177: Food Partner

"Puhahaha!" Sunny pointed at Toriko and laughed unreservedly, "Toriko! What kind of silly look is that! It's too funny! You look like an idiot!"

He laughed as he looked around, wanting to find allies to ridicule Toriko's foolish expression, but was astonished to find that—

Coco had, at some point, slumped over the table, burying his entire face deep into his arms, only revealing slightly reddened ear tips and constantly twitching shoulders.

"Coco?" Sunny leaned in closer, puzzled and a little gloating, "Hey, hey, you wouldn't be..."

Coco's muffled voice came from his arms, tinged with embarrassment and an unconcealable smile: "...This is... too undignified... I feel very sorry... but..."

He ultimately didn't finish his sentence, but his slightly trembling shoulders and the increasingly obvious blush on his ears already explained everything.

Sunny looked at the others again. Machi was staring at the light reflecting in his bowl of soup, somewhat lost in thought, a gentle curve on his lips that he might not even be aware of; Takimaru was cupping his face, his eyes hazy, wearing the same somewhat "silly" happy smile as Toriko.

Truly... everyone was unconsciously smiling, just as Lin Luo had said. It was just that these smiles... no matter how you looked at them, they carried a hint of being overly happy, to the point of appearing a little "foolish"!

"Hehe, Sunny," Lin Luo, with a mischievous smile, turned his gaze to Sunny, the only one still "normal" in the room, "You're the only one left."

Sunny snapped back to reality, immediately leaned back into his chair, crossed his arms over his chest, adopting a posture of absolute defense, and declared firmly: "Absolutely not! No matter how delicious this soup is, I absolutely refuse to make such a stupid expression! Give it up, Lin Luo!"

"Hehehe... you won't have a choice!" Lin Luo grinned arrogantly, and a flash of spiritual light appeared on his fingertips.

Several soft yet tough bands of light shot out like spiritual snakes, instantly binding Sunny and the chair he was sitting on tightly!

"Hey! Lin Luo! What are you doing?! Let me go! You bastard!" Sunny struggled, furious and alarmed, but his strength was unable to break free from the light bands' restraint.

Lin Luo calmly picked up Sunny's bowl of soup, took a spoon, and slowly walked to the restrained Sunny.

"Good boy~ Open your mouth, ah—"

"Mph! Mph mph!!" Sunny tightly closed his mouth, shaking his head from side to side, refusing to yield even unto death.

Lin Luo raised an eyebrow, and his free hand shot out like lightning, precisely pinching Sunny's chin, and with a slight force—

"Mph—!"

Taking advantage of the moment his mouth was forced open, Lin Luo flicked his wrist, and a spoonful of century soup, shimmering with a dreamy glow, was poured into him cleanly and decisively!

"Gulp..." Sunny's Adam's apple involuntarily bobbed up and down, swallowing the mouthful of soup.

The light bands restraining him loosened at the opportune moment.

"Cough! Cough cough! Lin Luo! You bastard! You despicable and shameless guy! I..." Sunny, regaining his freedom, immediately jumped up, pointing at Lin Luo's face, which was flushed red, so angry he was incoherent.

However, before he could finish his accusation, his voice strangely lowered.

That indescribable, ultimate deliciousness, as if the essence of ten thousand years of ice plains and the miracle of life were blooming on his taste buds, swept through all his senses and rational defenses like the gentlest yet most surging tide.

"How is it? Is it delicious?" Lin Luo asked with a beaming smile, like a child whose prank had succeeded.

The anger on Sunny's face melted away like ice and snow. In its place was an incredibly conflicted expression, attempting to resist yet utterly unable to, and finally, that familiar, slightly foolish, purely happy smile stubbornly, little by little, spread across his handsome face.

His lips moved, as if he still wanted to curse, but the words that came out were soft, dreamily vague murmurs:

"...Bastard... hehe... delicious..."

Having said that, as if resigned to his fate, he no longer cared about his image, snatched the bowl and spoon from Lin Luo's hand, sat back down, and buried his head, slurping up the soup, his face beaming with the same, somewhat foolishly happy smile as everyone else.

All of this was faithfully recorded by Tina's camera.

Lin Luo turned his gaze to her, "Tina, I'll help you film, you should hurry and taste it too, it would be a shame if the soup gets cold."

Tina quickly shook her head: "No way, Lin Luo, you're too devious."

"Oh? I always maintain gentlemanly manners towards ladies," Lin Luo smiled slightly, his tone carrying a subtle threat, "But if the other party insists on not cooperating... I don't mind using some coercive methods. Sunny is an example."

Tina: "..."

In the restaurant, only faint sipping sounds and intermittent, uncontrollable low giggles remained.

Lin Luo looked around, seeing his companions, who were usually either domineering, cool, elegant, or serious, all transformed into "happy idiots," and finally couldn't help but burst into hearty laughter himself.

"Duang!"

An empty plate landed softly but firmly on the back of Lin Luo's head.

Erina's voice, tinged with a hint of petulant anger, followed: "My cooking is not for you to tease people and act like a jerk!"

Lin Luo clutched his head, coughed lightly, and immediately put on a serious expression: "No, no, I was just... faithfully recording everyone's most genuine and happiest moments while enjoying gourmet food!" He said, quickly putting away the images of everyone's "silly smiling famous scene" that he had just specially preserved.

