HxH : Pokemon Master-Chapter 90: The Century Soup?

After leaving the administrative building, Menchi led Akira straight to her shop.

That's right.

Menchi had her own shop here!

And it wasn't like those who could only set up stalls on the roadside, she had her own dedicated shop.

Although the Gourmet Island was large, most of its area was used to cultivate various rare ingredients, known as the ingredient zones.

So relatively speaking, the gourmet area was smaller than the ingredient zones, and having one's own shop here was a great honor.

On the way to Menchi shop, Akira unexpectedly noticed that there were quite a few people on the street. At least more than he had imagined.

Menchi explained to Akira.

Although not many people could come to the Gourmet Paradise, there were still hundreds or even thousands. Especially during the period leading up to the Gourmet Festival, the Gourmet Paradise would be particularly crowded.

Because Gourmet Hunters scattered across the six continents would basically return here to participate. At the same time, the Gourmet Paradise would also send out invitations to invite famous figures to come and visit.

Over the course of a year, the Gourmet Paradise is at its liveliest during this period. It's worth mentioning that the Gourmet Contest doesn't require participants to be Gourmet Hunters.

Hunters from other disciplines are also welcome to join. However, it's usually the Gourmet Hunters who choose to participate.

As they chatted, the two arrived at their destination.

"Menchi Little Shop"

Looking at the large signboard above the shop, Akira wasn't quite sure what to say.

He could only say it was very characteristic of Menchi?

Considering her Aura Ability was called "Menchi Kitchen," Akira thought "Menchi Little Shop" was perfectly normal.

Menchi personality was straightforward, without much beating around the bush.

However... That was probably the old Menchi, or rather, the Menchi she was when facing others. Glancing at the now significantly changed Menchi beside him, Akira pondered silently.

Menchi stood in front of Akira, not noticing the slightly odd look in his eyes.

Menchi took out her keys and unlocked the door.

As soon as it opened, a faint odor wafted out. It was the slight musty smell that accumulates from not being properly ventilated for too long.

The interior decor was relatively simple, leaning towards a rustic style, with mostly wooden furniture. Sure enough, in some corners, Akira could clearly see a layer of dust "brazenly" sitting there.

"Menchi... how long has it been since you last came here?" Akira raised an eyebrow, pondered for a moment, and then slowly asked.

"Hmm... probably close to a year?" Menchi rubbed the tip of her nose, somewhat embarrassed, clearly aware that the shop's condition was less than ideal.

"Alright, it shouldn't take too long anyway." Akira first task upon arriving at the Gourmet Paradise was—cleaning!

Of course, as a Pokemon Trainer, how could he possibly do it himself?

"Gardevoir!"

A flash of white light, and Gardevoir made a dazzling entrance!

Next, it would be up to her!

Under Menchi bewildered gaze, Gardevoir body radiated a powerful pink Aura. It surged into the shop like a tide, quickly covering every inch of the space. In an instant, Menchi shop was submerged in a sea of pink, with everything in sight tinged with a rosy hue.

"This... this..."

Before Menchi could say anything, Akira pulled out a large black trash bag from the shadows. As if by agreement, as soon as Akira had the trash bag ready, Gardevoir retracted her Aura, wrapping up a large clump of dust within it.

It was like being encased in a pink balloon.

Then, with pinpoint accuracy, she placed it into the trash bag Akira had prepared. All of this took mere seconds. When Menchi looked again, the once grayish furniture had returned to its original brown color.

The entire building looked as if it had been renovated, fresh out of the factory.

Gardevoir, like a noble dancer on stage, placed her right hand in front of her and gave a slight bow, signaling "the performance is over."

"That's amazing!"

Watching the elegant Gardevoir, Menchi couldn't help but applaud in admiration. She had originally thought it would take her quite some time to clean up.

Akira always managed to surprise her, one after another.

Just as Menchi was praising, the commotion also caught the attention of others.

"Menchi-chan? You're finally back!" A seemingly carefree girl walked into the shop, her pair of blue eyes filled with curiosity.

The girl was about the same age as Menchi, though slightly shorter, with short sky-blue hair.

Her face was delicate and pretty, but unfortunately, at such a young age, she already had her own "airport," which couldn't compare to Menchi at all.

"Yes, Rika, I'm back!"

Seeing her old friend, Menchi was also pleasantly surprised. After greeting her good friend Rika, Rika noticed Akira standing beside Menchi.

