157: Full City

Gourmet City! Food City!

Squeezing off the crowded train, Lin Luo followed Toriko and Komatsu into the excited flow of people.

The first thing that caught their eyes was a giant tower with a peculiar design, shaped unmistakably like a crossed knife and fork, which was highly iconic.

Below the tower was a vast gourmet district that looked like a fantasy amusement park!

A "Hot Dog Roller Coaster" whizzed by, carrying the scent of food, while sightseeing hot air balloons decorated in the shapes of various foods floated overhead.

On the giant screen in the central plaza, the host, Tina, was enthusiastically introducing the daily visitor flow, popular attractions, and highly sought-after star restaurants of Gourmet City.

Lin Luo followed Toriko and Komatsu, swiping their gourmet id cards gently at the entrance turnstiles to enter smoothly.

"You need to swipe your card to enter the city for identity verification," Toriko explained to Lin Luo, who was visiting for the first time, as they walked. "However, this is a security System funded by private food enterprises. People without cards can still enter, but... they will be charged a considerably high admission fee."

Lin Luo nodded, his gaze sweeping across the fantasy world before him, composed of countless enticing aromas, colorful sights, and boisterous laughter.

Although it was incredibly lively, the purpose of his trip was very clear: "Toriko, when are we going to Setsunos Diner?"

Toriko gently patted the white suit he had specially changed into and laughed: "Don't worry, I'll take you there in a while. Look, I even changed into formal wear today just for that. It's still early, and since it's your first time here, I must take you to experience the 'appetizers' here first!"

Komatsu, standing beside them, overheard their conversation and finally realized what was happening, his eyes widening in shock: "T-Toriko-san! Are we... are we really going to Setsunos Diner?! The restaurant opened by that national treasure of gourmet?!" He had previously thought they were just coming to Gourmet City for fun, and he couldn't believe it at this moment.

Toriko laughed heartily and patted his back forcefully: "Of course it's true!"

"That's great!" Komatsu was so happy he almost jumped up, the huge surprise making his mouth a bit dry. He happened to see several self-service vending machines standing by the roadside and suggested: "Do you want to drink something? I'm a little thirsty, my treat!"

Lin Luo glanced at the vending machine Komatsu was looking at. The machine was marked with three stars, and the prices of the drinks inside were incredibly high, so he reminded him: "Komatsu, the drinks inside the machine you're looking at... aren't cheap."

Hearing this, Komatsu looked carefully at the price list: "Eh—?! One hundred thousand per bottle?! So expensive! And the portion is so small!"

Toriko explained: "The higher the star rating of the vending machine, the rarer and more precious the drinks inside are."

Komatsu wiped the nonexistent cold sweat from his forehead and looked around: "Is it really okay to just leave such high-end drinks on the side of the road...?"

"That's why such a strict security System was set up," Toriko said, walking over to another ordinary vending machine nearby without any star markings. "For ones like this without stars, the items sold are much cheaper."

Lin Luo also leaned over to look at the price list and couldn't help but laugh: "The cheap ones are a bit excessive too... the drinks here are only ten yuan."

"One hundred thousand and ten yuan..." Komatsu looked at the two machines standing side by side with such a massive difference, dumbfounded. "This contrast... is just too strong, too shocking!"

For the rest of the time, Toriko turned into a seasoned tour guide, taking Lin Luo and Komatsu on a "sweeping" tour of Gourmet City.

Street stalls lined the streets, filled with mouth-watering aromas. However, wherever Toriko went, it often caused a small stir—because his arrival basically meant the stall was about to be "sold out and closed."

"Yo! Toriko-san! Did you bring friends today?" a boss grilling giant Gerard bird meat skewers greeted them enthusiastically. This type of skewer was usually sold by the slice, but Toriko waved his hand: "The usual, give me a whole one!"

Thus, Lin Luo and Toriko each received half of a giant roast, taller than a person, and began to gnaw on it heroically, with meat juices overflowing and a charred aroma filling the air. Komatsu, on the other hand, held a small plate of slices, chewing slowly, already feeling that the portion was more than enough.

After finishing the roast bird, Toriko rubbed his stomach, still wanting more: "Let's go, I know a ramen shop that is delicious!"

In the ramen shop, Komatsu was slowly savoring the chewy handmade noodles and rich broth in his bowl. Meanwhile, in front of Lin Luo and Toriko, empty bowls had already piled up into a small mountain—the two of them didn't need to savor it, they were purely enjoying the fullness and energy replenishment of food entering their stomachs, bowl after bowl, at an astonishing speed.

After paying a bill that could be called astronomical, the three continued walking through the snack street. Passing by an octopus ball shop, the rich aroma tempted them to buy three portions, and while eating, they marveled at how the balls made from king octopus were chewy and delicious.

"Hmm? Gourmet Hunters? There are a lot of people coming in aggressively." Toriko observed his surroundings while eating.

Lin Luo asked curiously: "Isn't that normal? This place is originally a gathering place for Gourmet Hunters and foodies."

Toriko shook his head: "It's not usually this concentrated. Generally, when such a large number of elite hunters suddenly swarm in, it's likely someone has posted a high bounty, or they have been summoned for clues about some rare ingredient."

"Oh." Lin Luo replied, more concerned about another matter: "When is our scheduled time with Setsunos Diner?"

"There's still some time." Toriko replied, swallowing the ball in his hand in one gulp.

