The Chef From the Apocalypse Enters the Food Industry - Chapter 88

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 88. Raising the Stakes!
“We’re going to do an internet livestream.”
Internet? Livestream?
The Department Head’s mouth fell open at the unexpected combination.
“…What?”
His amusement vanished in an instant.
“An internet livestream? You’re saying we go live right now?”
“Yes. To avoid any talk of devilish editing or whatever, we’ll broadcast everything raw and unfiltered in real time.”
“…Will that even work?”
“It will! Viewers’ dopamine levels are at their peak right now!”
“I suppose that’s true, but….”
“If we layer real-time chat reactions on top of the livestream, viewership and buzz will skyrocket several times over.”
“Buzz….”
Buzz. That was what mattered most. It directly affected advertising rates.
As PD Ga pressed forward, the Department Head’s expression grew serious as well.
It seemed PD Ga had come fully prepared.
He was ready to drive the point home immediately.
“Sir, weren’t there variety shows in the past that communicated in real time like this?”
“There were, yes?”
“That’s exactly the format we should use!”
At PD Ga’s bombshell declaration, the Department Head furrowed his brow in concern.
“Hold on, PD Ga. That only works when each team has fewer members and the camera distribution is clearly defined.”
“Why not here? It’s clearly defined here too!”
“It is, but! This is a cooking survival show! Even if we eliminated half in the first round, we still have fifteen chefs remaining, and you want to livestream all of them simultaneously using fire and knives in real time?”
“What’s impossible about it? Are you worried the servers will crash?”
“It’s not about the servers! What if an accident happens!”
“What kind of accident?”
“Who knows! If we could predict it beforehand, it wouldn’t be an accident! This won’t be easy. No, it’s nearly impossible!”
The cooking process created by fifteen chefs.
Add to that the voices of the judges and the MC.
Controlling all of this live carried far too great a risk of a broadcast disaster.
‘This is insane! Absolutely insane!’
Despite the Department Head’s practical concerns.
PD Ga’s face showed not a shred of hesitation.
Instead, he stepped closer with his characteristic sly yet confident smile.
“Department Head.”
“…Yes?”
“Don’t you trust me?”
“Ugh…”
At PD Ga’s weighty words, a tense silence settled over the Director’s Office.
* * *
‘This crazy bastard actually brought results…!’
The broadcasting station operated on pure results.
The moment ratings exploded, the PD became king.
This was an absolute truth that even the Entertainment Bureau Chief couldn’t arbitrarily block.
If this had been before the first broadcast, I would have rejected it outright.
But now PD Ga had complete momentum on his side.
‘Can I even stop this? No, if that bastard suddenly refuses now and digs in his heels… he’s definitely the type who won’t listen if told to.’
The eccentric antics PD Ga had displayed in the past.
Those antics made it impossible for the Department Head to easily refuse.
The Department Head stroked his chin and gazed up at PD Ga’s confident face.
‘He’s crazy, sure. But seeing how he edited this in just two days… he’s really insane.’
Capturing dozens of cooking processes live was definitely insane.
But what if that insanity actually succeeded?
It was obvious we’d seize unprecedented viewership and buzz that would go down in Entertainment Department history.
‘…Jang On-gyu probably wouldn’t hate expanding the scale either.’
He’d probably welcome it with open arms.
That was simply Jang On-gyu’s nature.
For him, it was fine if Kim Seon-woo got humiliated during the live broadcast.
Or if the scale expanded and Kim Seon-woo rose up, that was fine too.
‘Either way, I win both ways. Hmm… then the sponsors won’t interfere either? Should I do this or not? Yeah. Tch. Let’s try it!’
The Department Head finished his calculations.
A subtle smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.
“Sigh, you really are something.”
“Oh, why. Why are you in such a rush today? Our Department Head!”
“Hm….”
The Department Head finally let out a hollow laugh and raised both hands.
“Fine. Let’s see what happens.”
“Okay!”
“Internet live broadcast. But if there’s even the slightest broadcast accident, you’re taking full responsibility?”
“Of course! I’ll bring you an incredible live broadcast that’ll turn South Korea upside down! What’s an internet broadcast anyway?”
“…Your confidence is insane.”
“Hehe. Whose confidence is that?”
PD Ga grinned widely and bowed his head.
The stage for the most dangerous and explosive second round live broadcast was being set up perfectly.
The scale had expanded.
* * *
PD Ga called again.
-Owner. We’re ready.
“We’re really going live, right?”
