Shinji Ikari, the pilot of Unit-01 during the Spirit Awakening Era

The two of them were already reporting to each other. The transport team, consisting of several helicopters, had already set off. They were about to face a severe challenge. If they succeeded, it would be better for everyone. They just hoped that the first unit would not cause them any trouble, considering that they were usually responsible for its maintenance and waxing.

"Shinji's brainwaves are very active, as if he's dreaming. I don't know much more. You can ask him when he wakes up." Ritsuko Akagi had already adjusted her mindset, and her fingers were already flying across the keyboard. What she was going to do was not just to make up a report to fool people in a while. For her, the more dangerous thing was actually the rampage itself.

No matter what it is, once it is determined to become uncontrollable, it will undoubtedly undergo a round of evaluation. If the process of becoming uncontrollable is irreversible, then without a doubt, no matter how powerful it is, it will only be abandoned.

As someone who poured a tremendous amount of effort into Unit-01, Ritsuko Akagi did not want to see Unit-01 being dismantled into pieces under the guise of being scrapped, and then subjected to unbridled research. This was intolerable!

Moreover, Ritsuko Akagi had already heard some strange rumors before, because the pilot of Unit-01 was Shinji Ikari, and he was not someone who was dedicated to the NERV cause. Whether it was the Countermeasures Bureau, the Onmyo Bureau, or the Jujutsu Association, they all treated him as one of their own. From their perspective, such a person was simply a born traitor, discussing changing pilots and even further capture and research.

Ritsuko Akagi was genuinely curious about who the other side planned to send to do this unfortunate job. As long as the S-class monsters didn't come out, Shinji Ikari was practically invincible among the A-class right now. It was hard to say who would be willing to go and try it out directly. It was likely that no matter how many came, Shinji Ikari would kill them all.

"Shinji Ikari has awakened! Unit-01 is silent!" Maya Ibuki suddenly reported the latest situation. On the screen, Unit-01's arms were standing there blankly, as if it had just woken up and its brain was still in a stiff state, not having recovered at all.

"Shinji, what's the situation? Unit-01 just went berserk?" As soon as the communication was connected, Ritsuko Akagi started scribbling in her notebook, calculating the potential consequences.

"It's a good thing the fight started here. Anyway, it's all those scumbags, every single one of them, they're all damned dogs." Misato Katsuragi stood there, imagining the documents she had to sign and wait for approval, and instantly felt a headache coming on.

"I slept well, Unit-01..." Shinji Ikari touched his stomach suspiciously. Where did this strange feeling of fullness come from?! "I had a very long dream, and I just woke up slowly with my mother's guidance. Even now, I still feel like my mother is right beside me."

"Slept well..." Ritsuko Akagi felt a sense of disappointment. Wasn't this guy being a little too lax? Falling asleep in combat?! "You'll have to explain things properly when you get back. It's not the right time to say much now. If you want to sleep, just sleep inside the insertion plug. You can come out when we get back to base."

"Understood!" Shinji Ikari replied very quickly, because his eyelids were sore and dry, and he just wanted to close his eyes and get some more sleep. However, it seemed he couldn't go to sleep right away. After all, the environment was full of demons, and if he hadn't run out of power, he would have definitely fought them off. But opening the plug now, who knew what might happen?

After saying that, Shinji Ikari closed his eyes, no longer caring what the people on the other end of the camera thought. There was something he hadn't said. He was now completely alone, and it seemed that seeing his mother would be really difficult.

"This guy……"

"By the way, the commander is preparing to meet with him, did you tell him?"

"No, why don't you treat me?"

"Ah!"

Chapter 266 Aftermath

"He's out! He's out! Make way!" With a loud thud from the outside, the sealed hatch opened, and the artificial light from the construction site's sunlights shone in. When Shinji Ikari stepped out, cheers and applause erupted from the crowd.

