Disclaimer: I do not own any show,not even Pokémon or Toriko. Just the teams,teammates,and other stuff. We're now in Toriko's world at Episode 86. This world is based off of the anime version. There's also,little language and violence. This is the longest chapter I've ever done. It took me days but I finally finished this chapter. I lost the file to Episode 89, so I have to do it over again.
Chapter 26-Elena Arc: Plunge into the Gourmet Casino!
Me,Elena,Toriko,Coco,and Komatsu were riding on the Underground Train,heading towards a town called the Jidal. So, in order to past the time before we arrive there, me and Elena were playing Checkers. The score was Me: 2,Elena: 6. We were playing Checkers by using three Checkerboards at the same time.
Me: (frowns) I need some booze.
Elena: (frowns) Jing, I can't let you have alcohol. (wins first board game)
Me: (shocked) Dang it! Come on!
Elena: (surprised) You didn't have to react badly to me saying that I can't let you have alcohol.
Me: (snaps out of it) Huh? Oh sorry, I was upset that I'm losing to you at Checkers. You're really good at this, you know that? (realizes) What do you mean you won't let me have any alcohol?! (worried) I hope you're not saying what I think you're saying.
Elena: As long as we're here in this world or any other world in which we're under the drinking age limit or above it, I won't let any of you guys drink not even one drop of alcohol.
Me: (depressed) Aww, man. (looks at Elena) (deadpan look) What's your second reason, Elena? Don't try to hide it, I know you must have one. (wins second board game)
Elena: My other is that I don't want to see you end up hurting yourself or others. Like that party you guys had back then. Do you agree me?
Me: (thinks about it) Hmm...(realizes I won) Yes!
Elena: (frowns) Was that a yes to me or the game?
Me: Both. But anyway, are you sure I-(realizes) (suspicious) How did you know about the party?
Elena: (turns head) Um...I-(interrupted)
Me: (deadpan look) It was Shinobu, wasn't it?
Elena: Well...no...but...(head down) yes.
Me: Oh come on, Elena. I wasn't the one who went on a rampage and almost destroy the town. It was Satoshi! He can't even handle one drop of sake without getting drunk and going on a rampage... (sheepish smile) and we accidentally destroyed a few houses trying to slow him down. (depressed) I had to pay the mayor for the damages though.
Elena: (chuckles) That's funny! (laughing)
Me: (even more depressed) (fetal position) Oohhhh,the shame.
Elena: (notices a few seconds later) (stops laughing) Um,uh...Thanks for the Melk Kitchen Knife you got for me for Christmas, Jing.
Me: (perks up) Oh, I used some of the money I had and bought it for you. Better watch out for the blade, it's sharp so be careful.
Elena: (nods) Got it, Jing.
Me: Speaking of money,I never told you where we're going to on the Underground Train. (serious) The train will stop at the Jidar train station as you know. But after leaving the town,we're going to the place that is right next to the town itself. The world's largest gambling den, the Gourmet Casino.
Elena: Gourmet Casino?
Me: Yeah,instead of the people there betting and earning money,people bet and earn gourmet ingredients. Both the town and the casino belongs to the Jidar Kingdom and are in a lawless zone, just like the kingdom itself.
Elena: If it is a lawless zone, why are we heading there then?
Me: The next training ingredient which is really hard to find, the Meteor Garlic,is located in the Gourmet Casino as a prize. The Meteor Garlic appears and grows where meteorites have fallen on the ground. While it grows, it sucks up the nutrients around it. It's been said that once you eat it, you will be given enough power to not need to rest for a whole month.
Elena: (impressed) Wow, it sounds like an amazing ingredient.
Me: (trails off) But...
Elena: (confused) But what, Jing?
Me: It has some restrictions under the Eight Gourmet Laws,so it's very hard to find on the market. (smiles) That's everything I remember, Elena. But don't worry, we'll win it and eat it.
Elena: (smiles) Yeah!
Few Minutes Later
The train stopped at the Jidar train station.
