*****
IGO 18th Barrier,
Just as Shizuku had expected, the place they had been escorted to turned out to be a special detention room inside the facility. It had already been thirty minutes since they were locked inside.
However, neither Lev nor Shizuku seemed particularly bothered by their situation. Instead, they remained quiet, patiently waiting to see what the IGO personnel intended to do with them. After all, they found the entire situation rather amusing.
The two sat on the floor without doing anything in particular, casually observing their surroundings. Their attention was especially drawn to the thick, transparent glass walls surrounding the room. Through them, they could clearly see Elboh speaking with a muscular, middle-aged man with a bald head, chiseled features, and two vertical scars on the left side of his head. Three metal piercings adorned the top of his head, while he wore a green sleeveless shirt with white and gray details and a pair of beige shorts.
As the two men continued their discussion, Lev and Shizuku could hear every word despite the room supposedly being soundproof.
Neither of them could help smiling as they listened to the conversation. Elboh and the middle-aged man were discussing their identities, speculating that they might be criminals, members of an organization hostile to the IGO, or, in the worst-case scenario, some kind of creatures merely disguising themselves as humans.
"We can hear you two, you know."
Unable to wait any longer, Lev finally spoke up.
His unexpected remark immediately silenced the two men, who turned toward him with expressions of surprise.
Seeing Lev's confident smile, the bald, middle-aged man exchanged a few more words with Elboh. The two appeared to disagree about something and argued for a short while before eventually reaching an agreement.
Not long afterward, the door to the detention room opened.
The bald man entered alone, wearing a broad smile as he approached the two visitors.
"I'm Mansam. This is certainly an interesting surprise! Why don't you two start by telling me about yourselves? How did you bypass this barrier and enter the Gourmet World? And judging by your appearances, you both seem to be human rather than beasts. Hmm... So, where exactly did you come from?"
The man introducing himself as Mansam immediately launched into a series of questions, carefully examining Lev and Shizuku from head to toe.
Despite his scrutiny, he couldn't sense anything particularly unusual about them. Aside from their exceptionally handsome and beautiful appearances, respectively, he couldn't figure out what made the pair so mysterious—or how they had managed to reach this place undetected.
"That's quite a lot of questions, Mister." Shizuku rose from her seat and casually stretched her shoulders. She then looked Mansam directly in the eyes. "Master, am I allowed to beat this man up? Judging by his muscles, he looks like he could withstand a couple of punches."
"Hmm. Go ahead," Lev replied casually.
Given that Mansam had come here from his usual area of supervision, Lev assumed that news of their arrival had already reached the higher-ups. Since things had progressed this far, he decided that he might as well use the opportunity to test Shizuku's strength against Mansam's.
After all, he was curious to see how the two would compare.
"Elboh!! Evacuate the area immediately and call for reinforcements!!!" Mansam shouted.
The moment he realized that a fight was about to break out, the smile on his face vanished. He had finally recognized just how dangerous the two individuals before him might be.
Without wasting another second, Mansam used Knocking on himself. His body suddenly grew larger as he released his overwhelming aura.
Above him materialized a gigantic, demon-like projection with eight arms, three faces, and bronze-colored skin.
Meanwhile, Elboh, who had been nervously watching the situation from outside the room, immediately obeyed Mansam's order and hurried away to evacuate the surrounding area and summon reinforcements.
Only now did Elboh fully appreciate how wise he had been to report the two strangers to the IGO headquarters.
Judging by the situation unfolding before him, his initial suspicions had been justified.
Lev and Shizuku were every bit as dangerous as they appeared.
[Intimidation Knocking has been learned.]
[Knocking has been learned.]
"Are you sure you want to stay here and face us alone?" Shizuku asked with a mischievous smile.
Before Mansam could respond, she vanished from her position and appeared directly in front of him. Her fist, coated in Armament Haki, shot toward his stomach with tremendous speed.
Over the past twenty years, Lev had taught Shizuku and the others how to use both Armament Haki and Observation Haki. As for Supreme King Haki, they had been trying to awaken and exert its power as well, but so far, none of them had managed to use it successfully.
