"No ambition?"
Hearing this, Nakiri Munee frowned slightly. A lack of ambition could be both a blessing and a curse.
The upside? There was no need to worry about the person turning on you once they rose to power. The downside? Recruiting them was always more complicated. Someone like that wouldn't be absorbed into the fold like Dojima Gin had been. At best, they'd maintain a loose partnership—much like Yukihira Seiichiro.
That said, Munee wasn't particularly bothered. While Daiki's temperament made full recruitment unlikely, building a strong cooperative relationship was still well within reach.
"This test ends here. As for your chef certification, I'll contact the WGO and arrange for it directly," she said calmly.
"You're not going to make me take the test?"Daiki looked genuinely stunned.
Normally, to be certified by the WGO, a chef had to undergo rigorous evaluation at one of their official branches. Only after passing could they receive the globally recognized credential. Compared to that, the title of a Totsuki graduate was meaningful mostly within Japan. Internationally, it was the WGO certificate that truly mattered.
Daiki hadn't expected Nakiri Munee to skip the entire process with just a few words.
"We have connections at the WGO," Munee explained. "In fact, we're not alone in this. Many major culinary institutions and families don't go through the standard channels. Alice and her team, for example, have never set foot in a WGO branch."
She continued, "Of course, not everyone gets that luxury. First-class chefs and special-class chefs are still required to certify at WGO headquarters. No shortcuts there."
This level of privilege wasn't just due to the Nakiri family's influence. The WGO's only Special Executive happened to be one of their own. Even so, the WGO didn't fear corruption—its reputation was too solid. No family, not even the Nakiris, would dare try something as foolish as faking credentials and risk antagonizing the global culinary authority.
"That's… incredibly convenient," Daiki muttered, nodding.
Still, he couldn't help but feel a little conflicted. Privilege had its perks. Even if he didn't seek it out, having it certainly saved time.
Afterward, Nakiri Munee began explaining the next phase—the development of Daiki's sense of touch. It was a plan not unlike the path Erina Nakiri had taken to develop her God Tongue.
Daiki had approached Dojima Gin with this in mind: to leverage Totsuki's immense resources to gather rare ingredients and exotic seasonings, allowing his tactile sense to build deep sensory memory.
Only through such exposure could the full potential of his ability be realized.
Whether it was Daiki's supernatural touch or Erina's hyper-sensitive taste, both abilities required a tremendous amount of support—materials, logistics, financial backing. Without those, growth would be sluggish, maybe even impossible.
Fortunately, the Nakiri family excelled in this domain. They had generations of experience cultivating the God Tongue—even if every holder of that gift had met a tragic end, the methods remained refined. And Daiki's ability, while different, was close enough that the Nakiris' techniques could be adapted.
"So what's the price?" Daiki asked flatly.
Munee had already laid out the benefits. There was no way they were offering all this for free. While he had a strong hunch this would tie back to the issue of the God Tongue, he still wanted to hear it directly.
"You don't need to give anything," Munee replied with a soft smile. "A favor—and a friendship—is more than enough."
That caught him off guard. Debts of favor were the hardest kind to repay, and he already had a sense of what this particular one entailed: it would be about solving the crisis of the God Tongue.
As for "friendship," that was vaguer—an undefined promise. But in truth, the Nakiri family was offering him a lot, with little immediate demand in return.
Because for them, Daiki represented something rare: a genuine solution to a generational curse. If his abilities continued to grow, the problem of the God Tongue might not just be treated—it could be ended.
"Let me be frank with you, Daiki," Nakiri Munee said, eyes gleaming with sincerity."Your future is destined to shine. As long as your supernatural gift holds strong, you're on the path to stand at the very peak of the culinary world."
"At that point, even if you have no interest in power, it will still come knocking," Nakiri Soe said calmly.
"My old friend never actively sought influence either, but he made friends across the globe. If he so much as hinted at a desire for power or wealth, it would've been handed to him on a silver platter."
"Totsuki can certainly offer you some chips while you're still in your formative years," Dojima Gin added, "but doing so too aggressively would be shortsighted."
His meaning was clear—the Nakiri family wasn't foolish enough to bet everything too early.
Sure, investing in Daiki now could yield immediate returns. But compared to what Daiki was poised to become, grabbing for quick gains would be the most shortsighted move they could make.
"I get it," Daiki replied, nodding thoughtfully.
Thinking about it, Dojima's words made sense. With the ability he'd shown so far, he already stood out like a rare star in the culinary world. Anyone with vision would see that building a lasting relationship with him now was the smarter move—plant the seed, let it grow.
And Daiki wasn't naïve. He knew all of this was calculated to build favor with him, but… it was working. They were honest about it, and sometimes that was all that mattered.
Not everything had to be manipulation cloaked in layers of strategy. Just lay the cards on the table—this is what I want, and here's what I can offer. In that transparent exchange of benefits, trust and even friendship could take root.
At that moment, all three—Daiki, Nakiri Soe, and Dojima Gin—smiled. There was a rare alignment in intent, and everyone was satisfied with the outcome.
"Dojima-senpai," Nakiri Alice spoke up, "Ryo-kun and I will stay at the resort for now."
She had her own plans. There was no need for her father to tell her what was at stake—she saw it clearly. Daiki was special, and she intended to forge a connection with him in her own way.
Instead of returning to the Nakiri estate or rejoining Totsuki early, she chose to remain close—to spend time here, with him, before the semester began.
"In that case, Alice and the others will be in your care," Soe said to Dojima, his tone half-serious, half-fatherly.
He wasn't planning to stay long. Business would soon call him back to Nakiri International. Since his daughter had made her decision, he could only rely on Dojima to supervise—if that was even the right word for it.
"No problem at all. I'll take good care of them," Dojima replied with a knowing nod.
He understood exactly what Soe was thinking—and what Alice was after. But he didn't plan to interfere. The future was unfolding on its own terms.
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