"Menchi-chan, who is this?"

"This is Akira, my culinary partner!" Menchi confidently introduced Akira to Rika.

In her eyes, having someone like Akira as a partner was something to be proud of.

"Wow, you finally found a partner!" Rika was somewhat surprised, as she had thought Menchi wasn't planning to look for a partner, since she had always come alone before.

"Akira... that name sounds familiar." After sizing up Akira, Rika felt like she had heard the name somewhere before.

"Is he the Legendary Akira from the Heaven's Arena?" Just as Rika was racking her brains, a slightly astonished voice came from outside the shop.

"Oh, yes, you're the Legend from the Heaven's Arena! I've seen your promotions!" Rika suddenly clapped her hands, finally remembering where she had seen this handsome man before. As soon as she finished speaking, another woman walked into the shop with light steps.

The woman was tall, creating a cute contrast with the shorter Rika beside her. She was wearing a black coat, and although it was mostly covered, the bulging coat still hinted at towering "mountains." The woman had dark skin, long black hair, and a broad forehead.

Notably, her eyes were vertical pupils like a snake's.

If Akira didn't recognize the earlier Rika, he certainly recognized the woman who appeared next. Although her attire was slightly different from the original, her appearance was still the same.

She was one of the Twelve Zodiacs of the Hunter Association—Snake Girl Gel! If he remembered correctly, her profession was a coroner and pharmacist. She is also a poison hunter, exceptionally skilled in the use of poisons, and an expert in the field.

Among the Twelve Zodiacs, unlike Pyon, who belongs to the radical faction, she is part of the liberal faction. This means she does not participate in any discussions related to reforms.

"Menchi-chan, I never expected you to find the strongest floor master of the Heaven's Arena as your partner?!" After being reminded by Gel, Rika couldn't help but be astonished.

She hadn't anticipated that the usually silent Menchi would suddenly find such an impressive person as her partner. Moreover, it was likely more than just a partnership. Rika silently noted the change in Menchi fashion style.

"Hmph." Menchi stood with her hands on her hips, exuding confidence.

Suddenly, the small shop, which had been deserted for a long time, was filled with life as four people arrived at once.

After introductions, Akira also got to know the girl named Rika. Rika and Menchi were hunters who arrived at the Gourmet Paradise around the same time. With similar hobbies, ages, and personalities, the two became good friends.

Rika was one of the few friends Menchi had.

According to Menchi, Rika possessed an extremely special Aura Ability of the Specialist type, with a spatial Nen Ability!

This was one of the reasons Menchi was so disheartened when she saw Gengar spatial ability in the Samok Desert. Two people around her had spatial abilities, but she did not.

Name: Rika

Strength: B-

Nen Ability: Woman Second Stomach, Specialist Type She constructs a four-dimensional space within her stomach using Aura, which can be used to store items.

However, the items must be small enough to fit through her mouth, and they remain unchanged when taken out. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Rika ability was indeed useful, especially given her identity as a gourmet hunter, highlighting the importance of her Aura Ability. But compared to Gengar, it was still far inferior.

Rika could only store smaller items in her "stomach," while Gengar had no such limitations.

As for Gel, she was Rika friend, brought along to participate in the gourmet competition.

Gel had two purposes for coming to the Gourmet Paradise: one was to help her friend Rika. The other was to obtain some biological venoms from the Gourmet Island.

This place was filled with a variety of ingredients, naturally including creatures with potent toxins, which were Gel targets.

It's worth noting that the ingredients found in the Gourmet Paradise were of high quality, and outside, they were extremely rare treasures.

Thus, Gel, as a poison hunter, partnered with Rika to participate in the gourmet competition.

After getting acquainted for a while, it was time for dinner, so they all headed to the gourmet street to eat. With the vast array of cuisines, the decor styles of the various shops were vastly different. Some looked like they served Thai cuisine.

Others appeared to offer Michelin-style dishes. This place was like a condensed version of the culinary styles from all six continents, dazzling Akira, who wanted to try everything.

Both Gel and Akira were first-timers here and unfamiliar with the area, so Menchi and Rika eventually chose a shop.

If other shops looked bizarre and varied in style, this small shop had a more rustic charm. It resembled Menchi shop, both being small wooden cabins.

"Welcome."

As soon as the group stepped into the shop, a warm voice greeted them from behind the counter. The interior resembled a Japanese fast-food restaurant on Earth, with a kitchen visible behind the counter where food was being prepared on the spot.