These warriors didn't care whether Unit-01 had gone berserk or not; it had won! That enormous monster, seemingly straight out of a legend, had been torn to shreds by Unit-01! For them, that was the most important thing! Humanity had used its own power to drive the demons into a panic.

This is not a victory!

What is it?

In front of tens of thousands of demons and monsters, Unit-01 swallowed all eight heads of the Yamata no Orochi whole, then pulled a jet-black heart from its abdomen and devoured it! The Yamata no Orochi's regeneration also stopped.

Then, Unit-01, covered in foul-smelling, black blood, stood up and roared to the sky. Spreading through the AT Field, the roar resembled a sonic attack, expanding in all directions. However, those on either side felt differently. Humans felt an inexplicable sense of unease, and many frontline soldiers, even the private soldiers of the Babem family, raised their weapons and roared.

Meanwhile, the demons, hiding in various corners and looking for an opportunity to escape, stared at the enormous figure before them. In the darkness of the night, the human soldiers' eyes gleamed with a ferocious light, and everyone wore expressions of terror!

Some might glare at them with hatred, but in the end, they could only helplessly lower their heads! Yes, if you can't beat them, you can't beat them, whether it's Shinji Ikari's weapon or the one that went berserk! In the world of demons, power is everything! And Unit-01 has already demonstrated overwhelming power!

Whether by coincidence or not, at that very moment, bombers that had taken off from Kadena Air Base arrived nearby, and a series of GBU-28 laser-guided bombs rained down from the sky, blasting two great rivers of fire across the island with Unit-01 at the core. Countless demons were reduced to ashes in the flames.

The morale of the entire demon race collapsed completely, and all the demons and monsters, regardless of their level, began to flee in panic.

As for seeking revenge now, forget about it. After tearing the opponent to shreds, Unit-01 was quickly surrounded by human troops and a small number of skilled individuals. Putting aside everything else, everyone now knows that the flesh and blood of such a top-tier monster is edible! Freeze it up quickly, and whether it's sent to the nearby Far Moon Group or other organizations further away, it can be sold for money directly!

And now, most of the Yamata no Orochi is lying right there! Although NERV should rightfully take the lion's share, shouldn't all the other organizations and individuals involved in this battle get a piece of the pie? The chefs at the Far Moon Restaurant have reportedly chartered a large transport helicopter and are rushing over here with all sorts of food supplies.

"How are you feeling?" Under the light of the small sun, Ritsuko Akagi's shadow was stretched very long. If it weren't for her signature white lab coat and the fact that she was shielding her eyes from the bright light, Shinji Ikari wouldn't have recognized her at first glance.

"This is a bit too much!" Shinji Ikari waved to the soldiers watching nearby, and immediately another cheer erupted, making Shinji feel a little flattered. Is it true that people who achieve amazing results on other people's turf are especially welcomed?

Shinji Ikari was well aware of what would happen after he lost control, so he wasn't in a hurry at all. He spent the whole time chatting happily with his mother. Perhaps it was because Shinji's cultivation had improved and his soul power had become stronger, allowing him to communicate with his mother for a longer period of time, but the two of them ended up having a great time chatting.

Shinji Ikari shared many embarrassing stories about his deadpan father. Surprisingly, his own MAX domestic skills were also inherited from his father, who had a slight obsession with cleanliness. This greatly surprised Shinji.

After all, in the special version at the end of the TV series, Gendo Ikari, sitting at the dining table reading the newspaper without moving an inch, was completely still; it was Shinji Ikari's mother doing all the housework. So, the Gendo Ikari who is now always somewhat unkempt and unshaven actually has a slight case of mysophobia! This was truly unexpected for Shinji Ikari.

However, the conversation eventually came to an end. Yui indicated that Shinji Ikari could leave now, but at the very end, he reminded Shinji that if possible, he should have a good talk with his father. Then he drifted away and returned to the depths of Unit-01. Shinji Ikari then woke up.

"Would you believe me if I said I fainted?" Shinji Ikari gave a wry smile. "I don't know how to say it, but it's not the right time."

