Shirou's clones number 30 million

"It was just a joke, is it really necessary to make such a fuss? Besides, I didn't say anything wrong."

Alice!

Erina stared at her expressionlessly and said in a low voice:

"There are many bodyguards here, and you only have Kurokiba-kun by your side. Aren't you afraid of being hung from a tree all night for acting so recklessly?"

"Huh...? You...you wouldn't do something so inhumane, would you?"

Alice Nakiri was startled and looked back and forth between the two, trying to tell from their expressions whether they were joking or serious.

A few seconds later, she subtly looked away, trying to change the subject:

"Um... I think if you like someone, you should just say it directly. Three years is really too long, don't you guys think?"

"I think you really want to feel the cold wind."

As she spoke, Erina glanced in the direction of the gate.

This action startled Alice Nakiri, and she immediately shut her mouth.

Even though I'm the older cousin, if I tease these two too much, I might actually get hung up a tree.

Sakurai didn't know, but Erina, in a state of extreme anger and embarrassment, would actually do something like that.

"You can discuss topics like competitions, duels, and romance in private. Let's continue discussing how to reclaim Totsuki."

Shirou stared at her speechlessly; this woman was truly courting death.

If she continues like this, since she herself is doing nothing, Erina might just order her bodyguards to hang her up.

As a private chef who often goes grocery shopping with bodyguards, Erina has this privilege.

"Your plan is good, simple and clear, but can Erina beat Azami Nakiri?"

"It definitely can."

"do not know."

Two voices rang out almost simultaneously. The first was Alice's, who spoke with confidence as if she were the one taking the stage; the second was Erina's, whose tone was unconsciously somewhat low.

"Doesn't Erina have the confidence to beat Uncle Azami?" Alice Nakiri paused for a moment, then smiled and comforted her, "Erina would never lose to someone like Uncle Azami who uses unorthodox methods."

"Thank you, but I really don't have much confidence, and I don't know if I can perform at my best in front of my father."

"If Erina can't believe in herself, then try to believe in me. I believe Erina will definitely win, and that's a belief I've never wavered in."

Erina looked at her in surprise. Although she felt a warmth in her heart, the negative emotions such as fear and tension did not disappear.

After a moment's hesitation, he looked around at everyone present and said seriously:

"I'll give it a try."

Upon seeing this, Shirou laughed and said:

"Well...let's put psychological issues aside for now. The most important thing right now is to gather intelligence on the enemy."

"Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated."

"Leave the task of letting Azami Nakiri showcase her full culinary skills to me."

No magic is needed; a phone call is all it takes.

"It's already late today, let's do it tomorrow at noon, then I'll observe Azami Nakiri's cooking skills carefully."

"Um..."

Erina nodded slightly, thinking to herself:

I wonder if my father's cooking skills have improved in the past few years? If they haven't improved much, I have a good chance of winning.

However, the prerequisite is that it must function normally.

The pressure from my father is immense; if I underperform during the food battle, I'm guaranteed to lose.

"Is there any medicine that can make someone forget a specific memory?"

Erina looked at Shirou with great anticipation. His research institute had developed many good things, so perhaps there would be more.

"No," Shirou denied without hesitation. "This kind of thing is too dangerous. If it falls into the hands of someone with ill intentions, the world will be in danger. That's why I've always forbidden them from researching it."

"No?"

Erina looked disappointed and sighed softly.

"Are the memories of the past really that painful for you?" Shirou asked in a deep voice.

"A little bit."

Erina nodded slightly, then shook her head, and said in a slightly low voice:

"There were painful things and happy things in the past, but... if I were to go to a food battle with my father like this, I would definitely lose. Right now, I don't have the courage to face my father directly."

Courage?

Shirou muttered something to himself, and after a few seconds of contemplation, a pair of earrings instantly appeared in his right palm.

"This is for you."

"What's this?"

"That takes courage."

"Huh...?" Erina looked at him, puzzled.

This is an earring-shaped quinque and has no offensive capabilities.

Wearing it can clear one's mind and also provide a protective shield in case of danger.