Toriko: We're here. So this is the Jidar Kingdom,huh?
Then, some guys approached us.
Man #1: Welcome, cool bro's. I hope you enjoy the kingdom of crime,Jidar.
Man #2: Ya here to sightsee?
Man #3: Yar a pretty big gut, ain'cha? I'll bet you eat some pretty good stuff. Nice duds.
Man #4: I know this is sudden, but could you strip down your underwear and leave everything for us?
Toriko: (pretending) Oh boy! Am I getting into a fight right now?! Am I, Coco?!
Coco: What are you so happy about?
Toriko: It's so rare getting into fights with normal humans!
Komatsu: (small sweatdrop) I guess that is true.
Komatsu: I suppose there are more people in countries not affiliated with the IGO that don't know Toriko-san.
Man #1: Shaddap! I don't know who the hell you guys are.
Komatsu: Um, I don't want to sound rude, but you'd be better off not picking a fight with Toriko-san...
Man #4: (angry) (gets out a gun and points) I told you to shut your traps! You're such a pain in the ass, die!
Elena: (calm) Jing.
Me: (calm) Just watch.
Toriko: (pretending) Oh! I'm so scared!
Man #4: Eat this! (shoots)
Toriko caught the bullet in between his two fingers.
Men: He caught the bullet with his fingers?!
Man #1: Who the hell is this guy?
Toriko: (using Intimidation) I'm Bishokuya Toriko,remember it.
The men ran away scared.
Me: (talking to Elena) Told ya.
Toriko: (laughs) This town is fun, ain't it? I don't think I'll be bored here.
Komatsu: (surprised) It just has poor public order, doesn't it?
Toriko: Public order? The natural world we're always out in is way more dangerous.
Komatsu: (agrees) Yes, but the natural world has its own set of natural rules.
Elena: Now that you mention it, Komatsu,you're right. Just what is going on with this town,anyway?
Coco: This country's also known as the "Food Crucible". New and old,East to West,good and evil, all ingredients here are jumbled together here, stimulating people's appetites Irrationality among chaos...A town where people's karma walk with swagger. This is the black market.
While Coco was explaining, we were walking into the town.
Toriko: Ooh! This place sure is busy!
Coco: (walking) The city's market is full of ingredients brought in through illegal channels.
Me: (looks at Elena) You're surprisingly calm, Elena. I mean, you're not...you know...angry or something like that.
Elena: (calm) (straight face) Oh,I'm just holding in the anger,that's all. I mean I never knew people would do things like this in the Human World.
Me: The reason we left our valuables in our backpacks and then left them with my dad, it is because this town is why. People will try and steal from you while you're not looking. Like for example, (grabs a man who I was almost about to bump into hand) this guy was going to reach into my pocket and steal my money once he was going to pretend to accidentally bump me. (looks at man and glares) (uses Intimidation) People who steal from me usually end up dead by my hands. So you have 5 seconds to get out of my sight before I kill you myself. 5...
The man ran away fast.
Me: (stops glaring and using Intimidation) (looks at Elena) Looks like I'm going have to keep my eye on you,just to make sure you're safe and no one tries anything.
Elena: But Jing- (interrupted)
Me: (pushes Elena) Come on,let's catch up with them. There are ingredients that are poisonous like Puffer Whale that were failed to be detoxified,Electric Bananas that will paralyze the body,Poison Stars that will kill you with just one taste or swallow,and even Drug Snails that are illegal to even keep one or even carry one and you'll end up arrested if someone sees you or finds out you have one on you.
Elena: (disappointed) I can't believe people would resort to selling stuff like that. I want to see the king himself in order to talk to him!
Me: You won't get a chance. He may order his guards to arrest you and send you to a jail cell or he may sentence you to working for him.
Elena: (shivers) Maybe, I shouldn't see the king then.
Me: (senses a familiar presence) (thinking) Jong, just what are you doing here in the Jidar Kingdom,anyway?
