The strongest anime shop owner

At this very moment, the most tense moment, everyone's eyes were filled with a thirst for knowledge. They stared intently, not daring to blink, for fear of missing the most exciting moment. At the same time, they were all making guesses in their hearts. In particular, the reporters had their cameras ready, ready to record this most exciting moment at any time.

With both hands gripping a large hammer, Yise slammed it down onto the ice block. From the point where the hammer struck, countless cracks, like a spider web, rapidly spread out until they covered the entire ice block. At that point, the ice block collapsed, revealing the food inside.

"It's saury!!" Someone shouted almost immediately after seeing what was inside.

"Ugh, are you sure the theme of the Autumn Finals is all about high-end ingredients? What the heck is this saury? It seems to be a cheap one, costing 50 to 90 yen per pound. But... maybe it's because it's such a common ingredient that making a high-end dish with it is much more difficult than using high-end ingredients." Su Luo, who had been watching, thought to herself after hearing their discussion. After all, in this season, the quantity of saury is astonishing, probably measured in tons. In her previous life, it only sold for a little over one dollar in Taiwan, which was less than the price of a tea egg. She suddenly felt like they had been slapped in the face.

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Chapter 220 Going Out

"Ugh! Saury!?"

"This...this ingredient looks a little disappointing..."

Upon seeing this ingredient, everyone was both surprised and disappointed. After all, in previous years, the ingredients selected in the autumn were all high-end, while the saury ingredient now can only be considered ordinary.

After hearing their argument, Su Luo couldn't help but shake her head with a smile. She found their naive thinking amusing. Ingredients are naturally occurring, and whether they are considered high-end is a matter of human designation. However, this doesn't mean that saury cannot be used to make high-end dishes. In fact, this might be a true test of a chef's skills, which is much more difficult than cooking high-end ingredients.

"Indeed, saury has been a common dish for ordinary people since ancient times, also known as the 'commoner's fish.' However, in recent years, many high-end restaurants have also started selling it... and many foreign restaurants have also started offering this dish... It can be said to be a fish that can represent autumn without needing words. Please make a dish using saury! This is the theme of the final!!" At this moment, Isshiki said, holding the microphone.

"Saury... It immediately brings to mind salt-grilled saury! The skin is grilled until crispy, and the aroma is irresistible... plus the hot fish meat... and then topped with some grated radish..." Upon hearing that saury would be the theme, Yoshino Yuuki's thoughts were already lost in her own fantasies, and she looked like a hungry cat.

“Even sushi restaurants have started offering this dish recently. It’s precisely because it’s a basic ingredient that it can be cooked in all sorts of ways…” After hearing Isshiki’s words, Ibuzaki Shun, who had his arms crossed, seemed to remember something and said, “Although saury is a relatively common ingredient, it’s a popular trend these days.”

"Not only does the saury have many advantages, but it also happens to have an incredible connection with these four finalists... Please use the saury to make a dish!" Isshiki continued, holding the microphone.

"Fat fish with a strong aroma -" After the theme was determined, the finalists immediately started thinking. Hayama Ryo crossed his arms and said.

"They are fish and shellfish, considered treasures by the world."

“And it’s closely related to the dining tables of the general public!” Soma said, stroking his chin.

"Although it's a fairly common ingredient, it's actually quite nutritious, containing high levels of protein and fat, and also possessing certain medicinal benefits," Su Luo said.

The group quickly analyzed the various aspects of saury and began to think about how to prepare it based on its characteristics and their own preferred cooking methods.

"Oh, oh, oh...! Four answers from four people..."

"It's an ingredient that brings out the strengths of each of the four people!"

"I wonder what kind of imaginative battles those four people will wage!!"

After listening to the four finalists, many people looked on with anticipation.

"The final is in ten days... I promise to bring you the most exciting showdown!!" Isshiki said at the end, mentioning the match time and the topic that piqued everyone's interest.

"Haha, I've captured Kavoi's little brother." At this moment, Ryoko Sakaki suddenly appeared out of nowhere, pounced over, and hugged Su Luo in her arms.

Everyone responded with: "..."

Su Luo herself stated: "..."

"Little Su Luo, get up quickly... never mind..." The day after the final round of the general level competition, Soma went straight to Su Luo's room. Seeing that Su Luo was still sleeping there, and knowing that he couldn't be woken up no matter what, he violently dragged Su Luo out of the quilt, changed his clothes, and then dragged him outside.

