Toriko: Gourmet Chat Group

Chapter 87: A Gathering in the Sky

At an altitude of 20,000 meters, the Sky Vegetable Garden rested above the clouds and beneath the stars.

After every storm, there is a clear sky.

Below them, the world was battered by wind and rain, but here in the Sky Vegetable Garden, the sun shone brilliantly. The air was filled with the rich scent of fertile earth, and the currents were stable and gentle. The comfortable environment was perfect for settling down. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

The volcanic ash within the clouds contained a wealth of minerals beneficial to plants. All kinds of vegetables grew strong and healthy here, their developed root systems intertwining to form a solid ground, easily supporting Kenji’s and Atashino’s weight.

"Even coming here a second time, it’s impossible not to be awestruck," Atashino said, stretching lazily in the fair weather. The climate here was truly comfortable, not at all like the high altitude it was.

The two of them passed through a jungle of vines, and their view suddenly opened up.

As far as the eye could see, there were vegetables, like an endless carpet of green. They weren’t ordinary-sized, either. Having grown strong in this nutrient-rich garden, each one was plump and vibrant. Broccoli, Chinese cabbage, and green onions stood like towering trees, a truly spectacular sight. A single tomato was as large as a person. The mixed aroma of the various vegetables was enough to make one’s mouth water.

"As expected of the Sky Vegetable Garden. It’s a paradise for vegetarians," Kenji said, picking up a Pumpkin Cotton Candy. It was soft and melted in his mouth, with a faint pumpkin fragrance and a rich sweetness, as if it had been drizzled with honey. However, in this world, "vegetarian" ingredients weren’t always what they seemed; many were meat-based foods that simply looked like vegetables.

The plump cucumbers were crisp and refreshing, full of juice. After eating one, his skin even seemed to become more supple.

[Star Forger]: "Having a get-together in the Sky Vegetable Garden. Anyone who’s free can come over."

[Miss Pink Elf♪]: "Sergeant Elysia, on my way♪"

[Lady Justice]: "I’ll just get ready."

Kenji accepted the entry requests one by one. Soon, more than a dozen people had arrived at the Sky Vegetable Garden. Apollo was a bit busy, currently gathering the other Star Gods to launch an assault on Sarron’s base.

"Kizaru, you’re really tall," Kenji remarked, looking at the lanky admiral. At over three meters tall, he was the tallest among them. The heights and body types in the One Piece world were truly absurd. People with huge size differences could still get together.

"It’s probably genetic," Kizaru said, scratching his head. With people like Whitebeard who were even taller and bigger, he didn’t usually pay it much mind.

"Sir, your body seems to be injured. The device in your chest is continuously eroding your body," Atashino, as a doctor, noticed Tony’s condition at a glance.

"Impressive. You could tell just by looking," Tony said, giving her a thumbs-up in admiration. "I have shrapnel in my body. This reactor in my chest is what’s keeping me alive. As for the erosion you mentioned, it’s likely from the palladium element."

"The foreign objects in your body are easy to deal with. Would you like me to perform surgery?" Atashino asked.

"No, thank you. I’ll handle it myself," Tony said, shaking his head.

"Tony, when you get back, you should find the time to look for something your father left you. It’s a model from the 1974 Stark Industries Expo. You can find the blueprint for a new element to replace palladium there," Kenji advised.

Tony’s expression became complicated. He never thought something his father left behind could still help him now. It had been over twenty years, and his old man could still teach him a lesson.

Howard’s ghost: Your old man is still your old man.

"I understand," Tony said.

"Oh, and one more thing," Kenji added. "The people who killed your parents back then were HYDRA agents, led by the Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes. He’s Captain America’s best friend. HYDRA still exists, and Bucky is still alive, though he was only being brainwashed and controlled."

Since Howard had come up, Kenji decided to tell Tony the truth. How he handled it was up to him.

CRUNCH!

Upon learning how his parents truly died, Tony ground his teeth so hard they nearly shattered. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms without him even noticing. Veins bulged on his forehead, and his ferocious eyes were filled with bloodshot rage.

HYDRA... Bucky...

"Hah... Sorry, I have to go," Tony said, taking a deep breath before returning to his own world. After he solved the reactor problem, he would start his investigation. He was in no mood for a picnic now.

Kenji waved him off. A man seeking revenge should be allowed to do so. He’d send the vegetables to Tony later.

"Is your photography really that bad?" Kenji asked Tsukasa curiously.

"During that period you’re talking about, I hadn’t found my place yet, and there were other reasons, so I couldn’t take clear pictures," Tsukasa explained. It was a nostalgic time; he had met a lot of people.