However, there was simply no way to explain these effects to her.

Shirou pondered for a moment, then smiled and said:

"Well... this is a 'scientific research' product. On the surface, it is an inconspicuous earring, but in reality, it integrates many precision parts and has the wonderful effect of giving people courage."

Erina stared at him blankly for a few seconds before taking the earring and examining it closely.

"The workmanship is indeed very good, giving it a natural feel that this shape was originally intended, but even so, calling it high-tech is a bit too far-fetched, isn't it?"

"However, when you hold it in your hand, you can feel a slight coolness, and it might actually bring you courage."

"Thank you, I'll accept it for now, and I'll tell you my experience using it later."

"Well... I don't really care about feelings." Shirou paused, then said, "However, courage is something that external things can hardly provide; in the end, you still have to rely on yourself."

“I know, but what you think and what you do are two different things. I know in my heart that I have to face my father, but when I actually appear in front of him, I’m not sure if I can still remain calm.”

"I see... Do you need me to take care of him beforehand?"

"How do we solve this?" Erina asked instinctively.

“It’s very simple.” Shirou smiled slightly. “For example, the night before the food battle, have someone break both of his hands. That way, you can win without a fight.”

"Oh, I see." Erina said with a look of disgust, "Can't you offer a reasonable suggestion? This approach is definitely not acceptable."

“There are also normal suggestions, such as sending someone to impersonate your father and put on a show to stimulate your memory. This might give you the courage to face him.”

"That's good! But you shouldn't have told me this. Now that I know, can this method still be used?"

At this moment, Alice Nakiri couldn't help but interject:

"It works! It works... I'm willing to help. I'm best at acting and deceiving Erina!"

"Don't say that in front of me!" Erina looked at the two of them speechlessly. "I've already heard everything, and I know it's all an act, so what's the point?"

Chapter 189 Truth and Falsehood

Chapter 189, Section 190: Truth and Falsehood

The next morning, shortly after breakfast, a visitor suddenly arrived at the Sakurai residence.

As Erina passed by the reception room, she heard someone talking to Shirou. She vaguely felt that his voice sounded familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had heard it before.

Upon entering the reception room, the first thing he saw was Azami Nakiri sitting opposite Shirou.

However, compared to his own father, his voice had a deeper quality, and his demeanor was also subtly different.

Erina was stunned for a moment, but quickly realized that this was probably the so-called "fake father".

With Sakurai's resources, finding a "fake father" in one night wouldn't be difficult.

Good morning, Father?

Azami Nakiri turned to look at Erina, a slight smile appearing on her face:

"I never expected you to greet me. I thought you would just tremble with fear when you saw me."

It's so similar! Even the tone of his voice is exactly the same as his father's.

However, the voices are different, so there's no reason to mistake one for the other.

Although she really wanted to refute him with something like "You're not my father at all," Erina refrained from doing so, considering that the act might have already begun. Instead, she went along with his words:

"I'll grow up too, so what's Father doing here?"

Azami Nakiri looked somewhat surprised, scrutinizing her from head to toe with the same eye one would use to appraise merchandise, before saying:

“Mr. Sakurai wants to see the best cooking skills at Totsuki Culinary School, so I’ll do some preliminary preparations.”

"Oh...? Father thinks your cooking skills are already the best in Totsuki? Compared to Grandfather, your cooking skills are nothing, are they?"

That's not just a difference in time and experience, but also a difference in talent and effort.

Erina would never say these words to her real father.

Just like Azami Nakiri said, all they can do is tremble.

However, at this moment, she believed that the person opposite her was just a fake father.

So, just like always, I exuded a strong, assertive aura.

Nakiri Azami's face darkened. If he weren't in the Sakurai family, he would definitely teach this disobedient woman who dared to mock him a lesson.

But remembering that the other party had already latched onto Sakurai's coattails, he immediately suppressed his anger and laughed:

"My cooking skills are naturally inferior to my father's, but my father has retired, and now in the Far Moon region, my cooking skills are the best."