Meanwhile
Jong: (looks at plans) We almost have all the prisoners out. We just need to get the rest and we're done. Got it?
Jong was speaking to the prisoners he freed who he was able to rescue. The guards were knocked out by Jong and were replaced with the prisoners in disguise. Their plan is to rescue all the prisoners,which has been working well without any of the other guards knowing. Jong's teammates were in the Gourmet World,getting ingredients in order to feed the prisoners who haven't eaten or barely eaten a thing. The prisoners cheered quietly as the plan was working. Some of the prisoners are chefs or workers who were sent to jail by the king for messing something up.
Jong: The kingdom is getting ready to pack up and move out. Let's hurry and free the rest of the prisoners.
Back to us
I was holding onto a big bag of Juicy Mushrooms since I bought them all for Elena. We were discussing on how we should cook them. But now's not time to talk about Juicy Mushroom soup or sauteed Juicy Mushroom. We made it to the Gourmet Casino,it looked like the same as it did in the alternate world (manga version) of Toriko.
Elena: (eyes sparkling) Beautiful. (takes a picture)
Me: (agrees) (nods) Yeah, it is...(sweatdrop) (turns to Elena) You didn't listen to me and brought along your camera. Didn't you?
Elena: (shy tone) Well,I wanted to take pictures of the memories. Is that okay, Jing?
Me: (smiling) Yes, it's okay. I'm fine with it,just keep it safe. (thinking) (furious) No,it's not okay! Why would you bring a camera if I told you to leave it in your backpack?! I mean,seriously, come on!
Coco: Now then,shall we play some games? (wink)
Few Minutes Later
We were walking through Gourmet Casino,taking in the sights of the places of Gourmet Casino, like the restaurants.
Komatsu: (amazed) A casino at night...What a splendorous city! And it's so huge!
Coco: Of the million gourmet gambling establishments all over the world, this place, Gourmet Casino,boasts the largest size and ability to attract customers. For a casino that handles illegal ingredients,it has an unthinkably huge scale. 100 Trillion yen changes hands every day here. It's truly a gambling kingdom.
Komatsu: (shocked) 100 trillion yen?! Just how much is that?!
Toriko: In the city,there are top-level 10-star hotels and restaurants lined up side by side. Right now, this place is Jidar Kingdom's greatest draw for tourism.
Komatsu: (runs and screeches to a halt) (impressed) Woah, you're right! (excited) It's got different kinds of top-class restaurantsthat you don't even see much in Gourmet Town! The poor public order gave such a bad impression, but now Jidar Kingdom's looks like a paradise!
Toriko: That face you're making has gotta be illegal, Komatsu.
Then,some commotion happened.
Man: (yells) Thief!
There was a guy running with a bag of money.
Man: Someone stop him! My money!
Komatsu: I guess even in the city, the public order is bad.
Toriko: Well it's a lawless area after all. Of course there'd be a lot of crimes aimed against casino customers.
Man #2: Do you think that robber is gonna get away or you think he'll be shot with a gun and that'll be the end of it?
Elena: (confused) What are they talking about?
Me: The security.
There was two guys,one of them standing next to the one crouched and is pointing a gun at the thief.
Elena: (worried) What if someone gets hurt?
Me: (shrugs) Only the thief will...(thinking) If they're lucky.
Man #3: There's no chance he'll get away.
Man #2: Let's bet on it. I'll go with "gets away".
Man #3: And I'll go for the long shot, "gets shot".
They were both laughing like this was normal.
Man #2: Let's place the odds at 50-50. Whoever wins gets 1 million.
Thief: Outta the way, you!
Komatsu: (scared) He's coming this way, Toriko-san!
Thief: (running) Outta the way, bastards!
Man: Wait!
Thief: Get outta my way!
Man: Catch him!
Toriko: Fork Shield!
The Fork Shield landed in front of the thief, which caused him to fall backwards with the bad of money flying out of his grip. A lot of the money flew out of the bag and landed on the ground.
Security: Do you intend to side with the criminal?
