"It's been too long, Granny Setsuno," Zed said warmly. "Though I'm surprised even Master Jiro underestimated how quickly I'd master Food Honor."
Granny Setsuno chuckled, her eyes crinkling. "The sooner, the better. Now, introduce your companions."
Zed gestured to the trio. "Erina Nakiri and Hisako Arato—chefs from Nakaume Gourmet School—and Mirajane Strauss, a gourmet hunter. They're my partners."
The three bowed, cheeks flushing at the label.
"Partners?" Granny Setsuno raised an eyebrow, though her smile softened. "Impressive. Youth today move faster than Regal Mammoths."
Erina's God Tongue tingled with anticipation as the old chef turned. "Stay for a meal. Jirou-chan will need time to return."
"Thank you! Could we… see your Century Soup?" Zed asked.
Granny Setsuno's grin widened. "Follow me."
Descending a spiral staircase hundreds of meters deep, the group entered a cavernous underground kitchen. Light casting a glow over a dozen Special Cooking ingredients—Lonely Grizzlies showing their strongest fighting spirit, Love Sardines, hundreds swimming in a large tank—Most of which requires special cooking preparation.
"This kitchen spans the entire Gourmet Town," Granny Setsuno declared, pride lacing her voice. The air hummed with the scent of Food and fresh ingredients.
Mirajane gaped. "It's… bigger than the city above?!"
"Hollowed out and fortified with Special alloy, able to withstand the whole city and more," Granny Setsuno confirmed. "Now, the Century Soup—"
She froze. Ahead, a cluster of ingredients pulsed with golden light. Nono gasped.
"What's happening?" Erina whispered, her God Tongue quivering.
Mirajane and the others stared in confusion as ingredients emitted a faint golden glow.
"They're resonating," Zed explained. The light pulsed rhythmically, casting warm reflections on the kitchen's Diamond Wheat alloy walls. "Food Luck draws ingredients to those they deem worthy. Food Luck is legendary—obtaining high level of Food Luck is rarer than Golden Puffer whale."
"Resonance?" Erina's God Tongue tingled. "Like… the ingredients choose their chef?"
"Exactly." Zed nodded. "Spiritual affinity matters, but Food Luck dominates. Granny Setsuno's irregular hours? She lets ingredients pick diners, not the reverse."
Granny Setsuno chuckled, her eyes narrowing at Zed. "Your Food Luck must be monstrous. These ingredients crave being cooked by you."
Zed shrugged. "Wild hunts favor me. Beyond that?" He trailed off, unwilling to dwell on mysteries even centuries-old chefs couldn't unravel.
The group reached the Century Soup's chamber. A cauldron the size of a Regal Mammoth dominated the space. Steam curled from its rim, carrying the crisp scent of glacial minerals.
"Climb up," Granny Setsuno said, leaping effortlessly onto the platform—a feat defying her age. Zed conjured a Caloric Spoon, ferrying the others upward.
The soup's surface shimmered, clearer than Arctic ice. "It's… flawless," Hisako breathed.
"Flawed," Granny Setsuno corrected. "True Century Soup radiates auroras. Mine's missing… something."
Zed leaned over the cauldron. "Not an ingredient. Nature's hand."
Granny Setsuno smile. "So, you know..."
"The original Century Soup melded human effort and Ice Hell's harsh nurture. Replicating ingredients isn't enough. You need—"
"—a catalyst. A force like the Ice Hell." Granny Setsuno's Continued. "Bishokukai stole the last batch, but if any remains…"
She dialled Master Jirou. "Jirou-chan! Check the Ice Hell if there's any Century Soup remains!"