NOVEL WEB Chapter 89: "You're Too Expensive, We Can't Afford You"
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Takahashi Shinji's understanding of cooking was superficial at best. Although he worked in food programming and had studied some related knowledge, his main area of expertise was still directing. However, the production team had given him a clear mandate: find some reasonably skilled chefs to participate in these competitions.
Fortunately, the team had split into several groups. Some went to find chefs among the public, while Takahashi Shinji came to schools like Totsuki Academy, being Japan's top culinary school after all.
He could only half-understand the cooking competition process, but there were judges to rely on. In any case, the "Midnight Chef" food show had preliminary rounds. He would just recruit people one by one, bringing in anyone who looked promising. Those with the skill would advance, those without would be eliminated. Takahashi Shinji believed this was a fairly easy task.
However, Takahashi Shinji had overestimated the individual commercial value of Totsuki Academy students, or rather, underestimated the increased value that comes with the inherent recognition of students trained by established institutions. Eishi Tsukasa had declined, citing being too busy.
Others weren't necessarily looking down on their show, but rather disliked the meager compensation offered by the production team, which barely covered travel expenses. Everything else had to be paid out of pocket, and it required a significant amount of effort. But Takahashi Shinji accepted it.
There was no other way; funding was an issue, and they couldn't afford many people. Putting himself in their shoes, he wouldn't work for free either. Now, they could only wait for some "living bodhisattvas" to help out.
The crucial point was that the people in the publicity department were foolish. Wouldn't it be better to lure people in by using Mana Nakiri's name? Once Mana Nakiri's name was out, countless people would eagerly participate, even paying money to join the competition. But the publicity department wouldn't allow it.
They insisted on waiting until after the show was recorded and promoted before revealing Mana Nakiri's involvement, claiming it was for mystery and maximum public outreach.
Takahashi Shinji hadn't managed to invite a single person yet. With no money to offer decent appearance fees, and with no one knowing that such a prominent figure was invited to their show, who would be willing to come? It was quite frustrating. Becoming an "insider" wasn't what he wanted, but he had no choice. He had invited so many people, and among those who appeared in the friendly match, not one was willing to come voluntarily.
This female head chef in front of him looked kind. He could only pray she would keep this secret once she knew it. Besides, the publicity department forbade him from using Mana Nakiri's real name, but he could at least give a general identity, right?
"It's the sole Special Executive of WGO," Takahashi Shinji said in a lowered voice.
The moment Rindo Kobayashi heard that name, she didn't hesitate for a second. "I'll go to this show." Did she need to hesitate? No! WGO, short for World Gourmet Organization, is a global culinary organization that awards a maximum of three stars for the deliciousness of all restaurants worldwide.
The organization publishes its annual results in book form and is an organization held in reverence by all chefs. The field evaluators within the organization are called "Executives," categorized into four levels: First, Second, Third, and Special, with Special being the highest. The founder of the organization is none other than Mana Nakiri, and she is also the only WGO Special Executive.
The European Culinary Alliance, meanwhile, was a culinary alliance that split off from WGO. The European Culinary Alliance primarily governs culinary competitions, while the WGO Culinary Alliance is more comprehensive. The sole Special Executive of the WGO Culinary Alliance, the previous generation's God's Tongue, a culinary god whose tasting ability far surpassed Erina's, was to serve as a judge. For any chef, this was an immense honor.
Erina's God's Tongue was limited to judging the quality of dishes and where the flavor fell short. Mana Nakiri's God's Tongue could even discern which steps in the cooking process went wrong and could offer suggestions for improvement, elevating the evaluated chef's skill. However, Mana Nakiri generally wouldn't offer guidance for truly terrible dishes. But the dishes that could receive Mana Nakiri's guidance were few and far between.
Rindo Kobayashi knew this was an opportunity for her, a chance to advance further on her culinary path if luck was on her side. Upon hearing that name, she resolved to go no matter what. Was this Mana Nakiri's prestige? Takahashi Shinji had thought Mana Nakiri's reputation could attract a large number of chefs, but he hadn't expected her name to be so effective. Chefs who had already created value and had a certain standing were willing to participate in the show, even without an appearance fee.
"This is the registration form; please fill it out and return it to me," Takahashi Shinji said, taking out a document. He then turned to his next target. With this successful case, Takahashi Shinji finally gained a bit more confidence.
So! Next target! Takahashi Shinji walked up to Renz.
"Excuse me, Mr. Renz, I am a director from Tokyo TV. We have a food talent show called 'Midnight Chef' that needs some contestants. Are you interested?" Takahashi Shinji asked.
"Midnight Chef?" Renz caught a sensitive word. Wasn't that the alternative name for "Underground Chef"?
"Yes," Takahashi Shinji nodded. "Your schoolmate Rindo Kobayashi is also going. You two can discuss collaborating. During the preliminary rounds, your single rooms can even be arranged next to each other, no problem."
"Rindo Kobayashi isn't my schoolmate," Renz chuckled awkwardly. "I'm not a Totsuki student, just a passing chef." Takahashi Shinji had arrived late to the venue and was in a hurry, so he didn't see the beginning of the friendly match. Thus, he had no idea that Renz wasn't from Totsuki Academy.
"Oh, well, you can still get to know each other. I think her cooking is quite good too," Takahashi Shinji showed a look of "men understand." In reality, he was just a workaholic virgin who only dared to speak boldly.
"No, no need," Renz quickly smoothed things over. What was wrong with this guy? Why did he come up to him spouting weird things? His safety was paramount, so he needed to distance himself first.
"'Midnight Chef,' huh? I'm interested too. Why don't we go together?" Erina said, narrowing her eyes. Ignoring the foolish words this person had just uttered that would lead to his own demise, she also knew about this show. Wasn't this the food show her mother made? Erina still wanted to get in touch with her mother, and even wanted to provoke her a bit.
Their mother-daughter relationship had always been ordinary, even to the point of a cold war. Even in the future, it hadn't improved. Erina still hadn't understood why she was "abandoned." If she didn't show off her "beautiful life" to her biological mother, Erina wouldn't feel comfortable. The more she showed off in front of her biological mother, the happier Erina would be. Catching this opportunity, she absolutely couldn't let it slip.
"Uh, Miss Erina, you're too expensive, we can't afford you," Takahashi Shinji said, shaking his head with a bitter smile. Erina had signed contracts with many food programs and TV stations. Takahashi Shinji first had to resolve Erina's contract issues. But who could afford that amount of money?
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