"Oh, it's Menchi and Rika!" A middle-aged woman with a kind smile exclaimed in delight.

Menchi returned the smile and called out cheerfully.

"Master, I'm back!"

This middle-aged woman was none other than Menchi mentor, who had guided her on the path of "Nen" and "culinary arts."

Menchi had learned both her cooking skills and Aura techniques from this woman.

The woman name was Linda, and judging by the calm Aura emanating from her, she was a seasoned master of Nen. Menchi had brought her friends here to let them taste her master culinary skills and to introduce them to her mentor.

"Master, let's start with eight bowls, so they can have a taste."

Akira and the others took their seats at the table, and Menchi suggested starting with eight bowls, hinting at something.

"Alright, just a moment." Linda nodded, then turned to the kitchen and began her work.

Soon after, eight bowls of soup were evenly distributed in front of the four of them, two bowls each.

"This soup... it's transparent?"

At first glance, it appeared "empty," as if there was nothing inside. But with a gentle shake, slight movements could be seen within the bowl, surprising one of the companions, Gel.

Akira glanced over and noticed that all eight bowls of soup were completely transparent! If it weren't for the continuous steam rising from the bowls, Akira would have thought they were just empty bowls.

"Savor it carefully. This is my master specialty—the Hundred Flavors Soup!"

Akira picked up a spoon and gently scooped some soup. The surface of the soup seemed to have a faint layer of Aura clinging to it.

"Is it for preservation...?" Hearing Akira murmur, Linda, who had been squinting slightly, opened her eyes a bit wider, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

To notice the faint Aura on the soup at first glance—this kid must be extraordinary!

"That's right, the Aura is used for preservation!"

With that, Linda began to scrutinize Akira more closely. S

he had only glanced at him casually before, not paying much attention.

Finally, Akira face matched the one she had seen on TV not long ago. The Legend of the Heaven's Arena! Truly living up to his reputation!

As Linda was lost in thought, Akira had already taken his first sip of the soup. In an instant, a complex burst of flavors exploded in his mouth. Though it lasted only a few moments, Akira felt as though he had tasted hundreds of different, incredibly delicious dishes.

Only then did Akira understand why the soup was called the "Hundred Flavors Soup."

It truly allowed one to experience a hundred different flavors!

As he drank, Akira Aura began to stir slightly—a sign of enhancement after consuming special delicacies. This enhancement was even more significant than when he had eaten the White Sand Scorpion King in the Samok Desert.

But what surprised Akira even more was something else.

After drinking the soup, the progress bar in his mind suddenly advanced a small step. This was the first time he had experienced something like this. It was somewhat similar to when he had obtained Gengar, which required him to venture deep into the Harimu Ruins.

This time, it seemed he needed to indulge in more delicious food?

Akira felt there was no need to guess which Pokemon it might be.

It seemed that the secret had been revealed quite obviously!

Akira kept pondering in his heart, but his hands never stopped, scooping spoonful after spoonful. After finishing one bowl, he moved on to the next.

Not just Akira, the other three behaved exactly the same way, as if they were cast from the same mold. This showed how foresighted Menchi was when she immediately ordered eight bowls.

It wasn't until the four of them drank the last drop that they suddenly realized they had already consumed two large bowls.

Could there be something added to it?

Akira stared intently at the empty bowl, seriously suspecting that Linda had put something in it.

Seeing Akira and Gel curiosity about the soup, Menchi stepped in to explain on behalf of her master.

This "Hundred Flavors Soup" was made by Linda collecting over a hundred rare ingredients, selecting only the parts most suitable for soup.

Among these hundred ingredients, the lowest was C-grade, and the highest reached A-grade. It could be said that the cost was enormous.

After gathering these ingredients, it required long-term simmering, during which the scum had to be constantly skimmed off. Only when the soup became completely transparent, looking as if there was nothing in it, was the Hundred Flavors Soup considered complete!

"So that's how it is~ It's really not easy."

As Menchi explained, Gel doubts were also cleared, and she marveled at the difficulty of making the "Hundred Flavors Soup."

But Akira expression grew stranger, his mouth twitching slightly. From any angle, this seemed like the Century Soup from "Toriko"! No, it should be called "Mini Century Soup," as it was still quite different.

So, Linda, your real name wouldn't be Setsuno, would it?

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