Chapter 710

Chapter 710:

Ashton, meanwhile, finished reading the list with an intrigued look.

Whether by coincidence or deliberate design, his team had been placed in the same group as one of Pavilion Foods Group’s formidable teams.

To make matters more interesting, this particular team was led by the very three men who had earlier mocked Malcom.

Malcom’s face was etched with worry as he scanned the grouping list.

His earlier confidence had evaporated, replaced by visible distress. It was as though he could already envision their defeat before the competition even started.

Noticing his demeanor, Ashton chuckled and clapped him on the back. “What’s got you so rattled? Isn’t this the perfect opportunity? This is your chance to prove them wrong. Later, when we beat them outright, they’ll regret their choice.”

Malcom let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head. “You don’t get it, Ashton. I’ve lived and worked with them for over thirty years. If anyone knows what they’re capable of, it’s me. The three of them are not just skilled; each of them is talented enough to run a Michelin-caliber restaurant on their own. And when they combine their strengths? They’re practically unbeatable.”

Malcom wasn’t alone in his assessment. The gathered teams, all seasoned veterans of Staville’s competitive culinary scene, shared a similar understanding of the three Figueroas.

Everyone believed that the three men’s team would definitely emerge victorious in their group.

Each of the three men possessed culinary expertise that consistently ranked them among Staville’s top ten chefs. Individually, they were formidable. Together, they formed an unbeatable powerhouse, widely considered the strongest team in the competition and the undisputed favorites to win the championship.

For any team unfortunate enough to face them in the preliminaries, the odds of success were grim. Even with their best efforts, victory seemed like a distant dream.

Meanwhile, Stephen, the head of the Crawford family, sat alongside his most trusted man, Marc, both enjoying the unfolding scene. They had been invited to observe the competition and couldn’t hide their satisfaction at the grouping results.

𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙡: 𝙜ⱥ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘴⫽𝙘𝙤𝙢

While bribing Jeremiah directly had been impossible, they had found other ways to manipulate the grouping results. They ensured Ashton’s team would clash with the competition’s frontrunners in the very first round, a calculated move to guarantee an early exit for their rival.

Stephen leaned back in his chair and couldn’t resist calling out to Ashton. “So, you’re Ashton Baldwin, right? First time meeting you. I’m Stephen Crawford, head of the Crawford family. Word is you’ve been loudly declaring your intention to take us down and enter Staville’s catering scene. I decided to see if you live…”

up to your talk. Judging by the matchups, though, it seems you’ll be eliminated in the preliminaries. Quite the embarrassing start for someone aiming to compete with the Crawford family.”

It was Ashton’s first encounter with Stephen. As Ashton’s sharp gaze appraised Stephen, Marc stepped forward, his smirk dripping with condescension.

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