"Satou, this is wonderful! This gathering is a great opportunity for our Chunguo Pavilion to increase its influence."
Kikuchi Sonoka smiled slightly and said to Satou gratefully.
"It's nothing."
Satou said. Natsume Chihyaku wasn't just trying to win him over; to a large extent, she also wanted to win Kikuchi Sonoka's favor.
However, he immediately thought of yesterday's events again. Hinako Inui hadn't delivered his bento this morning, so it seemed that yesterday's incident had a significant impact on her.
Perhaps he had been too impulsive that day, but he did quite like women of Hinako Inui's type.
"By the way, Satou, what dishes should we prepare this time?"
Kikuchi Sonoka thought for a moment and asked.
"Oh, this time it's a buffet style. We just need to do as we usually do in the restaurant. The specific ingredients and cooking utensils will naturally be provided there."
Satou said, having already inquired with Natsume Chihyaku beforehand.
Kikuchi Sonoka nodded.
Upon entering the manor, they were led by the staff inside to a luxurious building.
In the splendid and spacious hall, several cooking stations had already been set up, and many chefs were already at work.
480
"They're all famous restaurants."
Kikuchi Sonoka recognized the restaurant logos on some of the chefs' uniforms, realizing that all the attendees were from well-known restaurants. She immediately felt a little less confident.
"It's alright, Kuguchi-senpai. We're not any worse than them, are we?"
Satou couldn't help but say. As a graduate who was the Second Seat, Kikuchi Sonoka's cooking skills wouldn't be inferior to those people; she just lacked self-confidence.
"Mm."
Hearing Satou's encouragement, Kikuchi Sonoka hummed in affirmation, a happy smile appearing on her face.
Afterward, the two went to the cooking station prepared for them and began to get busy, as the guests would be arriving soon.
"Which restaurant are you from?"
At this moment, a middle-aged chef at the cooking station next to them asked.
He wore a pristine white chef's uniform, was tall and slender, and exuded an elegant aura, a very charming middle-aged man.
"You're from the Shiratsu family?"
Kikuchi Sonoka saw the logo on his uniform and immediately recognized his origin, slightly surprised.
"That's right, I am the head of the Shiratsu family, Shiratsu Kotaro."
The middle-aged man proudly raised his head, clearly very proud of his background.
"The Shiratsu family?"
Satou was slightly startled, feeling that the name seemed a bit familiar.
"The Shiratsu family has been providing cuisine for the Italian consulate for generations; they are a renowned culinary family."
Kikuchi Sonoka leaned close to Satou's ear and explained softly.
"I see."
Satou suddenly realized why he felt the name was familiar; it was the Shiratsu family, to which Shiratsu Jurio, who later became the new Eighth Seat of the Central Culinary Agency, belonged.
The person in front of him should be Shiratsu Jurio's father; although this man has typical East Asian features, his wife might be Italian.
"Hello, Senior of the Shiratsu family. We are from Chunguo Pavilion."
Kikuchi Sonoka quickly bowed and said respectfully.
Although the Shiratsu family was not as prominent as the Isshiki or Kinokuni families, they were still a famous culinary family, and the other party was older than them.
"Chunguo Pavilion? I've never heard of it."
Shiratsu Kotaro frowned, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.
"Sorry, our restaurant only opened a few months ago."
Kikuchi Sonoka said, blushing slightly.
"Only opened a few months ago? How did such a restaurant appear at such a high-class gathering?"
"Exactly. Allowing such an unknown restaurant to be here is simply a defilement of this gathering."
"Who invited them?"
Several managers of well-known restaurants nearby also expressed their displeasure.
"HUB Group's review of the restaurants for this event was a bit lax; I will bring it up to Natsume-miss later."
Shiratsu Kotaro said indifferently.
"Damn it, don't look down on people."
Fabre said angrily.
He had come with Satou and the others this time, mainly because Satou felt that there might not be enough staff.
Initially, Fabre was very unwilling to be Satou's sous chef, but over time, seeing Chunguo Pavilion re-energized under his care, Fabre's mindset unknowingly changed.
Customer satisfaction is the greatest praise for a chef, and seeing the dishes he participated in receive praise from customers, even as an assistant, gave him a sense of fulfillment he had never experienced before.
Initially, he was jealous because his own restaurant failed, and he saw how young Kikuchi Sonoka could create dishes that amazed customers, so he often changed the recipes.
But now, he had gradually come to see himself as a member of Chunguo Pavilion, wanting to work together to make this restaurant even better.
"Excuse me, we were invited by Natsume-miss."
Satou said expressionlessly at this moment.
"Invited by Natsume-miss?"
Shiratsu Kotaro was immediately stunned.
"Oh? You two are here too?"
At this moment, Karasaki Taki walked over and asked in surprise.
"Isn't this the head chef of Taki Amarillo?"
"Karasaki Taki, I heard she graduated as Far Moon's Second Seat back then."
"A formidable rising star."
The people nearby looked at Karasaki Taki with expressions of awe.
Karasaki Taki was one year older than Kikuchi Sonoka, and her restaurant had already gained some fame.
"Oh, Karasaki-senpai, you're here too?"
Satou asked in surprise.
"That's right."
Karasaki Taki nodded, then looked at Shiratsu Kotaro and said, "As the Second Seat of the 89th generation, I think Sonoka Kugi has the qualifications to attend this gathering, don't you?"
"What? Is that young girl actually a Second Seat graduate?"
Hearing her words, the expressions of the surrounding chefs changed.
Their gazes towards Kikuchi Sonoka and Satou shifted from initial disdain to awe.
If she really graduated as Far Moon's Second Seat, then she would certainly become a leading figure in the culinary world in the future. Although Chunguo Pavilion was not yet famous, it would surely become a renowned restaurant in the future.
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