After the three boarded the ship, they pretended not to know each other and separated.

Subsequently, guided by the cruise staff, all the boarding passengers were brought to the cruise hall.

The hall was magnificently decorated, with marble floors and crystal chandeliers hanging high, all proclaiming the vast financial power of the World Gambling Association.

There were many gambling tables, poker tables, mahjong tables, and everything one would expect, making this place less like a cruise hall and more like a casino hall.

Luo Chao roughly counted the number of people in the hall, roughly over three hundred, including not only Huaxia people but also many foreigners.

It seemed they were accompanying this cruise ship, having sailed from other countries along with it.

Woo——

From outside the hall came the loud sound of a steam whistle, letting Luo Chao know that the cruise ship was departing.

At the same time, a host in a suit, holding a microphone, walked to the podium at the front of the hall, "Ladies and gentlemen, good evening, welcome aboard the Eastern Star Cruise Ship. Due to the million-dollar gambling taking place on our cruise, the casino will open only when the cruise sails into international waters."

"Before that, you can head to the cruise restaurant for dinner. Our World Gambling Association is honored to have invited Kohei Kojiro, the champion of the World Culinary Competition and the current top chef in the culinary world, to prepare delicious Japanese cuisine for you all."

After finishing his speech, the host walked off the podium.

Meanwhile, the crowd in the cruise hall burst into chatter.

"Haha, worthy of the World Gambling Association, they have quite the reputation to be able to invite Kohei Kojiro to be the cruise chef."

"Reputation is one thing, but the key is having money. It's said that the World Gambling Association spent fifteen million US dollars to invite Kohei Kojiro!"

"Oh my god, fifteen million US dollars! Just for today? These Japanese folks really have a big face!"

"It's not for one day! It's for a meal! Fifteen million US dollars just to have Kohei Kojiro cook tonight's meal!"

"Wow, being a chef is so profitable. Had I known, I would have gone to chef school rather than doing business!"

"You're silly. How many chefs are there worldwide, yet how many can match even half of Kohei Kojiro's culinary skills? He debuted at eighteen and has consecutively won the World Culinary Competition three times!"

"That's right, the culinary world now says his skills have reached the pinnacle of humanity. He is now recognized as the Jordan and Maradona of the culinary world!"

Upon hearing that tonight's cruise dinner is to be prepared by Kohei Kojiro, everyone in the hall was filled with excitement, buzzing with discussions.

"Kohei Kojiro?" Luo Chao murmured the name under his breath.

Soon, Luo Chao would also participate in the World Culinary Competition.

Although Luo Chao's main purpose in participating was not to win the championship, but to demand an apology from the French chef Boris for his derogatory remarks about Chinese cuisine.

But with Luo Chao's personality, he either doesn't do it or he does it to the best. He still wants to win the championship.

After all, getting Chef Boris to apologize is one aspect; making Chinese cuisine renowned worldwide and dominating the culinary field is Luo Chao's real goal.

Moreover, now that the leading figure in the culinary world is a Japanese fellow, Luo Chao has one more reason he must win the championship.

As the saying goes, one should underestimate the opponent in spirit but emphasize them in strategy.

Although Luo Chao is confident in his culinary skills, he's not arrogant to the point of conceit.

Thinking of this, Luo Chao decided to head to the cruise restaurant to taste the culinary skills of this so-called top chef Kohei Kojiro.

...

As the cruise restaurant doors opened, the wealthy passengers, who typically were tired of eating delicacies, surprisingly quickened their pace!

It's worth noting that among these wealthy people, most are overweight middle-aged men.

These folks indulge in earning money and enjoying life, usually too lazy to take even a step outside, always driven around in luxurious cars, let alone walking briskly.

However, today these people were as if on a sugar rush, not only speeding up their steps but even a few started jogging, eager to taste the world's finest cuisine!

Luo Chao walked leisurely amidst the crowd, though he was also looking forward to the surprise Kohei Kojiro might bring him, he wasn't quite at the stage of running over.

As he walked, Luo Chao casually glanced around, and soon he spotted Zhou Delong's figure.

Among the crowd, only Zhou Delong, who is a master of food tasting and regularly serves as a judge in the World Culinary Competition, had tasted Kohei Kojiro's cuisine before.

Thus, while others had merely heard of Kohei Kojiro's extraordinary culinary skills, only Zhou Delong truly knew the taste of Kohei Kojiro's dishes.

And at this moment, Zhou Delong was leading the crowd, running ahead!

It seemed he was eager to taste Kohei Kojiro's cuisine once again, as if he had forgotten that they were here tonight to rescue Miao Shiyun!

Seeing this, Luo Chao could only shake his head with a light smile, acknowledging that the allure of food to Zhou Delong was undoubtedly in the first place!

Next, Luo Chao began scanning the crowd for Fang Zhiruo.

Yet after a thorough look, Luo Chao couldn't spot a trace of Fang Zhiruo.

He was confident in his vision and observatory skills, so not spotting Fang Zhiruo despite a thorough scan could only mean that Fang Zhiruo hadn't followed the crowd to the ship's restaurant.

Although somewhat surprised, Luo Chao had no spare time to look for her now.

Moreover, Luo Chao felt relatively assured about Fang Zhiruo's capabilities.

Despite Fang Zhiruo appearing powerless in front of Luo Chao, she had been a special police officer, and even if she encountered danger, she could handle five or six thugs alone without much issue.

As Luo Chao walked and thought, he soon arrived inside the ship's restaurant.

By now, people had seated themselves in threes and fours, chatting among themselves, seemingly waiting for the waitstaff to serve Kohei Kojiro's dishes to the table.

Luo Chao also found a spot to sit, his seat neither too far nor too close to Zhou Delong's.

Thus, he could protect Zhou Delong's safety while maintaining a distance to avoid others realizing he was acquainted with Zhou Delong.

After sitting down, Luo Chao's gaze turned towards the large open kitchen in the center of the restaurant.

This kitchen was deliberately designed this way to allow the diners in the restaurant to witness the chef's culinary demonstrations while dining.

"Huh?" Luo Chao quickly spotted Kohei Kojiro in the open kitchen, and couldn't help but utter a surprised expression.

At this moment, many assistants were busy in the open kitchen, but one person stood immobile with folded arms in front of a chopping board, eyes closed, appearing to be sleep-standing or maybe...meditating.

Although Luo Chao had never seen Kohei Kojiro before, he could judge by the aura that this seemingly ordinary Japanese man was indeed the legendary top chef in the culinary world—Kohei Kojiro!

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