Chapter 193: Nakiri Mana's Secret, Forcibly Lowering Seniority
The three legends of the culinary world had already pushed aside their half-empty beer mugs.
At this point, the light, bubbly brew was no longer enough to satisfy them.
Instead, they had all switched to the specialized wine brewed by Ren himself.
For men of their caliber, individuals who stood at the absolute pinnacle of the gourmet industry, a good pot of wine was a treasure.
It was often considered even more precious than a world-class dish because of the time and soul required for fermentation.
Senzaemon Nakiri, Joichiro Yukihira, and Gin Dojima were not mere amateurs.
They were top-notch figures who had traveled the globe and tasted the finest vintages from the most prestigious vineyards.
Naturally, they knew exactly what kind of liquor deserved the title of "divine."
It was clear to all of them from the very first sniff that the wine Ren had produced was a rare, otherworldly delicacy.
As the old saying goes, "Good wine needs no bush."
When a liquor is brewed to such perfection, the aroma alone tells the entire story of its quality.
The scent that wafted from the jars was thick and layered.
It carried a mellow sweetness that didn't sting the nose, followed by a deep, earthy undertone that spoke of long-term aging in a controlled environment.
"I was wondering why you, old man, missed Shopkeeper Ren's liquor so much," Joichiro said, his voice brimming with excitement.
He swirled the liquid in his small cup, watching how it clung to the glass with a rich, syrupy consistency.
"It really is incredible! I haven't felt a kick like this in years!"
"But no matter what, Gin, you need to pay attention," Joichiro added, glancing at his former rival.
"This isn't water we're drinking! Don't just gulp it down like you're at a sports bar!"
Gin Dojima merely laughed, a rare, boisterous sound that echoed through the small restaurant.
"Huh? You guys are drinking so slowly?"
"Especially you, Joichiro! You're not up to your usual par either, are you?"
Gin's eyes were bright with a competitive fire that usually only appeared when he was in the kitchen.
"Oh, you bastard!" Joichiro barked back, his grin widening.
"Have you forgotten the time I drank you under the table? Back when we were still students at Totsuki?"
Gin shook his head, taking another slow sip of the fragrant wine.
"In my dreams, perhaps? Because in reality, I remember you being the one snoring on the floor."
Senzaemon Nakiri merely shook his head helplessly at the display.
He sat between the two "fools," taking small, measured sips of the amber liquid.
He wasn't like these two hot-blooded youngsters; to him, good liquor was meant to be savored drop by drop.
The "Demon of Food" watched them with a mix of nostalgia and exasperation.
He knew that Shopkeeper Ren's liquor was deceptive; it was incredibly fragrant and lacked any harsh, biting aftertaste.
However, its potency was not to be underestimated.
It wasn't meant to be drunk like plain water, yet Gin and Joichiro were treating it with reckless abandon.
Luckily, they had been sensible enough to bring a driver today.
Otherwise, the three most powerful men in Japan's culinary scene would likely be found sleeping on a park bench.
Compared to the rowdy behavior of the three grown men, the WGO officers had much clearer objectives.
Lanterby and her group had already finished their initial greetings and moved to a separate table.
Their attention was almost entirely focused on Cerberus, the small, three-headed girl who sat comfortably on a plush stool.
Firstly, Cerberus was undeniably cute, possessing a charm that was hard for anyone to resist.
Secondly, in their eyes, Cerberus was essentially an elder of the establishment.
For Courage and Decora, who were both feeling the crushing weight of being single in their twenties, the sight of Cerberus was a balm to their souls.
These two were so enthusiastic that they practically overwhelmed the poor girl with questions and compliments.
"Eh? Really?" Lanterby leaned in, her eyes wide with genuine shock.
"Besides being a powerful Combatant, Mr. Ren is also that good at basketball and tennis?!"
"Oh! Oh!" Decora gasped, her hands clasped together in front of her chest.
"So many rich, beautiful women were actually pursuing Mr. Ren?!"
"Ha?! There were that many people?" Courage added, her voice rising in a pitch of excitement.
"As expected, Mr. Ren is incredibly outstanding! His talent truly knows no bounds!"
While the group of women continued their lively interrogation of Cerberus, Mana Nakiri remained slightly apart.
She sat in a booth near the window, her back straight and her expression composed as she looked through several documents.
For some reason, the bustling noise of the restaurant didn't bother her today.