"She fainted? Hmm, that's a good explanation. I'll write it that way in the report. We'll talk about the details later." Ritsuko Akagi nodded. This was the first time EVA had gone berserk. Others might not understand what this meant, but Ritsuko Akagi knew very well. It meant that there was a second thought center in Unit-01, replacing the pilot who issued the commands.

Which central hub could this be?

It doesn't even need electricity; it can directly power EVA's massive body...

It is EVA itself! A replica of Lilith, the origin of humanity! The consciousness of Unit-01 itself!

Those wild movements were clearly not something Shinji Ikari would do. After all, when Shinji piloted it before, his fighting moves were always crisp, clean, and impactful. But suddenly the style changed, and the movements became wild and crazy, not like a fighting machine from any system at all. Moreover, the final act of biting into it with his mouth made all of NERV very certain that this had nothing to do with Shinji Ikari.

After all, aside from the special marinated foods made by Ryoko Sakaki or other chefs, such as drunken shrimp, Shinji Ikari rarely eats other things like sushi and sashimi. He would rather go to Sadao Maou's restaurant to take advantage of NERV's benefits and order a set meal.

"It really has been a headache." Ritsuko Akagi rested her chin on her hand, indicating that she understood Shinji Ikari's meaning. "Then we'll talk about everything after we get back to base."

"Have Kirie and the others already left?" After Ritsuko Akagi left, Shinji Ikari took a while to get to the interior of a relatively intact building occupied by NERV. Misato Katsuragi was directing the engineering department to charge the batteries inside Unit-01. After all, lacking large equipment, the only way to transport Unit-01 was to charge it and let it walk back to the large transport barge that was already docked at the pier. Lie down, yes... lie down.

"Yes, they left very early. They should have reached the shore by now. To be honest, your sister's move was terrifying! A top-tier fighter was like a toy in front of her, completely powerless." Yakushiji Ryoko looked at Shinji Ikari in front of her, her eyes filled with unspeakable envy. A fierce god was willing to risk divine punishment to leave his dojo and go to a place, just for the request of this little boy in front of him (actually, Himuro Mimori was also there).

One of the key reasons NERV could make this plan was that Ryoko Yakushiji and her team had secured the power plant, which had relatively sturdy buildings. NERV's engineering staff's workload instantly became much lighter. Now, all they had to do was modify the equipment, and they could insert the lightweight charging plug from NERV headquarters into the back of Unit-01. Then, all they had to do was pray that the thing didn't get burned out by the high temperature.

"Alright, I'll have to let you know I'm safe in a bit. Looks like you had a tough day." Lancer glanced at the Special Affairs Division officers sitting slumped behind Yakushiji Ryoko, including Natsumi and Miyuki, whom he knew quite well. Most of the troublemakers among these officers looked exhausted, though their gazes toward Shinji Ikari were mostly bright and alert. As for the two beautiful officers, Natsumi and Miyuki, their faces were covered in grime, and they were sitting back-to-back on the ground, dozing off while holding their guns.

"It's more than just not easy. We're just ordinary people. The battle with the demons just now took a lot of effort." Yakushiji Ryoko sighed. Her subordinates had done their best today. The wounded had just been evacuated along with the wounded from the Ground Self-Defense Force. The power station they occupied was also of some significance to the overall battle. The power cut off caused some panic among the demons.

Yes, the demons who have lived in the human world for a long time are somewhat afraid and unaccustomed to the power outage. Some possible escape attempts failed because of their power outage. A group of demons that were clearly organized attacked this place, trying to take it over, but they obviously failed.

"Congratulations on your success this time. At least your men don't seem discouraged." Shinji Ikari gestured to the officers who were gritting their teeth and persevering on the sentry post.

