"Erina, you've really grown bold. You don't even listen to me anymore?"
When Azami Nakiri saw Erina Nakiri again, he still tried to threaten her—hoping to force her onto his side and completely dismantle the opposition.
Unfortunately for him, this Erina was no longer the girl she used to be.
She met Azami's gaze head-on, without a trace of fear. And Azami understood immediately: the shadow he had planted in her heart since childhood was gone—completely erased.
He could no longer control his daughter. Not as an authority figure, not as a director, not even as a father. That last identity had already been stripped away by a few casual words from Kael.
Every lever he once used on Erina was gone.
The realization made Azami grind his teeth in hatred.
"My authority has grown, yes," Erina said coldly. "And don't get it wrong—I don't acknowledge you as my father anymore."
She went straight to the point. The Shokugeki had already been finalized. As for the theme and all arrangements, they would be handled entirely by the Shokugeki Bureau.
As a neutral third party, the Bureau would show favoritism to no one. Leaving everything to them was the fairest option.
One week later, the decisive Shokugeki began.
Ten matches were held in a single day. The judges were also appointed by the Shokugeki Bureau.
After all, this wasn't a battle involving monsters like Kael. The strongest participants barely reached the Five-Star level. The Bureau's lineup was more than sufficient—and none of them belonged to either Central or the Research Society Alliance, guaranteeing impartiality.
The competition began.
On Kael and Erina's side, there was no real anxiety at all. The only match that carried real danger was Soma Yukihira versus Eishi Tsukasa. Every other bout was brutally one-sided.
Both sides were allowed to learn the themes in advance. Once the themes were announced, Kael and Erina immediately began their preparations.
Central prepared as well. In fact, Eizan Etsuya resorted to his usual dirty tricks—abandoning any attempt to win through cooking alone. Instead, he planned to use ingredients that weren't technically illegal but would suppress the judges' sense of taste.
Unfortunately for him, all of that fell squarely within Kael's expectations.
Playing games with drugs in front of Kael was like ten babies trying to outsmart an adult.
Kael had prepared countermeasures long ago. No matter what Eizan and the others tried, it was useless.
And the results proved it.
Aside from Tsukasa narrowly defeating Soma Yukihira, Central lost every single match.
Even Tsukasa's victory wasn't overwhelming—the final score was three to two. Soma had come frighteningly close to winning.
Part of that was Soma himself. Under extreme pressure, he always managed to squeeze out even more potential.
The other reason was Kael and Erina's guidance.
Because of that, Soma nearly toppled Tsukasa.
When the score was announced, even Tsukasa was stunned.
He had never imagined that Soma—the guy he thought he'd left leagues behind—would suddenly close the gap and reach him.
As for everyone else, including Eizan, they were utterly crushed.
When Eizan lost, he stood there in a daze. He had already used underhanded methods, yet he still lost.
After learning that all his tricks had been anticipated by Kael, Eizan completely shut down.
The final tally was decisive.
Nine wins for the Research Society Alliance. One win for Central.
Central's only points came from Tsukasa's narrow victory, earning them three points in total.
The gap was overwhelming.
Everyone could now see the difference between Azami Nakiri and Erina Nakiri.
Azami had done nothing but turn Totsuki into chaos.
Erina, on the other hand, had led her side to completely crush the current Elite Ten.
The contrast was absolute.
The looks directed at Azami were filled with disdain.
By now, Azami was almost numb to it. From beginning to end, he had been targeted relentlessly. Whenever Kael was involved, failure was inevitable.
Still, he hadn't given up entirely.
Even though Central had lost, he was still the Director of Totsuki.
His authority was hollow, but unless he stepped down willingly, no one could remove him from that position.
As long as he held that title, there was still a chance to turn things around.
For someone so emotionally fragile, Azami was strangely stubborn when it came to clinging to power.
Unfortunately for him, his calculations were about to collapse.
Because at that moment, Senzaemon Nakiri arrived at the Shokugeki venue—bringing several people with him.
The moment he appeared, everyone understood.
"Why is Grandpa here…?"
Erina stared in shock. Ever since Senzaemon had left Totsuki, there had been no news of him. And now he appeared here, of all places.
"Everyone," Senzaemon said calmly, "you're probably wondering why this old man is here today. So let me make an announcement."
He paused.
"From this moment on, Azami Nakiri is expelled from the Nakiri family. From today forward, there is no such person as Azami Nakiri in this world—only Nakamura Azami."
The venue erupted.
"Nakamura Azami? The Director came just to strip him of his name? Why?"
