"This is Director Mansam," Zed said, gesturing to the hulking figure whose presence seemed to anchor the bustling airstrip. "Head of the Food Research Institute and third-in-command at IGO."
Erina Nakiri and Hisako Arato offered polite nods, though Mansam's attention snagged elsewhere.
"Hmm? Did you just say I'm handsome?" he rumbled, a grin splitting his beard like a cleaver through tender meat.
Zed chuckled. "I did. And I stand by it."
Mansam's laughter boomed across the tarmac, startling a flock of Sky Swallows from a nearby hangar. "You've got guts, kid! Most folks pretend not to hear."
The praise was earnest—Zed admired Mansam's unflinching resolve, his ability to rebuild IGO from the ashes of Ichiryuu's demise. Yet the director's bafflement lingered; his rugged, battle-scarred visage hardly matched conventional beauty. Simple tastes, he decided, shrugging inwardly.
Arrivals and Banter
Zed scanned the horizon. "Toriko's late?"
"Five minutes out," Mansam replied, eyeing Tatsu's coiled bulk. "Your mutant's got flair, but my Lichi's still prettier."
The winged Cheetah King—Capture Level 35—prowled nearby, golden fur rippling as it yawned, unimpressed by the draconic newcomer. Tatsu hissed, scales shimmering defiantly, while Erina and Hisako retreated to its shadow, content to observe.
Engines roared as another plane descended. Toriko and Komatsu emerged, the latter waving exuberantly. "Mr. Zed!"
"Two partners?" Toriko grinned, eyeing Erina and Hisako. "And both stunners? Save some luck for the rest of us."
Zed shrugged. "Quality over quantity."
Inside the Facility
The group traversed a labyrinth of steel and steam, conveyor belts snaking overhead like metallic serpents. Rainbow Corn, BB Corn, and Mellow Cola cascaded into crates destined for global distribution—a symphony of sustenance orchestrated by IGO's machinery.
An elevator groaned to life, its glass panels revealing tiered cultivation zones below: Volcano Garlic fields smoldered beside Ice Age Lettuce glaciers, while Giant Peacock Moths pollinated Golden Apple orchards.
"Thirty percent of the world's supply," Zed murmured as they ascended. "One mishap here, and entire nations starve."
Erina's God Tongue tingled—not from flavor, but the weight of responsibility. Hisako gripped her notebook, scribbling furiously.
Mansam leaned against the rail, pride and fatigue warring in his gaze. "Beautiful, ain't it? And fragile as a Sugar Glass bridge."
The group entered the Research and Development Zone, a sterile labyrinth of glass enclosures housing grotesque marvels. Erina Nakiri froze before a writhing mass of flesh—a Muscle Crab, its crustacean shell replaced by bulging, vein-streaked meat. Capture Level 3, yet more abomination than animal.
"Hybrids," Toriko explained, voice tight. "IGO crossbreeds species to boost yields or… experiments." His distaste lingered, though he acknowledged the necessity.
Hisako peered closer, morbidly fascinated. "In our world, we engineered drought-resistant grains… but nothing like this."
Mansam sealed the enclosure, his joviality dimmed. "Keep this quiet. 'Animal guardians' would riot if they knew." The term dripped with irony—activists blind to the starvation that the IGO fought daily. Erina and Hisako nodded, the Muscle Crab's twitching silhouette etching itself into their memories.
The Arena
Beneath the labs lay a colosseum of roaring crowds and clashing beasts. Toriko grimaced as a Giant Armored Hog gored a Venomfang Serpent, blood spattering the observation glass. "Disgusting," he muttered.
Mansam crossed his arms. "Ticket sales fund aid for war zones. You think I enjoy this?"
Toriko fell silent. Ethics here were murky, but hunger left no room for purity.
Erina leaned toward Zed, whispering, "Why does IGO need this? Aren't they wealthy enough?"
"Politics," Zed replied. "Member nations fund their own priorities. IGO's humanitarian work relies on this." He gestured to the carnage below. "Tainted money saves lives."
Erina's God Tongue soured—not from flavor, but the bitter aftertaste of compromise.