"Yes, everyone has worked very hard." Ryoko Yakushiji nodded. She wasn't a complete novice who knew nothing about this world; she had a deep understanding of the meaning of the word "power," and after today, that understanding had deepened once again! Every single person present—not one—would dare disrespect Shinji Ikari. Just think of that moment, the sudden silence across the entire island, the overwhelming fear, the almost forgetting to breathe!

"However, I think I'm on the right track now, which is great," Yakushiji Ryoko said with a smile. For her, confirming that she was on the right path was the most important thing. And the Babem Foundation seemed to have given her a good demonstration of the direction she would be striving for in the future!

"We might need some support from NERV then!" Ryoko Yakushiji's smiling face made Shinji Ikari feel a little dangerous, like a chick being watched by a fox.

“I can roughly guess what you’re thinking. As long as you can afford it, I can help you contact the Totsuki Group, the Onmyo Bureau, and NERV to provide some assistance. I just don’t know…” Shinji Ikari looked at Ryoko Yakushiji, who was staring at the private soldiers of the Babem Foundation, “How crazy are you?”

"Hey, thanks a lot! Big shot!" Shinji Ikari's words surprised Ryoko Yakushiji slightly. Listening to what Shinji said, she didn't doubt that he couldn't do it, but she found it very ironic. The guy in front of her, who was still chasing after all sorts of trouble caused by demons and monsters in the files, turned out to be a big shot who could mobilize such a huge amount of resources without making a sound.

Ryoko Yakushiji was very certain that the organizations Shinji Ikari pointed out would greatly improve the combat effectiveness of her Special Affairs Division. From currently struggling to deal with demons, they would soon be able to improve to the point where demons would start to have a headache just looking at them, and it was not impossible that they would eventually become hopeless.

The Totsuki Group's nutritional supplements improve people's physical fitness, NERV's research and engineering departments help create some more powerful "police" equipment, and with the help of the Onmyo-ryo (Secret Bureau of Yin and Yang), some equipment for dealing with special situations will also be available.

"Shinji! It's charged! Help me operate Unit-01." A burly man from the engineering department shouted to Shinji Ikari. Although the engineering department had used a special method to charge Unit-01, they just wanted Unit-01 to manually plug in the charger.

“You’re here! I believe you know where to find me.” Shinji Ikari stood up, greeted Ryoko Yakushiji, and then turned and left.

Actually, there's one more person Shinji Ikari hasn't mentioned. Shinji feels that Sadao Maou is very willing to help solve some problems, but Shinji can't make the decision for him. He'll let Ryoko Yakushiji ask him herself. After all, Sadao Maou, who has moved into the new Demon King's Castle, only has a steady stream of wealth from certain special sources, so he's still somewhat short of money.

Thinking of Sadao Maou, Shinji Ikari suddenly remembered Yusa Emi, who was waiting to draw Holy Light from him to replenish her own energy. Shinji's lips twitched slightly; he suddenly felt a headache coming on. Because of his actions, Sadao Maou's attitude wasn't clear, but deep down, Shinji felt that strengthening Yusa Emi could be a good backup plan.

“So…maybe the key is someone we didn’t expect?” Yakushiji Ryoko tilted her head as she watched Shinji Ikari leave, her eyes flickering, lost in thought. “Let’s go! Junichiro, let’s go back and cause trouble for the Immortal Society.”

"call……"

Chapter 267 The Eldest Daughter of Totsuki

"Ah... Unit-01 is gone!" Shinji Ikari looked at the departing large barge, his eyes filled with melancholy. Yes, Unit-01 was gone, and he was left behind! The reason was simple: after the Onmyo Bureau, the Countermeasures Bureau, and the Jujutsu Masters withdrew, humanity needed a strong figure to anchor the operation. As a contestant, Shinji Ikari, who was memorable both in the competition and to the audience, was sidelined.

"Baka Shinji!" Asuka, who was training according to Shinji's instructions, couldn't help but complain about Shinji. What's with the pretentiousness? He's here, being fed and pampered by everyone. All he has to do is sit and daydream. Everyone owes him a favor. Where else can you find such an opportunity?

