HxH : Pokemon Master-Chapter 89: Menchi Feelings

After Ditto transformed into several characters in a row, Akira also noticed a characteristic. Transforming into a character with lower strength took less time than transforming into a character with higher strength.

This was quite reasonable, akin to charging up.

This suggested that transforming into a stronger character in battle carried some risk; if the opponent was strong enough, they might seize the opportunity.

In such cases, teammates would be needed to provide cover.

Despite this, Ditto was still incredibly overpowered.

And this was just Ditto solo usage.

If it were to merge with him... Would he become a man of a thousand faces?

Akira immediately put this into action, using a newly developed branch of his Nen Ability to merge with Ditto. After experimenting for a while, Akira finally confirmed that he could also use Ditto transformation ability!

Casually pulling out a mirror from his shadow, looking at the bewitching makeup in the mirror, "Hisoka", he couldn't help but feel a chill.

Indeed, it wasn't good to transform into just anyone...

Akira had just transformed into Hisoka, whom he had been with not long ago. Casually shooting a pink Aura at a nearby rock, it stuck to the rock without fail.

With a gentle lift of his finger, the rock was pulled into the air, swaying in the wind, connected to "Hisoka" hand by "Bungee Gum."

"No mistake, not only does the appearance match, but the Nen Ability can also be used as usual!"

After trying it out, Akira ended the merge with Ditto.

How to put it... This ability was very practical, making it easy to disguise as someone else. But perhaps due to psychological reasons, Akira wasn't very fond of transforming into other people appearances.

His own body was the most comfortable, so unless necessary, it was better not to transform.

After all, with Ditto around, it could transform when needed!

It must be said, Hisoka was truly a blessing for him. Not only did he obtain Ditto through Hisoka, but he also got information about the Dark Sonata from him.

For a moment, Akira impression of Hisoka improved quite a bit.

Well... the impression of him being a pervert wouldn't change.

It's no exaggeration to say that Ditto role was more important than any of the previous Pokemon! It represented infinite possibilities!

Ditto, a Pokemon, is equivalent to an entire team of Nen Ability users with a myriad of bizarre Nen Abilities!

This time, coming to fight Omokage was really a big win.

It could be said that this was the most correct thing Akira had done since arriving in the world of Hunter x Hunter. Now that the task was completed, Akira could finally move on to the next destination.

The goal had already been determined. Recalling the phone call Menchi had made to him earlier, a faint smile appeared on Akira lips.

Finally, can I go?

That legendary gourmet paradise—Gourmet Heaven!

.....

Two days later, after taking an airship and even transferring to another one, Akira finally arrived at the place Menchi had agreed upon.

The southeastern corner of the Kukan'yu Kingdom, near the neighboring Yorbian Continent. Here was a port city called "Raston City."

Standing at the port, one could clearly see the azure sea, with strands of sea breeze blowing in the air.

"Akira, over here!"

While still admiring the seascape, Akira suddenly heard Menchi call. Following the sound, he saw Menchi standing at the harbor on the other side, waving and calling out to him.

As he approached, he noticed several high-speed boats docked at the harbor.

"Akira, long time no see" Menchi greeted with a bright smile.

"Yeah, it's been a while" Akira replied, feeling a bit nostalgic.

He remembered their first meeting in the Samok Desert, where he had proposed the idea of visiting the Gourmet Paradise. It seemed Menchi had been quite efficient in making it happen.

Menchi appearance had also changed quite a bit. Her once spiky braids were now let down, making her look much more attractive. Her attire had also shifted to a more conservative style since their last meeting during the Hunter Exam.

After reuniting with Menchi, the two boarded a speedboat and headed towards the Gourmet Paradise. According to Menchi, the Gourmet Paradise was located deep within this sea, between the ancient Kukan'yu Kingdom and the Yorbian Continent.

However, the island where the Gourmet Paradise was situated did not appear on any maps, making it a place few could reach. The Gourmet Paradise was like a private, high-end venue, accessible only by invitation or through the guidance of an insider. It was a sanctuary for countless food enthusiasts.

Most of the people there were Gourmet Hunters, along with a few high-ranking V5 officials, nobles, and exceptionally skilled chefs. It also gathered the finest ingredients and cuisines from across the six continents!

.....

"Akira... there's something I'd like to discuss with you" Menchi clear voice suddenly broke through Akira thoughts as he gazed at the endless sea. Turning to look, he saw Menchi fidgeting slightly, her fair face clearly showing signs of nervousness.