Even the winners, like Yuki Yoshino, were stunned.
"Because the Director of Totsuki must be a member of the Nakiri family," Alice Nakiri explained. "Totsuki is Nakiri property. Outsiders are not allowed to interfere."
"So once Azami becomes Nakamura again," Ryoko Sakaki said, eyes lighting up, "he's no longer a Nakiri. That means he loses the qualifications to be Director!"
Zenji Marui frowned. "But if Grandpa had this card all along, why didn't he use it from the start? Why let that guy run wild at Totsuki?"
"Because he was still useful," Kael replied with a smile. "Don't forget what Erina went through as a child."
Everyone froze.
Indeed—back then, Erina had been completely shaken whenever Azami appeared. She was utterly helpless.
But now, she no longer feared him.
"Letting him stir chaos at Totsuki was Grandpa's way of curing Erina's trauma," Kael continued. "Now that the problem's solved, there's no reason to keep him around."
"From start to finish, this was all just a farce."
The group could only sigh in amazement.
"People at the top really are terrifying," someone muttered. "Using a method like that—what if it backfired?"
"For students, if it backfires, the consequences would be disastrous."
"You're overestimating Azami," Kael shook his head. "From the very beginning, there was no chance this could ever spiral out of control."
Just as everyone thought the matter was settled, Azami spoke.
"You can't do this. Mana and I are legally married. I married into the Nakiri family. As long as that relationship exists, you have no right to expel me—or strip me of the Nakiri name."
"You're clever, Nakamura," Senzaemon replied calmly. "But you're clever in the wrong place."
He produced a document.
"A divorce agreement. Mana has already signed it."
Azami's eyes went wide.
The paper bore Mana Nakiri's signature—and a vivid red fingerprint seal.
All that was missing was his.
"That's impossible!" Azami shouted. "She would never agree to divorce me! And why would I sign this?!"
He was on the brink of madness now. Senzaemon was cornering him with no escape.
"I also have several other documents," Senzaemon continued. "Look through them. If you still don't change your mind, I'll make everything public."
"At that point, you'll have nothing left."
He laid out more files—evidence Mana had gathered over the years detailing Azami's crimes and misconduct.
If exposed, Azami wouldn't just be divorced.
He'd go to prison.
Showing him the documents first was already Mana's final mercy—or perhaps the last trace of consideration for Erina. She didn't want her daughter to have a criminal for a father.
Otherwise, Azami would already be finished.
"Damn it…!"
As Azami read on, his face grew darker and darker.
By the final page, he had gone completely pale.
The listed punishments were enough to destroy him.
He knew—if he refused, every single one would become reality.
"You… you win. I'll sign."
In the end, Azami had no choice.
With that signature, he became Nakamura Azami once more—and lost the position of Director of Totsuki.
"Get lost," Senzaemon said coldly. "I don't want to see you again. This is your last mercy. There won't be another."
The killing intent in Senzaemon's gaze made Nakamura shudder.
He left in disgrace.
He knew it—Senzaemon truly wanted him dead. If not for Erina being his daughter, he might have already been fed to the fish.
Unwilling as he was, survival came first.
"That guy's finished," someone murmured as they watched him go. "Even with his cooking skills, he's destined to live as an ordinary man."
Everyone understood.
Without the Nakiri name—and after offending the Nakiri family, the WGO, and Kael—no one in the culinary world would ever associate with him again.
No matter what he did, people would only kick him while he was down.
A quiet, ordinary life was the best ending he could hope for.
"He walks away, and we're the ones stuck dealing with the fallout," Nene Kinokuni said bitterly.
Now that she knew everything had been an act, she also understood her own future was over.
The Nakiri family wouldn't target them directly—they cared too much about appearances. But betraying Senzaemon was an undeniable fact.
After graduation, no one would dare hire them.
Their only option would be opening small restaurants for ordinary customers.
High-end establishments like Kiri no Ya? Impossible.
No influential figures would ever set foot in their restaurants—no matter how good their cooking was.
"Now that the position of Director is vacant," Senzaemon said, "I hereby announce the new Director of Totsuki."
He looked at Erina.
"My granddaughter—Erina Nakiri."
The venue exploded.
Everyone had expected Senzaemon to reclaim the position himself.
No one imagined he would hand it to a sixteen-year-old girl.
A sixteen-year-old, becoming the Director of Totsuki.
"Perhaps this is hard to accept," Senzaemon said calmly, "but you've all seen the success of the Research Society Alliance."
"My granddaughter has proven she has the ability to lead Totsuki further—and higher."