"Young Miss Erina," Takimaru stood up and bowed slightly to Erina with utmost sincerity, "Thank you so much! The moment I tasted this dish, an indescribable sense of happiness truly filled my heart!"

Komatsu also nodded vigorously, a lingering aftertaste of happiness still on his face: "Yes, the taste... it's exactly the same as the drop of essence I tasted in the underground cave, no, it even feels more mellow and delicious! It's shameful to say, I tried many times after I came back, but I couldn't even get close..."

Erina smiled softly, her eyes gentle, upon hearing this. However, remembering that the completion of this soup was somewhat accidental, she explained softly with a hint of embarrassment: "Actually... this is all a result I stumbled upon, based on the dishes my teacher had already completed."

Everyone sighed in admiration, remarking that even so, being able to achieve this much was extraordinary.

century soup was originally a miraculous dish born of nature, and to be able to recreate it artificially was enough to place a chef at the Peak. Therefore, Toriko couldn't help but curiously ask Erina if she planned to make the recipe public.

Erina, however, gently shook her head: "I won't be publishing it. The ingredients for this soup involve endangered species, so I think... it's better to keep it as a secret among us."

"Alright, alright," Lin Luo said with a smile, interrupting, and naturally put his arm around her shoulder, bringing her closer to him, facing their companions who were still immersed in the delicious aftertaste.

"While everyone is in such good spirits," he cleared his throat, a clear look of triumph and showing off on his face, "I formally announce—this, Young Miss Nakiri Erina, from now on, will be my exclusive culinary partner!"

Erina was startled by his sudden formal introduction, then a blush flew to her face, and she lightly nudged him with her elbow, scolding in a low voice: "Who told you to announce it on your own accord..." She also gave his calf a light kick.

However, despite her complaints, her body didn't actually forcefully break free from Lin Luo's arm. She just turned her head slightly, revealing a somewhat shy but unconcealably happy smile to everyone, tacitly acknowledging this "official certification."

"Oh—!!!" Toriko was the first to let out a strange cheer, clapping his hands vigorously, "Not bad, Lin Luo! I knew something was going on between you two."

"Congratulations, Mr. Lin Luo! Congratulations, Young Miss Erina!" Takimaru and Komatsu also sincerely offered their blessings.

Everyone's blessings were sincere and enthusiastic, and Toriko even directly asked: "So, are you two officially starting your partnership training? To get used to working together."

Lin Luo smiled and nodded: "Very sharp. For the next while, Erina will be 'training' with me in the wild."

"Oh? Where do you plan to go first?" Toriko asked curiously.

Lin Luo stroked his chin: "First, we'll go to Mount Melk to take care of some business, then we'll decide where to go after that."

"Mount Melk?!" Komatsu immediately exclaimed, his eyes wide, "Is it the... Great Master Melk that I know?"

Erina nodded, a hint of imperceptible anticipation in her tone: "Teacher ordered a set of chef's knives for me earlier, so this is a good opportunity to pick them up."

Seeing this, Lin Luo deliberately teased Komatsu: "What, jealous, Komatsu? I remember you always dreamed of having a Melk Chef's Knife, didn't you?"

Komatsu rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, smiling honestly: "Yes... that's a chef's dream. But, I definitely can't afford it..."

"What's the big deal!" Lin Luo waved his hand grandly, saying, "When we see Great Master Melk, I'll help you reserve one! As for the cost..." He glanced at Toriko, Coco, and Sunny, "These guys have too much money to spend, you've cooked for them for so long for free, taking some 'Materials processing fees' isn't too much, is it?"

Komatsu quickly waved his hands, his face turning red: "No, no, everyone's friends, how can I..."

"I think it's fine!" Toriko, however, immediately made the decision, grinning, "It's settled then! We'll help you reserve one! But I heard that people who want custom knives from Great Master Melk have to wait for several years..."

Coco smiled gently: "Komatsu-kun's cooking indeed brings us many surprises and satisfaction, and his hospitality at the Gourmet Hotel has always been very generous. It's only right to give back a suitable gift."

Sunny flicked his splendid hair, then suddenly looked at Komatsu, his tone carrying his usual elegance and confidence: "Komatsu, why don't you become my exclusive chef? You don't need to envy Young Miss Erina, I can also give you a set of Melk Kitchenware, guaranteed to be the most suitable for you and best able to showcase your talent."

"Hey! Sunny!" Toriko immediately protested, glaring, "If Komatsu is going to choose a partner, he should consider me first! We're old partners!"

Seeing the two about to start their usual "Komatsu 爭奪戰" (Komatsu rivalry), Komatsu, caught in the middle, was both helpless and touched, only able to scratch his head and grin foolishly.

Meanwhile, Erina looked at the lively and warm scene, gently nudged Lin Luo's arm, and whispered: "Hey, don't make promises carelessly..."

Lin Luo, however, winked at her and chuckled softly: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Besides... look at Komatsu, isn't he worth helping?"

Erina looked at Komatsu's sincere yet somewhat flustered smile, then at Toriko and Sunny, who, despite their quarrel, were clearly thinking of Komatsu, and her lips couldn't help but curl into a smile.