Komatsu suggested from the side: "Since there's still time, there's a place I've always wanted to see, is that okay?"

Lin Luo nodded: "We have nothing to do anyway, let's go."

When they arrived, Toriko took one look and immediately curled his lip: "What is this, it's just a gourmet kitchenware mall. I'm not interested in places without ready-made food."

Lin Luo, however, was quite interested in examining the exhibits in the display cases: "Kitchenware, huh... none of these are cheap." The items on display were all world-top brands, such as Chestnut Workshop pots, Melk kitchen knives, and the latest gourmet grinders; each piece could be called a work of art.

Komatsu sighed softly, his eyes full of longing: "Yeah... the cheapest one in here probably costs at least one million."

Lin Luo looked at his expression and smiled: "If you want it so much, I'll buy you one as a gift. Just as a thank you for helping me process the Puffer Whale before."

Komatsu shook his head quickly, his attitude firm: "Thank you, Lin Luo-san! But I still want to buy it with my own money in the future through my own efforts!" He already felt embarrassed enough following the two of them eating and drinking all day, and accepting another valuable gift would be too much.

Lin Luo wanted to say something else, but a commotion suddenly came from the side. A richly dressed gourmet tycoon with a very grand air was frantically buying items, not looking at the prices at all, just having people pack up whatever caught his eye, simply not treating money as money.

Komatsu watched, dumbfounded: "That's really... very generous."

Toriko was unfazed: "Impulsive shopping, just the willfulness of the rich." He checked the time and reminded Komatsu: "It's about time we left, Komatsu."

Komatsu let out an "Ah" and hurriedly said: "I, I still have a small area I want to look at, it will be quick!"

Toriko urged: "Hurry up, this guy can't wait to go to Setsunos Diner."

Komatsu replied and trotted off to the other side.

Lin Luo punched Toriko on the shoulder, annoyed: "You guy, it's obviously you who are impatient because you're greedy, and you're using me as a cover."

Toriko chuckled: "What, aren't you anxious now?"

Lin Luo curled his lip: "I still have that much patience."

As the two were joking, a commotion and screams suddenly came from the other end of the mall. Lin Luo looked up and saw a group of masked men in black openly looting the high-end kitchenware in the display cases!

They acted violently, overturning counters and scaring customers away. The mall's security personnel quickly arrived, but although the thief group only had three or four people, they were all armed, and a standoff ensued.

Lin Luo originally didn't intend to meddle, after all, the security System here wasn't just for show. However, in the chaos, one thief was quick-witted and grabbed Komatsu, who happened to be passing by and was a bit panicked, and held a small meat-pounding hammer against his forehead!

"Don't come any closer! Does it not matter what happens to this guy in my hand?" the thief leader roared viciously, using Komatsu as a hostage to try and force back the security guards who were surrounding them.

Toriko's face darkened, and he walked forward step by step: "Hey, let Komatsu go. If we delay any longer, we'll miss an important meeting."

The held-hostage Komatsu heard this and turned his head in astonishment: "Eh? Toriko-san, are you more worried about missing the meeting than my safety?!"

Upon hearing the name "Toriko", the thieves clearly flinched, fear flashing in their eyes. But they clearly adhered to the robber's principle of "never let go of what you've gotten." The thief leader gritted his teeth, suddenly shoved Komatsu into a large sack filled with stolen goods, and together with his accomplices, carried the sack, smashed through the glass railing nearby, and jumped directly from the multi-story mall atrium!

"Damn it!" Toriko was shocked, not expecting the other party to be so decisive. "Lin Luo! Flank them! Don't let them run away!"

Two figures, like hunting beasts, instantly shot out from the breach, chasing after the fleeing thief group below!

Two figures, like hunting beasts, instantly shot out from the breach!

Lin Luo's eyes were sharp, locking onto the thieves' escape route; instead of chasing closely, he circled ahead to intercept. Toriko pressured and drove them from behind, precisely "herding" them toward the direction Lin Luo was waiting.

"Damn it!" Seeing Lin Luo waiting leisurely ahead blocking the way, the thief leader's heart sank. He was just about to jump to another floor while carrying the sack—

Swoosh!

A milky white light chain shot out like lightning, precisely binding his ankles!

"Urgh!" The leader's feet tightened, and he was pulled off balance by a huge force, falling forward, and the sack on his shoulder slipped and rolled away.

"Komatsu, are you okay!" Lin Luo stepped forward quickly, untied the sack, and helped the still dizzy Komatsu out.

Komatsu touched his head, which had been bumped inside the bag, still feeling a bit dazed, but he quickly sobered up and hurriedly bowed to Lin Luo: "I, I'm saved! Lin Luo-san, thank you very much for saving me!"

"It was nothing." Lin Luo waved his hand and turned his gaze to the other side. At this time, the mall's security team had arrived and quickly controlled the thief leader and his accomplices, who were bound by the light chain and unable to move. But he noticed Toriko was gone.

Lin Luo subconsciously used his perception to search and soon found Toriko in a rest area a little further away. But the scene made him pause—

Toriko was slightly bowing, speaking apologetically to a petite old woman with short pink hair. And Toriko's originally flamboyant blue spiky hair was now combed into a... quite "retro" and slightly ridiculous pompadour! The hair was all combed back, forming an exaggerated protrusion on top of his head, which, combined with his respectful yet slightly embarrassed expression, looked particularly funny.