Coco: We had the same goal as you. We were just trying to catch him.
Security #1: (scowls) (turns) Take him away!
Man #3: He's been captured alive? That's rare!
Man #2: (laughing) I suppose we both lose.
Coco: There are times when the Gourmet Casino goes too far, but Gourmet Casino is not under the control of the Gourmet Gambling Commission, or GGC.
Me: (thinking) (back turned) Seriously going to try and steal Komatsu's wallet? I ought to give him a piece of my mind. In fact, that's what I'll do. (about to stop man)
We heard something behind us and turned. We saw Match and some people from the Gourmet Mafia behind him.
Komatsu: (happy) (smiles) Match-san!
Toriko: It's been a while, Match!
Match: Hey.
Me: We haven't seen you since we tasted Komatsu's Century Soup!
Toriko: I see. Your hometown,Nerg City,isn't too far from here, huh?
Komatsu: It's nice to see you again,too,Shin-san,Louie-san.
Match: You look like you're doing okay, Komatsu.
Komatsu: Yes! I'm so happy to see you all again!
Match: (gratitude) The Century Soup you made was a big hit with the kids in the villages. Thank you.
Komatsu: You're welcome! I'll make more whenever you want, so be sure to come and get some!
Match: Toriko and Coco. So two of the Four Heavenly Kings have come here to gamble,huh? You're target is a prize ingredient, I'd expect.
Toriko: Of course.
Match: (walks up) It's you guys,after all. It's easy to guess you'd be after a valuable ingredient. The kind you couldn't get unless you got into the Exclusive VIP area.
Komatsu: (confused) Exclusive VIP area?
Me: (whispers to Elena) It's where what we're looking for is at.
Elena: (understands) Oh.
Ram: (walks up behind Match) Boss.
Match: (looks over shoulder) Ram? How's it looking?
Ram: As we thought, lots of dangerous ingredients are out on the market.
Match: Yeah, I expected as much.
Komatsu: Boss...Match-san,did Ram-san just called you "boss"?
Ram: It's true that Match-san was the number-two man before, but now he's the boss.
The rest of the Gourmet Mafia nodded.
Match: The former boss, Ryuu-san,resigned.
Toriko: (surprised) Resigned? That former boss of yours was a pretty well-renowned powerful person. Wasn't he pretty highly active? What brought this on all of a sudden?
Match: I don't know. All he told me was he had a "big job to do" and he brought a few subordinates with him to the Gourmet World.
Toriko: (surprised) Gourmet World?
Match: Apparently he was invited by Saiseiya Yosaku. But he didn't tell me any details about his goal.
Toriko: (even more surprised) What? By Saiseiya Yosaku?
Match: (looks to the side) Yeah. Ryuun-san just said "I'm leaving my cute little Gourmet Mafia sons and Nerg City in your hands", and left. I saw his back disappear from view, and that was it. Well,anyhow I've taken Ryuu-san's place and now I'm in position where need to get firm control hold over Nerg City.
Coco: So what would a mafia boss like you be doing coming to somewhere outside his territory like Jidar?
Match: There are narcotic ingredients circulating in Nerg City.
We looked shocked at what he said.
Elena: (shocked) What?! That doesn't sound good!
Match: Some illegal ingredients with high toxicity that we've never seen before. The Underground Cooking World is...an underground organization specializing in handling illegal ingredients that can't be served in normal shops. They scatter illegal foods and narcotic ingredients like nothing we've seen before. And the source of it all is none other than (turns) this place, Gourmet Casino. Gourmet Casino is managed by Jidar Kingdom's state management, but the king entrusts the casino to the underground society.
Toriko: In other words, the ones really pulling the strings here are the Underground Cooking World, huh?
Match: Yeah. And the mastermind behind it is...the Boss of the Underground Cooking World, Livebearer. A dark chef that currently acts as a dealer in the casino. We came here to take those narcotic ingredients they're currently controlling.
Shin: We don't want to see little kids eating Electric Bananas!
Komatsu: Match-san...
