Toriko: Gourmet Chat Group

The Gate to the Underworld.

After passing through the giant gate and proceeding for several dozen kilometers, one arrives at the world's largest gourmet prison—Honey Prison.

There are a total of three prisons in the world that carry out sentences for A-rank criminals: the Sky Prison, located ten thousand meters in the air; the Undersea Prison, two thousand meters below the ocean's surface; and Honey Prison, which lay just ahead.

The road was winding and narrow, flanked on both sides by vertical cliffs. At the end of the road hung a massive, honeycomb-shaped structure, from which the prison derived its name.

Toriko dragged a huge pile of food, while Komatsu was a nervous wreck. Everyone had heard of the gourmet prisons, and it was impossible not to feel some apprehension and fear. Kenji and Atashino, however, were unfazed. They were just here for a visit, not to be arrested and thrown in jail.

"We have been awaiting your arrival, Lord Kenji, Lady Atashino, Lord Toriko, Lord Komatsu..."

A man in a pink-spotted coat greeted them. He had brown skin, intersecting stitched scars on his face, and sharp teeth...

"Is Warden Love in?" Atashino asked.

"Yes, Lady Atashino. The Warden is waiting for you below," the guard, Obun, replied.

The ground beneath their feet began to descend. It was an elevator that led directly into Honey Prison. Through the transparent tube, they could see many ferocious-looking Execution Beasts.

"Komatsu, you and Toriko have seen plenty of big scenes. Why are you still so timid?" Kenji asked, exasperated.

"We've seen a lot, but these Execution Beasts are super-duper scary, you know!" Komatsu said helplessly.

"You'll get used to it."

After they met with Warden Love, Kenji and Atashino planned to head to the Gourmet Pyramid. Their goal wasn't the Mellow Cola, but the dormant Nitro within. Kenji was very curious about the taste of the little snack his Master Jiro ate as a child. The plan was to wake one up, let it recover from its estivation, then feed it some food to fatten it up before eating it.

"We've arrived. This is the Warden's office."

A huge door appeared at the end of the corridor, with the three large, shining words "Warden's Office" written on it.

"That's the Warden of Honey Prison?"

Seeing the little girl standing at the door, Toriko and Komatsu were shocked. She was so incredibly short.

Kenji was also a bit surprised. Warden Love really was short. She wore a bee-themed outfit that matched the honeycomb prison perfectly, and there was a heart-shaped pattern on her chubby cheeks. Love could manipulate hormones—hundreds of them—with great flexibility. However, she was currently keeping them in check, probably because her colleague Atashino was here.

"Atashino! It's been so long! I can't believe you actually came all the way here to see me!"

Seeing her colleague, Love was very happy. Aside from her beloved Zebra being here, this place was utterly boring.

"Love, this is my partner, Kenji," Atashino said with a smile.

"Oh? I've heard of you," Love said, looking up at Kenji. "The one who captured the Surprise Apple with a scare level of 99." Why do you have to be so tall? Don't you know how tiring it is to look up?

"Kenji, what did a Surprise Apple with that high a scare level taste like?" Toriko asked curiously.

"It was probably the most delicious apple on Earth," Kenji replied.

"Come with me, Toriko. Aren't you here to pick up my little Zebra-kun?" The Warden's mood soured. After all, she was about to be separated from her little Zebra-kun. But this was an order from the President, and she had no choice but to obey. My little Zebra-kun!

Zebra's cell was located on the "Main Course" level, where most of the inmates were on death row.

"Warden Love, can we have the Nitro you have here?" Kenji asked.

"Huh? That dangerous creature? What do you want it for?" Love looked at Kenji, puzzled. There was indeed a Nitro whelp in Honey Prison, with a ferocious and cold personality.

"To eat, of course," Kenji said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"You can eat a Nitro?" This was outside her field of knowledge. She had never heard that Nitro were edible.

Atashino was also dumbfounded. Can a dangerous creature like a Nitro even be cooked?

"My master used to eat Nitro as a snack when he was a kid."

"For that, you'll have to ask President Ichiryu. If he agrees, you can take the Nitro whelp with you," Love said.

"Then never mind." It was too much trouble. He would just go to the Gourmet Pyramid to catch one directly. The IGO probably wanted to keep this one for research anyway.

"Zebra! I brought you some coffee! Want some?" Arriving at Zebra's cell, Toriko shouted directly. Three of the Four Heavenly Kings had already drunk it; he couldn't let the last one get away. They were all family; of course, they had to be a complete set.

Clank, clank—

"Toriko... I hear the 'echo' of coffee."

Accompanied by the sound of rattling chains, Zebra's voice followed. He was puzzled. Toriko's heartbeat and breathing indicated that he was very excited right now. But since it was food, he naturally wouldn't refuse.

Kenji smiled. An echo of coffee?

Gulp, gulp, gulp.

Zebra caught the coffee that was thrown down to him and, without a second thought, chugged it all down.

Kenji gave him a thumbs-up. Zebra, you're a real man. A real man chugs it in one go.

"?!"

"TORIKO, WHAT THE HELL IS THIS SHIT YOU GAVE ME!!!"

CRACK—!

CRUMBLE—!

Zebra instantly flew into a rage. A violent sonic wave of noise erupted from him. The surrounding ground and walls began to crack, and an unparalleled shockwave swept out in all directions. The Execution Beasts chained up nearby were knocked out cold by the sonic boom.

Kenji and the others covered their ears. That booming voice really was loud. As expected of the one with the most destructive power among the Four Heavenly Kings.

What kind of inhuman coffee is this? It's too disgusting! Even Zebra couldn't stand it. Compounded by his irritable personality, he could only vent the discomfort in his stomach by roaring. Right now, the thing he wanted to do most was to rip Toriko's head off and kick it like a ball.

"Zebra, that's enough! There are people here who can't take it!" Toriko shouted, but his voice was like a whisper compared to Zebra's roar.

Komatsu was about to pass out from the vibrations. Was this the roar of a demon?

"The Four Heavenly Kings... their talents are truly outstanding," Atashino said in admiration.

"These are the four that Senior Uncle Ichiryu has his eye on. How could they be anything but extraordinary?" Kenji said. "Especially Toriko. His background is insane. He's Acacia's son and has three different colored Gourmet Demons as tenants in his body."

"Zebra's voice has gotten stronger," Toriko remarked. It seemed that even while locked up in Honey Prison, Zebra's strength hadn't fallen behind. He, who had just gotten much stronger, could feel the pressure. With Zebra joining them, capturing the Mellow Cola would be a much safer bet. Zebra, come capture ingredients with us.

"Hehe, my little Zebra-kun is so powerful... huff, huff~" Warden Love's eyes had turned into hearts. This is the little Zebra-kun I love! So manly!

Atashino was speechless. She had never realized her colleague was so completely love-struck. She could also see that Zebra was simply not interested in Love at all. It seemed the Warden was the only one living in her own little world.

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