Gourmet Illusion Realm X Secret Realm

Inside the Manor restaurant.

Everyone sat quietly, their eyes fixed on the dining table in front of them, a hint of anticipation in their eyes.

On the long solid wood dining table, only one dish was placed, covered with a large lid, adding a touch of mystery to the dish.

Are you very confident in your work this time?

Kevin stared at the dishes in the middle and asked without turning his head.

"Hmph, who do you think I am? Of course I'm confident!"

Men Qi crossed her arms, her face beaming with pride.

She has no idea what humility is.

She's an amazing cook; her food is delicious.

Buhaci sat to the side, his mouth wide open, drool dripping from his mouth.

He completely loses control of his expression when he encounters a delicious food he wants to eat.

Judging from his appearance, this work is bound to be good.

Open your eyes wide and watch carefully!

Men Qi shouted, and suddenly yanked the lid off.

In an instant, a blinding light flashed!

A blinding golden light burst forth.

"Ah!"

Caught off guard, everyone was blinded by the golden light and quickly raised their hands to shield their eyes.

It's glowing!

Kevin couldn't help but marvel.

No, is this reasonable?

"Why is it glowing?" Pairo, completely puzzled and unable to understand.

"Just like in the comics!" Nion cheered excitedly.

She's also a fan of food-themed comics.

Everyone was wondering: Does it really glow?

Furthermore, according to the comics, shouldn't this golden light dissipate immediately? Why is it still flashing?

The golden light showed no sign of dissipating, continuously shimmering from the dishes in the center.

These situations are different from those in the comics.

Men Qi seemed to have anticipated this, and the moment the lid was opened, she put on sunglasses.

After everyone's eyes were dazzled, she smiled and then reached for a spoon to stir.

As you stir, the golden light gradually dissipates at a speed visible to the naked eye, as if it has blended into the dish.

Everyone rubbed their eyes, which were still swollen from the flashing lights, and looked at the dishes.

"Soup?" Kurapika exclaimed in surprise.

This was indeed unexpected.

That's right, there's a bowl of chicken soup on the table, a real Golden Chicken.

Men Qi deliberately chose a large crystal glass bowl to serve the soup, which was obviously intentional, making the golden light emanating from the soup appear particularly dazzling.

The soup was thick and golden in color, with red fruits faintly visible in it.

On the golden surface of the soup, pink petals, like cherry blossoms, floated.

But its appearance is rather peculiar.

Even after being stirred, the soup still emitted a faint golden glow, looking like liquid gold, and it didn't look like edible food at all.

They're called food, but they're more like decorative items for display.

Is it really safe to drink?

Kurapika couldn't help but ask, "This soup inexplicably gives me the feeling of drinking liquid metal."

Men Qi sighed helplessly and explained, "Just like the information you gave me, the meat of the Golden Chicken is indeed not very good. It's obvious at a glance that it's not suitable for making any chicken dishes."

Although the meat wasn't great, the energy it contained was undeniable, so I decided to make soup. But I couldn't get rid of the golden liquid color; the gold color seemed to be its essential characteristic, and I had to preserve it.

Moreover, it has this golden color, like liquid metal.

For a chef, the ability to make food look, smell, and taste delicious is a basic requirement.

If the appearance of a dish affects a person's appetite, then it is a mistake on the part of the chef.

This bowl of chicken soup has these problems to some extent, which is a bit of a regret for Men Qi, as she couldn't make it perfect.

It feels like eating a golden sculpture.

"May I try some?" Kevin asked.

He could already vaguely sense the thickness of the soup and the rich nutrients it contained.

"I want a bowl too!" Nion said, raising her hand.

The others nodded in agreement.

Buhaci moved closer, his eagerness evident.

Men Qi nodded, picked up a soup spoon, and ladled a bowl for everyone, placing it in front of them.

Kevin picked up the crystal bowl and felt increasingly like he was drinking liquid gold, a rather strange feeling.

He kept a spoonful of soup and put it in his mouth.

The liquid slid into my mouth, and a wonderful taste exploded instantly.

"Coo coo coo!"

A piercing yet energetic rooster crow exploded in my ears.

Kevin felt as if he were in a golden world, where everything shimmered with a golden luster. This gold seemed to be pure Life Force, exuding an aura of nobility, depth, and vitality.

A Giant Bird, resembling a phoenix and radiating golden light, flew across the sky. What was it?

Kevin felt uneasy.

Unbeknownst to him, he found himself on the back of the Giant Bird, where he saw the conspicuous comb on its head—the only splash of bright red in this golden world.

He felt the vitality of the Golden Chicken, as if he were roaming freely in a spiritual world.

My whole body was full of energy, every cell seemed to be expanding, and a continuous stream of power was surging forth.

It's another illusion.

Is this really not Nen ability?

"Call!"

Kevin opened his eyes.

"Ouch! A chicken is pecking at my head!"

After drinking the chicken soup, Nion held her head, looking quite strange.

Everyone else also wore strange expressions.

Even Men Qi and Xiahara were immersed in this unique culinary experience.

Before long, everyone gradually came to their senses.

