Chapter 16: The 8th Biotope
And just like that, the brief interruption was over, and a quiet calm settled over the market once more.
"Mr. Johannes, was that really necessary?" Komatsu asked, feeling that the IGO's methods were a bit too heavy-handed and impersonal.
"Komatsu, the matter we are about to discuss cannot be broadcast by the media," Johannes replied coolly.
"Johannes, whatever it is, can it wait? Let Kenji and me sell these two catches first," Toriko said. They were old acquaintances, and he knew Johannes was here with a commission. Whether he accepted it or not would depend on how interesting it was.
"Tom, I'll leave these with you," Toriko said.
"You got it. Thanks for the business," Tom nodded, immediately calling for a tow truck to haul away the Sharcle and the Terror Bird. Both had been Knocked and were incredibly fresh; they would sell quickly. He paid them handsomely on the spot. Ingredients with a Capture Level of 4 or higher were in high demand. Besides using the military, only skilled Gourmet Hunters could capture them.
"Mr. Toriko, who is this gentleman?" Johannes asked, his gaze shifting to Kenji. He appeared to be a powerful Gourmet Hunter, but Johannes had never seen him before. The conversation they were about to have concerned internal IGO matters.
"This is Kenji, a friend of mine. You don't have to worry about him leaking anything," Toriko said casually.
"Johannes, you could say I have some connections to the IGO as well," Kenji added with a nod.
"In that case, I'll get right to it. Mr. Toriko, I have a commission for you," Johannes said.
Toriko looked puzzled. "Doesn't the IGO have plenty of Gourmet Hunters under its employ? Why do you need me?"
"The Rainbow Fruit is about to ripen." Johannes pushed up his glasses, dropping the bombshell. He knew an ordinary commission wouldn't pique Toriko's interest.
At the mention of the Rainbow Fruit, Toriko's nonchalant expression vanished, his eyes widening with keen interest.
"The R-R-Rainbow Fruit?!" Komatsu shouted, his voice trembling with excitement. "Is that the fruit from the mythical tree that changes into seven different flavors depending on the temperature and humidity?"
"Hey, Komatsu, you're being too loud!" Johannes yelped, startled. As expected, heads all around them turned in their direction. However, seeing that Johannes was from the IGO, no one made any rash moves.
Johannes understood Komatsu's shock. The Rainbow Fruit was incredibly rare, seldom seen on the market, and was once even thought to be extinct. The juice of the Rainbow Fruit was so concentrated that a single drop could turn a 20-meter swimming pool into a rich, flavorful fruit juice. The value of a single fruit was enough to set someone up for life, a testament to its rarity.
"The IGO cultivated it, didn't you?" Toriko guessed, his interest now fully captured. This was an ingredient he had never eaten before.
"Yes, Mr. Toriko. While it's not purely natural, the flavor of this improved Rainbow Fruit is nearly identical to the original," Johannes confirmed.
"But why do you need me for this? Can't the IGO staff handle it?"
"Just as the Rainbow Fruit was about to ripen, a troop of Troll-Kongs built a nest near the tree. No one has been able to get close to it since."
"They are the strongest species of ape in the Human World. A few days ago, we deployed a two-billion-yen tank, and it was flipped over like a toy. Keep in mind, that tank weighed 40 tons," Johannes said with a helpless sigh.
"The Bureau of Administration has issued a Capture Level of 9, a beast that surpasses even the Galala Gator."
"The Troll-Kongs are likely using the fragrance of the Rainbow Fruit to attract more prey, which they then hunt," Kenji deduced. The IGO had cloned and improved this species. They moved in groups, were quite powerful, possessed some intelligence, and had a clear hierarchical structure within their troops.
"That's correct, Mr. Kenji," Johannes confirmed. "A troop of Troll-Kongs gathered together is a formidable force. Most Gourmet Hunters can't handle them." If it were just one, they wouldn't have needed Toriko, but the sheer number was the problem.
"Mr. Toriko, please accept the commission! It's the Rainbow Fruit!" Komatsu urged excitedly. He had complete faith in Toriko's strength.
"Alright, alright, you win. I want to try it too," Toriko relented. "Kenji, you want in?"
He looked over at Kenji. Johannes's brow furrowed. Komatsu was the head chef of an IGO-affiliated hotel, so his presence was fine, but he was still unsure about Kenji's identity.
"This card should suffice, right?" Kenji said, pulling out the black card Jiro had given him. It was a symbol of status.
"So, you are associated with that esteemed individual."
Upon seeing the black card, Johannes's expression immediately became much more respectful. He happened to be one of the few who knew who the holder of this card was.
Knocking Master Jiro. If this man was connected to him, then there was no problem. He didn't for a second believe Kenji could have stolen it. Jiro was one of the legends standing at the pinnacle of the world, and he had a close relationship with IGO President Ichiryu. There was no need to doubt someone like that. Still, he would have to contact the President later. This man might even be Jiro's disciple.
"An unlimited Gourmet Black Card?!" Toriko said, surprised. "Kenji, how did you get that?" He had one himself and knew they weren't handed out to just anyone. He never expected Kenji, a relatively unknown Gourmet Hunter, to possess an IGO-issued unlimited black card.
"An elder gave it to me. I don't have that kind of clout myself," Kenji said with a faint smile. His Master Jiro had no use for it, and his Master Setsuno likely had one as well. Given their relationship, it was unlikely Ichiryu wouldn't have given them one.
"Then let's get going! It's been a while since I've shown my face in that nostalgic garden," Toriko said with a grin.
Kenji nodded. After this, he would likely gain some fame and attract the attention of the IGO—and, consequently, NEO, since the IGO was crawling with their spies. However, given NEO's power, they probably wouldn't pay much attention to a small fry like him who had never even been to the Gourmet World.
Johannes drove the three of them to the IGO's 8th Biotope, the journey unimpeded. They soon arrived at their destination. After getting out of the car, they were greeted by the sight of a towering wall made of thick, reinforced concrete.
"What a brave reporter. She actually followed us," Kenji chuckled, turning his head to look behind a large rock. A motorcycle was parked there, not very well hidden. The headlight was peeking out.