The sea breeze gently brushed through her hair, which she tucked behind her ear, her earlobes slightly red.

Seeing Menchi like this, Akira felt a bit out of place. But he had to admit, she looked much more appealing this way.

After a long mental preparation, Menchi finally mustered the courage to invite Akira to be her Gourmet Hunter partner.

After some explanation, Akira learned about the tradition of Gourmet Hunters working in pairs. The division of labor was quite reasonable: one would gather ingredients, and the other would cook. Akira readily accepted Menchi invitation.

Getting a top chef for free was a great deal! However, Akira vaguely sensed that Menchi invitation might be more than just about being partners...

Menchi, who was usually bold and straightforward, was now so nervous. If it were just about inviting someone to be a partner, Akira found it hard to believe.

Under Menchi guidance, the speedboat gradually approached the location of the Gourmet Paradise.

"You can already see the outline, it's right ahead" Menchi pointed forward, where several islands began to appear in their view.

The Gourmet Paradise was built on a group of islands, with a large central island surrounded by several smaller ones, forming a constellation-like pattern.

The surrounding smaller islands were generally used for cultivating ingredients and hosting guests. The key point was the central island, named "Gourmet Island," which was the core of the Gourmet Paradise.

Gourmet Island was exceptionally large, far surpassing the combined size of the other smaller islands. The area above is mainly divided into two sections: the ingredient zone and the gourmet zone.

"Buzz!"

As the speedboat came to a halt, the two arrived at the port of Gourmet Island, a place specifically designated for docking boats.

Akira followed closely behind Menchi as they stepped onto Gourmet Island.

As soon as he took his first step, the expected incubation bar appeared in Akira mind.

Indeed, a special place like the Gourmet Paradise could indeed incubate Pokemon.

The question was, which one would it be?

There were quite a few Pokemon related to food. From the ingredient perspective, there was the Farfetch holding a leek, the Slowpoke with its delicious tail, and the Miltank producing tasty milk...

From the perspective of eating gourmet food...

Akira thought the most suitable ones were Munchlax and Snorlax!

When it comes to Pokemon that love to eat, Munchlax and Snorlax usually come to mind.

Before they had walked far, the aroma of gourmet food wafted into their noses, a complex blend of scents. Because there was so much gourmet food here, many aromas were mixed together. With just a casual sniff, Akira could detect three or four different styles of aromas.

From here on, it was the gourmet zone of Gourmet Island!

Gourmet Island was roughly divided with the gourmet zone on the outskirts and the ingredient zone in the middle. Strolling through the streets, food stalls lined both sides of the road. Akira couldn't help but be amazed.

There was giant popcorn the size of a basketball, with a toasty aroma wafting from it. There was a concentrated seasoning that, with just a drop, could fill a dish with the flavor of the sea. There were colorful juices like rainbows, said to offer the taste of many fruits in a single sip.

Here, the top gourmet foods from all six continents were gathered! In an instant, Akira felt as if he had stumbled into "Toriko," with magical gourmet food everywhere.

Before tasting anything, Menchi mentioned that she planned to take him to meet the founder of the Gourmet Paradise. That is—Linne Horsdoeuvre!

Akira felt a bit strange, why would she take him to meet Linne? When he asked, Menchi hesitated, her eyes constantly darting away, somewhat afraid to look at Akira, her cheeks slightly red.

Seeing this, Akira decided not to press further, as he was quite interested in meeting this legendary figure.

Linne definitely deserved to be called a legend, especially among Gourmet Hunters.

Linne had a plethora of titles, such as a two-star Gourmet Hunter, a companion of Chairman Netero on his journey to the Dark Continent, and the founder of the Gourmet Paradise... And the two-star Gourmet Hunter title was likely because the old lady didn't care much for fame, much like Ging Freecss.

Otherwise, she would definitely be at the three-star level.

After walking through a street, the two arrived at the largest building in the Gourmet Paradise. This was also the administrative building used to handle various affairs.

Linne office was on the top floor of this building.

"Knock knock."

"Grandma, I've brought him over."

Menchi knocked on the door twice and spoke softly.

Akira wasn't sure if he was overthinking it, but it seemed like Menchi tone was a bit nervous?

After speaking, Menchi waited quietly for a few moments, then slowly opened the door and entered. Akira finally got to meet this legendary figure!