"Get into a proper stance and don't slack off! With Misato and Ritsuko not around, I'm practically NERV's representative here, which means a whole bunch of people will be coming looking for me! I don't have the final say on NERV's affairs, but they'll still keep coming." Shinji Ikari had a "I hate trouble" look on his face. Glory? Forget about it! There's only trouble.

“An interesting perspective.” Perhaps Shinji Ikari’s biggest future problem, Helena Barbem walked up behind Shinji Ikari with a smile on her face. Undoubtedly, she was one of the people who came to “talk” to Shinji Ikari.

"Welcome!" Shinji Ikari gave Asuka a "look" look, then turned around with a business-like smile. "Seeing all these Babem family private soldiers on the ground, I guessed it must be you. No wonder Ryoko Yakushiji wasn't angry at all about losing command."

"Yakushiji Ryoko?" Helena paused for a moment upon hearing the name, then hesitated again. Someone, probably through the communicator in her ear, informed her of Yakushiji Ryoko's identity. "Is Inspector Yakushiji also your friend? Shinji, you didn't tell me. You've really offended him now."

What does it mean to have high emotional intelligence and excellent communication skills? Helena Barbem, in her private capacity, used her connections within the US military to forcibly seize the trigger for this large-scale operation from the Metropolitan Police Department personnel already on the island. Her power was so immense that Shinji Ikari felt he needed to change his attitude towards her from avoiding her to retreating twenty miles as a sign of respect. Would she be afraid of offending a mere police inspector? Even if Ryoko Yakushiji had some connections or background, would Helena care?

But why is Helena saying this now? Of course, it's to save face for Shinji Ikari. This way, Shinji won't think she's too domineering and it won't ruin their previous good working relationship. After all, due to some unexpected events, Ayato Kanna has a lot of trust in Shinji.

Of course! If possible, the Babem Corporation would be extremely interested in poaching Shinji Ikari, the pilot of EVA Unit-01. After all, many members of the Babem Corporation witnessed that earth-shattering sword strike firsthand.

“There’s no need to be so polite. Judging from the command, your command is far superior to mine. It’s obvious this isn’t your first time carrying out a large-scale operation!” Yakushiji Ryoko walked over from the side. The Metropolitan Police Department kept calling him, urging him to get as much spoils as possible. After all, such a large monster, handled by the Totsuki chef, would definitely be a great tonic, directly affecting physical strength and even lifespan. Who wouldn’t want to die? “Moreover, both the Barbem family’s private soldiers and your command have given me a lot of inspiration.”

Shinji Ikari glanced at Junichiro Izumida's face beside him, and sure enough, he had a look of utter despair. Was Ryoko Yakushiji someone to be trifled with? Of course not! Otherwise, do you think the nickname "Exorcist Queen" was really just because Ryoko Yakushiji had a constitution that attracted all sorts of supernatural events? Of course not!

“It’s a pleasure to meet you! I think we can find a suitable coffee shop later, sit down and have a couple of drinks. I have a feeling we’ll become very good friends.” Helena Barbem completely ignored Yakushiji Ryoko’s words and instead extended her hand to Yakushiji Ryoko in a generous manner. Yakushiji Ryoko also smiled and extended her hand to shake Helena’s.

"So, Asuka, now you know what a high-level player is, right?" Shinji Ikari subtly moved backward a considerable distance, unnoticed by the two of them, until he reached Asuka, who was pausing her training. Asuka was stretching her body, which was somewhat stiff from holding a horse stance for so long. "If this were a manga, the background of these two shaking hands would be lightning and thunder, plus a staring contest, and, um, a power level panel displaying their combat strength and the combat power index of the warriors behind them. Hmm, it seems like Ryoko Yakushiji is at a disadvantage?"

