Larry, looking pletely unfazed, gave a nod. “Yep. Meet Gengar, my other Ne. It store things is body without any issues.” Larry expined casually.

  “Ge-ngar! Gen-gar!” Gengar chimed in, stig out its tongue pyfully. It seemed every Gengar shared a love for pranks.

  Menchi’s cheeks flushed slightly as she murmured under her breath, “So cute...” But soon, ahought struck her, and she poi Gengar in shock. “Wait! You’re telli store things without any issues?!” Her sudden outburst startled a nearby sand tapir resting on a du zily scratched its round belly, g them for a moment, then rolled over a back to sleep.

  Larry blinked, fused by Menchi’s tinued surprise. “Uh... yeah?”

  What followed was a mastercss in facial expressions. Menchi's face cycled rapidly through joy, envy, and finally frustration—reminding Larry of the time he watched Pies, the o owner, pull the same stunt ba town. “What’s wrong?” Larry asked, curious about her rea.

  Menchi let out a long sigh and, with a faint smile, expined. As one of the top Gourmet Hunters, Menchi prided herself on her ary expertise and Nen abilities. Her unique ability, "Menchi’s Kit," allowed her to materialize a full set of kit tools wherever she went, giving her a huge advantage over ourmet Hunters.

  However, no matter how skilled she was, there was a universal challehat all Gourmet Hunters faced—ingredient preservation. Freshness was everything. The quality of an ingredieeriorated over time, and for someoh her refiastes, using anythihan the freshest catch was uable.

  Unfortunately, most Gourmet Hunters had to work deep in the wilderness, far from civilization, and couldly carry a massive refrigerator around. Space-based Nen abilities, which allowed the ste of items in a separate dimension, were incredibly rare. Most hunters, even seasoned ones, had never even entered su ability.

  Larry listetentively, and a partien user from the Chimera Ant arc crossed his mind—Knov, with his ability "4th-Dimensional Apartment," which allowed him to store both people and objects with ease.

  Menchi’s expression showed a mix of excitement and resignation. She was thrilled to have met someoh su ability, but also frustrated that she didn't possess it herself. Realizing she had lost her posure, Menchi quickly regained her usual demeanor, though her eyes lingered on Gengar with a hint of longing.

  "Gengar..." Gengar, sensing the intense gaze, retreated behind Larry, peeking out with only half of its face showing. It tugged on Larry’s sleeve, whispering softly, “Ge... Ge-Ngar?”

  Larry burst out ughing, wiping tears from his eyes. “Hahaha! No, no, Gengar. She’s just amazed by your ability.”

  Menchi, realizing the misuanding, gave Gengar a pyful gre. “I would you, you little prankster!”

  Larry grinned. “Hey, if you ever need help with ingredient ste iure, just let me know. But iurn… you have to let me try whatever you make.”

  Menchi’s eyes sparkled with gratitude, and she nodded eagerly. “Deal!”

  At that moment, she felt like she had struck gold. Larry, with his unique abilities, felt like an ereasure trove of surprises. As the night settled in, Menchi prepared a meal with rare desert ingredients she had collected throughout their jourhe dishes were extraordinary—crispy belly meat of the Sandworm King, the sweet juice of the once-a-year fruit from the Sand Tree, and an array of fvorful side dishes uo Gordeau Desert.

  However, what truly caught Larry’s attention wasn’t the exotic dishes themselves, but a small bowl of sauce pced in the ter of the table. Curious, he picked up a piece of sandworm meat, dipped it lightly into the sauce, and took a bite.

  The chewy texture of the meat bined with the sauce’s rich, umami-packed yers exploded in his mouth. The depth of fvor was on another level. Larry chewed thoughtfully. “This... this sauce is made from seafood, isn’t it? It’s incredibly plex—there are so many ingredients blended into it.”

  Menchi’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Exactly! This sauce is made from the essence of five k and four B-rank o ingredients. I call it ‘Ultimate Freshness.’”

  Larry took another bite, sav the incredible bination. The desert’s dry and somewhat bnd ingredients were pletely transformed with the sauce, turning them into a mouthwatering delicacy. It erfect harmony of fvors—the sandworm meat, which could bee tiresome on its own, was elevated to airely new level when paired with the sauce.

  Larry nodded in appreciation. “This... this is why you’re a Gourmet Hunter.”

  Menchi grinned proudly. “It’s all about knowing how t out the best in every ingredient. It’s not just about hunting food, but creating something that exceeds expectations.”

  Larry looked at the spread before him, realizing the dedication and passion Menchi put into her craft. Hunting down rare ingredients from dangerous pces, uanding their properties, and bining them into ary masterpieces—that was the essence of a Gourmet Hunter.

  The two devoured the feast with enthusiasm, enjoying every bite. When they finished, Menchi snapped her fingers, and the ptes vanished in an instant—her materialized kit tools disappearing bato thin air. Larry leaned back, feeling satisfied. Up until now, he had only tasted food from ordinary markets and street vendors. This, however, was on airely different level.

  After tasting Menchi’s cooking, Larry finally uood the true essence of a Gourmet Hunter’s pursuit. The fvors, the textures—everything was on a whole different level. “This… this is what real food should taste like,” Larry thought, lig the er of his mouth as he savored the lingering taste. He leaned back, staring at the starry sky and sighed, “Food really is the best gift in the world... Maybe I should bee a Gourmet Hunter after I pass the exam.”

  Menchi, who had been tidying up, perked up with excitement, “That’s great! I’d love to have another food enthusiast around!” But midway through her enthusiasm, a realization hit her, and she g Larry in surprise. “Wait… you haven’t taken the Hunter Exam yet?”

  Larry shrugged. “Nope. I never really thought about being a Hunter before, so I never bothered with the exam.”

  Menchi blinked in disbelief. With his abilities and strength, she had assumed he was already a lised Hunter. She g Larry’s two Nes—Gardevoir, whose presence alone radiated power and grace, and Gengar, who could teleport and store items with ease. Both were at least on par with her own strength, if not more. For someoh such capabilities to have aken the exam was… shog.

  “So... did someoeach you Nen?” Menchi asked, curiosity written all over her face.