At this moment, Su Luo was still a little dazed, but she quickly came to her senses, hurriedly washed up, skipped breakfast, and then prepared her toolbox, planning to go out together.

Originally, according to Su Luo, there were saury in the space, and she could practice there. However, last night, the system somehow granted Su Luo a promotion period, and then... then she completely collapsed. The ingredients for practicing in the space all cost system coins, one coin for each item. One coin for each item seems like a small amount, but when practicing, it's like a flowing river, easily costing several hundred coins a night. If she were to take them out, each item would cost a hundred coins. This was practically killing Su Luo, so she had to consider practicing in the real world.

Seafood like saury is freshest in the early morning, right when it's first available for sale.

"Oh, little brother, no, I must be seeing things." Sakaki Ryoko, still in her pajamas and half-asleep, was immediately surprised when she saw Su Luo. Thinking she was seeing things, she rubbed her eyes, as she had never seen Su Luo up so early before, especially since it was still dark. However, after rubbing her eyes, Su Luo was still right in front of her, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Ah, little brother, that's rare! You're up so early! What are you doing...?"

"Ha~ Do you think I'm such a lazy person?" Su Luo was speechless at Ryoko's exaggerated actions and words. Before Ryoko could finish speaking, Su Luo interrupted her.

"Yes!"

"Holy crap, sis, you don't have to be so direct, and what's with the serious tone you're giving me?" Su Luo felt utterly defeated after hearing that blunt remark.

"Where are you going?" Seeing Su Luo tying her shoelaces, looking like she was about to go out, she asked curiously.

"Going to the Fish Riverbank with that man who lost 600 games." Su Luo answered while tying her shoelaces, then looked up at Sakaki Ryoko, who was wearing pajamas, and asked, "What are you doing up so early? Is there something you need to do?"

"No, I just wanted to get something to eat... but now, I have something to do." After hearing Su Luo's words, Ryoko Sakaki's eyes darted around, as if she had thought of something, and she said.

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Chapter 221 Fish Riverbank

Well, if you still don't understand after hearing what Ryoko Sakaki said, you might as well go and kill yourself.

"Hey, isn't this Tadokoro? What are you getting ready for?" After Su Luo put on her shoes and came out, she saw Tadokoro dressed in his travel clothes, looking like he was about to go out, so she greeted him.

“Oh, Tadokoro is coming too.” Soma said before Tadokoro could speak.

"If you're ready, let's go." Soma said after Su Luo came out.

“Ryoko, that old lady, is going too, so let’s wait a bit longer,” Su Luo said.

"Oh, Ryoko's coming too," Tadokoro said, somewhat surprised.

"Well, I bumped into it when I was putting on my shoes, and then..." At this point, Su Luo gave a knowing look.

"Hey, isn't this Xiaohui? Is Xiaohui going along too?" Just as Su Luo was saying this, Sakaki Ryoko's voice came over, and then the person walked over.

“Well, I’ve been to the Fish Riverbank for so long and I still haven’t been there. Plus, I don’t have anything planned for today, so it’s perfect to go with someone. And Soma-kun even brought a charcoal grill, so maybe we can get some of the freshest grilled fish.” Tadokoro pointed to the charcoal grill Soma was carrying and said.

"Really? That's something to look forward to." After hearing Tadokoro's words, Ryoko Sakaki was clearly intrigued. Just imagine that the fish would be grilled as soon as it arrived, and it would be incredibly fresh and delicious. Besides, it was a day off, so most people didn't have much to do, and Ryoko Sakaki was no exception.

"Oh! It's so cold..." After everyone arrived, they set off. The moment the door opened, the chilly wind that had settled in the night rushed in, making the unprepared crowd shiver.

"...I've finally arrived here—no—it's only just begun...Let's go see...the view from higher up!" After stepping outside, the sky was still dark, but the twinkling stars were clearly visible. Soma walked towards the fish riverbank, gazing at the pitch-black night, a firm belief rising in his heart.

"Excuse me! Excuse me!"

How much is it per kilogram?

"Give me the biggest one!"

Soon, the sky began to gradually turn towards daylight, and Su Luo and her group arrived at the Fish Riverbank. The Fish Riverbank was a market very close to the dock, and it was almost one of the best places to find fresh fish. When they first entered, although the sky was still a bit dark, the market was already very lively. As a merchant, one must always set up one's goods before customers arrive. However, it was clear that Su Luo and her group were not the only early arrivals.

At first glance, almost everyone in the market was extremely busy, trading and transporting goods. In this vast place, all kinds of fish that had just been transported back from the sea were being sold, with an overwhelming variety that dazzled the eyes.