Usually, the "God Tongue" made her sensitive to everything, making her prone to headaches in crowded places.
But here, she felt a strange sense of warmth, almost as if she were back in a home she had forgotten.
She found herself exceptionally focused, handling complex government affairs with a speed she rarely achieved in her own office.
Saitama, who was sitting at the bar counter, seemed a bit dazed by the sheer amount of energy in the room.
The bald hero just sat there, his blank, egg-like face showing no specific emotion.
He wasn't playing games on his phone, nor was he engaging in the drinking or the gossiping.
He just sat quietly, his eyes occasionally following the movement of Ren in the kitchen.
It wasn't a strange sight to those who knew him; after all, Saitama had always been a man of simple existence.
Even if he were to suddenly stand on his head in the middle of the floor, the regulars here probably wouldn't find it that weird.
Cerberus's ears suddenly twitched, and she looked at the women with a sudden realization.
"Oh! So besides you, Lanterby... Courage, Decora, and Anne are all Special Executive Officers!"
[Akarin's Note: Special Executive Officers, also known as First-Class Officers in the WGO, are the highest-ranking adjudicators in the World Gourmet Organization.]
Lanterby's mouth twitched at the mention of her rank.
She knew Cerberus didn't mean anything by it, but the reminder of her "junior" status still stung.
Lanterby cleared her throat, trying to regain some of her dignity.
"Cough cough! I can definitely get promoted to Special Executive Officer soon!"
"After all, I'm still so young! I have plenty of time to build my career!"
When she said this, Cerberus clapped her small hands together in a blank, innocent manner.
She didn't quite understand what the titles meant, but she could tell it was something Lanterby was proud of.
Perhaps this was the common ground between two energetic young girls.
However, this sentiment wasn't shared by everyone at the table.
The three Special Executive Officers in front of her all turned their heads at the same time.
Their expressions darkened visibly as they processed Lanterby's "young" comment.
Decora reached out and pinched Lanterby's soft cheek, pulling it slightly with a dangerous smile.
"Lanterby... are you saying that the three of us are old?"
"Especially me and Courage?" Decora's voice was sweet, but there was a sharp edge to it that made the air feel colder.
Lanterby immediately broke out in a cold sweat, her heart hammering against her ribs.
She had made a catastrophic mistake.
Because of their single status and their inability to find romantic partners, these two were extremely sensitive about their appearance.
Anything related to age, skin condition, or figure was a strictly forbidden topic.
Even though they were only around twenty-three, in their minds, every passing year was a battle.
Lanterby swallowed hard, her voice trembling as she whispered, "Decora... Courage... you know I didn't mean it like that!"
"Remember? We're like sisters! Partners! I'm on your side!"
Courage let out an exasperated sigh, leaning back in her chair with her arms crossed.
"Sisters? You?" Courage raised an eyebrow, looking Lanterby up and down.
"At most, in terms of our organization's history, you're a grand-disciple."
"Eh?!" Lanterby's jaw dropped.
"Why?! Why did my seniority suddenly drop so low?!"
Courage waved her hand dismissively, as if explaining a simple math problem.
"Think about it. Decora and I were the ones who personally trained Anne when she first joined."
"And Anne is the one who is currently your mentor and Executive Officer," Courage continued with a smirk.
"In the world of professional hierarchy, that means Anne is your teacher, and we are her teachers."
"Do you think there's anything logically wrong with calling you a grand-disciple?"
Lanterby's mouth twitched, and her shoulders slumped in defeat.
She sadly and indignantly had to accept the fact that her seniority had just plummeted by two generations in a single conversation.
Of course, she knew these two wouldn't really treat her like a grand-disciple.
They had been spoiling her like a younger sister for years, but they certainly wouldn't let an opportunity to tease her pass by.
Anne was about to say something to comfort Lanterby when she felt a sudden movement next to her.
Courage leaned over, hooking her arm firmly around Anne's neck and pulling her close.
She looked at Cerberus with a mischievous smile.
"Cerberus, you don't even know... Anne wasn't always this polished and elegant!"
Cerberus's three heads tilted in unison, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Eh? Really? What was Anne-san like before?"
The question hung in the air, and Anne's face immediately turned a deep, vibrant shade of crimson.
She panicked, her hands flying up to cover Courage's mouth, but the senior officer was already laughing.
