Chapter 138: Informing Toriko of His Lineage
"Ichiryu, what ingredient is this?"
Don Slime asked curiously. For it to make Ichiryu’s Gourmet Cells so active, the compatibility must be off the charts.
"This is the egg of the Billion Bird," Ichiryu said, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. The world had completely misunderstood the Billion Bird. It was simply that no one had been able to truly cook it.
"That stupid bird’s egg can be this delicious?" Don Slime said in disbelief. It had seen the Billion Bird before. It was stupid, ugly, and didn’t even taste good, yet Ichiryu had still chosen it for his Full Course Menu. But it also understood, as Ichiryu’s menu was not for himself, but for the entire world.
"Haha, this must be the magical charm of ingredients," Ichiryu said with a laugh. If no one could cook it, then the Billion Bird was worthless, just food to fill one’s stomach during a famine.
Don Slime couldn’t deny it. It had never expected that the Billion Bird’s egg would be such a perfect ingredient for Ichiryu.
"Uncle Ichiryu, do you know about Toriko’s lineage?" Kenji asked. He was a little curious to see what Ichiryu’s expression would be after learning the truth.
"Toriko’s lineage?" Ichiryu shook his head. "Whether it’s Toriko or Coco and the others, they were all orphans I picked up. I don’t know who their biological parents are."
"Toriko is Froese’s son," Kenji said calmly, but his words caused an instantly exaggerated change in Ichiryu’s expression. This wasn’t some unspeakable taboo.
"Toriko is Lady Froese’s child?"
This news was simply too shocking. Ichiryu began to understand a few things. No wonder he had always felt a sense of familiarity with Toriko. This explained it. It was a familiar feeling that the other three Heavenly Kings didn’t have.
Atashino’s jaw dropped. This was explosive! If Toriko’s mother was the Gourmet God Froese, then his father must be the Gourmet God Acacia. Raised by President Ichiryu, with parents like Acacia and Froese... it seemed that to make it in this world, you really needed to have the right background.
"Lady Froese had another son," Kenji continued. "The Gourmet Corp.’s Vice-Chef, Starjun."
"...Is this the arrangement of Food Luck?"
Hearing this, a wry, bittersweet expression appeared on Ichiryu’s face. Toriko had been adopted by him, while Starjun was in the Gourmet Corp., founded by Midora. What a coincidence. As Acacia’s two disciples, they had ended up taking care of his two sons. The world was so large; if not for the guidance of Food Luck, Toriko and Starjun could have easily been adopted by ordinary families.
"I see. Thank you for telling me this," Ichiryu said with a smile. Even knowing that Toriko was his master’s son, he wouldn’t treat him any differently. Coco and the others were also his family.
Should I tell my younger brother, Midora? Ichiryu wondered, but decided not to go find him just yet.
Gourmet World, Seventh Area, Pot Mountain.
This volcano had a peculiar shape; its summit looked just like a cooking pot. Thick smoke billowed out, forming a dense cloud layer in the sky and radiating a scorching heat.
"Stewed Magma... is this the Phantom Broth from Master Jiro’s Full Course Menu? It has the smell of alcohol," Atashino said, her nose twitching. Besides the aroma of the soup, there was also the fragrance of liquor. The Stewed Magma was orange, with a temperature of about a thousand degrees, and various chunks of meat and vegetables floated within it.
"If it’s an ingredient from Master Jiro’s menu, it’s only natural for the soup to have some alcohol content," Kenji said with a smile. Compared to Mansam, whose every dish contained alcohol, Jiro’s Full Course still had some non-alcoholic items.
The Stewed Magma began to churn, and a behemoth emerged.
It was a giant turtle, even more ridiculously sized than the Four-Beast. It had a ferocious, spiky shell, more like that of an alligator snapping turtle, and its head had the features of an ape. Once again, one had to marvel at the biodiversity of the Gourmet World.
"The Vajra Lava Turtle, Capture Level 1830. Has it made this place its territory?" Kenji rubbed his chin. Did Master Jiro leave it here as a gatekeeper?
With the Vajra Lava Turtle guarding it, very few people could get near the Stewed Magma. Most creatures would avoid it.
"Pulp-Bursting Fire Dragon Bullet!"
The Vajra Lava Turtle opened its massive maw and fired a scorching magma cannonball. The thousand-degree heat distorted the air.
"Ape Dance - Big Bang!"
The muscles in Kenji’s arm swelled slightly. He threw a punch, and the explosive force of his fist became an air cannon. A punch enhanced by Ape Dance erupted with even greater power, directly blowing the magma missile apart.
"Ape Dance - Knocking."
Kenji flashed through the air, appeared above the Vajra Lava Turtle, and slammed a fist down on its shell.
This familiar feeling...
I remember now. I remember it all.
The Vajra Lava Turtle remembered the ruthless man who had used Knocking on it for ten long years. For those ten years, it had been completely immobile. This moment was just like that one. It had been paralyzed by Knocking again. If someone told it that Kenji had no relationship with that pompadoured man, it would jump off Pot Mountain itself.
With the nuisance gone, Atashino took out her cooking utensils and began to prepare the Stewed Magma. Without proper preparation, an ordinary person would not be able to handle it.
Kenji glanced towards the 100G Mountains. The Ape King was gone again. Is it always sleeping in space? Then again, Jiro must have fought the Ape King Bambina before. The Stewed Magma wasn’t far from the 100G Mountains. Even if Jiro couldn’t be bothered, that problem child Bambina would never pass up a chance to play.
Atashino served a plate. The orange broth had all sorts of ingredients floating in it and wasn’t as thick as magma.
"The mellowness of fine wine, a wonderful taste born from the fermentation of nature’s power. Although there’s no burning sensation, it goes to your head easily."
Kenji savored it slowly. As expected of an ingredient chosen for Jiro’s Full Course; its taste was impeccable. Ichiryu’s menu, all things considered, really only had one main item. Jiro’s menu, however, was full of luxurious ingredients.
As for Midora’s Full Course Menu... eh...
Thinking of Midora’s menu, Kenji’s mouth twitched. No one else could taste it; it was all related to Froese.
"The Phantom Broth. It’s very good," Atashino gave her professional assessment. She and Kenji had been partners for some time now and had eaten many delicious ingredients. Having had Heat Planet and the salad, AIR, she didn’t react too dramatically.
"What should we do with that turtle?"
"The Knocking will last for two months. I’ll let it go this time." Kenji didn’t feel like eating turtle meat right now.
"Come on, let’s go check out some other places."
Kenji took Atashino’s hand and flew off to other regions of the Gourmet World.
The Cooking Fest was in full swing.
Although Komatsu’s rank was low, he hadn’t been eliminated at the start. On the contrary, he was advancing rapidly.
"So this is the kid Kenji and the Four Heavenly Kings were talking about? What exaggerated Food Luck. Interesting," Brunch said, quite interested in Komatsu. He looked like a background character, but his brilliance couldn’t be hidden. He was like a crane among chickens. He was indeed a chef worth a serious battle.
"But... just how many idols does this kid have?"
Watching Komatsu constantly ask other chefs for their autographs, Brunch couldn’t help but cover his face. You’re a top-tier chef yourself, you know!
It wasn’t just him. Toriko and the others were also speechless, seeing Komatsu act like a little fanboy. This was the Cooking Fest, not a fan meet-and-greet.
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