Turning toward the voice, he spotted her standing at the harbor on the other side, waving enthusiastically. He took a closer look—beside her, several sleek, high-end speedboats were docked, their polished surfaces gleaming under the sun "Larry, long time no see!" Menchi greeted him with a smile.
"Yeah, it's been a while," Larry replied, feeling a bit nostalgic. The have discussed the idea of traveling to Gourmet Paradise together. Now, after so much time, Menchi had finally arranged everything.
As he approached, Larry couldn't help but notice how different Menchi looked. Her hedgehog-like braids were gone, replaced by a looser, more natural style that framed her face beautifully. She also dressed more conservatively now, a stark contrast to her previous outfit during the Hunter Exam. Once they were reunited, they boarded the speedboat and set off toward Gourmet Paradise.
According to Menchi, Gourmet Paradise was located deep within the sea, between the Gan'yu Kingdom and the Yorbian Continent. It wasn't marked on any maps, making it nearly impossible to find unless one was invited or led by an insider.
A private, high-end sanctuary for those who lived for food. Its visitors included renowned Gourmet Hunters, elite V5 officials, nobles, and world-class chefs. It was the kind of place where one could find the rarest ingredients and experience dishes crafted by the most skilled culinary masters.
For many, Gourmet Paradise was nothing short of a holy land. Larry listened as Menchi passionately described the place, a bright gleam in her eyes.
As the speedboat cut through the waves, Menchi hesitated for a moment before finally speaking up. "Larry… I wanted to discuss something with you." Her voice, usually full of confidence, was suddenly hesitant.
Larry turned his head, curious. He found Menchi looking nervous, her fair cheeks slightly flushed. The sea breeze tousled her hair, and as she tucked a few loose strands behind her ear, her earlobes turned a faint shade of red. 'Was she embarrassed?' Larry raised an eyebrow.
This was Menchi, after all—direct, fearless, and blunt. To see her hesitating like this was completely out of character. After taking a deep breath, she finally asked him to become her Gourmet Hunter partner. She explained that Gourmet Hunters traditionally worked in pairs—one specialized in acquiring ingredients, while the other focused on cooking.
It was a perfectly balanced partnership. Larry immediately accepted. Getting a top-tier chef as a partner for free? How could he refuse?
Still… something about Menchi's behavior made him wonder. 'Was this really just about being partners?' Her nerves, her sudden shyness—it felt like there was something more she wasn't saying. But Larry decided not to overthink it. For now, he had food to look forward to.
***
"You can see the outline now—it's right ahead." Menchi pointed forward, and Larry saw a chain of islands appearing in the distance.
Gourmet Paradise wasn't just one island, but an entire archipelago. At the center was the largest landmass, known as Gourmet Island, surrounded by several smaller islands. These smaller islands served different purposes—some were used for cultivating rare ingredients, while others were designed to host guests or hold exclusive food events.
But the heart of it all was Gourmet Island itself. It was massive—so large that even if all the smaller islands were combined, they still wouldn't compare.
Gourmet Island was divided into two major sections, The Food Zone – A bustling area full of restaurants, food markets, and street vendors. And The Ingredient Zone – Reserved for food hunting and ingredient cultivation. This was the ultimate paradise for food lovers.
"Bzzzt!"
The speedboat slowed to a stop at the harbor of Gourmet Island, a designated docking area for ships arriving at the archipelago.
As soon as Larry set foot on the island, his mind buzzed—the familiar bar had appeared. "Knew it," Larry thought, smirking. It made sense. A place like this was bound to create a Pokémon.
But which one?
Pokémon related to food weren't uncommon. Farfetch'd carried a leek. lowpoke had a tail that was considered a delicacy. Miltank produced top-tier milk. But when it came to pure gluttony… Two names stood out. Snorlax and Greedent. If the island's concept leaned toward ingredients, then Farfetch'd or Miltank would be logical.
But if the focus was on eating… Then Snorlax or Greedent was a strong possibility.
Before Larry could dwell on it, a wave of mouthwatering aromas assaulted his senses. The streets of Gourmet Paradise were alive with food.
On either side, countless vendors lined the bustling walkways, each offering dishes beyond imagination.
Larry's eyes widened as he took it all in. Popcorn the size of basketballs, emitting a rich, buttery scent. Condensed seasoning drops that could infuse any dish with a deep, oceanic umami flavor. Rainbow-colored fruit juices, rumored to contain every fruit flavor imaginable in a single sip. Each step he took revealed something new, something more extravagant than the last. Menchi, walking beside him, chuckled at his expression. "You're acting like a kid at a festival."
Larry shot her a look. "You expect me to stay calm in a place like this?"
Menchi laughed. "Good point."
They were surrounded by the best food from all six continents, and for a moment, Larry felt as if he had wandered into a world straight out of Toriko, with exotic and magical dishes everywhere. Before indulging, however, Menchi had something else in mind—she wanted to take him to meet the founder of Gourmet Paradise.
That person was none other than Linne-Horsdoeuvre. Linne wasn't just any gourmet hunter—she was a two-star gourmet hunter, a former companion of Chairman Netero on the Dark Continent expedition, and, most notably, the founder of Gourmet Paradise. She had accomplished more than most hunters ever would in a lifetime, and despite only holding two stars, it was widely believed that it was simply because she didn't care about ranking. If she had, she would have long been a three-star hunter.
Menchi led Larry through the bustling streets, filled with food stalls and vibrant aromas, before arriving at the tallest and grandest building in Gourmet Paradise—the administrative headquarters that handled everything from ingredient regulations to culinary competitions.
Linne's office was located on the top floor. Knocking twice on the door, Menchi called out softly, "Grandma, I brought someone."
Larry noted the slight tremble in her voice. 'Was she nervous?' Moments later, she cautiously opened the door, stepping inside. Larry followed her in—and for the first time, laid eyes on the Legendary Linne.
The office was bright and spacious, yet simple in design. A modest wooden desk sat near the center, and behind it hung an abstract painting of grass—its meaning unknown. Sitting behind the desk was a short, elderly woman. Her golden hair still retained its color, but that was the only feature that hinted at youth. Her face was deeply wrinkled, her cheeks sagging, and there were two vertical lines on the right side of her face, the meaning of which Larry couldn't quite decipher. But what stood out the most were her eyes—clouded and pale, nearly white, as if she suffered from severe cataracts.
'Could she even see?' Larry felt a strange sense of decay from her, a presence not unlike the dark aura of the Dark Continent. He quickly activated his abilites.