Chapter 14: A Partner
Ichiryu looked forward to meeting this young genius, Kenji. If Toriko and the others were to meet him, it would surely light a fire under them. That would be a good thing.
Having mastered all of Jiro's skills, Kenji could no longer be considered an ordinary Gourmet Hunter. He was likely already stronger than many of the old guard. He made a mental note to ask Kenji about joining Biotope 0 when the time was right.
"Little Jiro," Setsuno asked, "does Kenji have a partner yet?"
She was Jiro's partner, and Ichiryu's was a Red Nitro. A Gourmet Hunter was responsible for capturing ingredients, while a chef was responsible for processing and cooking them to bring out their ultimate flavor. The two roles were complementary, a clear division of labor. Since Kenji was Jiro's disciple, he was like a nephew to her. Naturally, she was concerned about his future.
"No, he doesn't. He's had no contact with the outside world until now, so how could he have found one?" Jiro said, shaking his head. It had been less than a year since he'd set out; finding a suitable partner so quickly was nearly impossible. A good partner wasn't someone you could just stumble upon. It required a true twist of fate.
"Speaking of partners, I have a promising young prospect in mind. I'll have them meet when the time is right," Ichiryu said with a smile.
He had no worries about Kenji's future allegiance. As Jiro's disciple, he was part of their lineage. Perhaps one day, they would even fight side-by-side.
"Since you've already made arrangements, Ichi, I won't interfere," Setsuno said with a gentle laugh. She had been thinking of arranging for one of her own disciples to partner with Kenji, but since Ichiryu had spoken first, she wouldn't compete.
"You two handle it. By the way, that little cat's Gourmet Corp has been getting restless lately," Jiro said nonchalantly, having noticed their increased activity on his travels.
At his words, both Setsuno and Ichiryu fell silent, a wistful look in their eyes. It seemed their old relationship with Midora could never be restored. All they had were memories. They wondered if they would ever have the chance to sit at the same table again. Now, if they were to run into him, an exchange of words would likely escalate into a full-blown battle.
"The Gourmet Eclipse will arrive within the next few years. The Gourmet Corp is bound to make a move," Ichiryu said with a sigh.
"This era belongs to the young ones. Let's give them a chance to shine," Jiro said cheerfully. He was eagerly anticipating his own disciple's performance. The old-timers like them were a bit too overpowered, but that was the advantage of having lived for several hundred years.
"Is there enough time?" Setsuno couldn't help but ask. Toriko's generation was talented, but they were still too green. The time they had left to grow stronger was short.
"Haha, for now, we old folks are here to hold the line. Let's have faith in the youth," Ichiryu laughed. As long as they were still around, the situation wouldn't reach its absolute worst.
"Thank you for the meal. I must be going now to arrange a partner for Jiro's disciple."
Ichiryu left Setsuno's Diner, leaving behind a massive stack of empty bowls and plates where he had been sitting. As the President of the IGO, he wasn't idle like the wandering drunkard Jiro. He had countless matters to attend to. He had only made time to come eat today because Jiro had personally asked him.
"Heh, Ichi is the busiest among us brothers and sisters," Setsuno said with a wry smile as she cleared the dishes. Ichiryu shouldered the burdens of the entire Human World. She, on the other hand, was relatively free, opening her diner only on a whim. Jiro spent his days searching for sake, his most frequent haunt being the Liquor King Islands—a place he visited so often you'd think there were eight days in a week. He was a true slave to alcohol. Midora had founded the Gourmet Corp, but he rarely managed its affairs, spending most of his time just eating.
"Indeed. Even his Full Course Menu..." Jiro trailed off, taking a sip of his sake and shaking his head with a smile.
He and Setsuno were among the few who knew what was on Ichiryu's menu. It contained no particularly rare or exquisite delicacies. But when combined, the full course could unleash a tremendous effect. Food was plentiful now, but who could say what the future held? If famine were to strike, Ichiryu's Full Course Menu could save countless lives, sustaining them until food supplies could be restored.
They both deeply admired Ichiryu's character. He was a simple yet great man. Back when they all lived together, he would share the majority of any captured food with his younger siblings, giving the rest to the poor and hungry. Even Ichiryu's Gourmet Demon used to complain constantly, begging him to eat something delicious for once instead of his usual, plain fare.
"I wonder who Ichi will introduce to Kenji as a partner," Setsuno mused. "Will it be one of the famous chefs?" With her status, she knew practically every well-known chef, many of whom were still without partners.
"Ichi will handle it. We don't need to worry," Jiro said. As the President of the IGO, Ichiryu certainly knew plenty of chefs. Most would agree to partner with Kenji simply out of respect for him.
"Has Teppei been back recently?" Jiro asked quietly. The frustration he once felt for his grandson had faded. Now that he had Kenji to inherit his legacy, he no longer worried about his skills being lost to time.
"No. He's either with Yosaku or off somewhere regenerating some ingredient," Setsuno replied.
"Let him be."
Jiro sighed, shaking his head with a sense of resignation. He had hoped Teppei would become an outstanding Gourmet Hunter, but he had chosen the path of a Reviver instead. Still, Jiro was confident in Teppei's strength and wasn't worried about him getting into trouble. Since Teppei liked being a Reviver, he wouldn't say any more about it. He couldn't force him to be a Gourmet Hunter.
"If you say so. That brat doesn't even know to come home and visit," Setsuno grumbled, her lingering dissatisfaction with Teppei still apparent.
"Well... should I go drag him back?" Jiro offered with a grin.
"That won't be necessary," Setsuno said, rolling her eyes. She had no doubt Jiro had the strength to do it, but that would just make things awkward. If she wanted to see Teppei, she could just call him or Yosaku.
"Well, Setsu, I'm off. The booze is gone," Jiro announced, tipping his bottle upside down and finding it empty. He immediately stood up. Traveling to the Gourmet World was too much trouble, so his usual source of fine liquor was the Liquor King Islands. He was a regular there, visiting almost every single day of the year.
"Go on, get out of here," Setsuno said, waving him off. She knew her booze-loving partner well. The IGO's Chief Mansam loved a good drink, but compared to Jiro, he was just an amateur.