Toriko: Gourmet Chat Group

Chapter 30: Mansam

The group took an elevator underground. This elevator was for internal IGO personnel only; the area below was the biotope's research section, which was not open to the public.

"Mr. Toriko, what kind of person is the Chief?" Komatsu asked curiously as the elevator descended.

Kenji knew. He was a bald, middle-aged man who loved to drink and often misheard what others said, thinking they were complimenting his looks. He was one of the top-ranked members of the IGO in terms of strength.

"He loves to drink. He's the number three man in the IGO, second only to President Ichiryu and the Vice President. As a member of the combat faction, his own strength is considerable. He's a pretty cool guy," Toriko explained.

Komatsu grew nervous. The number three man in the IGO... that was the highest-ranking person he had ever met. Even the Bureau Chief he saw regularly didn't have a position as high as this Chief.

"Don't be nervous, Komatsu. Chief Mansam is pretty easy to get along with," Toriko said, sighing at Komatsu's timidity.

"ROAR!"

The moment the elevator doors opened, a white-furred ape with round, bulging eyes charged at them, snarling. Komatsu was so scared he fell flat on his butt.

However, the creature didn't get close. It slammed into a transparent glass wall with a soft thud. The glass was so clear that Komatsu had thought the beast had actually escaped.

"Don't worry, Komatsu. This is special reinforced organic glass. These creatures normally can't get out," Johannes said calmly.

"A 'Shackle Animal.' Looks like a new species of Legion Yeti," Toriko remarked with a faint smile.

"Mr. Toriko, these creatures are so strange."

The creatures in the glass enclosures were unlike anything Komatsu had ever seen. They seemed to be hybrids, looking very peculiar.

"They are all cloned from endangered species and then cross-bred to create new species. 'Shackle Animals,' meaning animals that are bound," Toriko explained, his tone betraying his dislike for this method. From an ethical standpoint, many people found these hybrid creatures unacceptable, which was why the research animals here were highly classified. The general public was not privy to this information.

Kenji stroked his chin. The cross-breeding of cloned creatures was likely done to give these endangered species another chance at survival. The root cause of extinction was a lack of adaptability, whether to changes in nature or to predation by natural enemies. If a species could adapt, it wouldn't easily go extinct. The Eight Kings, for example, were highly adaptable.

Komatsu nodded at Toriko's explanation. He turned around and marveled, "Wow, the transparency of this organic glass is incredible. It's like there's nothing there at all."

PFFT!

As soon as he said it, a giant red crab shot two thick streams of air at him. Komatsu did a strategic back-lean and screamed in terror. "There really is nothing there!"

"This Muscle Crab..." Kenji didn't know what to make of it. Its appearance was hard to describe. It had clearly defined muscles, and besides its pincers, it bore little resemblance to a crab. It looked more like a red, mutated, multi-legged bullfrog wearing crab claws.

And what did he mean, 'normally can't get out'? Is this an abnormal situation?

"Knocking!"

Kenji performed Knocking on the Muscle Crab. Since it was a research animal, paralyzing it was more appropriate than killing it.

"Hahaha! You're pretty good, kid! Looks like I don't need to do anything. Quick, get this Muscle Crab back in its enclosure! How many times have I told you to watch them carefully? How did it get out?!"

A burly man with a shiny bald head and wearing a camouflage tank top appeared, the strong smell of alcohol preceding him.

"Chief Mansam, every time I see you, you're drinking," Toriko said with a grin.

"Huh? Were you just saying how handsome I am?" Mansam asked, preening. It was his catchphrase.

"I said no such thing," Toriko pouted, long since used to Mansam's antics.

Kenji observed him. The number three man in the IGO was indeed very strong. He could easily defeat the current Toriko. But as for his looks... they didn't exactly scream "handsome." He had more of a rugged, unconventional charm.

"Welcome, no, I should say welcome home."

Mansam and Toriko clasped hands, both smiling broadly.

"You must be Kenji. The President mentioned you to me. Interested in joining the IGO?" Mansam extended an invitation. He had heard from Ichiryu that this was Jiro's disciple, a genius with limitless potential. Upon their first meeting, he could already sense that Kenji was special. As for why his aura wasn't overwhelmingly strong, Mansam knew it was because of Knocking. He himself had sealed most of his own power with the same technique. As the disciple of the great Master Jiro, it was only natural for him to have a masterful grasp of it.

Ichiryu wasn't here at the moment; otherwise, he would have extended the invitation personally. Geniuses like Kenji were a rare find. While the future of the Four Heavenly Kings was promising, they still had a lot of growing to do. But for a genius to receive such high praise from Jiro meant that his current strength was already at the upper echelon of the Human World's powerhouses.

"Join the IGO? What kind of position are we talking about?"

Kenji was intrigued. If he joined the IGO, anyone who looked into his identity would only see that he was aligned with them. With his connection to Jiro and Ichiryu, he wouldn't have any problems. It would also make things much more convenient; he wouldn't have to flash his black card every time he needed something.

"The President said to invite you to become a member of the IGO's Biotope 0. You'll have access to Biotope 0, and you won't have to worry about the benefits," Mansam said seriously. Kenji was qualified to enter the Gourmet World, so this position was appropriate. It was a relatively relaxed position; unless there was a particularly urgent matter that required a gathering, he would be free to act on his own. Even if he was summoned, he could decline if he was busy. This was mainly due to Kenji's special status; the President trusted him completely, as he was his grand-disciple.

"Alright, I accept," Kenji nodded. The members of Biotope 0 were all highly skilled individuals invited by Ichiryu from all over the world.

"Does President Ichiryu know about me?" Kenji wasn't surprised. His master must have met with his grandmaster and told him about him.

"He does. The President is arranging a partner for you. You can look forward to it," Mansam said with a smile.

Mansam didn't know who Ichiryu would arrange, but it was bound to be a reliable chef.

Kenji's interest was piqued. Grandmaster Ichiryu is personally arranging a partner for me? What kind of chef will it be? With the IGO President's influence, some of the top 100 chefs in the world would surely agree to become his partner.

But it had better be a woman, he thought. A man and a woman working together... makes the work less tiring.

~~~~~~

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