"Blrrghhh!"
Mansam barely had time to react before Shizuku's fist struck his stomach. However, rather than allowing the blow to send him flying, he instinctively contracted his muscles, locking her punching hand firmly within them.
Although his body had managed to withstand the attack, his mind was in turmoil.
How can someone with such a small, feminine build produce this much power?!
Mansam couldn't believe what had just happened. He had encountered countless powerful individuals throughout his career, yet he had never expected someone with Shizuku's appearance to possess such terrifying strength.
Shizuku, meanwhile, glanced at her trapped hand in mild surprise.
That was all.
She felt neither fear nor panic. After surviving and fighting countless dangerous creatures in the Gourmet World, a situation like this was hardly enough to unsettle her. Instead, she looked at Mansam with growing excitement.
So this is what fighting a powerful, intelligent opponent in the Human World feels like!
For the first time since returning, she had found someone who could actually withstand her attacks. Naturally, she had no intention of ending the fight so quickly.
"Frying Pan Sandwich!"
Having decided to take the fight seriously, Mansam spread his arms before bringing both hands down toward Shizuku's head. He intended to crush her between them, and with the situation having escalated this far, he was no longer concerned about the possibility of inflicting a fatal injury.
[Frying Pan Sandwich has been learned.]
On the sidelines, Lev watched the fight with an amused smile. He casually retrieved an ingredient from his inventory and began munching on it, showing no intention of intervening.
He wasn't worried about Shizuku in the slightest. Having watched her grow stronger over the past twenty years, he understood just how formidable she had become.
There was no reason for him to interrupt her now.
"Now, that's more like it!" Shizuku exclaimed with a delighted smile.
Just as Mansam's hands were about to strike, she forcefully pulled her trapped hand free by tearing through the muscles holding it in place. The sudden movement inflicted a serious injury on Mansam's arm, disrupting his attack and ruining his timing.
At the same time, Shizuku launched another punch with her freed hand.
"S-Shit!"
Mansam stared in disbelief as Shizuku escaped his muscular grip by force alone. The injury to his arm was troublesome, but it wasn't what truly alarmed him.
His attention shifted to Shizuku's other fist, which was already driving toward his exposed side.
BOOM!
The punch landed cleanly.
Pain flashed across Mansam's face as the impact shook his body. Although his muscles had prevented the attack from completely overwhelming him, the force behind Shizuku's punch penetrated deep into his body, inflicting considerably more internal damage than her first strike.
Even so, Mansam refused to back down.
He immediately reached for something and used it on himself. In an instant, his eyes turned completely white, while his skin darkened. His body began to expand dramatically, growing so large that an ordinary person would have mistaken him for a giant.
On the sidelines, even Lev couldn't help raising an eyebrow at the transformation.
Oh? He's actually getting serious.
Lev recognized what Mansam had done. The man had removed the Knocking that had been suppressing his full muscle mass, unleashing the enormous physical power hidden within his body.
It was a dangerous trump card that Mansam had forbidden himself from using under ordinary circumstances. By releasing the Knocking, he risked entering a state of uncontrollable rampage, potentially losing his ability to distinguish between friend and foe.
Yet, faced with Shizuku's overwhelming strength, he had decided that holding back was no longer an option.
Shizuku and Mansam stared at each other for a brief moment.
Then, both charged forward.
BOOM!
Shizuku's Haki-coated fist collided with Mansam's Frying Pan Punch, and the impact alone shattered the floor beneath them. Shock waves spread throughout the room, sending chunks of concrete flying in every direction as the surrounding structure began to tremble.
But neither fighter showed any intention of stopping.
Their fists collided again and again, each clash releasing enough force to tear apart the surrounding area. Cracks spread across the walls and ceiling, while the floor continued to crumble beneath their feet.
Soon, the detention room could barely withstand the destruction caused by their battle.
