eye and whom he liked were generally not bad, or rather, they were good in every respect, and even had something special about them.
That was why Kirishima Shoko was aware that although this man was a womanizer, such things were not rare, in fact they were very common in various families, but this man had his own limit.
Or rather, his limit, in the context of that world, could be considered the highest kind.
Although it was contradictory, it was already the best it could be.
"The food the chef made earlier was really delicious, honestly. Was it really as bad as you said? That she had not even stepped through the door?"
Kirishima Shoko had eaten many good things since childhood, but in her opinion, the other party's level could in no way be as bad as Shiro claimed.
Shiro shook his head when he heard that.
"You, or rather, more than 90% of chefs, or more than 95%, cannot feel those things, because the difference between possessing it, not possessing it, or being close to awakening it is enormous."
Especially in this field.
"Let's take an example. Suppose it can exist at level 10. In the process from level 1 to 8, or from 0 to 8, it is not obvious. At level 9 you can feel it, and at level 10 a qualitative change occurs."
"The other side is at level 0 to 1 in that regard."
"But in terms of skill itself, even with Chef's Heart, the level of skill would be around 4 to 5 on a scale of 1 to 10."
"That is exactly why it seemed quite good to you."
Kirishima Shoko, hearing this analogy, understood that indeed, unlike Shiro, she could not distinguish those nuances.
Just as the two of them were about to eat dessert, they felt the presence of a familiar person, no, two familiar people.
When those people sat at the table next to Shiro, at first they thought they were ordinary guests, because their backs were turned. Then, when they sat down, they realized that the person sitting next to them was Shiro.
"Why are you here?"
At that moment, the blonde figure in the Tootsuki uniform immediately showed a surprised expression.
Kirishima Shoko recognized that person, and Shiro turned his head, looked at the beautiful collar of the uniform and those eyes like purple jewels, then smiled.
"Yo, aren't these the tsundere and the beautiful secretary? What a coincidence."
Erina immediately exploded when she heard that.
"Who are you calling tsundere? Explain yourself!"
"The one who fits the description, that's who I'm talking about."
Shiro watched her explode, speaking in a careless tone, and that tone only made her even more furious, to the point that she even forgot the dignity and aura of her identity as the God Tongue.
The two of them immediately began to argue, but unfortunately, how could such a young lady overpower Shiro? After several exchanges, she was defeated.
Kirishima Shoko could conclude that they knew each other and that there was some hostility between them, or that the man was somewhat rude.
So throughout the whole process she remained silent. The secretary originally wanted to mediate, but she realized that with the two of them in such a state no one could stop them, so she wisely decided to remain silent.
Erina, the God Tongue, seeing that she could not win the argument, trembled with anger, snorted, and turned her head away, saying that she had no intention of wasting words on him.
Then she looked at her secretary and said:
"Hisako, let's find another place to sit. When I see one annoying guy, I lose my appetite."
Just as the secretary wanted to say something, Shiro spoke again, looking for trouble.
"Yo, yo, yo, it seems someone tucked their tail and is now running away."
Erina turned her head when she heard that, shot Shiro a look full of killing intent, and said through clenched teeth:
"Who is afraid of you?"
"I'm sitting right here today, and you can't do anything to me!"
The secretary had the feeling that things were very difficult for her.
Normally, she should wholeheartedly support her young lady. It had been the same before, but the person in front of them was not only a chef whose level seemed like an insurmountable mountain, but his identity had changed, he had become a shareholder here.
All the scattered shares of the entire Totsuki group that were owned by the Nakiri family had been bought precisely by him. In other words, he held 38% of the shares.
Therefore, even if his culinary skills were strong, she could still defend her young lady, but now that his identity had changed, it was best to remain silent.
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