"It's really beautiful—this place!" Misty stood on the deck with her arms outstretched, facing the sea breeze.
Sally leaned against the railing, her entire posture relaxed. Shizuku quietly pulled out a notebook and began recording something. Ron, meanwhile, was gazing at the faintly translucent, colorless crystal orb in front of him—an object only he could see.
"It's ready to begin." Light particles slowly emerged nearby, drawn into the crystal orb.
Tour guides led groups of tourists onto the deck, beginning their introductions.
"Everyone, this is the Langlang Sea. The seawater is incredibly clear—you can see dozens of meters below the surface. If you're interested in swimming, you'll have the chance shortly. The cruise will remain anchored here for two hours."
"These two hours are your lunchtime break. The cruise's restaurant will be open. The chefs here are from Gourmet Paradise—not comparable to any ordinary chefs in the outside world."
"The ingredients they use are freshly sourced from the sea itself, ensuring absolute freshness. Now, let me give you a detailed introduction to Gourmet Paradise. The cuisine here is the pinnacle of the human world—there's no competition."
"Chefs from all over the world gather here, and all kinds of culinary styles are represented. This is a paradise for food lovers. What's more, many people provide these chefs with ingredients—these come from all across the world, from secret caves, ocean depths, snow-covered mountains..."
"These remote and dangerous areas can only be accessed by a special group of people, known as freelance Gourmet Hunters."
Ron's eyes flickered slightly. Gourmet Hunters? That was essentially the same as Gourmet Hunters under the Hunter Association—just without formal affiliation. Their strength might be somewhat lower, but the role was similar.
"You could say, when it comes to food, Gourmet Paradise is a completely different world from anything you've seen before."
The tour guide introduced it with obvious pride, proud of Gourmet Paradise and proud of his own job.
"Gourmet Paradise is divided into four major zones. The first is the World Zone, which encircles the island. Generally speaking, tourists are allowed to enter this zone. Most of the outside chefs work here."
"In terms of flavor quality, the World Zone is relatively lower in the hierarchy of Gourmet Paradise. But it offers an enormous variety of dishes and is more affordable overall."
Ron understood. The World Zone was the most basic region of Gourmet Paradise: expansive in area, full of restaurants and chefs, and mostly populated by outsiders. For many chefs who learned of this place, it was considered sacred ground. Just like martial artists from across the world dreamed of fighting in Heaven's Arena, chefs came here to hone their skills and gain fame, power, and status.
But because of this influx, the level of skill among chefs here was inevitably inconsistent. Of course, that was only in relation to the other zones of Gourmet Paradise. Compared to outside chefs, even the least skilled here would not be considered inadequate outside.
"The second zone is called the Academy Zone. It houses a massive culinary academy named the Moon Institute."
"Many young chefs with exceptional talent study here. It's divided into junior and senior high school levels."
"But don't underestimate them just because they're students. Even the junior division students have formidable skills. As for the senior division, any student there could easily be regarded as a master chef in the outside world—especially the Elite Ten."
"Their cooking already far surpasses what you'll find in the World Zone. They can create nearly perfect dishes. A single bite will leave you savoring the flavor endlessly."
"Being able to taste one of their dishes is happiness itself. And since they're still students, they frequently engage in cooking battles."
"That gives us some luck as well—if we happen to be nearby, we can watch one of these battles without any requirements, and maybe even get a chance to taste their food."
A strange look crossed Ron's face. Everything about this Moon Institute—the structure, the Elite Ten, the student competitions—sounded exactly like Totsuki Academy. The whole setup felt unmistakably similar.
"The third zone is where the top graduates of the Moon Institute open their restaurants. Entry has strict requirements, and not everyone can go in. Before heading there, check your eligibility—if you don't qualify, don't bother. They won't make exceptions."
"To be honest, I've worked here for years and have never once gotten in. And forcing your way in isn't an option either."
"The security there is extraordinary—far beyond ordinary human standards. If you're caught violating the rules, you'll be permanently banned from ever entering Gourmet Paradise again."
Ron paid little attention to the guide's last few warnings. He knew that, given his identity, he would have no trouble gaining access. Menchi's status in Gourmet Paradise wouldn't be low, and the Zoldyck family had connections with Linne as well.
"The fourth zone is even more mysterious."
"Very little is known about it. It's said that only a rare few are allowed to enter. As for what kinds of cuisine exist inside, no one knows."
"But just imagine—being able to reach even the third zone is already remarkable."
As the guide spoke, the people on the deck became more intrigued by Gourmet Paradise. Humans are naturally drawn to exclusivity. The more restricted something is, the more desirable it becomes. If it had no barrier to entry, they wouldn't be nearly as interested.
"If nothing unexpected happens, the fourth zone should be where Senior Linne and others reside."
The cruise ship came to a stop. The sky was blue, the clouds white, and the water crystal clear. The restaurant became busy. Some passengers changed into swimwear and entered the sea. The ship lowered several flat platforms on both sides, which floated atop the waves.
Ron and his group also came down to the lower deck. To experience life, one could not stay elevated—they had to fully enter it, to live among ordinary people.
Misty dove straight into the sea. Sally sat at the edge of the platform, kicking up splashes with both feet. Shizuku was still recording things in her notebook. Ron sat beside Sally and waved over a waiter.
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