chapter 1 A Gourmet world

On an island, men's clothes were scattered on the beach. A man under 30 years old emerged from the water holding a species of ray that was unusually large. The man was very muscular and compact, over two meters tall, with black hair and red eyes. He could be considered handsome, and on his face, he showed no expression of fear but rather joy. What is special about this man is that he is not from this world.

It's been 25 years since I arrived in this world, and I haven't regretted a single moment. The gourmet world offers infinite possibilities for travel, combat, and culinary exploration. I've battled and tasted various beasts, dined on dishes from renowned chefs, and experienced flavors beyond imagination. Fortunately, I was born with a system that allows me to see the levels of people and creatures. Human capture levels vary based on their genes, training, and other factors. I luckily unlocked my gourmet cells very young.

Name: Sakasuki

Age: 25

Level: 32

Reaching higher levels is quite difficult. My gourmet cells need to find genes in meals that can make me stronger – a constant struggle to find food that would help me progress. As I was lost in thought, my phone rang.

"Johannes, Mr. Sakasuki, did you recover the Thunder Ray?"

"Yes, call a ship to transport it," I replied.

"As expected of you, Mr. Sakasuki. You are called the Fifth King for a reason," Johannes praised.

"Yeah yeah. Don't forget to wire my payment. I don't run a charity here. And why do you need a Thunder Ray? Its meat is good, but not that exceptional."

"We want to add it to our biotope. They are becoming rare and various gourmet hunters pursue them for their paralyzing stingers, which immobilize victims for three minutes, allowing them to escape. However, most hunters never return," Johannes explained.

"I see. Very well, Johannes. Talk to you later," I said, hanging up.

The Fifth King, they call me. The other four – Toriko, Zebra, Coco, and Sunny – I haven't seen them in two years. We've each explored different parts of the world. I glanced at the Thunder Ray, which had a burn mark resembling a fist.

Thunder Ray Level: 13

I'll eat this one and give them the other. I turned my gaze, and you could see the same ray in a large water container. This glass is quite solid. IGO really works miracles.

I lit a fire to roast the ray and regain my strength. Swimming and getting electrocuted is no joke. My heart still hurts.

An hour after my call, a ship arrived. I left the island with another Thunder Ray that I had hunted. I had already eaten the first one; it was delicious, but it didn't enrich my gourmet cells.

Johannes' Point of View

Sakasuki's talent rivals that of the other Four Kings, though he isn't one of the children chosen by the president. He hunts alone and started working for us at 17. We assign him missions, and he never fails. The public knows him as the Fifth King without a crown. His reputation is excellent, but he has a unique personality.

"Mr. Johannes, we have information that the Rainbow Fruit will soon ripen. However, the Troll Kongs guard it and use the fruits as bait for hunting. We can't get close."

"I see. I plan to send Toriko for this mission. Get in touch with him. Do we know where he is?"

"Yes, Mr. Johannes. He is currently hunting and will probably sell his catches or eat them. I contacted Komatsu. Toriko has gone hunting, but Komatsu says he has a meeting with Toriko at the gourmet market."

"Very well, let's go to the market. We might have a chance to find him there."

An hour later, accompanied by two IGO agents, we made contact with Komatsu, who was waiting for Toriko. We spotted Toriko with his latest catch, a pterosaur he was selling. But before we could approach him, a journalist rushed towards Toriko and bombarded him with questions.

"IGO does not permit wild interviews," I said, pushing the journalist back. Then, after making the journalist retreat, I explained to Toriko what we needed from him.

Sakasuki's Point of View

In two weeks, the Fugu whales will come to spawn. I must prepare. It has been a while since I searched for a great chef, and I think I've found the one I want. The only problem is that I want someone who can defend themselves. While protection is good, a chef who can fight is better. I have saved up for 5 years to get this syringe filled with gourmet cells. There is a chance the person might die, but I remember the chef who survived. We'll see if he's up for it or not. The upcoming journey promises new adventures and flavors yet to be discovered.