"That's outrageous! You didn't put any drugs in it, did you?"

This bizarre experience was like something out of a strange food comic; Gourmet Illusion Realm had actually appeared.

"Nonsense, are you questioning my profession?" Men Qi said, displeased.

Kevin didn't respond, silently leaving another spoonful in his mouth. This time, it felt much normal; he only tasted the deliciousness and the rich Life Force.

It seems that only the first sip has such an impact, and then the taste buds quickly adapt, still able to taste its ultimate deliciousness, but without causing hallucinations.

After finishing a bowl of soup, Kevin felt a surge of energy flowing into his body and was surprisingly full.

This is no joke.

Kevin's appetite is quite astonishing now; apart from exceptional cases like the Xiahara, it's hard to find anyone whose appetite can compare to his.

This feeling of fullness isn't because there's too much food in your stomach, but rather because the food contains so much nutrition and energy that it feels like your body is "full," creating this illusion.

Even after finishing a bowl of chicken soup, Buhaci looked completely satisfied and content.

"The Golden Chicken's body actually contains such powerful nutrients?" Kevin muttered to himself.

Menchi, who was standing next to him, nodded in agreement, clearly having already studied the matter.

"Of course, these Golden Chicken eat precious medicinal herbs, and the nutritional value of these herbs goes without saying."

"And haven't you noticed? The food that the Golden Chicken eats, what it excretes is almost entirely pure waste. This shows that the Golden Chicken is able to perfectly absorb the nutrients in its food."

"The Golden Egg they lay are formed from the excess energy their bodies can't handle and which is then expelled. If it's a fertilized egg, I think the energy inside might even double."

"So that's how it is, "Kevin thought to himself.

As for Men Qi's hint, pretend you didn't hear it.

That said, Gourmet Hunter' understanding of ingredients is no less than that of biological researchers.

This sparked everyone's interest in chatting.

Men Qi began to explain the process of making the chicken soup. Although the others might not fully understand it, they at least grasped the underlying idea.

"It won't be easy to draw out the energy from the Golden Chicken's body. Luckily, you gave me two eggs. I'll use the eggs as a catalyst."

I finally managed to extract the nutrients from the Golden Chicken.

What do you think of this [Golden Supreme Golden Chicken Soup]?

Men Qi crossed her arms, tilted her head slightly, and asked...

Before Kevin could speak, Nion raised her hand, and somehow a sign that read "10" appeared in her hand.

"Perfect score!"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Finally, everyone drank a bowl of chicken soup, marking the end of the tasting session for this dish.

Kevin looked at his slightly oily skin, then at the others; everyone else had oily faces.

"Your bodies aren't strong enough, and the nutrients and energy in the chicken soup are starting to leak out, which is similar to the effect of Digestion Potion after it has completely digested the food."

"You guys probably won't be able to sleep tonight, so you'd better go exercise."

As he spoke, Kevin looked at Nion, who had a worried expression.

"Nion, if you don't want to be a little chubby tomorrow, you'd better work hard tonight. It's better to convert this energy into nutrients for your body than to struggle with dieting later."

Nion's face turned even shrug.

But compared to becoming fat, working out all night is obviously acceptable. Otherwise, losing weight is much more troublesome than working out all night.

"It's all because this chicken soup was too delicious. I wish I hadn't had a second bowl."

Of course, this was just a complaint afterward; it would have been impossible for her not to drink a second bowl at the time.

"Ah, how leisurely! Is this the life of the wealthy?"

Men Qi lay comfortably in the garden.

As summer approaches, the air becomes hot.

However, at this time, summer was just beginning.

The hot temperature is very limited.

However, the Manor is built in the mountains and forests, and a gentle breeze blows from time to time, bringing a touch of coolness to the hot summer days.

"When I retire, buying Manor and becoming a wealthy person wouldn't be bad."

Men Qi suddenly began to dream about the future.

"Retirement? Hunter x Hunter can retire?"

Kevin, who had walked over unnoticed, rolled his eyes and asked.

"What? Hunter x Hunter are human too. Of course they want to rest when their bodies can't take it anymore."

Men Qi grumbled in dissatisfaction.

Even if it's a hobby, you can't do it for a lifetime; your health won't allow it.

"For Gourmet Hunter like you, isn't work just a hobby? Isn't it just a dream and a goal?" Kevin asked.

"That's true, but the thought of preparing for the next target—planning routes, securing qualifications, gathering intelligence, and preparing supplies—feels like a huge hassle."

These things have nothing to do with her hobbies; they're just for achieving her goals and ensuring her own safety.

Although necessary, it is still quite tedious.

At this point, Men Qi sighed and shifted her position to lie on her side.

He just sat there, basking in the sun like a salted fish.

"Sigh, I'm getting lazy."

"Yes, a leisurely life can easily make people lose their fighting spirit."

Buhaci agreed, rolling around on the grass twice.

There was even a pile of comic books next to him, and a huge pile of potato chips on his stomach.

A classic example of a chubby, lazy guy.

Kevin casually lay down on the recliner next to him, opened the book in his hand, and began to read carefully.

