Ten minutes later, inside the top-floor office of the Totsuki Resort.
Senzaemon Nakiri, dressed in a large kimono, bowed respectfully toward Loki.
"I am Senzaemon Nakiri. It is an honor to meet Loki-sama and Emiya-dono. May I ask who these two ladies are?"
His gaze shifted to Hestia and Hephaestus standing beside Emiya.
Since he was meeting a figure who held absolute authority in this situation, Emiya had deliberately called the two goddesses over as well.
"Allow me to introduce them," Emiya said calmly. "This is the goddess Hestia, and this is the goddess Hephaestus."
Senzaemon Nakiri immediately bowed again, this time even more deeply.
He wouldn't dare show even the slightest disrespect toward a goddess.
Although students at Totsuki Academy referred to him as the Demon King of Culinary, that title meant nothing in front of a true god.
The old and shrewd Senzaemon understood that perfectly.
Emiya waved his hand.
"Please, have a seat. Let's skip the formalities and get straight to business."
Senzaemon sat down on the sofa and nodded.
"Of course."
"Did you bring the data for manufacturing mobile phones?"
Senzaemon took out a USB drive and placed it on the table in front of Emiya.
"This contains the data you requested. I've also acquired a manufacturing line that can be activated for mass production at any time."
"There's no need to rush that yet," Emiya said. He picked up the USB drive and handed it to Hephaestus.
"I'll need a computer," Hephaestus said.
Senzaemon gestured toward the computer in the office.
"Please feel free to use it, Goddess Hephaestus."
She walked over without hesitation.
Emiya then continued,
"And the gold? How's the preparation on that front?"
Senzaemon pointed to a small suitcase near his feet.
"Three hundred pounds of gold in total. If it's not enough, I can add more."
Emiya didn't know the exchange rate in Orario, so he looked to Loki.
Loki nodded.
"That should be enough."
Hestia nodded firmly as well.
"Three hundred pounds of gold can be exchanged for tens of millions of Falna. More than enough."
Emiya nodded, satisfied.
"Erina should have already explained Orario to you. How many people are you planning to send?"
Opening a restaurant in the Labyrinth City of Orario obviously couldn't rely on Erina Nakiri and Hisako Arato alone.
More importantly, the two of them were still students and couldn't remain there long-term.
There was no way Senzaemon hadn't considered this.
Senzaemon took out a thick stack of documents and placed them on the coffee table.
"Here is the list. Please take a look, my lords, and Emiya-dono."
Loki waved her hand lazily.
"This has nothing to do with me."
Hestia, however, looked at Emiya nervously. This decision would directly affect her future.
Emiya picked up the documents, split them in half, handed one portion to Hestia, and kept the other.
The first name that caught his eye was immediately familiar.
Mana Nakiri.
Senzaemon Nakiri's biological daughter.
Erina Nakiri's biological mother.
She was also the sole special executive officer of the gourmet organization WGO, appearing at only a handful of meetings each year.
Like Erina, she possessed the God's Tongue.
But hers was on an entirely different level.
She had already tasted cuisines from all over the world.
Ordinary food could no longer move her.
At this point, she was so weary of mediocre flavors that she could only sustain herself with nutritional supplements.
It was, in every sense, a miserable existence.
So when Senzaemon learned about Orario, he immediately realized this was an opportunity.
That was why Mana Nakiri's name was placed first on the list.
Emiya wasn't surprised.
"That's acceptable," he said.
Senzaemon visibly relaxed.
Emiya moved on to the second file.
Gin Dojima.
Another familiar name.
But after thinking about it, it made sense.
One of Totsuki's most outstanding graduates.
Head chef of the Totsuki Resort.
And someone who already knew the full story.
There was no reason to exclude him.
"He's acceptable as well," Emiya said.
He placed that file aside and opened the third.
Joichiro Saiba.
The very Shura Loki had just mentioned earlier.
His son was currently studying at Totsuki, and now Senzaemon was bringing the father as well.
It was obvious.
Senzaemon intended to completely bind the Yukihira father and son to the Totsuki faction.
Emiya had no reason to object.
Two were top-tier chefs.
The remaining one possessed the God's Tongue.
No matter how he looked at it, they were ideal candidates.
Emiya quickly finished reading his portion, then exchanged documents with Hestia.
Before long, he finished reviewing the remaining files and turned to her.
"Hestia-sama, is there anyone you're particularly interested in?"
Hestia pulled out several files and placed them in front of him.
In addition to Mana Nakiri, Gin Dojima, and Joichiro Saiba, there were two more names.
Jun Shiomi.
Sonoka Kikuchi.
Emiya's mouth twitched.
If he remembered correctly, both of these women possessed figures that were... excessive by any reasonable standard.
Sonoka Kikuchi, in particular, was often referred to by Rindo Kobayashi as the big-breasted monster.
Emiya had a strong suspicion.
Hestia's reason for selecting these two was less about talent and more about provoking Loki.
Specifically, mocking Loki's painfully flat chest.
What kind of grudge do you two even have?
Emiya forced a wry smile.
"Hestia-sama... are you sure you want to recruit these two?"
"Of course," Hestia replied immediately, glancing triumphantly at Loki.
Seeing that look, Loki grew curious and leaned over.
"Let me see who this shorty picked."
Emiya instinctively reached out to stop her.
Too late.
The moment Loki's eyes scanned the list, the light vanished from them.
Mana Nakiri.
Jun Shiomi.
Sonoka Kikuchi.
Among the five names, aside from Gin Dojima and Joichiro Saiba, the three women each had figures more devastating than the last.
To Loki, this was nothing short of a deliberate insult.
In the next instant, she lunged at Hestia without hesitation.
"Die, you freeloading poverty god!"
Hestia didn't back down and fought back immediately.
And just like that, two goddesses who could have destroyed the world were rolling around on the floor like ordinary people.
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