Chapter 623: White Truffle, Justice's Just Statement
Yuuki Kyouko had to admit that a mere salad had completely overturned her expectations. When Asuna first described the sheer culinary perfection of Shopkeeper Ren's cooking, Kyouko had remained politely skeptical. She simply didn't believe a dish could reach such mythical heights.
But now, she had to swallow those doubts. If a simple fruit salad could be elevated to this level of vibrant, mouth-watering perfection, what would happen when he used high-end ingredients with their own rich, complex textures?
Asuna took a bite, briefly surprised, but as a regular of the restaurant, she quickly settled back into her usual graceful demeanor. Kyouko watched her daughter eat with genuine joy and stayed silent. Ordinarily, Asuna strictly monitored her fruit intake due to the sugar content, maintaining a rigorous diet to keep her pristine figure.
"Ha? Impossible, absolutely impossible. Don't even joke about it," Nami sighed, resting her cheek on her hand. "Those idiots... without me, they wouldn't make it to the New World in three years. Don't even think about it!"
Riven asked, somewhat exasperated, "Just how bad is Zoro and the rest of their sense of direction, exactly...?"
"No, no, no, it's not just their sense of direction," Nami groaned, rubbing her temples. "These guys are walking disasters! Just like before, when they beat up that fat pig, they completely ignored the catastrophic consequences. Sure, those scumbags absolutely deserved a beating, but still! And they are way too wasteful! That's money! Not rocks!"
Lucifer took a slow sip of her drink and offered a dry smile. "Nami, it's precisely because your way of thinking is so grounded and normal that you seem exceptionally abnormal when you're surrounded by them."
Nami sighed heavily. "Luckily, I still have Robin... Robin loves uncovering unknown knowledge and exploring the hidden truths of the world. If she were to come to a place like this, she would be absolutely thrilled. She might never even leave."
"Eh? No way, didn't you say something about Ohara...?"
Nami thought for a moment. "That's true. She might expose the truth of the world, get her revenge, and then come over. Eh? What do you all think of Robin?"
Ichihara Yuko paused, her dark eyes reflecting a deep depth. "Robin, huh... she is someone who grew up constantly surrounded by betrayal and persecution. If she could afford the price, perhaps someone here could lend her a hand."
Lucifer let out a soft, exasperated breath. "You could just point at me and be done with it. But this... Justice, this falls under your domain."
"Robin... Oh!" Justice leaned forward, her signature grin flashing. "Is that the little girl whose family and home were wiped out by something called a Buster Call? That's truly unreasonable. If she can afford the reward, I don't mind executing true Justice. Justice is never meant to be hung on a wall as a mere decoration."
Nami and the others silently applauded the demon's declaration. Courage blinked, looking utterly lost. "What are you all talking about?"
"Oh, just a movie," they chorused smoothly.
Lady Mana Nakiri and the others nodded, finishing their meals before heading off to work or slipping into the kitchen to study. The remaining group consisted entirely of those who knew the secret of Another World. Momobami Kirari and her companions paid no mind to the others, immersed in their own elegant conversations.
Nami let out another long sigh. "Let's just wait until Robin gets a chance to visit. Oh, I do have something I want to know. Do you guys think there's anything Shopkeeper Ren isn't good at?"
Lucifer and the others pondered this for a long moment. Finally, Lucifer spoke softly, "Shopkeeper Ren once claimed he couldn't write novels, yet he casually gave masterful pointers to a rather miserable author. He often insists he isn't good at something, much like how he always used to say he couldn't cook."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Kasugano Sora suddenly smiled, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she whispered, "Ren-nii is an absolute expert at studying Sister Yuko. He's researched her so thoroughly that she's practically become her own academic field: 'Yukology.'Why don't you all create a'Baiyulogy'?"
Ichihara Yuko shot the silver-haired girl a flat, thoroughly unimpressed look. "Go do your homework. I'll be checking it in a bit."
"Huh? No way..."
"Less talk! Go do your homework!" a chorus of voices echoed in unison.
Even Kirari, who had noticed the commotion, chimed in with a cool, authoritative gaze. Sporting a crestfallen expression, Sora scurried into the kitchen, grabbed a can of cola, and trudged back to her assignments. She was having a truly miserable time.
Yuuki Kyouko smiled warmly at the exchange. The atmosphere in the restaurant was incredibly inviting. Asuna leaned in and spoke softly, "Sora used to attend the same school as me, but she transferred later on."
Kyouko blinked in surprise. "Transferred where?"
"I heard from Hinami that she transferred to Koyo Girl's Academy. It seems Koyo Academy's President is also Shopkeeper Ren's girlfriend..."
Kyouko was stunned. She sat in silence for a long time before asking, bewildered, "Soryuin Shion?"
Asuna nodded. Kyouko was now intensely curious about this Shopkeeper Ren. Just how magical of a man was he, to effortlessly capture the hearts of so many wealthy, beautiful, and powerful women?
Just as she was contemplating this, the kitchen doors swung open, and Shopkeeper Ren pushed out a sleek dining cart. Jabami Yumeko's eyes lit up with a dangerous thrill. "Oh, it looks like it's our dinner. I'm so excited."
Ren approached the table, first setting down Kirari's French pan-seared foie gras. Knowing she hadn't eaten anything substantial, he also prepared a delicate Saint-Jacques scallop accompanied by white sausage and crisp toast. Sayaka's dish, originally meant to be Flying Dragon Soup, had been thoughtfully replaced with a rich, aromatic seafood paella.
Runa Yomozuki looked up at him with wide, expectant eyes. Ren offered a gentle smile, placing her vibrant Thai mango salad before her, followed by a perfectly golden wellington steak and a creamy gratin.
For Jabami Yumeko, he served a succulent roasted beef fillet, a deep, ruby-red borscht, and a dish that even managed to slightly surprise Ichihara Yuko: black truffle fried rice. But that wasn't the focal point. The true centerpiece lay resting atop the steak beside it—a few delicate, unmistakable shavings.
Yumeko gasped, her cheeks flushing with delight. "Wow! It's truffle!"
Kirari glanced down at the plate, a soft sigh escaping her lips. "You even used white truffle. You really are unusually outrageous."
Runa Yomozuki and Sayaka quickly inspected their own dishes. Sure enough, a few precious slices of white truffle adorned both the wellington steak and the seafood risotto. Runa's eyes sparkled like stars. "Oh! It really is white truffle!"
Ren smiled, his tone calm and understated. "Alright, don't be so surprised. It's not considered particularly precious here with me. Since it's a reward, it naturally can't be too ordinary. Kirari, what do you all want to drink?"
Kirari rolled her eyes, though a faint smile tugged at her lips. "You've already brought out the truffle, what else can I possibly say? Wine, of course. Wine is a truffle's greatest companion."
Ren nodded smoothly. "Leflaive's white wine?"
"You really do understand me. Chill it."
"Naturally."
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