"Pfft..." Asuka was amused by Shinji Ikari's serious nonsense, but then she seemed ashamed that she was amused by such a stupid thing, so she turned away and ignored Shinji. However, because Shinji's description was so vivid, she couldn't hold back and kicked Shinji before running away quickly.

"Shinji's imagination is truly remarkable." Helena Barbem also laughed out loud. Their Shinji Ikari wasn't exactly whispering; he was speaking openly and honestly, successfully reducing the tension between the two sides.

"You successfully made us laugh." Ryoko Yakushiji also had a speechless expression. She felt she should thank Shinji Ikari for doing this, since the difference in their backgrounds would be obvious if things really escalated. As for the fighting capabilities on the scene, Ryoko Yakushiji's Special Affairs Division was considered a heavily armed police force within the Metropolitan Police Department.

But now they're facing Babem's private army, armed with general-purpose machine guns and flamethrowers, with helicopters circling overhead carrying weapons. The two sides are on completely different levels; if a real fight breaks out, the Special Affairs Section's existence will likely be measured in minutes at most.

"..." Helena tilted her head slightly, "Shinji, this time it really depends on how much face you have! The chefs from the Totsuki Culinary Group have arrived! If there are no surprises, your girlfriend should also be here. Her wine is very good! The new products are selling like hotcakes."

"..." Shinji Ikari looked at Helena with a very embarrassed expression. He knew about the crazy sales overseas, but what surprised him the most was that Ryoko Sakaki had come up with a new flavor so soon? And he didn't even know?! He'd have to interrogate this little vixen properly later, and he wouldn't be satisfied until she begged for mercy!

"It seems our Shinji hasn't seen his girlfriend in a while. Be careful~ Sakaki Ryoko is so beautiful and is sure to become a rich woman. She'll definitely be the object of many people's lust in the future." Yakushiji Ryoko teased Shinji Ikari, noticing his strange expression.

"It's okay, she's my sister's 'sister-in-law,' so if she dares to try being the idiot my sister's been talking about, go for it." Lancer curled his lip. Putting aside the fact that he and Ryoko Sakaki had a very good relationship—although it was a long-distance relationship—Japan is so small, they basically spent all their weekends together. Therefore, Shinji Ikari wasn't bothered by their teasing at all, and naturally retorted, "Oh, the helicopter is coming straight this way..."

"It's probably because our area has the largest flat open space in the vicinity." Yakushiji Ryoko's tone was somewhat smug. Indeed, this was the prime location that she and her subordinates had conquered and occupied, almost unique on the entire island.

The island where the Dark Tournament was held was actually quite large, but the mountains and forests were not suitable for helicopter landings. The flat area was only so big, and it was already quite a mess. Even disregarding the scene of Unit-01 going berserk and smashing around with Orochi, when Shinji Ikari was piloting Unit-01 chasing after Orochi, it also caused a lot of damage to the terrain. Moreover, there was a large wave of missile attacks when humans launched their surprise attack. It would be strange if the land was flat.

"The smell of blood is so strong!" A blonde girl almost vomited after getting off the helicopter. The people next to her quickly put a breathing mask on her, which made her expression a little better.

"Being prepared was definitely the right thing to do." On another helicopter, Senzaemon Nakiri instructed the pilot to climb slightly. He circled the mountain-sized carcass of the Yamata no Orochi for a moment, looking at the eight... perhaps more than eight snake heads (many were torn off by Unit-01... and scattered all over the island). Senzaemon clenched his fist tightly. Such a high-level prey—he had never even heard of it, let alone seen it!

Although the entire Totsuki Culinary Group's culinary system began to be somewhat distorted after practicing the "Himuro-ryu" style, some of the pioneering senior chefs also made breakthroughs in their culinary skills after coming into contact with this system. A series of inhuman operations began to appear in the hands of these chefs whose physical abilities were greatly enhanced.

The original intention of offering sacrifices to Himuro Kirie was merely to suppress those restless forces, but unexpectedly, it turned out to be a great success! Watching the chefs who had broken through their personal limits create dishes that challenged the limits of human taste like bamboo shoots after a spring rain (Sena was overjoyed), Nakiri Senzaemon felt extremely gratified.