In the bright and spacious room, there was an ordinary desk, and on the wall hung an unknown painting, which looked like some kind of grass.

Behind the desk sat a petite elderly woman.

The old woman had a head of golden hair. If one were to judge by her hair alone, they might think she was a young person. But the reality was quite the opposite. Her face was deeply lined with wrinkles, and her cheeks protruded unnaturally, sagging on both sides.

On the right side of her face, there were two vertical lines painted, their meaning unknown. Her eyes were pale, almost as if she had cataracts, appearing cloudy and unclear.

Anyone who saw her would question whether she could actually see anything.

This was Linne!

Seeing her appearance, which matched his impression, Akira wasn't too surprised. After all, he had already seen Linne appearance on Earth. If anything, Akira wanted to lament how time spares no one.

According to the manga, Linne was quite beautiful in her youth, but now she had become like this. Akira felt that this might not just be the result of time, but perhaps other factors were at play as well. Because Akira also sensed a lifeless Aura emanating from Linne!

An Aura similar to that of the Dark Continent!

Name: Linne Horsdoeuvre

Strength: A+ (Severely Ill)

Nen Ability: ...

Severely ill, huh...

The manga mentioned that Linne hadn't spoken a word in five years, which might be related to her illness. Putting all the information together, Akira could make an educated guess.

It was likely that Linne had contracted some strange illness in the Dark Continent!

Speaking of which, this was the third heavyweight figure he had encountered.

The first was Chairman Netero, and the second was Maha Zoldyck.

As Akira was lost in thought, Linne was also sizing him up. Her cloudy eyes flickered with a hint of surprise. So, the person Menchi had found was him? The strongest floor master of the Heaven's Arena—the "Legend" Akira!

Clearly, Linne recognized Akira identity, which was the norm for most Aura Users. People like Menchi, who rarely ventured out and paid little attention to current events, were ultimately in the minority.

For a moment,Linne gaze was complex, unsure of what to say.

Originally, she had been proud of Menchi but worried that the partner Menchi had found might not be good enough for her. Now, it seemed she had been overthinking it. To put it bluntly, Menchi is the one who's climbing up the social ladder here.

Akira battles at the Heaven's Arena were something she had witnessed, and without exaggeration, he was undoubtedly among the strongest in the world.

For such a being to partner with Menchi, it was indeed a huge gain for her.

"Ahem, is that him?"

A hoarse and deep voice sounded. Akira looked at Linne with some surprise.

So she could still speak a bit after all...

"Yes, it's him!"

Menchi said firmly, she had decided on Akira!

"Is that so..."

"You two should get along well from now on."

Linne said with a touch of emotion.

As someone who had lived long enough to become wise, she could naturally see Menchi intentions. It's probably not just a simple partnership, huh?

But it's also quite normal. In the world of Gourmet Hunters, when a male and female pair up, they're usually lovers.

Looking at Linne kind face, and then at Menchi, whose cheeks were tinged with a blush and who seemed a bit shy. Akira couldn't help but feel like this scene had a vibe of a mother entrusting her daughter to someone.

The speculation in his heart was continuously being confirmed as reality!

"So, will you two participate in this year's competition together?"

Linne suddenly thought of something and spoke again.

What competition?

Menchi hurriedly explained to Akira.

It turned out that the annual Gourmet Festival at the Gourmet Paradise was coming up, the most grand event here.

The competition was roughly divided into two parts: gathering ingredients and cooking gourmet dishes. Participants needed to traverse the island ingredient zones, hunt for the ingredients they needed, and then come to the gourmet area to cook.

The dishes they made only needed to be shared with the judges for scoring, and the rest could be enjoyed by themselves. The competition had many prizes, such as rare ingredients, all-you-can-eat passes for the Gourmet Paradise, and so on.

The champion could directly be promoted to a One-Star Gourmet Hunter!

Participants usually formed teams of two, but one could also choose to participate alone. However, that would put them at a disadvantage compared to others.

In the past, Menchi had suffered from this by participating alone and had never won the championship.

Her One-Star Gourmet Hunter title was earned through her own solid efforts.

After listening to Menchi explanation, Akira decided to participate.

He couldn't let so many rare ingredients slip by!

Participating in such a competition was no different from looting for him.

[Should i add a lemon of menchi and akira later? or you guys dont like it?]

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