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 ti no see!" nchi 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 Gourt Paradise together. Now, after so much ti, nchi had finally arranged everything.
As he approached, Larry couldn't help but notice how different nchi looked. Her hedgehog-like braids were gone, replaced by a looser, more natural style that frad 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 Gourt Paradise.
According to nchi, Gourt 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 Gourt 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, Gourt Paradise was nothing short of a holy land. Larry listened as nchi passionately described the place, a bright gleam in her eyes.
As the speedboat cut through the waves, nchi hesitated for a mont before finally speaking up. "Larry… I wanted to discuss sothing with you." Her voice, usually full of confidence, was suddenly hesitant.
Larry turned his head, curious. He found nchi 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 nchi, 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 beco her Gourt Hunter partner. She explained that Gourt Hunters traditionally worked in pairs—one specialized in acquiring ingredients, while the other focused on cooking.
It was a perfectly balanced partnership. Larry imdiately accepted. Getting a top-tier chef as a partner for free? How could he refuse?
Still… sothing about nchi’s behavior made him wonder. ‘Was this really just about being partners?’ Her nerves, her sudden shyness—it felt like there was sothing 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." nchi pointed forward, and Larry saw a chain of islands appearing in the distance.
Gourt Paradise wasn’t just one island, but an entire archipelago. At the center was the largest landmass, known as Gourt Island, surrounded by several smaller islands. These smaller islands served different purposes—so 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 Gourt Island itself. It was massive—so large that even if all the smaller islands were combined, they still wouldn't compare.
Gourt 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 Gourt 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 ca to pure gluttony… Two nas 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 Gourt 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 sothing new, sothing more extravagant than the last. nchi, walking beside him, chuckled at his expression. "You’re acting like a kid at a festival."
Larry shot her a look. "You expect to stay calm in a place like this?"
nchi laughed. "Good point."
They were surrounded by the best food from all six continents, and for a mont, Larry felt as if he had wandered into a world straight out of Toriko, with exotic and magical dishes everywhere. Before indulging, however, nchi had sothing else in mind—she wanted to take him to et the founder of Gourt Paradise.
That person was none other than Linne-Horsdoeuvre. Linne wasn’t just any gourt hunter—she was a two-star gourt hunter, a forr companion of Chairman Netero on the Dark Continent expedition, and, most notably, the founder of Gourt Paradise. She had accomplished more than most hunters ever would in a lifeti, 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.
nchi led Larry through the bustling streets, filled with food stalls and vibrant aromas, before arriving at the tallest and grandest building in Gourt 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, nchi called out softly, "Grandma, I brought soone."
Larry noted the slight tremble in her voice. ‘Was she nervous?’ Monts later, she cautiously opened the door, stepping inside. Larry followed her in—and for the first ti, 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 aning 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 aning 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.
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