The Monarch

The term "Monarch" is a respectful title used for a ruler by their subjects. It can refer to an emperor or king in ancient times and is often used to denote the highest authority. 

However, in the world of the "Midnight Chefs," the Monarch is merely a codename, representing a particular individual.

…

While business was booming at the tavern, a foreigner entered, exuding an imposing and sharp aura. Beneath his seemingly calm demeanor, his eyes held a sharpness like that of a predator, making his deep-set features even more intimidating.

He was tall and muscular, his physique powerfully built. Though his strength wasn't overtly displayed, it was palpable. His fair complexion contrasted with his strong, slightly wicked appearance.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

As his footsteps drew closer, the atmosphere within the tavern grew heavy with tension. The once soft lighting now cast fragmented shadows across the tables and chairs, adding to the oppressive mood.

The air, filled with the faint scent of alcohol and food, felt even more stifling in the tense silence.

At the bar, Zane was calmly mixing drinks. His hands moved skillfully between the bottles and glasses, but his eyes revealed a steely determination. The other diners, scattered around the tavern, initially paid little attention to the foreigner's arrival. Some continued their quiet conversations, but soon their voices were swallowed by the surrounding silence, leaving only echoes hanging in the air.

It wasn't until the tavern felt like it was being suffocated by an invisible force that many people began to realize the presence of something ominous.

"Hmm? Who is this guy…"

Leonora, who was sipping dandelion wine, glanced cautiously at the foreigner drawing near. 

Perhaps due to a woman's intuition, she sensed an intense danger emanating from this man.

…

"What would you like to eat?"

Zane, noticing the foreigner—codenamed "Monarch"—taking a seat, approached and asked calmly.

"Are you the owner of this tavern?" the Monarch asked, lifting his gaze to meet Zane's eyes.

"Yes, I am," Zane responded with a nod.

"Good, that makes things easier. I'm sure you're aware of the recent events involving the Midnight Chefs, right?"

"Unfortunately, your tavern is now our target for tonight. So… I need you to sign this Shokugeki challenge letter and then face me in a cooking duel immediately."

With that, the Monarch pulled out a challenge letter from his pocket, placing it on the table and gently pushing it towards Zane.

At these words, the tavern fell into an even deeper silence.

Sonoka and Taki stopped their work, their eyes shifting toward the scene unfolding.

The tavern, usually filled with the hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses, now felt eerily quiet. Only the faint sound of kitchen tools clattering in the distance and the muffled noise of traffic outside the doors broke the silence.

Yes, indeed. Nowadays, just the mention of the Midnight Chefs instilled fear and panic in everyone. No one expected that tonight, right here and now, this tavern would become the next target of their destruction.

"Oh no."

"Will this tavern be closed down?"

"What should we do? Almost every place to eat around here has closed or suspended operations."

"If even Zane's tavern is destroyed, then what will we do…"

"Shh! Don't be so negative."

"We've all seen how skilled Zane is."

"I'm sure he's capable of defeating these despicable Midnight Chefs!"

"Let's hope so…"

Zane stood silently, ignoring the whispers around him. He glanced at the challenge letter on the table, then calmly replied, "Is this the idea of the WGO food organization, or is it your Midnight Chefs?"

"Hmm? WGO?" the Monarch paused for a moment before continuing, "This is our leader's idea. He ordered us to destroy all the three-star restaurants in Japan tonight."

"Including my tavern?"

"Yes."

"Alright, I'll accept the challenge." Zane reached out and took the Shokugeki challenge letter.

"Zane… Zane…" Sonoka wanted to say something but was interrupted by Zane. "Don't worry, I'll take care of them and get justice for you both!"

"That's not what I meant…" Sonoka blushed and mumbled under her breath.

…

In the Lingnan region of southwestern Guangdong, there is a city called Zhanjiang with a coastline stretching about 2,550 kilometers and includes islands like Donghai, Nansan, and Naozhou. 