"Artoria, if you’re hungry, feel free to eat whatever you want."

Kenji looked at the King of Knights, who was squatting and staring intently at the fresh fruits and vegetables, the ahoge on top of her head wagging back and forth. He couldn’t help but find it amusing. If I pulled out that ahoge, would she turn into her Alter form? The food Artoria had eaten the most was probably Gawain’s mashed potatoes.

Hadn’t she seen Gudako over there, already feasting away? She was acting normal, for now.

Elysia was squatting nearby, mesmerized by Artoria’s ahoge. It’s so magical, it’s moving on its own! I really want to touch it. She suddenly realized that, besides horns, she also had a great interest in this kind of hair antenna. But Artoria was too vigilant, as if she knew exactly what Elysia was planning.

Ahoge King’s inner thoughts: For the glory of the King of Knights... Ex—Calibur!

"Then I won’t be polite," Artoria said, swallowing hard. She pulled a heavy radish from the ground, peeled it simply, and took a bite. It was tender and juicy, as refreshing as a spring fountain. Her eyes lit up, and her ahoge stood straight up.

So delicious! The flavor that slowly spread through her mouth was countless times more delicious than mashed potatoes. She finished it in two or three graceful bites, a look of pure enjoyment on her face, seeming to want more.

"Eh? Potatoes can be made like this? They’re delicious!"

Artoria was once again surprised, this time by the french fries from a French Fry Fountain. This method of cooking didn’t exist in her era. The crispy texture and the natural saltiness were a perfect combination.

(If we follow real-world history, potatoes shouldn’t have existed in the Arthurian era, but their appearance in an adapted work is excusable. After all, King Arthur herself is a woman here.)

"Everyone, eat as much as you like! It’s all free."

"This tomato is so sweet, as sweet as fruit! I can’t stop!"

"Cream-flavored onions?"

"Fried Chicken Bamboo Shoot? Does this count as a vegetable? It’s so good, though!"

Elysia and the others went to pick their favorite vegetables, and unsurprisingly, everyone gave them rave reviews. They didn’t taste like vegetables at all; they were like fruits, pure, natural, and pollution-free. They felt even more delicious eaten raw than cooked.

"The God’s Tongue can find no flaws in these vegetables," Erina said, her eyes wide. There were no seasonings, yet the flavor was so marvelous. After the first bite, it was impossible to stop.

Kenji just smiled. As for flaws, it wasn’t that there were none.

Just eat to your heart’s content.

Ruan Mei glanced at Kenji. That Masked Fool-like smile, one that reveled in chaos, definitely meant something was up. So she kept a close eye on things and didn’t eat too much.

A while later.

Everyone was lying on the ground with bulging stomachs and satisfied expressions.

GURGLE... RUMBLE...

Before long, their stomachs began to churn, emitting loud, rumbling noises.

"What’s happening?" Daigo blinked. This feeling was familiar... Oh no, not again.

"You all ate too much," Kenji said with a laugh. "They’re delicious, but they’re also vegetables rich in fiber, which promotes intestinal motility."

"It’s not too late to leave now. We’re tens of thousands of meters in the sky. There are no toilets here."

As soon as Kenji finished speaking, the group members fled back to their own worlds in a panic. If it were just one or two people, it would be fine, but for so many to have to squat in the wild like this... the embarrassment would be unbearable.

"Hehe, these vegetables are delicious, but you can’t eat too much of them," Atashino said, shaking her head with a smile.

"But even if I had told them beforehand, once they took that first bite, they would have fallen in love with the flavor and been unable to stop," Kenji shrugged. As long as they had fun eating, that’s what mattered. Besides, it was a great way to lose some weight.

"Ruan Mei, how’s your research on the Devil Fruit coming along?" Kenji asked. Ruan Mei had eaten very little, so she was unaffected.

"It’s a very interesting fruit. I’ve managed to cultivate a tree. It shouldn’t be long before it bears fruit, and then we can see the results."

"Kenji... you look even more perfect now," Ruan Mei said with a faint smile, devoid of any romantic emotion or even a hint of shyness. "I’m very curious. If we were to have a child together, what kind of talents would it inherit?"

"Have a child with you? Are you sure you wouldn’t use your own child as a test subject?"

Although her smile was beautiful, like a cool plum blossom blooming in the snow, Kenji didn’t for a second think Ruan Mei had fallen in love with him.

"I don’t know," Ruan Mei said honestly, unable to give a definite answer. "But I can confirm that I would not treat it like my other test subjects. It would be more like... checking its physical data periodically."