"Oh my, although this isn't my first time here, it still excites me no matter how many times I come," Ryoko Sakaki remarked, looking at the bustling market.

"Yes! What a vibrant place! It's amazing! It's so exciting!" Upon seeing this scene, Tadokoro was immediately engrossed in the atmosphere, appearing quite excited. Then, remembering what Ryoko Sakaki meant, he couldn't help but ask, "Oh, by the way, Ryoko, have you been here many times before?"

“Yes! As you know, I’m quite good at koji cooking, and fish can also be fermented, so I’ve been here many times before.” Ryoko Sakaki explained with a smile as she listened to Tadokoro’s question.

"Oh! Yellow croaker and shad are so cheap! Ah! Bamboo clams are cheap too! That's great..." While Ryoko Sakaki and Tadokoro were talking, Soma had already run over there, stroking his chin, looking around carefully, and talking from time to time.

"Hey, hey, hey! I said, we're here to buy saury. We can talk about these things later, okay? If we go any later, we won't be able to buy anything good." Looking at Soma's expression, Su Luo really didn't know what to say for a moment.

"By the way, Ryoko-san, don't you come here often? Do you know where the saury are?" After lecturing Soma, Su Luo turned slightly to Ryoko Sakaki and asked.

"boom!"

"Auntie!? You bastard, you're so young and you're already behaving badly. I'll teach you what it means to respect your elders!" In response to Su Luo's question, she was met with a fist the size of a clay pot from Sakaki Ryoko.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch!" Su Luo clutched the bump on her head, bursting into tears. She then weakly said, "Speaking of which, you're only fifteen years old, how come you're already my elder? Also, I'd like to say, isn't 'Auntie' also an elder?"

"I say what I mean, do you understand?!" Ryoko Sakaki rubbed her fists, looking at Su Luo with a not-so-good expression, and said each word clearly, her words carrying an undeniable meaning, as if she would make Su Luo regret it if she dared to say another word.

"But, so violent, she'll never be able to get married." Looking at the domineering Ryoko Sakaki, Su Luo pouted and muttered to herself.

"What did you say!?"

"N-nothing."

“Although I come here often, I really don’t know where the saury is. After all, every time I come, I come directly to find the ingredients I need.” Seeing Su Luo’s weak appearance, Ryoko Sakaki lowered her fist, instantly transforming from a fierce wolf into a gentle lamb. After saying this, she thought for a moment, then suddenly remembered something and said, “Oh! Right, I suddenly remembered, the saury should be in that direction. I’ve seen them before when I passed by, but I don’t know if they’re still there.”

"Well..." Just as Tadokoro was about to say something, he was suddenly interrupted by a man's voice. The voice was very loud and carried an angry tone: "Don't make a racket in front of my shop! Don't get in my way! Don't get in my way!"

"Yes, yes, yes... I'm sorry! I'll leave right away!!" Facing a man a head taller than himself with bulging veins, and given Tadokoro's weak and gentle nature, he apologized hastily, regardless of what had happened.

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Chapter 222 Selecting Fish

"Hmm? Where did you guys come from?" Mornings are usually the busiest time for merchants, so it's understandable that they might not be in a good mood. The man looked at Su Luo and the others and couldn't help but ask, as if he was there to cause trouble.

"Ah-sorry! We are students of Totsuki Academy..." Faced with this aggressive man who looked ready to fight, Tadokoro was so frightened that he couldn't speak, while Soma remained calm and unhurried as he explained.

"What? You should have said so earlier!! Totsuki is a customer of most of the shops here! Take your time looking around!" Upon hearing Soma mention that he was a student of Totsuki, before Soma could even finish speaking, the man, who had previously looked displeased, immediately broke into a bright smile and said this. It makes sense, considering Totsuki's strong resources and potential. After all, the students they train each year are very popular, and many are already quite famous. In addition, for a large culinary school, a huge variety of ingredients is essential. As a merchant, one would naturally hope to be able to supply ingredients to Totsuki, as it is a win-win situation. Therefore, even Totsuki's students are very popular.

"No... I'm sorry, thank you!" Faced with the man's sudden change of attitude, Tadokoro was a little taken aback, but he still quickly thanked him, even though it might be because he was a student of Totsuki Academy.

"Haa - as expected, everyone knows about Totsuki's reputation." This situation was clearly within Soma and the others' expectations.

"Oh! Found it!" Before long, the group found the place where the saury was sold.