This area is rich in seafood, and when people talk about Zhanjiang, they often mention:

Seafood.

Oysters.

Jellyfish.

In Zhanjiang, there is a river called the Jianjiang. It's the largest coastal river system in the region, known for its freshwater fish. Zhanjiang is also a major rice-producing area, with two harvests a year, earning it the nickname "Land of Fish and Rice."

There is a city called Wuchuan within this region, famous for its food. 

Among them, jellyfish is particularly well-known.

When people hear "jellyfish," many may not recognize it, but when they hear terms like "sea nettle," "stone mirror," "wax," "sap," "vinegar fish," or "sea insect den," they might be more familiar.

Yes, jellyfish is the general term for these. 

To put it simply, jellyfish are a type of soft-bodied marine animal with a bell-shaped body.

Growing up, we were often told they were poisonous, and if you accidentally touched their tentacles, it could result in a sting, causing symptoms like redness, swelling, heat, pain, and even necrosis of the skin, along with chills, irritability, chest tightness, unbearable pain at the sting site, and more!

In severe cases, it could even lead to breathing difficulties, shock, and life-threatening conditions.

However, despite their toxicity, jellyfish are highly nutritious.

According to research: 100 grams of jellyfish contain 12.3 grams of protein, 4 grams of carbohydrates, 182 milligrams of calcium, 132 micrograms of iodine, and various vitamins.

As long as you don't touch the tentacles while preparing them, there won't be any serious consequences from handling them! 

This marine creature, although not commonly seen in most people's daily lives, has become a popular delicacy on many dining tables due to its unique nutritional value and delicious taste.

…

In the tavern's kitchen, the Monarch, the Midnight Chef, began by grabbing a basket of fresh chives. 

He gently shook off the water droplets and then skillfully chopped the chives into small sections, each slice precise and clean. Next, he pinched off the roots of the bean sprouts, keeping only the tender white parts, which he washed thoroughly before draining them.

He then turned his attention to the jellyfish on the table.

This was a fresh jellyfish recently purchased from the market, translucent like amber, and with a resilient texture.

Clearly, he had come well-prepared for this Shokugeki challenge.

The Monarch, who was meticulous about preparing the jellyfish, carefully separated the bell from the tentacles, scraping away any sand or blemishes. He then performed a three-step process of soaking it in alum and salt to remove excess water before turning it into jellyfish skin and jellyfish head, with only a ten percent yield from the original material.

He sliced the jellyfish into thin strips and soaked them in water to remove excess salt and impurities.

"Strange," Leonora thought. "He and I are both foreigners, yet he handles common ingredients from China like chives and bean sprouts with such expertise?"

Indeed, just as the rumors said, these Midnight Chefs were incredibly skilled, which was why the current Totsuki Elite Ten like Satoshi, Rindo, and Momo, as well as graduates like Kojirou Shinomiya and Hinako Inui, had all fallen to them!

"Sonoka, do you know what dish he's making?" Taki asked, turning to Sonoka.

"Hmm… Jellyfish is a very poisonous ingredient, you know," Sonoka responded, trying to think but sounding rather naive.

"Forget it, it's pointless asking you," Taki replied, feeling a bit exasperated.

…

Meanwhile, after completing the preparation work, the Monarch ignited the stove, heating the pan until it was scorching hot.

He poured in a suitable amount of oil, and once it reached 70% heat, he added minced garlic and ginger, letting the aroma fill the kitchen. Next, he swiftly added the chives and bean sprouts, quickly stir-frying them to absorb the fragrance of the seasonings.

When the chives and bean sprouts were nearly cooked, he drained the jellyfish strips and added them to the pan.

Then, his spatula, moving like a conductor's baton, danced gracefully in the pan, harmonizing the ingredients and seasonings.

Finally, he seasoned the dish with salt, chicken powder, and pepper, giving it a few more quick tosses before serving the vibrant stir-fried jellyfish with chives and bean sprouts.

