Chapter 131: Backstab?
The peace of Shokurin Temple was shattered.
Although the Gourmet Corp. was not currently opposing the IGO, they wouldn't meddle in personal affairs. For example, Master Chin Chinchin's old flame, Lady Chiyo, came charging in, knife in hand, cutting down the monks as if they were vegetables. While Chiyo's energy reserves weren't particularly high, her techniques were sharp and fierce, making her a formidable powerhouse.
"Should we help?" Atashino asked, looking at Kenji. These acting masters were no match for Chiyo; they were severely wounded after just a few exchanges. The injuries were manageable, however. She could treat them. Knowing Food Honor didn't automatically mean one was overwhelmingly powerful; it still depended on one's own fundamentals.
"No need. I'll handle this."
Master Chin had returned. Toriko's situation was fine. Looking at Chiyo, his expression was incredibly complicated. When they met again, things were no longer as they were.
"Little Chin, so you've returned." Chiyo's voice was ice-cold, sending a pang of pain through Master Chin's heart. The reason they had come to this point was because of their deceased child.
"Little Chiyo, what have you been doing all these years?" Master Chin asked. He knew Chiyo had never been able to let go of their child; she certainly wouldn't have been doing nothing.
"What have I been doing? Why, seeking the hidden appetizer from Acacia's Full Course Menu, of course. The appetizer that can bring the dead back to life," Chiyo said, a cold smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
"!"
Master Chin's expression changed. "Little Chiyo, who told you this information?" he asked in shock. Within the IGO, only President Ichiryu likely knew about the appetizer in Acacia's Full Course. The other staff members only knew of the seven main dishes. The appetizer's ability to resurrect the dead was only a legend; no one had ever been able to confirm it.
"A mysterious man in a mask. What he said... had a certain credibility," Chiyo said flatly.
"It was Joie, wasn't it?" Kenji spoke up. The number of people who could know about Acacia's Full Course, especially the most mysterious appetizer, was limited to those connected to Acacia himself.
Master Chin was taken aback. He had heard that name before—a Dark Chef who had vanished many years ago.
"Lady Chiyo, have you perhaps been... cooked by him?" Kenji asked, looking at her thoughtfully. You've met Joie, and you have a certain level of strength.
Chiyo didn't answer. Master Chin's face was grim. He looked at Chiyo and said, "Little Chiyo, you cannot leave here today."
In an instant, Master Chin's clothes burst apart, revealing a body of magnificent, well-developed muscles that was awe-inspiring to behold. The sheer sense of power radiating from him made him look like a small giant.
Poof!
Master Chin charged forward, and then immediately threw the fight. Chiyo's hand passed effortlessly through his chest, speaking words that came straight from the heart.
The battle had not even begun, and it seemed it was already over.
"..."
Kenji and Atashino were speechless. They didn't know what to say. This was clearly not Master Chin's true strength. The speed at which he took a dive was simply breathtaking. But they could also understand. There was no way Master Chin could bring himself to deliver a killing blow to Chiyo. He hadn't even blocked; he had completely let her win. Otherwise, Chiyo would never have had such an opportunity.
Kenji hadn't expected it to play out exactly like in the anime and manga, with Chiyo literally reaching into his chest from the get-go. Master Chin, you could have at least exchanged a few blows with her before taking a dive. It would have looked a bit better.
CLANG!
Toriko materialized two giant soup spoons out of energy, trapping Master Chin and Chiyo within them. Now they could truly have a "heart-to-heart" talk. Kenji didn't interfere. With him here, Master Chin wouldn't be in any real danger. This was their family matter.
SWISH!
Kenji spun around in an instant. His hands, covered in starlight, clapped together, catching an extremely sharp purple kitchen knife between his palms. Bare-handed blade catch.
"Joie..." Kenji sneered. Trying to backstab me? After Madara Uchiha was backstabbed twice, Kenji was always on guard.
"Time, stop—ZA WARUDO!"
Kenji activated his time-stop. The world froze. He took the knife, Cinderella, from Joie's hand. "This weapon is too dangerous. It's better if I keep it safe."
Flipping off the hood, Kenji then plucked all the Life Orbs from Joie's hair. This was good stuff; it would definitely be useful in the future. The Back Channel might be able to slightly resist the time-stop, but it had to be activated beforehand. Otherwise, once time was stopped, one's thoughts would also be frozen.
"This skin texture is a bit like the Edo Tensei," Kenji murmured to himself.
Click!
Say cheese. Time for a photo.
"Knocking!"
Kenji paralyzed Joie. He was sure Uncle Midora would love this gift.
Midora: Send it!
Time began to flow again.
I can't move! Joie realized he had been paralyzed by Knocking. He had overplayed his hand and messed up. He had thought Kenji was a wet-behind-the-ears ant, but he hadn't expected his methods to be so tricky. He had already grown this much.
"Joie, Uncle Midora will take good care of you," Kenji smiled.
Atashino looked at Joie with caution. This was the same person who had taken a piece of AIR, someone connected to the Gourmet God Froese.
Hearing Kenji say he was being sent to Midora, Joie's eyes trembled. He panicked. He was truly panicking. To meet Midora in this body... he would die.
Voom!
Suddenly, a black shadow shot out, swallowed Joie, and vanished in an instant.
Kenji's eyebrow twitched. He had forgotten about that strange creature, the Permeating Shadow. Joie had escaped. How cunning.
"Hey, Uncle Ichiryu. I ran into Joie here at Shokurin Temple, but he got away," Kenji said, giving Ichiryu a call.
[How are the casualties at Shokurin Temple?]
Ichiryu didn't ask about Joie. Since he had already escaped, the situation at the temple was his primary concern. That Joie's methods were truly elusive... to think he would dare to appear in the Human World while the Gourmet Corp. was hunting for NEO everywhere.
"Atashino has already treated the injured. Right now, Master Chin and Chiyo are in a standoff."
[I see. Thank you for your trouble. I will head over later.]
Ichiryu hung up.
"What's going on?"
The long-haired Toriko returned to find Shokurin Temple in a state of chaos, a baffled look on his face.
"Komatsu!" he suddenly shouted, his expression turning to one of worry as he remembered his partner was inside.
"Komatsu is fine."
Kenji walked over to Toriko's side. At his current full power, Toriko could probably handle a beast with a Capture Level of around 200. Against the Four-Beast's main body at its peak, all four of the Heavenly Kings together would have had a hard time winning.
Thump!
Just as he finished speaking, Master Chin fell from the sky, clearly having sustained heavy injuries.
Kenji covered his face. Master Chin... I know you couldn't bring yourself to do it, but we really don't understand this whole "intentionally feeding" thing.
"Just as I thought." Ichiryu appeared, sighing helplessly. In a fight against anyone else, Master Chin would never have been in such a sorry state. A master of Food Honor like him was definitely a top-tier powerhouse.
"Ichiryu?!"
The moment Chiyo saw Ichiryu, she turned to leave without a second thought. She knew she was no match for him.
Ichiryu didn't make a move on Chiyo. He turned to look at Atashino and said, "I'll have to trouble you, Atashino."
Atashino nodded and began to perform surgery on Master Chin with her Revival Knife.
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