But that's not enough! As a climber ascending to the pinnacle of gastronomy, Senzaemon Nakiri is far from satisfied! He wants to see even higher views! And this top-quality ingredient before him is clearly the perfect material to propel them to greater heights.

"Haven't seen you for a while, and you've become more fragile than before?" Shinji Ikari had met Erina Nakiri before. To be fair, while Shinji's confectionery skills were decent, they weren't exactly top-notch. Let alone being a member of the Elite Ten, he probably wasn't even at the graduate level. So, he shouldn't even dream of getting any compliments from Erina Nakiri.

"A frog swimming in sugar water, and it even got a leg cramp." That was this person's evaluation of the cherry cupcakes made by Shinji Ikari back then.

Although those who have watched the anime know that Erina Nakiri's sweet-talking style is indeed like honey when commenting on other people's recipes, Shinji Ikari still clenched his fists when he heard her evaluation of his desserts. What? A frog with cramps swimming in sugar water?

In a sense, this is one of the reasons why Shinji Ikari immediately agreed when NERV asked him if he would like to transfer schools. He only has so much talent in cooking, and if he wants to improve further, he would have to spend too much unnecessary energy, which would delay his training. Therefore, entering Totsuki Academy would be putting the cart before the horse.

"Hmph!" Erina Nakiri turned her head away from Shinji Ikari. She admitted that, in terms of the relationship between the Totsuki Group and Shinji Ikari, it was actually Shinji Ikari who was taking care of the Totsuki Group. Putting aside everything else, the name of Himuro Kirie alone had suppressed countless evil spirits who coveted the Totsuki Group. Even Erina Nakiri admitted this. But this man really was as narrow-minded as a pinhead.

Moreover, as Erina possesses the God Tongue, she naturally receives maximum protection. Going out to "hunt" is generally not something that happens to her. Since Totsuki Academy belongs to the Nakiri family, there are naturally no restrictions on her.

All she did was complain about how bad his cakes were, but the very next day, some random guy from a small restaurant somehow managed to get him to make her a super-extra version of the dish, and then he barged into her classroom and made her try it! She almost got so carried away that she embarrassed herself terribly. If Ryoko Sakaki hadn't helped chase him away, she doesn't know how much more humiliated she would have been that day.

"Baka Shinji! How could you do such a terrible thing to a lady..." Asuka had seen it all before. The core members of NERV had all eaten Mizuhara Fuyumi's special Italian feast, so Asuka naturally knew the chefs' skill in drugging people. And this wasn't even their full strength!

"Why are you here to ambush Erina again!" Ryoko Sakaki, who had just gotten off the helicopter, burst out laughing when she saw this scene. Just like Erina had complained, Shinji Ikari was really petty when he was acting like a child! He would often ambush Erina and tease her when she embarrassed herself! Now Erina wanted to run away whenever she saw him.

"Alright, since you've already said it, let her go. Anyway, someone will definitely come and deal with her later." Shinji Ikari knew when to stop. He didn't want anything to happen between himself and the eldest daughter of the Nakiri family, although he guessed that the old man Nakiri probably wanted it. Teasing her too much would be boring.

"So... check it out?" Helena, who was watching a group of young people interacting from a short distance away, glanced at Yakushiji Ryoko, whom she had just met.

"Hmm, let me look it up, it seems quite interesting." Clearly, everyone loves gossip...

Chapter 268 The Delicacies of Time

"Come on! Try it. The venue and environment are a bit simple, but it's French-style grilled snake meat!" Ryoko Sakaki placed a large piece in front of Shinji Ikari with a smile, and then placed several other beautifully plated portions in front of the other women.

