136: Coco makes an appearance

"Excuse me... could you spare a little wine for this old man?"

A voice punctuated by a hiccup interrupted everyone's casual conversation. A hunched old man with gray hair stood in the aisle. His clothes even had a few patches on them, making him look like an ordinary elderly alcoholic.

"Sure!" Toriko gave a hearty laugh and generously agreed.

Komatsu was even more enthusiastic, pushing several bottles over. "Please, help yourself!"

"Thank you very much, young man. I will surely repay the kindness of this wine in the future..." The old man smiled drunkenly, making Komatsu feel that this old gentleman seemed a bit unreliable.

However, when Lin Luo saw the old man, he showed a different expression. He pointed at himself, "Senior, do you still remember me?"

The old man squinted his eyes and sized him up, then suddenly realized. "Oh, it's you, little brother. It hasn't been long since we last met, but you look like a different person. You're quite sturdy now. Not bad, not bad."

Lin Luo smiled slightly. "After adapting, I started eating more, so I naturally filled out."

This person was none other than Jiro, the one who had brought Lin Luo back from the Gourmet World. It seemed that when traveling in the Human World, he chose to Seal his power and present himself in this senile appearance.

"Last time I heard you say you were going to the Archipelago of Alcoholics to find wine. Did you not find any fine wine you liked?"

Jiro let out a hiccup. "I drank to my heart's content. But well, I won't miss out on Puffer Whale fin wine, hic~"

Lin Luo wanted to invite Jiro to sit down with them, but Jiro waved his hand and refused. "This old man won't interrupt your fun."

After Jiro left, Toriko and Komatsu curiously asked about the old man's identity. Lin Luo chuckled. "Actually, he should be more famous than any of us. That was the Knocking Master, Jiro."

Komatsu had always been devoted to studying cooking, which was how he became the chef of the five-star Gourmet Hotel. His understanding of the Gourmet Hunter world was even less than that of the newcomer Lin Luo. "Knocking Master Jiro?"

Toriko explained, "A legendary Gourmet Hunter. I've heard that very few people in the world have been lucky enough to taste his full-course menu. The old man is famously addicted to alcohol; a once-in-a-decade fin wine is indeed worth looking forward to."

The train slowly pulled into an inconspicuous small station.

Seeing Toriko get up to leave the train, Lin Luo couldn't help but be confused. "Are we getting off here?"

Komatsu explained while packing his luggage, "Mr. Toriko said there's an expert in this city who can prepare Puffer Whale. We're going to find him."

Lin Luo's eyes lit up, and he immediately followed. "Less than one percent of chefs worldwide can perfectly handle a Puffer Whale. To think such an expert is hidden here? Does that mean as long as we capture it successfully, we'll be able to taste the Puffer Whale?"

Toriko laughed loudly at those words and patted Lin Luo's shoulder. "Capturing a top-tier ingredient but not being able to enjoy it immediately—now that would be the greatest regret!"

The three walked out of the station. Komatsu looked at the deserted streets and couldn't help but wonder, "Why is the whole city so quiet?"

"A fortune teller here predicted the time period when wild beasts would appear." Toriko looked around and pointed to a prominent warning sign in the distance. "So during this time, the residents don't come out."

While they were talking, a rhythmic vibration suddenly came from the ground. A huge Kaiten Dragon was walking down the street, its thick paws making the road tremble slightly with every step.

The three immediately stopped. Toriko sized up the massive creature. "Is that a Kaiten Dragon, the kind that doesn't taste good no matter how you stew it?"

Lin Luo subconsciously clenched his fist, but Toriko smiled calmly. "No need to act."

Just then, a slender figure slowly entered the trio's sight. The person was dressed in a black bodysuit with a green sash and a white cloak, walking unhurriedly down the center of the street.

To their surprise, the Kaiten Dragon seemed afraid of stepping on him; it carefully adjusted its pace and even went out of its way to detour around his position.

"Exactly as my divination predicted," the person said without turning his head, his voice warm and mellow. "An annoying guest has arrived."

Toriko laughed upon hearing this. "Hahaha, as expected of the most considerate man among the Four Heavenly Kings, Coco!"

Coco looked up, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "The glutton of the Four Heavenly Kings, Toriko. It's been a long time."

When his gaze inadvertently brushed past Lin Luo, he paused slightly. To others, it might have been just an ordinary glance, but in Coco's unique vision, he saw a completely different scene—Lin Luo's entire body was emitting exceptionally strong Life Magnetism Field fluctuations, with surging energy that almost overflowed from his field of vision.

A Life Magnetism Field of this intensity was actually not inferior to Toriko's. Coco was secretly surprised. Ever since he had temporarily set aside his identity as a hunter to focus on his divination training, quite a few excellent rising stars had emerged in the Human World.

He calmly hid his surprise. After all, the special ability to observe Life Magnetism Fields with his own eyes was his greatest reliance as a fortune teller and the key to his 97% success rate. The person standing next to Toriko was clearly no ordinary individual.

Lin Luo had long ago opened his Sea of Consciousness and condensed his Divine Sense, so he was naturally aware of Coco's observation. He stepped forward composedly and took the initiative to reach out his hand. "Lin Luo."

