After this lesson, every Midnight Chef warned their subordinates about one thing: do not provoke Kael. No matter the reason, if they ran into him, they were to avoid him on sight.
It wasn't that they were afraid of Kael himself. What they truly feared was Mana Nakiri, the person standing behind him.
This incident also sent a clear signal to the entire culinary world—Kael most likely had a way to resolve the drawbacks of the God's Tongue.
Otherwise, there was no way to explain why Mana Nakiri would treat him the way she did. Even a son-in-law wouldn't receive that level of protection.
The WGO's crackdown on the Midnight Chefs lasted a full week. Only after that did Mana Nakiri order all actions to stop, finally allowing those Midnight Chefs to breathe a sigh of relief.
Three more weeks passed, and the Field Training officially came to an end.
The training had taken place across four different locations—problematic restaurants, as well as venues specifically meant for student learning. After a full month of grinding experience, the students' overall presence had changed dramatically.
In the original timeline, this trial reduced the first-year class from roughly one thousand students to fewer than three hundred.
This time, however, thanks to Kael's guidance of many members from the Chinese Cuisine Research Society, more than three hundred students made it through—though not by a huge margin.
Naturally, none of that had anything to do with Kael.
When everyone finally returned to Polar Star Dormitory and learned what had happened there, they were all completely stunned.
"They actually showed up at night with guns to assassinate Kael?!"
The Polar Star residents didn't even know what to say anymore. They were just students—normally dealing with classmates and teachers.
Even though they'd met all kinds of people during training, everything had still been under peaceful circumstances. Now someone suddenly pulling out a gun and trying to kill someone? Of course they were terrified.
"I've only ever seen stuff like that in TV dramas or movies. I can't believe Kael actually ran into it."
Even Soma Yukihira, usually thick-skinned as they came, was dumbfounded. Something straight out of television had happened right next to them.
"It's already been handled," Kael said with a smile.
"I wounded the attacker with the Two-Stone Bow, then the Director had people take him away. As for the other Midnight Chefs, aside from Sarge and Bunnyhair, all of them were forced to leave Japan."
With his reinforced physique and Divine Senses, those people never stood a chance against him. Even if someone aimed a sniper rifle at his head, it wouldn't matter. He could sense danger instantly.
Unless they used missiles or overwhelming heavy firepower—which was impossible in Japan—he wasn't in any real danger.
As long as he didn't act recklessly, nothing in this world could truly threaten him.
"I never thought that hunting bow could resolve something like this. That's amazing!"
Yuki Yoshino sounded genuinely excited. After all, that bow had been a gift from her father.
"Yeah. There really wasn't any other weapon at the time. If that guy had made it inside the dorm with a gun, we'd all have been in serious danger."
Kael nodded, speaking mainly for everyone else's sake. After all, he still had a dagger and other backup weapons on him.
And with his own strength, even if the attacker had entered Polar Star Dormitory, Kael wouldn't have been harmed in the slightest.
The reason he acted so early was because Fumio Daimido and Isshiki Satoshi were still inside the dorm.
After chatting a bit more, Isshiki returned. Seeing that everyone was fine, he finally relaxed, smiling as he handed out a few flyer-like pamphlets.
"What's this? A Momiji Viewing Gathering? Is it some kind of special event?"
Soma looked surprised. Special exams were rare, and they'd just finished Field Training.
"This isn't an exam," Isshiki said with a grin. "It's a meet-and-greet with the Elite Ten. An old Totsuki tradition."
"A meet-and-greet? What's that supposed to be?"
Soma still didn't quite get it.
"Basically, it's a chance for the Elite Ten candidates selected from the Autumn Elections to meet the current Elite Ten face-to-face, have tea, and chat," Alice Nakiri explained.
"Since those candidates are likely to become Elite Ten members in the future, it's meant as a senior-junior exchange. Though honestly, the Elite Ten's attitude is usually… not great."
As for why, the reason was simple.
The Elite Ten were busy people. When they were candidates back in the day, most seniors ignored them too. Maybe one or two were friendly, but the majority couldn't be bothered.