Both fighters unleashed attacks that far exceeded the limits of ordinary human combat, trading blows with frightening intensity. Neither hesitated to take a hit if it meant landing a stronger counterattack.
For Mansam, this was no longer a simple attempt to subdue two suspicious individuals. He was fighting an opponent whose strength challenged everything he had initially assumed about her.
For Shizuku, the battle was an opportunity to test herself against a powerful opponent who could fight back.
And at that moment, neither of them had anything else on their minds.
They would keep fighting until one of them emerged victorious.
***********
—One Hour Later—
Outside the 18th Barrier,
Following Mansam's orders, Elboh had successfully evacuated everyone working inside the building. He and the others were now gathered in an open field a safe distance away from the facility.
Despite the distance, they could still feel the tremors coming from within the building. Each successive tremor seemed to shake the ground beneath their feet, leaving little doubt that a serious battle was taking place inside.
Judging by the intensity of the destruction, Mansam was clearly having a difficult time dealing with the mysterious individual who had suddenly appeared at the barrier.
"Hmmmm."
A voice suddenly interrupted Elboh's anxious thoughts.
Recognizing the owner of the voice, Elboh immediately turned around and bowed. The other personnel followed suit, their expressions changing to ones of surprise and respect.
None of them had expected someone of such high standing to personally visit the 18th Barrier just to investigate the mysterious newcomers.
"Welcome, President!"
Elboh and the others greeted him in unison.
Relief soon washed over their faces. With the President of the International Gourmet Organization himself finally arriving, they believed the situation could now be brought under control.
Standing before them was a muscular, tan-skinned older man with blonde hair and a long blonde mustache. His clothing featured vibrant tropical patterns, suggesting a particular fondness for such designs.
This man was none other than Ichiryu, the President of the International Gourmet Organization (IGO).
Ichiryu turned his gaze toward the building, a slight frown appearing on his face as another tremor shook the ground.
"Looks like Mansam has really gone on a rampage. Hahaha!"
Despite his seemingly amused remark, Ichiryu's eyes remained focused on the damaged facility.
He then began walking toward the building, intending to see the situation for himself. He had already received a brief report about the two mysterious individuals and had traveled hundreds of kilometers to reach the 18th Barrier as quickly as possible.
However, investigating the disturbance wasn't the only reason he had come in person.
He had another matter to attend to.
*****
Inside the Building
By this point, the tremors that had been shaking the surrounding area had finally subsided, leaving the entire building eerily silent.
However, the sudden silence could only mean one thing.
The fight was over.
Ichiryu continued walking toward the source of the earlier commotion, a smile gradually spreading across his face as he drew closer. When he finally arrived, he couldn't help but chuckle at the sight before him.
Mansam was sprawled on the ground, his body partially embedded in the ruined floor.
Meanwhile, Lev stood nearby with a smile on his face. He had sensed Ichiryu's presence long before the latter arrived, but he had chosen to remain silent as he watched Shizuku overwhelm Mansam through sheer physical strength.
What made the scene even more remarkable was that Shizuku hadn't even drawn her sword. She had defeated Mansam using nothing but her fists, demonstrating just how much her physical abilities had improved over the past twenty years.
Of course, Mansam's strength was nothing to scoff at, either.
Under normal circumstances, he would have been a formidable opponent for almost anyone. His physical prowess, combat experience, and mastery of Knocking made him a dangerous adversary who shouldn't be underestimated.
Unfortunately, he had encountered Shizuku.
At the same time, the outcome of their battle reminded Lev of just how much the Gourmet World had contributed to the growth of his companions.
The rare ingredients they had consumed, combined with their years of training and the countless battles they had fought against the dangerous creatures inhabiting the Gourmet World, had pushed their bodies and abilities to extraordinary heights.
Lev couldn't help wondering what might have happened if he had brought Shizuku and the others to the Human World twenty years earlier.
Would they have been able to reach Mansam's current level of strength?
He wasn't entirely sure.