"Hi, long time no see, Alice, and his sidekick." At this moment, Su Luo almost immediately noticed Alice Nakiri and the others walking towards them.

"Oh, it's Su Luo-kun." Looking a bit dazed, Alice Nakiri turned around when she heard someone calling her, and greeted Su Luo after seeing that it was him.

Before Alice Nakiri could speak again, the conversation had clearly reached Soma and the others' ears. They looked over and, upon seeing Alice Nakiri, Soma immediately exclaimed, "Alice Nakiri! You guys came here for the saury too? What a coincidence!"

"It's not really a coincidence, I come here every day..." (The rest of the text appears to be gibberish and unrelated to the previous sentences.)

"What? So you're Xiao Liang's friends?" After hearing their conversation, the owner of the saury shop, who was moving goods there, looked at Su Luo and the others and said.

"Does Nakiri come here often too?" Seeing this situation, even a fool would know that since the owner of the saury restaurant knew them and seemed very friendly in addressing them, they must have some kind of relationship. Soma couldn't help but ask.

“I only come here occasionally. The morning market here starts very early!” Alice Nakiri replied while yawning.

"Ahhh... We've met our opponent again...! Ah! But it seems like only one of us is nervous!" Watching Soma and the others face off against the enemy, I felt a surge of emotion.

After seeing this scene, Su Luo really didn't know what to say. It seemed that Tadokoro's personality couldn't be changed in a short time. Actually, what he wanted to complain about was that Su Luo and Soma were also rivals, so why wasn't she nervous?

"So... what we need to do today is to select a few fresh saury to try. At this point, the most important thing is... the ability to distinguish between good and bad quality!" Soma looked at the saury in front of him, which were wrapped in plastic bags and placed in a styrofoam box. There was a lot of crushed ice between the saury to ensure their freshness. Soma stroked his chin, looked at the saury exposed in the open plastic bags, and began to think.

"Hmm... I also studied at my family's inn and Totsuki Culinary Academy... There are a few key points to consider when choosing a good saury - the fish's body should be plump, the flesh should be elastic, the eyes should be clear rather than cloudy, there should be some yellow flesh in front of the mouth, and the flesh should be succulent. These characteristics are considered signs of freshness." When talking about choosing fish, Tadokoro almost subconsciously said these words. It seems that her academic performance in junior high school was quite good, and considering that her family originally ran a restaurant, this was already evident from her choice of hanging cut in the competition.

"But it's not that simple. It's not just about being as fresh as possible... because the 'deliciousness' in fish hasn't fully matured yet... The inosinic acid that's produced over time is the secret to the deliciousness of fish, and it's the process of maturing the fish... The amount and rate of inosinic acid production vary depending on time and conditions, and freshly caught fish will be very firm..." When it comes to choosing good fish, as someone who has always lived in a remote and undeveloped environment, I have a deep understanding of how to select good fish. I know that fish is a complex and delicate food, and the best way to prepare it is to use it carefully. I can also learn to use it in various ways, from simple to complex, and even more so when it comes to the dishes made by Alice. This demonstrates my considerable skill in this area.

"If the fish is too tough, it won't do; if it's not tasty enough, it won't do either... So how do you choose the right fish?" After listening to the explanation from the father, I felt a pang of regret.

"That requires a wealth of experience..."

"I agree with you that we should rely on experience to make choices. As for what you said before, I hold my own opinion. While the type of fish you described might indeed be good, I don't think it's the best. After all, it's not about the fish's deliciousness or freshness that determines suitability; it's about the specific dish you're making. For example, your previous suggestion is more suitable for sashimi... So, this kind of thing can't be judged or chosen definitively." (The rest of the text appears to be a fragmented and nonsensical collection of characters and phrases, possibly due to OCR errors. A more accurate translation would require the full context.)

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Chapter 223 There's already a plan.

"...As expected of the realm of [unclear], ...

"Oh, right, Ryoko-san, now that I've looked at the saury, I've basically decided what dish to make, so there's not much point in staying here. I'm going to check out the other ingredients, since some ingredients aren't readily available in the market. Are you staying here or coming with me?" Su Luo had already started thinking about what dish to make on the way here. Although the system had ready-made recipes, compared to simply obtaining them directly, creating his own dishes and getting recognition or even winning would give him a greater sense of accomplishment. After all, just imitating other people's dishes only makes one a copycat, not a truly excellent chef. As a chef who wants to reach the pinnacle, he absolutely cannot allow that. He wants to surpass himself, challenge himself, and stand at the top, because that's the pride of a chef.