"Didn't you just get back? It's normal to be lazy and take a break every now and then."

"Humans aren't machines. If we keep striving for our dreams and goals, wouldn't we become perpetual motion machines chasing our dreams? That's too rigid. A balance between work and rest is the right way to live."

Kevin said this while reading a book.

"Don't feel guilty for taking a break; it's a basic human need."

"Speaking of which, do you remember what happened to us in the Kakin Empire? I heard that the follow-up problems have arisen and been resolved."

Men Qi brought it up casually.

Upon hearing this, Kevin glanced at her.

"What?"

Men Qi asked curiously, not understanding what Kevin meant by that look.

"Spending long periods outdoors can easily lead to a disconnect from the outside world."

"What's the meaning?"

"Have you ever thought about where the Golden Chicken came from?"

Men Qi nodded, then shook her head.

Buhaci was standing next to him, also sat up and curiously came over.

"I was involved in the aftermath of this matter, and here's what happened---"

Kevin briefly recounted what had happened to him recently.

After listening, Men Qi and the other person suddenly realized what was going on.

"So you were involved in the aftermath. I didn't know Begel was one of the participants."

"Bioengineering and such is too unorthodox. Organisms should evolve through their struggle against nature and life itself; artificial intervention is simply unacceptable."

The thought that she might be eating bio-modified food made Men Qi very uncomfortable.

She's a rather traditional chef.

Using artificial organisms as food is still too advanced.

"Speaking of which, you were actually this amazing?"

Men Qi was somewhat surprised to hear about Kevin's experience fighting monsters.

Kevin rolled his eyes. "I'm definitely better than you, okay?"

"Spray."

Men Qi clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction. Although she was not weak in martial arts, she could not be considered a pure Martial Faction, so she was just a little annoyed.

Suddenly, Men Qi's eyes lit up, as if she had thought of something.

"Would you like to join us next time?"

"Let's act together?" Kevin, somewhat puzzled, not quite understanding her meaning.

Men Qi turned to look at Xiahara, Xiahala nodded in agreement.

He didn't mind; traveling with Kevin was a good option, at least their safety would be better guaranteed.

One more companion means one more lively time.

He's not some reclusive guy.

Do you know about [the Secret Realm]?

"Nonsense, of course I know."

The terms "Secret Realm," "Demonic Realm," and "Forbidden Zone" are all names the Association uses to refer to certain special regions.

Essentially, these areas harbor a variety of dangers.

It's important to know that Demonic Beast exist in this world. Some Demonic Beast are just as intelligent as humans, and some even possess abilities that humans don't have. Some are even born with Nen ability.

Some Demonic Beast coexist peacefully with humans, but they are unwilling to interact with them much; and being their enemy may not be beneficial to humans.

Ignorant ordinary people might even anger them, causing conflict and resulting in more harm than good.

Some Demonic Beast also know that a true, life-or-death struggle with humans would bring them no benefit.

Some areas are inhabited by formidable creatures. For various reasons, these creatures do not leave these areas.

In some areas, due to battles, wars, or Nen ability experiments, regional changes caused by Nen ability have occurred, leading to their sealing off.

These areas pose a deadly danger to ordinary people and even weak Nen user. Rushing into them could trigger an even greater crisis. Therefore, they are divided into different areas and labeled with different names according to the Danger Level.

[Secret Realm] are areas with relatively low Danger Level, and are mostly Blockade for special reasons, prohibiting outsiders from entering or leaving at will.

Some places weren't even Blockade; they were simply too difficult for ordinary people to reach, making them unknown.

Hunter x Hunter are one of the few groups permitted to enter and exit.

Of course, even if entry and exit are permitted, prior notification is required; unauthorized entry is strictly prohibited.

"You mean, your next goal is to go to some Secret Realm?"

Kevin looked at the servant and asked.

Men Qi nodded.

"They have what we want inside, as well as legendary, incredibly valuable ingredients. As Gourmet Hunter, how can we not go?"

The ingredients on the plate? Kevin's heart skipped a beat. He asked, "So, there might be some large, treacherous creatures in there, right?"

Men Qi smiled and nodded.

She knew that Kevin would be tempted whenever he heard of a large, treacherous creature.

"That's right, most Phantom Beast actually live in such areas; otherwise, why would they only exist in legends and remain undiscovered for so long?"

Kevin knew this and wasn't surprised.

Tell me the specifics, and I'll consider them before making a decision.

"You can go to the Hunter x Hunter's internal website and search for [Food Village]."

Just hearing the title makes it seem like it's a perfect fit for Gourmet Hunter.

"This inscription is really strange. Could it be that there are still people living inside this Secret Realm?"

"You're quite perceptive, Kevin. Yes, there are indeed people living inside."

Kevin was somewhat surprised to find that there actually was.

"Alright, I'll go check it out, but even if I do, you'll have to wait here for a few more months. After all, I can't just leave; I need to take care of some things first."

Men Qi nodded. "No problem, no problem, you can take your time to arrange it. We're not in a rush, after all, this trip is quite long."

"Can't it be completed in a month?"

"A month? Then we've probably only just entered the Secret Realm."