Chapter 10: The Main Story Begins
Madara Uchiha logged off. The amount of information he had just received was overwhelming, and he needed time to process it all.
As for that traitor, Black Zetsu... he would let him run free for a little while longer. Once he was ready, he would deal with him. Knowing that Black Zetsu would betray him, there was no way the decisive Madara would ever let him live. The slimy, black creature was cunning, and his ability to conceal himself was among the best in the ninja world. He couldn't afford to alert him. If Black Zetsu escaped, he might never get another chance to catch him. When he made his move, it had to be to eradicate him completely, root and stem.
The Infinite Tsukuyomi was a lie. Madara felt a sense of aimless drift. He had schemed for so long, all for the sake of peace, only to learn he was nothing but a pawn in Kaguya's plan to save herself. He needed to think, to figure out what to do next. The existence of the chat group had broadened his horizons considerably.
The gourmet construction crew was incredibly efficient. The foundation of Kenji's house was already laid. He was excited to see the finished product.
"Yo, Kenji! You free anytime soon?"
Toriko walked over with a young man who stood at about 1.5 meters tall. Compared to both Toriko and Kenji, he was quite short.
Kenji recognized him immediately.
It was Komatsu, the protagonist with ridiculously good Gourmet Luck. His large nostrils had earned him the nickname "Big-Nose Komatsu," though in the later parts of the manga, his nose returned to a normal size.
"Hello, Mr. Kenji. My name is Komatsu," the young man said, introducing himself with a polite bow.
"Nice to meet you, Komatsu," Kenji replied, nodding before turning to Toriko. "I'm free for now. What's up?"
It seemed the main storyline was about to begin.
"Haha, Komatsu here has commissioned me to capture a Galala Gator. I was wondering if you wanted to come along," Toriko said with a grin.
The Galala Gator was a giant crocodile that reigned as the apex predator of the Baron Archipelago's ecosystem. A common Galala Gator had a Capture Level of 5, but a 300-year-old specimen could reach a Capture Level of 8, its flavor growing richer and more complex with age. A beast of this level was too much for ordinary military vehicles; only a skilled Gourmet Hunter was suited for the job.
"Heh, I've got nothing better to do. Count me in," Kenji agreed. An opportunity to enjoy a fine meal without having to do any of the work was not to be missed. He knew Toriko could handle a Galala Gator without any problem.
"Komatsu, you can head back to the Gourmet Hotel for now," Toriko said.
"Um, Mr. Toriko, my superiors have asked me to accompany you to conduct an ecological survey of the Galala Gator," Komatsu said with a helpless expression. If he had a choice, he wouldn't want to go to such a dangerous place.
"What?! You're coming with us?" Toriko exclaimed in shock. He could tell that Komatsu was just an ordinary person, physically weaker than even a regular soldier. While there were no beasts on the Baron Archipelago with a Capture Level above 10, there were still countless creatures that could easily kill him.
"It's fine, Toriko. One more person won't make a difference," Kenji interjected. "And I have a feeling Komatsu's Gourmet Luck is very strong."
Someone with powerful Gourmet Luck could naturally avoid danger and attract fortune. In most situations, they could emerge unscathed, avoiding fatal injuries. Those like Joie, who could actively wield their luck, could even directly evade powerful attacks.
Kenji's own Gourmet Luck was likely quite strong as well. Jiro had told him that his level of luck was rare on Earth, but Kenji himself didn't know the specifics. With the combined buffs of being a transmigrator, having a chat group, and possessing the power of the Star Forger, his luck was bound to be formidable.
"Gourmet Luck?" Toriko looked at Komatsu thoughtfully. He had heard President Ichiryu talk about it before—a mysterious, almost mystical force that was nevertheless very real.
"Fine," Toriko sighed. "If you're not afraid of dying, then you can tag along tomorrow."
Komatsu wanted to cry. Of course he was afraid of dying! He was a coward who had never even been on an adventure in the wild before. He had zero experience.
The next morning, the trio arrived at the port. Komatsu carried a hunting rifle on his back, a small comfort that gave him a sense of security. He had yet to witness the true strength of Kenji and Toriko; otherwise, he would have known the gun was completely unnecessary. A standard firearm like that had very little stopping power against the creatures they were about to face.
"Toriko! Who are your friends? Aren't you going to introduce me?" a man named Tom called out with a smile. He and Toriko were old friends. Tom handled the sale of most of the ingredients Toriko wanted to put on the market.
"This is Kenji, a Gourmet Hunter who's even stronger than me. And this is Komatsu, the head chef of the Gourmet Hotel," Toriko introduced them.
"A chef? Komatsu, are you sure you want to go to the Baron Archipelago?"
Kenji's presence only surprised Tom for a moment, but Komatsu's was genuinely baffling. This guy has guts, he thought. He could tell Komatsu was a chef with no combat ability. While there were strong chefs in the world, like the legendary Setsuno, Komatsu was clearly not one of them. What was he thinking, wanting to go to such a dangerous place?
"Y-yes, I am," Komatsu stammered with an awkward laugh.
"Well, if you're mentally prepared, then hop on board."
Tom had no objections. He was just the boatman. His job was to get them there. What happened after that was none of his business.
The trio boarded the boat, and Tom started the engine. The vessel sped across the sea, cutting through the waves. Before long, the port was no longer visible behind them.
In stark contrast to the nervous Komatsu, Kenji and Toriko were leisurely eating the bento boxes they had brought along. Both were confident in their abilities; the Baron Archipelago posed no threat to them.
"Kenji, when are you planning on heading to the Gourmet World?" Toriko asked nonchalantly as he munched on an almond-stuffed cabbage roll.
Komatsu's ears perked up. He had never cooked an ingredient from the Gourmet World, though he had heard stories. It was a vast, magical, and perilous land filled with unparalleled delicacies. Every year, countless Gourmet Hunters flocked there in search of adventure, but most never returned.
"I'm in no rush," Kenji said. "But I'll definitely go before you do, Toriko." One had to be thoroughly prepared for the Gourmet World. It was a place where beasts with Capture Levels in the hundreds or even thousands roamed. A nuclear bomb probably wouldn't even scratch a creature of that caliber.
"If you guys go to the Gourmet World and bring back any ingredients, don't forget about me!" Tom shouted, poking his head out of the cockpit with a grin. "We can negotiate a good price, I'll make sure you're satisfied."
Ingredients from the Gourmet World fetched a much higher price than those from the Human World. It was a simple matter of supply and demand; they were incredibly rare, and the few that made it to the market were always in short supply.
"You'll get your share," Toriko promised readily. They had worked together for years, and Tom was a trustworthy man.
Kenji nodded in agreement. If he was going to sell, he would prefer to deal with people he knew.
...
"We're here. The only entrance to the Baron Archipelago—the Devil's Mouth. This is as far as I go," Tom announced.
After navigating through a treacherous reef, Tom stopped the boat. He wasn't a Gourmet Hunter, so he had no intention of going any further.
The trio disembarked and paddled a small raft through the gloomy, cave-like channel, entering the Baron Archipelago.