As the light faded, several dishes materialized on the once-empty surface, their rich aroma filling the air like an enchanting spell.
'Space-type Nen tool!'
Though the delicious food was tempting, Larry's attention focused on the silver bracelet.
From Beyond's gesture, it was clear this was a space-type Nen tool.
Thanks to that bracelet, the dishes remained steaming hot and freshly prepared.
This was only the third space-type Nen tool Larry had encountered.
The first was Ging's small cloth bag, which allowed him to pull out fresh fruits anytime.
The second was a gray ring he'd seen recently in the Hunter Association's collection room, a polished stone-like band that stored various mantras.
Larry found it fascinating because space-type tools were incredibly rare, almost like the legendary space rings from immortal cultivation stories.
Among all the Hunter Association's collected artifacts, only that ring was a space-type tool.
The rarity of these items was far greater than he had imagined.
As for why he hadn't chosen that ring himself, the answer was simple enough.
Since the pocket inside this ring was so tiny, he might as well choose something else instead of settling for such a small storage space.
Besides, he already had Gengar and Porygon Z to store his belongings, so space wasn't really an issue for him.
Still, items like this, ones he didn't pay much attention to, were things most people might never come across in their entire lives.
The third space-type tool he had seen so far was the silver bracelet on Beyond's wrist.
From what he'd observed, space-type tools were pretty rare across the six continents, especially in the major countries at this point in time.
Only the strong were truly qualified to possess such a thing.
Beyond's gesture wasn't just about bringing out the food; it was a way to showcase his "strength."
And strength here didn't just mean fighting power; it included financial resources, background, and influence.
Having a space-type Nen tool perfectly represented all these qualities.
So why did he want to flaunt his strength?
Most likely, he was still hoping to secure a spot on the team.
Larry commented calmly, his words carrying a double meaning.
He wasn't just talking about the impressive spread of food, but also admiring Beyond's subtle tactics.
Beyond certainly deserved to be an ally of the King of the Kakin Empire.
His attention to detail alone was impressive.
You could say he and Ging were cut from the same cloth; both were sharp observers who noticed the little things and responded accordingly.
The difference was Ging relied more on raw intelligence and didn't focus much on social interactions, whereas Beyond excelled in emotional intelligence, leadership, and managing relationships.
He knew how to satisfy people in every way.
Even someone as picky as Nasubi had to admit that Beyond made a great partner.
And that was quite a contrast to his rough exterior.
"Ah, it's nothing. Just a little something to thank Mr. Larry," Beyond said, scratching the back of his head and deliberately ignoring the deeper meaning behind Larry's words.
Ignoring it was probably his best move at that moment.
Since Beyond didn't bring up Snorlax and got straight to the point, Larry let it slide.
Meanwhile, Snorlax was fully focused on the delicious dishes laid out before him.
"This is nothing. You've really gone out of your way to prepare all this," Larry said meaningfully as he took in the spread.
He carefully examined each dish like it was a treasure.
"Whitening caviar, white jade dish, dreamy tuna..."
Seeing these delicacies again made Larry feel like he'd stepped into another world.
His emotions weren't just stirred by the food appearing before him once more, but also by Beyond's meticulous care.
If it had been any other food, he might not have recognized it, but these dishes were familiar; they were the same ones he and Menchi had finally presented together at a food competition.
The cooking method was strikingly similar to Menchi's, making the dish instantly recognizable.
This suggested that Beyond had likely investigated the food he once tasted, possibly obtaining footage from the food competition, and then had someone replicate these dishes.
Not only did the food serve to satisfy his palate, but it also conveyed his intentions.
However, sourcing all the original ingredients proved challenging, as many were exclusive to the Gourmet Paradise's food district.
This implied that Beyond had connections there, explaining the presence of such a high-end spread.
Even so, the dishes weren't exact replicas; for instance, mammoth meat was replaced with other types of meat.
Considering the difficulty and effort involved, assembling this table alone demonstrated Beyond's considerable power.
"These delicacies might not match the taste you first experienced, but please, try them," Beyond said, bowing slightly and inviting Larry to dig in, his confident smile revealing his pride in the meal.
Beyond the challenge of acquiring ingredients, the chefs were hired from Gourmet Paradise.
At a steep price.
Among them was the bald chef who had been deeply moved by Menchi's cooking during the competition. As a senior executive at Gourmet Paradise and one of the top chefs across the six continents, his fee was paid with a share of the final dishes.
"Alright, then I won't hold back," Larry replied, raising his eyebrows as he picked up the knife and fork, ready to enjoy the feast.
The meal had been reserved; otherwise people would have swarmed the table.
These exquisite dishes stirred primal desires in anyone who saw them. Much like an ant king facing a powerful warrior, there was only one thought in his mind: to eat.
Larry cut off a piece of meat and immediately stuffed it into his mouth without hesitation, showing his trust in Beyond.
Despite being strangers meeting for the first time, Larry's willingness to eat what Beyond offered spoke volumes about his generosity, skill, and courage.
Larry wasn't afraid of poison or any other tricks.
Although the meat in this dish wasn't from an original mammoth, it was still considered one of the finest ingredients across the six continents.
Its flavor was only slightly different from the mammoth meat Menchi had prepared earlier.
But for Larry, these delicacies were mostly just to satisfy his hunger.
Since he had already bonded with the Shedinja but not yet with the Snorlax, he hadn't experienced any significant boost from the food.
Plus, his strength had improved so much that it was hard for food from the six continents to make any real impact.
If he wanted to see a noticeable improvement, he'd probably have to try the food from the Dark Continent.
So while the meal was delicious, to Larry it was just a meal.
Seeing Larry eat without hesitation, Beyond didn't doubt him at all.
It wasn't just that Larry had no tricks up his sleeve. It was clear he wasn't afraid of small tricks either.
That kind of boldness always left a good impression.
Who doesn't like feeling trusted?
Meeting Larry in person only strengthened Beyond's desire to recruit him for their journey.
Beyond Larry's incredible strength and versatile skills, his easygoing nature made him an ideal companion for the dangerous trip to the Dark Continent.
Beyond had already made up his mind. No matter what, he was going to hold on tight to Larry's support.
"Mr. Larry, I want to toast you and thank you for saving my father's life," Beyond said, raising a glass of rose wine, the same kind King Nasubi usually drank.
"It's nothing, just a simple move," Larry replied, putting down his knife and fork and raising his glass in return.
"So, besides thanking me, is there anything else you want to say?"