-Of course! Anyway, are you ready? The second round is large-scale cooking.
“I know!”
-I’ve told all the other chefs too. They’ve all decided to bring their sous chefs in force.
“Wow. If they bring sous chefs, how are they planning to run the restaurant that day?”
A sous chef is the second-in-command of the kitchen.
With the head chef already competing, bringing the second-in-command too?
They were going all out.
-So everyone’s getting serious. What will you do, Owner?
“I’ll have to bring someone too!”
-Jang Owner? Or Owner Woo?
“Who knows?”
-Hehe. Whoever it is, I’m looking forward to it.
“Of course!”
As soon as I answered, PD Ga hung up the phone.
There was apparently a lot to prepare for the live broadcast.
I set down my smartphone and fell into thought.
‘Large-scale cooking, huh.’
* * *
No matter how fast my hands were or how skilled I was.
To churn out massive quantities of dishes, it would be helpful to have an assistant who could perfectly match my tempo.
I turned my head toward the restaurant kitchen.
Tap-tap-tap! Tap-tap! Tap!
Crisp, rhythmic cutting sounds echoed from two spots on the cutting boards.
It was Haran and Jin-woo.
‘Both of them are working hard.’
The two stood side by side, ceaselessly slicing vegetables.
I approached the kitchen and cleared my throat lightly.
“You two, please pay attention for a moment.”
“Hmm?”
“Yes!”
At my call, both their knife work stopped simultaneously.
“I mentioned it before. The next round’s mission is large-scale cooking.”
“That sounds difficult?”
“Yes. So the broadcasting station said to bring an assistant.”
“An assistant!”
“!!!!”
“I need one reliable assistant to support me.”
In that moment, Haran’s and Jin-woo’s eyes sparkled simultaneously.
Especially Jin-woo, who had been burning with fierce enthusiasm for cooking lately.
“….”
“….”
His eyes burned with an intensity that screamed for me to pick him right then and there.
Haran was also staring at me with a tense expression, swallowing hard.
‘Both of them are excellent material.’
But under the pressure of live broadcasting, only one person could execute those mechanical, rapid, and precise knife cuts without wavering.
That overwhelming sense honed through my past life as a prosecutor.
I met Haran’s eyes and spoke.
“Haran.”
“Ah, yes! Owner!”
“Come on the broadcast with me. As my assistant.”
At my selection, Jin-woo’s shoulders sagged slightly, but he quickly shook off the disappointment and broke into a wide smile.
“M-me?! On that huge broadcast?”
Haran flustered, hastily setting down the kitchen knife she’d been gripping.
“Wait, I haven’t been cooking for that long, and I still can’t keep up with your footsteps… What if I go out there and ruin your cooking!”
Unlike her usual confident knife work,
she seemed terrified by the weight of broadcasting.
‘So she’s only weak when it’s not real combat? I need to push her through this.’
I crossed my arms and spoke firmly.
“Who would ruin it? You?”
“Well….”
“Seventy percent of my cooking starts with knife work. With your skills, you could prep massive amounts of ingredients with your eyes closed.”
“But those other chefs will probably bring incredible professionals….”
“Professionals? What makes someone a professional?”
“They probably have certifications… and more experience than me….”
“Do fancy titles and experience put food on the table? Real professionals are those who survive in actual combat. I trust your hands.”
“!!!”
At my unwavering answer, Haran’s trembling eyes gradually steadied.
Her fierce passion for cooking.
And perhaps an instinct stirring from my past life, awakening within her.
The instinct of a warrior heading into battle.
“….”
She gazed quietly at the kitchen knife resting on the cutting board.
Had she decided?
Then she clenched her fist and lifted her head.
“I’ll do it.”
“Good.”
“If you believe in me, Owner, I’ll slice like a madwoman. Onions, meat—I’ll destroy them all!”
“…Don’t actually destroy them, though.”
“…Yes!”
At Haran’s resolute determination, Jin-woo let out a cheer from beside her.
“Wow! Haran is insane! Go out there and completely shut down those arrogant chefs! I’ll hold down the front and cheer you on!”
I adjusted my apron with a satisfied smile.
‘Perfect.’
The chefs would emerge with seasoned elite sous chefs at their side.
And they’d mock me again when they saw I’d brought a part-time worker from a neighborhood restaurant as my assistant.
But the moment the live broadcast cameras started rolling and Haran’s divine knife work began.
‘Everything changes.’
That arrogant mockery will vanish.
I was looking forward to it.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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