Larry didn't care much about most cards, even if they were strong. He already had power and a full team of Pokémon backing him. Cards like [Recycling Room], [Witch's Rejuvenation Potion], and [Golden Scales] were the only ones he found genuinely useful.
Their first stop in town was a local favorite, the Cat Restaurant. It was currently hosting a food challenge: anyone who could finish the Big Mac Spaghetti in under thirty minutes would win a prize.
"Two Big Mac Spaghetti, please," Larry said as they took their seats.
"Got it!"
The restaurant was run by an actual cat, a chubby, round-faced feline wearing a chef's outfit, standing on two legs and proudly flipping dishes.
Not long after, the food arrived. Two massive plates of steaming pasta hit the table, and the rich aroma instantly made their stomachs growl.
The servings were huge, but for Larry and Menchi, this was nothing. They cleared their plates with ease. Larry even ordered some iced drinks to wash it down.
"This is incredible," Menchi said, clearly impressed despite her usual pickiness. "The texture, the seasoning, everything's just right. It's seriously good pasta."
"Huh? You finished already?" The cat chef blinked in shock. After confirming they'd actually devoured the entire meal, he handed over their reward: two cards.
[Galgaida], F-rank card.
It was one of Greed Island's three famous delicacies. The card description said the fish's male eggs were said to extend life, even though the creature's appearance was more like a bottom-feeder than gourmet food.
"Mr. Cat, do you mind if I borrow your kitchen for a bit? I want to cook this prize myself," Menchi asked, scanning the card and licking her lips.
"Oh, uh, sure…" The cat chef's tail twitched in surprise. He clearly hadn't expected someone to ask that. No one had ever borrowed his kitchen before.
Menchi took both of their [Galgaida] cards and walked into the back. She wanted to see for herself what made Greed Island ingredients so special.
At the same time, Gengar popped out from Larry's shadow, carrying a bundle of spices and sauces. Most of Menchi's seasonings were stored inside his stomach space.
Larry leaned back, sipping his drink, watching the door she disappeared behind with a faint smile. The adventure was just getting started.
After a while, Menchi returned from the kitchen carrying two steaming plates of boiled fish. The [Galgaida] card had included a note suggesting that the flavor would be best when boiled or grilled, so she went with boiling.
With her top-notch cooking skills, premium ingredients, and the rare seasonings Gengar had brought out, what landed on the table was nothing short of a masterpiece.
"This... this is incredible!" the cat chef exclaimed, his eyes going wide in disbelief. Normally hidden behind the pudgy folds of his face, his eyes now popped open as if he'd seen a ghost. Menchi's cooking was clearly far beyond anything he'd ever tasted or imagined.
"This is just an F-rank card? Hah, honestly, I'd say this tastes like something made from C-rank ingredients at the very least," Menchi said, sitting down beside Larry. She looked at the fish thoughtfully. "Makes you wonder what higher-level ingredients taste like."
Larry gave a small nod. That actually made a lot of sense. The flavor really was too good for something labeled F-rank.
"But there's more to it," Menchi added seriously, setting her chopsticks down. "Galgaida isn't like normal ingredients."
Larry looked up, sensing this was the important part.
"It's not just exotic seafood or something rare you'd find in the real world. Galgaida, like everything else here, is made of aura. It's food formed entirely from aura."
She explained how, as she was preparing the fish, she could tell something was off, it didn't behave like regular food. It was clearer than ever to her that these cards, and the items they produced, were pure constructs of aura.
Larry wasn't surprised. In a place like Greed Island, with so many strange occurrences, it'd be more surprising if they weren't made of aura. Everything about the island reeked of deliberate, constructed power.
"Food like this, made of aura directly, probably helps with restoring or enhancing your aura more efficiently," Menchi said.
And it did. Larry could already feel it after eating just a few bites. Despite being labeled F-rank, the dish gave him a sensation more powerful than C-rank foods.
Sure, Menchi's cooking and the spices played a role, but even so, the core of the food, the Galgaida itself, was brimming with something else.
Normally, high-grade food needed to be broken down and processed by the body, transforming into aura little by little.
But this? This skipped that step entirely. It was already aura. Eating it meant you could absorb it with almost zero loss.
That said, Larry could tell that at this level, it mostly worked as a replenishment, restoring energy you'd spent. It didn't push the limits of your nen any higher. For that, they'd probably need something more advanced.
After settling the bill, Larry and Menchi left the Cat Restaurant and decided to stroll around the bounty city for a bit.
Thanks to the spoils from the sleazy man they took down earlier, they didn't need to worry about washing dishes or scrounging up work like Gon and Killua had to when they first arrived.
In Greed Island, only money in card form was accepted. Regular coins were useless here. Most NPCs only accepted cards, with the highest denomination being 10,000 rings.
The sleazy guy hadn't been rich, but his stash was enough to cover a few decent meals and minor expenses. And if things got tight, Larry could always use other cards to settle debts.
"Looks like we've drawn some attention," Menchi said casually, glancing around with an unreadable expression.
Larry wasn't surprised. Traveling into town on a Arcanine definitely made them stand out. They'd probably attracted the eyes of a few ambitious types looking to pick a fight. Too bad for them, neither he nor Menchi were pushovers.
Most of those people watching them were likely C-rank at best. Larry could already tell from a glance. And he had no idea where they got the confidence to think they could challenge either of them.
"It's fine," Larry said with a smirk, eyes lazily scanning the alleys and rooftops. "Let them try. They'll die the moment they make a move."
His tone was cool, almost mocking. It wasn't arrogace, it was certainty.
Even if it was someone on the level of Ging or Netero tailing them, Larry wouldn't feel threatened. So when it came to these nobodies? Not even worth worrying about.
As they walked around a corner, Larry suddenly stopped and gave a small grin. His voice was light, almost teasing.
"No need to keep hiding. We're old friends, after all." He turned his head slightly. "Right, Biscuit?"
A second later, a small girl in a burgundy princess dress stepped out from the shadows. Her twin spiral ponytails bounced as she walked, and her big, shiny eyes sparkled with mischief. She looked sweet and harmless, like a porcelain doll.
"Long time no see, Larry!" she said cheerfully, giving him a little wave.