Decora just smiled from the side, enjoying the rare sight of the usually composed Anne losing her cool.
Lanterby, seeing an opportunity to get back at her mentor, leaned in close.
"Actually, I'm also very curious what Sister Anne was like in her 'dark' past."
"Phew!" Courage managed to pull Anne's hands away, grinning at the memory.
"Anne's old appearance... imagine two very tight braids, absolutely no makeup, and those massive, thick glasses."
"She dressed almost exclusively in tracksuits back then!" Courage added with a giggle. "Right, Gin?"
Gin Dojima, who was still sipping his wine at the nearby table, nodded his head in agreement.
"Hmm! To be honest, I was still a bit surprised when I saw her change," Gin admitted, his voice carrying over to their table.
Anne groaned, her forehead hitting the table with a soft thud.
She looked like she wanted the floor to open up and swallow her whole.
Her most embarrassing trainee moments were being laid bare in front of a legendary chef and a divine beast.
She had originally planned to take those memories to the grave, but today, they were being dug up like artifacts.
Lanterby suppressed a smile, looking at her mentor with a mix of pity and amusement.
"Although I can't quite imagine it... it sounds very... unfashionable."
Cerberus, however, seemed to be processing the description with a thoughtful look on her faces.
She went quiet for a few seconds, then her eyes widened as if she had just solved a puzzle.
"Eh?! Wait! Isn't that just Nene-chan?!"
The proclamation rang out in the restaurant, and for a second, there was total silence.
Then, Courage and Decora exploded into a fit of laughter that nearly brought them to tears.
"Pfft! Hahaha! Cerberus, you're right!"
"She really was exactly like that Kinokuni Nene girl!"
The two senior officers were practically doubling over, their voices overlapping in a chorus of mirth.
Lanterby quickly pulled out her phone. "Cerberus, who is this Kinokuni Nene, and what does she look like?"
Cerberus took the phone and scrolled through her gallery for a long time.
Finally, she found a photo from a previous school event where she had dragged a reluctant Kinokuni Nene into a group picture.
When Lanterby saw the girl in the photo—the tight braids, the stoic expression, the glasses—she immediately had to cover her mouth to stop herself from laughing out loud.
The image was too strong; the resemblance to the "old Anne" was undeniable.
Courage and Decora also leaned over to take a look, their laughter intensifying.
"Yes! Exactly the same! She's just missing the notebook that Nene always carries!"
[Akarin's Note: Kinokuni Nene is the 6th seat of the Elite Ten Council at Totsuki, known for her traditional upbringing and strict, braided appearance.]
"Hahahaha! The resemblance is uncanny!"
"You guys... please stop..." Anne mumbled into the table, her voice muffled and defeated.
Mana Nakiri, still sitting with her government affairs, listened to the noisy sounds coming from the other table.
A soft, genuine smile appeared on her face as she watched them play.
"Youth is truly wonderful..." she whispered to herself.
Senzaemon, who had been watching his daughter from the corner of his eye, spoke up softly.
"Mana, don't forget your real age. You're still very young yourself."
Mana was startled for a moment, her pen pausing over the paper as she looked at her father.
"Eh? Oh... right."
She looked back at her documents, a hint of a blush on her cheeks. "I really did forget for a moment."
The restaurant remained filled with the scent of good wine and the sounds of laughter.
In this small corner of Japan, the weight of titles and seniority seemed to fade, replaced by the simple joy of a shared evening.
Ren continued his work in the kitchen, a small smile playing on his lips as he heard the lively voices of his guests.
This was the atmosphere he worked so hard to maintain—a place where even the most powerful people could act like children.
The clinking of glasses and the occasional burst of laughter from the WGO officers served as the background music to a perfect night.
As the moonlight filtered through the windows, casting long shadows across the floor, everyone present felt a sense of belonging.
The wine was good, the company was better, and for a few hours, the outside world didn't matter.
[Akarin Note:
Your Support Keeps This Story Alive!
If you're enjoying this novel, your support means the world to me. Simple actions like leaving a review, power stone, comment, or sharing the story let me know you're out there. It's the greatest motivation for me to keep updating until the very end and ensures this project continues.
For those who wish to support me more directly, you can join my Patreon at [patreon.com/AkarinTL]. As a thank-you, you'll receive access to 50 advanced chapters.
I hope I am still worthy of your support. My life truly depends on this... haha, I know I'm so shameless.]