So they carried on the tradition—barely acknowledging the next generation.
"Normally that's true," Erina Nakiri said with a helpless smile.
"But this year, the Elite Ten are in a pretty awkward position."
"What do you mean?"
Everyone was puzzled. Usually, it was the candidates who got brushed off and looked down on.
"So what changed this time?"
"You're forgetting something," Erina said, smiling. "Kael is here. He's already a recognized Nine-Star Chef, just one step from the peak of the culinary world."
"With that level of skill, who among the Elite Ten would dare show him attitude? And besides, our class this year is terrifyingly strong. We've got several Four-Star Chefs already."
"Most of the Elite Ten are still Four-Star themselves. In the past, it was Four-Star versus Three-Star, so they could act proud. Now it's Four-Star versus Four-Star—with Kael on top. They don't have that sense of superiority anymore."
Erina herself wasn't worried. She was a first-year and a Polar Star resident—she wasn't going to give anyone attitude, and no one would dare give her any either.
Aside from Kuga Terunori and Isshiki Satoshi, the rest of the Elite Ten had to worry about whether they might offend Kael.
Inside Totsuki, they held power. Outside of it, all they had were their family connections and their cooking skills.
Kael was different. Even without being part of the Elite Ten, a Nine-Star Chef would be treated as an honored guest anywhere in the world.
"So the roles are completely reversed this time."
"I see… Yeah, with Kael around, the Elite Ten really are in an awkward spot."
Everyone nodded in agreement. In a way, the Elite Ten were kind of pitiful—finally reaching the top, only for someone even more outrageous to appear.
The Momiji Viewing Gathering existed to stimulate competition. The frustration it caused candidates was meant to drive them forward.
That night passed quietly.
Early the next morning, everyone arrived at the venue. Polar Star Dormitory had turned out almost in full force, making it feel more like an internal gathering than a candidate meeting.
"They're really making this formal. They've even got drums!"
As they spoke, the drummer began to play.
With the drums sounding, the Elite Ten made their entrance.
Because Erina was a first-year, she sat on the candidate side—making eleven people on one side, and nine seats opposite them.
After the drumbeat, the Elite Ten took their places.
Unlike the original timeline, none of them acted casually or sloppily.
After all—there was a Kael sitting right there.
A genuine Nine-Star Chef, even as a first-year student, was not someone they dared provoke. The usually arrogant Elite Ten now sat stiffly, as obedient as grade schoolers.
"There's no need to be so tense," Kael said with a chuckle. "It's just a meet-and-greet. Relax."
The atmosphere instantly eased.
After that, the Elite Ten introduced themselves. Even Etsuya Eizan was exceptionally polite toward Kael.
He knew very well—one word from Kael could shatter his entire business empire.
For the first time, Eizan truly realized just how powerful pure culinary skill could be, and he began reconsidering his priorities.
"Kael," Eishi Tsukasa said, "do you have any plans for the upcoming Moon Festival? Why not join us in the High Plateau Area?"
The Moon Festival was a large-scale campus event—true free-market operation. Students would fund themselves and manage real profits and losses.
There were three zones.
The Main Avenue Area near the entrance was full of small stalls selling single dishes or snacks—low cost, high survival rate.
The Central Area housed larger research societies. The Chinese Cuisine Research Society operated there every year.
Finally, the High Plateau Area—a refined environment for distinguished guests. Almost entirely dominated by the Elite Ten.
Ordinary students rarely dared go there.
"If Kael goes to the High Plateau Area, I'll handle the research society as usual in the Central Area," Terunori Kuga added eagerly.
Kael could guess his plan—Kuga wanted to challenge Tsukasa.
As long as he took first place in the Central Area again, Tsukasa would give him the chance.
"I won't be challenging Kael," Kuga thought clearly. A Four-Star challenging a Nine-Star would be suicidal.
"That area's tough," Yuki Yoshino said. "Even non–Elite Ten students who tried before ended up failing badly."
But that limitation didn't apply to Kael.
If he showed up there, his place would be packed to the brim—no question about it.
_______________
_______________
Every 100 Powerstones = 1 bonus Chapter