After all, the ingredients available in the Human World were far more limited compared to those found in the Gourmet World. Furthermore, the constant threat posed by the Gourmet World's terrifying creatures had provided his companions with countless opportunities to hone their combat abilities and push beyond their limits.
Without those ingredients and experiences, their growth might have been considerably slower.
"Hahaha! Shizuku, I can't believe you've grown this strong in just twenty years. It looks like the Gourmet World has truly honed your abilities!"
A familiar voice suddenly echoed throughout the ruined building.
Ichiryu finally stepped into view, wearing a broad smile as he watched Shizuku standing over the defeated Mansam.
"Looks like you've kept your word, Lev. Anyway, welcome back to the Human World!"
Turning toward Lev, Ichiryu greeted him warmly.
After twenty years, the two had finally reunited.
However, the Lev standing before him was no longer the person he remembered from their previous encounter. In the intervening years, Lev had undergone a transformation so immense that Ichiryu could scarcely comprehend just how powerful he had become.
Although Lev wasn't releasing any discernible aura, Ichiryu's instincts were screaming at him.
Every cell in his body seemed to be warning him about the person standing before him.
What kind of monster is hiding behind that human appearance?
For the first time in a long while, Ichiryu found himself questioning his own judgment. The difference between the Lev he had known twenty years ago and the man standing before him now was simply too immense.
"Mister! It's you! Long time no see!"
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Shizuku turned toward Ichiryu and greeted him with a smile.
It had been twenty years since their last meeting, and seeing someone they knew from their earlier adventures naturally brought her joy.
However, beyond the happiness of their reunion, another thought quickly crossed her mind.
I wonder how strong he really is.
After spending twenty years fighting powerful creatures in the Gourmet World, Shizuku couldn't help feeling curious about Ichiryu's abilities. She was even looking forward to sparring with him someday to see how much she had grown compared to someone she had known before their journey.
"Let's talk about that later. We should take care of Mansam first," Ichiryu said with a smile as he approached his unconscious friend. He glanced at Shizuku before adding, "Girl, your punches have certainly become much heavier."
With that, Ichiryu bent down and lifted Mansam's unconscious body, carrying him with little difficulty.
Although he wanted to catch up with Lev and Shizuku, his friend's condition took priority. There would be plenty of time to talk once Mansam had received the necessary treatment.
Without wasting any more time, Ichiryu carried Mansam out of the ruined building.
Lev and Shizuku exchanged smiles before following him outside.
In truth, Lev could have healed Mansam's injuries almost instantly with the Magic Beans stored in his inventory. However, seeing that Ichiryu had already taken responsibility for his friend's condition, he decided not to interfere.
For now, he would leave Mansam's recovery in Ichiryu's hands.
After all, they had plenty of time to catch up—and Lev was curious to learn what had brought the IGO President all the way to the 18th Barrier in the first place.
**********
—Night—
IGO Headquarters,
Somewhere in the Human World, Ichiryu stood at the edge of the IGO headquarters, gazing out at the calm sea beneath the night sky.
Following the incident at the IGO's 18th Barrier, he had immediately returned to headquarters. Yet, even as he stood there enjoying the peaceful scenery, his thoughts remained occupied with someone in particular.
Lev.
Earlier, the two had finally found the opportunity to catch up after twenty years apart. They had talked about Lev's experiences in the Gourmet World, the places he had visited, and the things he had accomplished since their last meeting. As they reminisced, Ichiryu had once again enjoyed Lev's cooking, bringing back fond memories of their previous encounter.
Thinking about their conversation, Ichiryu couldn't help but smile.
"Establishing a restaurant in the Human World?"
He chuckled before looking out over the sea once more.
"Hahaha! Very well, Lev. I'll help you to the best of my abilities!"
With a hearty laugh, Ichiryu turned around and headed back toward his quarters. There was much to consider, after all. If Lev intended to establish a restaurant in the Human World, Ichiryu would make sure to offer whatever assistance he could.
After all, a man who had returned from the Gourmet World after twenty years was bound to bring something extraordinary to the table.
And Ichiryu was looking forward to seeing what Lev would do next.