The dish emitted a tantalizing aroma, making everyone's mouth water.

"Incredible!"

"Such skillful stir-frying is truly rare!" Leonora exclaimed in surprise, covering her mouth.

…

In the original story, the Monarch was revealed to be the true culprit behind the mass disappearance of hot springs after the Totsuki Academy coup.

Initially, Senzaemon tasked Erina with sending Soma and Megumi to investigate the sudden closure of many hot springs where he was a regular.

It turned out that

 the Monarch had been challenging the owners of these hot spring inns to Shokugeki, and those who lost had to leave the hot spring village.

As a result, Megumi bravely stood up to challenge him and eventually defeated him. 

However, he was later taken down by Asahi Saiba for unknown reasons. As a weaker chef, his kitchen tools were placed in storage after being confiscated.

The Monarch specialized in toxic ingredients and expensive, high-end delicacies.

The so-called high-end delicacies refer to rare, costly ingredients.

Jellyfish fit these two criteria perfectly, and because of its delicious taste and high nutritional value, it became the Monarch's weapon of choice to crush Zane!

…

To be honest, jellyfish is indeed a unique ingredient.

For someone like Zane, all the fresh jellyfish he had eaten were consumed raw, using cold dressing or light pickling methods.

Jellyfish contain over 90% water and have a delicate, ancient structure. When the jellyfish are caught and brought ashore, their stinging cells and accompanying neurotoxins completely lose potency within about ten minutes.

At this point, jellyfish can be cut and cleaned for cold dishes or tossed with various side dishes and seasonings.

Jellyfish skin is smooth and tender, resembling jelly.

Jellyfish heads are crunchy and chewy, with a rich seafood flavor.

But if boiled, they simply dissolve; if stir-fried, they splatter everywhere, and if steamed, they evaporate from the plate.

If deep-fried, it's not frying jellyfish—it's frying the kitchen.

In short, using a stir-fry method with a hot pan for jellyfish was indeed bold and worthy of Zane's admiration.

…

Finally, the dish was presented before the group.

It was like a springtime scene painted on a plate, unfurling gently before their eyes.

The first thing to catch the eye was the vibrant green of the chives, which seemed like harbingers of spring, carrying a fresh fragrance as they swayed gently on the plate. The chive leaves were thin and tender, as if caressed by the gentle touch of spring rain, exuding a subtle fragrance.

Next to the chives were the bean sprouts, white as jade, tender and full of life. Their tips had a slight yellow tint, the mark of the sun's kiss, and they were arranged neatly among the chives, as if a group of little fairies were dancing joyfully.

And then there was the star of the dish:

The jellyfish!

It lay quietly among the chives and bean sprouts.

The jellyfish's texture was delicate, semi-transparent, like a gem from the sea carefully placed in this scene of spring.

It absorbed the fresh aroma of the chives and bean sprouts while retaining its unique flavor.

Yes, the dish was full of vibrant colors.

During the stir-fry, the sound of the spatula clashing with the ingredients was like a lively symphony.

The freshness of the chives.

The tenderness of the bean sprouts.

And the deliciousness of the jellyfish intertwined in the pan, releasing an irresistible fragrance.

When the dish was finally served, the tantalizing aroma immediately filled the tavern.

Zane picked up a piece of jellyfish, which was smooth and tender in his mouth, carrying the salty freshness of the sea and a faint coolness. The chives and bean sprouts added a refreshing texture and a rich complexity to the dish.

The dish was colorful, aromatic, and delicious, leaving a lingering taste.

Seeing Zane's satisfied smile after tasting it, the Monarch also smiled with pride.

He knew this dish wasn't just a tasty meal, but the culmination of his years of cooking experience and his love for toxic ingredients. He had successfully impressed the owner of this tavern!

"Interesting!"

Zane finally put down his chopsticks and calmly remarked.

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