Elena: (whispers) Looks like they'll try and raid the casino by force. Not a good idea.
Me: (whispers) I know, right?
Match: We're not letting any more poison flow into our city!
Komatsu: (figures out) Match-san,then you came to Gourmet Casino to...
Coco: Impossible.
Komatsu: (shocked) Coco-san!
Coco: (calm) With the power you currently have, you don't stand a chance against that organization...
Me: (sweatdrop) (mutters under my breath) Is he trying to start a fight?
Shin: (insulted) What?!
Match: (raises hand to stop Shin) Heavenly King Coco, what makes you say that?
Coco: I'm a fortune teller. If you want to win,it won't be by force, it can only be by gambling. I know this city quite well. And Livebearer's power as well.
Komatsu: Match-san,Shin-san,Louie-san, how about we leave this part to Coco? That's to get rid of the illegal ingredients as fast as possible,too. Okay, Match-san?
Toriko: (agrees)Well, that sounds good. (puts hand on Match's shoulder) Shall we do this together?
Match: Toriko...
Toriko: Our target ingredient is in the casino as well. So when we win a crushing victory, you can confiscate all of the illegal prize ingredients and bring them home with you. Kay?
Match was speechless.
Louie: Boss...
Match: (decides) (looks over his shoulder) Well, I'm not a big fan of shit like gambling, but if we can take it all legally, that would be the best way to do it?
Mafia: (cheers) All right!
Komatsu: (excited) Let's go! Let's go!
Toriko: (talking to Coco) Then it's decided.
Coco nodded his head in agreement.
Me: (excited) Wow, I'm all pumped up with excitement!
Elena: (excited) (agrees) (nods) Me too! I can't wait to go inside the Gourmet Casino!
Few Minutes Later
We made it to a bridge that leads to the Gourmet Casino. We continued walking to the Gourmet Casino.
Coco: Past here is Gourmet Casino's general main area.
Komatsu: (confused) General main area?
Coco: It's nicknamed the Appetite Labyrinth.
Komatsu: (runs ahead) Ah, there it is!
We made it to the banister. The view was great from way up there.
Komatsu: (really amazed) Amazing! This is all part of the casino?!
The casino was really long and had lots of games and people.
Coco: (thinking) Komatsu-kun, this is still section of it.
Elena: (amazed) It's beautiful! I can't wait to play the games here!
Me: (thinking) (laughs) For her first time here, she's so impressed just by the way it looks. (serious) But, looks can be deceiving, and this place may look amazing,but underneath,it's horrible.
Cedre
Name: Cedre (Toriko)
Age: 24 (on the team, he's 16 years old)
Occupation: Used to be the 6th Branch Sous Chief of the Bishokukai and the Food Procurement Team. Now he is the cook of Team Meanies.
Power: Uses the power of his Zanpakutō, Kokoro no bōkan-sha ((Onlooker of the Mind),to look into his opponents thoughts and see what they're going to do,like their attacks.
Zanpakutō: (it's disguised as glasses in order to hide the weapon itself) Kokoro no bōkan-sha (it's released state form is a whip made out of Kidō) (Bankai: Shisō kontorōra (translates as Thought Controller) (controls what the opponent is thinking))
Info: He was defeated in a cook off by Taren. So now, he's the cook of Team Meanies.
Full Course Menu: ? Partner: Mame Daifurou Combo with: Hakudōshi (Inuyasha)
Hors d'oeuvre: Human-Faced Mushroom Pickles
Soup: Mad Dragon
Fish: Fried Sea Piranha Eyeballs
Meat: Grilled Sparibster Sandwich
Main dish: ?
Salad: ?
Dessert: Mango Karin Pudding Mountain
Drink: Raochu
Pokémon:
Sigilyph
Unown
Galvantula
Magnemite-Magneton
Beldum-Metang
Roggenrola
Next Chapter is about when we're inside the Gourmet Casino and are playing games. Then, we'll meet the owner of the Gourmet Casino, Livebearer.