Coco subconsciously raised his hand to meet him but stopped abruptly halfway—he remembered his poisonous Physique. However, Lin Luo had already firmly grasped his hand, expressing kindness and trust through actual action.

Due to his Physique, Coco could endure doses of toxins that ordinary people could not. He had once injected a large amount of toxins in a short period; however, the numerous toxins combined in his body to produce an even stronger 'Deadly Poison,' making him a 'Poison Man' that many creatures dared not approach.

Therefore, Coco usually dressed very tightly, even wrapping his head and neck in thick cloth, mainly to avoid harming others.

"I have toxins on me..." Coco reminded him in a low voice.

Lin Luo smiled indifferently, letting go to show his undamaged palm. "Aren't you controlling the toxins very well?"

At this time, Toriko walked over with a laugh and patted their shoulders. "This is Lin Luo, an IGO Gourmet Hunter. He's here to capture the Puffer Whale just like us. Coco, you're someone who has successfully handled a Puffer Whale; we can't do this without you leading the team."

Coco nodded slightly, his white cloak fluttering in the twilight. "Since you've come from afar, come to my place to rest for a while first. We can discuss the rest later."

His voice was as gentle as ever, yet it carried an unquestionable tone. Only then did everyone notice that it was getting late. The footsteps of the Kaiten Dragon had long since faded, leaving only the soft sound of the breeze passing through the empty streets.

Toriko rubbed his growling stomach and grinned. "Just as well, I'm hungry too. You should have food ready at your place, right?"

Komatsu, however, was still immersed in the information revealed in the conversation, unable to snap out of it for a moment. He looked at Coco's tall and slender back, his heart churning—so the expert Mr. Toriko mentioned who could prepare Puffer Whale was actually one of the Four Heavenly Kings, Coco himself! What made it even more unbelievable was that this legendary figure was also the mysterious fortune teller in this empty city who had accurately predicted the beast attack.

Following Coco all the way, the group arrived at a high cliff. Just as everyone was wondering why they had stopped there, a massive shadow suddenly enveloped the entire cliffside.

Lin Luo looked up alertly and saw a giant avian beast circling above their heads. The creature's spread wings were like clouds hanging from the sky, and the shadow it cast enveloped everyone.

"Kiss," Coco called out softly.

At his call, the giant beast slowly landed on the edge of the cliff. Only then did Lin Luo see its full appearance—it was covered in blackish-purple feathers that didn't reflect any light in the sun, as if they had swallowed all the light rays.

"An Emperor Crow?!" Komatsu cried out in surprise. "Isn't that a species that went extinct long ago?"

Coco just smiled slightly and did not answer. He stepped forward and gently stroked the giant bird's feathers. "Kiss, can you give us a lift?"

The Emperor Crow let out a clear cry and obediently lowered its body, as if expressing an affirmative answer.

Coco's residence was built from local blue-gray bricks, and its exterior blended perfectly with the architectural style of the entire city. Pushing open the heavy wooden door, the sight inside made everyone's eyes light up—the long table was already filled with various delicacies, and the steaming dishes emitted an inviting aroma.

"As expected, you understand me best!" Toriko's eyes lit up, and he couldn't wait to take a seat, beginning to sweep through the food on the table like a whirlwind. His eating manner, as if he wanted to swallow the plates along with the food, made everyone else present chuckle.

Looking at the table full of carefully prepared dishes, Komatsu couldn't help but exclaim, "Mr. Coco even predicted that we would come?"

Lin Luo looked around and noticed that the house was clean and orderly, with every item placed just right, revealing the owner's meticulous and thoughtful personality everywhere. He couldn't help but think of Toriko's evaluation of Coco—he truly was a gentle and considerate man.

Coco leaned by the window, his eyes quietly shifting with a faint light. In his unique vision, a fiery red magnetic field surged around Toriko like a burning flame; inside Lin Luo's body flowed a deep azure glow, like an undercurrent in the deep sea. The two powerful energy fields reflected each other, indicating that this trip should have been unhindered.

However, when his gaze fell on Komatsu, his pupils shrank slightly—he saw a thick black fortune wrapping around the young chef like mist, which was an extremely dangerous omen.

"The shadow of death..." Coco whispered to himself, his voice barely audible.

He had originally intended to temporarily leave his hunter career behind—this year of seclusion, spent all day with tarot cards and astrology, had almost made him accustomed to the peaceful identity of a fortune teller. But at this moment, he absolutely could not stand by and watch someone he knew walk into a fatal situation, possibly even losing their life because of it.

The black misfortune wrapped around Komatsu was as heart-palpitating as a physical curse. Coco's fingertips unconsciously brushed the rim of his cup as countless possibilities of fate flashed through his mind. Finally, he let out a soft breath, as if exhaling this year of peaceful time along with it.

"I'll go to the Cave Beach with you," Coco's voice was calm but firm. "The underground labyrinth there is intricate and complex; just finding the way is enough to give anyone a headache. Not to mention the various dangerous creatures lurking in the shadows—without sufficient preparation, the survival rate won't exceed thirty percent."