"Exquisite food that makes one's mouth water!" Helena Barbem smelled the aroma and nodded. The chefs of the Far Moon Group were trustworthy. Although the materials carried on the plane that had taken off in an emergency were very limited, the chefs' skills were amazing. The simple roasted snake meat in front of her could be seen to have been simply marinated with some ingredients and then simply roasted with a blowtorch before being served. However, smelling the slightly sour aroma, Helena still felt like she was starving.

The Far Moon Group even took on the task of supplying logistics to all the human troops on the island. It seems these guys, perhaps having thoroughly researched and modified a certain Demon King's hamburger recipe, created a mixed beef patty recipe that maintained the taste while ensuring that the small amount consumed wouldn't lead to adverse effects. They then began mass production quickly. So, despite the large number of people, the bread was readily available, the vegetables were easy to prepare, and the sauces were all pre-processed and ready-made, requiring minimal effort from the chefs.

In other words, this quasi-industrialized food processing relies entirely on the initial stages. In a sense, this is one of the reasons why Sakaki Ryoko, who excels in brewing, has gained attention. Perhaps people can abstain from alcohol, but no one can resist various delicious sauces. And how promising is this business? Perhaps the hottest woman in China has provided the best proof.

Not to mention, within the Far Moon Group, there's also this technician who has been meticulously researching spices for a long time, and her disciple who has already shown astonishing talent. Spices combined with refined seasonings after brewing—it's easy to imagine the incredible sparks that will fly in the industrialized food processing industry. After all, isn't the pre-cooked meal, or rather, ready-to-eat meal kit, entirely supported by these two masters?

Of course, the humans present were either busy cleaning up the remaining demons on the island or using various tools to butcher the enormous pieces of meat. So, on the surface, it still appeared to be a peaceful atmosphere, without any apparent conflict.

But looking at the big shots above, who kept coming from all over the place, you know that the situation is not so simple. In fact, the reason why Shinji Ikari and his group were able to eat first was, in a sense, because all the big shots lacked sufficient security measures, so they could only use the most traditional method... watching the cooking and tasting the food.

And so the person in front of them sat here, watching a line of chefs bustling about in the distance, and then sat here waiting for the feast to be served.

Because the interests involved here are too great, the Babem Group needs someone to oversee and ensure its own interests. Humanity has never obtained so much top-tier monster meat at once. Although the most essential part may have been swallowed by Unit-01 (referring to the heart of the regenerative power source), everyone has to admit that NERV still has the largest share.

"I must say, the chefs at Totsuki have never disappointed us. Shinji, you're in for a treat." Ryoko Yakushiji nodded in agreement. As a local bigwig in Tokyo and a damn rich woman, Ryoko Yakushiji had even taken the initiative to lead all her team members to a Chinese restaurant owned by the Totsuki Group for a meal.

But now, even just by smelling the aroma, one can understand the difference in the quality of the food on both sides. Those who can sit at this table are undoubtedly of very high status and position.

"Ugh... Aren't you afraid something bad will happen?" It took Shinji Ikari about five minutes to finally come to his senses. Heaven help him, the potency of this medicine was truly terrifying. Clearly, the chef's preparation method for his dish was quite different from the others. The others were trying to bring out the flavor of this rare and exquisite snake meat to the greatest extent possible, while Shinji's was to squeeze out as much nutrition as possible from the inside of this monster meat. Now, Shinji felt as if there was a heat source in his stomach, radiating energy outwards.

"..." Asuka's expression was somewhat wistful. She quietly wiped her eyes and glanced at Shinji Ikari. Perhaps Shinji Ikari was right. Why should others need her world? Piloting an EVA is not such a trivial reason that can bear this heavy burden.

“Time… waits for no one.” Helena picked up her napkin, a slight sigh escaping her lips. “Who’s the chef today? I… am very satisfied with this snake… steak…” Helena Barbem glanced at the rather thick piece of meat in front of her, hesitated for a moment. Having only ever eaten steak and lamb chops before, saying “snake steak” felt quite awkward. “Very satisfied.”