Chapter 203 - Gourmet Casino

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---Two months later--- 

In a place where the ambiance was very bad, Lev together with his summons and Coco could be seen walking while looking at the staring eyes around them. Aside from the place lacking people, the buildings and infrastructure were also somehow old and deprived of life. 

"Master, this place looks a bit sad." Yasaka suddenly said while looking at the expression of the people around. She could tell how bad their lives were just by looking at their faces which seemed to show sadness and wariness while staring at them. 

"Mmm. By the way, do you have a place to stay in this place, Coco?" Lev replied and asked while looking at the buildings in the area. Since they would probably stay here for more or less two more months, they needed a place to live but seeing the situation of the area, he could not help but think that there aren't some decent ones. 

"No, I don't." Coco answered while looking at Lev's back. Thinking about a place to stay, he could not help but think of having a good sleep since he started not having enough rest after they started training two months ago. He forced himself to believe that Toriko experienced it much more severely to relieve him from the stress that he had over the past two months. 

"Looks like we have no other choice then. Let's go to the Gourmet Casino." Lev said and smiled. Thinking about that place, he could not help but feel excited since that place would be a treasure trove waiting for him to dig out. 

Following Lev's suggestion, Minamoto and the others immediately asked him about what kind of place Gourmet Casino was which Lev could only answer their curiosity as they rode their respective partners on their way to the area. Coco, on the other hand, could only follow them behind since his training could only end if Lev said so. 

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---Night--- 

Gourmet Casino, 

As the largest Gourmet Gambling Establishment in the world, Gourmet Casino really lives up to its name. The place didn't disappoint Lev and the others' expectations seeing the night in the place looked like it was a day due to how bright the place was because of the lights and as the place was located in a crime-filled nation, Lev and the others experienced it firsthand right after they left the hotel that they checked-in. 

"Good. Let's enjoy this night for now." Lev said while looking through the entrance of the Gourmet Casino while wearing a formal suit making him much more attractive than usual that he immediately caught the attention of some rich women around. 

"Hehehe. I wonder what kind of Casino this place had." Mirajane said while looking at the surroundings. Seeing how grand and luxurious the place was, she could not help but feel extreme excitement. 

After Lev's words, Erza and the rest with their beautiful dresses walked inside the Gourmet Casino as if they were some sort of celebrity due to how dazzling they were. Men and even women could not help but take a glance at them, but they could only stare at them as there were several "White Blood Cells" serving as bodyguards blocking them when they got closer. 

"Coco, you should have fun and rest for now. Let's continue your 'Real' training tomorrow." Lev said before he walked and followed Mamako and the others inside. After seeing how exciting this place was, he finally decided to build a base for his operation in this place and let Sebas together with the White Blood Cells manage it. 

Coco, upon hearing Lev, looked at the Gourmet Casino in front of him. As much as he wanted to rest, his curiosity woke him up, and wanted to enter the place since it was also his first time in the area as he only knew about the place through the others. Without waiting any more seconds, Coco followed Lev as they entered the casino with smiles on their faces. 

Entering inside, a huge crowd of people then overwhelmed them but as there may be many of them, the place was also more than big enough to accommodate them all without a problem. After that, some casino personnel guided them toward the place where they could exchange some "Gourmet Coins" to be used so they could play around. 

Following that, each and everyone then started parting ways as Lev wanted them to play what their preferences were especially those that would make them happy. Coco also took and headed off to another place leaving behind Lev standing alone while looking at the area. 

"How come I didn't come to this place sooner?" Lev asked himself while looking at the crowded place thinking that if he somehow came to this place much sooner, his wealth would probably increase to an imaginable amount. He then just held a single Gourmet Coin he had exchanged worth 100,000,000 yen thinking that it was enough capital for the night. 

As Lev continued to look around the place, one person in a suit suddenly interrupted his peace. He looked at the person wondering who it was but after seeing his personal status, Lev immediately thought that something interesting was happening at the moment. 

"Good evening, Sir Lev. Welcome to Gourmet Casino. I'm so sorry to disturb your peaceful gambling in the area but if I may ask, can we have some of your time and follow me as there is someone especially interested in your presence?" The person in the suit said and asked at the same time while looking at Lev with a smile on his face. 

"Oh. Not interested. Unless he/she/they come here for themselves, or they could give me something in exchange for my presence then I'm not following. Heh." Lev replied with a smirk as he passed the man and continued to look for a game that could be won with great money. Though it was not a bother, he did not come here to talk to someone but to enjoy himself and earn some money. 

Seeing Lev leaving, the person in a suit immediately called someone and only exchanged a couple of words before he ran and followed Lev and stopped him once again. Seeing the look on his face, he must have heard something unpleasant back to the person he just called. 

"W-Wait, Sir Lev. As you were a Chef, the management agreed to allow you to take ten rare ingredients to your liking in the Gourmet Casino." The person immediately said while looking nervously at Lev and worrying if it still was not enough. 

"Ten Ingredients, you say. Well, I think I have some time to spare to see this person." Lev answered with a smile. As this place was not affiliated with IGO, the ingredients circulating in this area were also quite abundant, but the highlight of this place is that this place has some very rare ingredients on which some were already instinct in the world. 

"G-Good. Good. Follow me." The person in the suit immediately smiled with satisfaction before he guided Lev to a place only known to some specific people.

Lev, on the other hand, just shook his head as he already knew who the person might be. He actually never wanted to see him for the duration of his time here, but it seems like it was inevitable given the reputation that he had. He then just looked around for a while before following the man. 

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Gourmet Tasting Place, 

After walking for a while, Lev finally arrived in a place deprived of people seeing him alone together with a very large, muscular man with short wavy hair, and blackened teeth. He has a very large chin and very small ears and eyes as well as pink skin. The atmosphere was very awkward seeing no one talking as they just stared at each other. 

"So, where can I get these ten Ingredients? I'm kind of hoping that there were good ones in your arsenal." Lev said while smiling at the person in front of him who was none other than Livebearer, the owner of the Gourmet Casino and a Chef ranking in the top 20 around the world. 

"Hohoho. There is no need to haste, Chef Lev. Seeing your presence here makes me feel excited as the thought of you gambling wasn't to my expectations. Well, why don't you gamble with me? Hehehe." Livebearer replied and asked while looking at Lev like he was a delicious ingredient. He could not even stop himself from drooling just by looking at Lev as his excitement was off the charts after hearing the news of his visit. 

"Gamble? What kind? I'll tell you, I'm very good in any of it." Lev answered with confidence while giving some provocation thinking that it was also an opportunity to haggle some of the income generated from the casino. 

"Hahahaha." Livebearer laughed excitedly upon hearing Lev. He looked quite satisfied with where the conversation was heading and could no longer wait for the outcome of it. He then just immediately told Lev about everything and Lev himself listened carefully.

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---Three hours Later--- 

Without anyone witnessing, Lev could be seen eating a potato purple in color while looking at Livebearer casually. The particular potato in his mouth was none other than an ingredient called 'Poison Potato'; an incredibly toxic tater that is supposed to be twenty times more poisonous than the Puffer Whale. 

Looking closely at the other table, the expression on Livebearer's face could no longer be drawn seeing how bad it was added by his body shaking probably from anger while looking at Lev staring at him with a mocking face. 

"Like I told you, I'm pretty good at gambling. Nmmm." Lev said while munching the remaining Poison Potato raw. The game they were playing wasn't the same as the game that he played against Toriko and others. The game Livebearer prepared for him was very simple and that is poison ingredient eating. 

"H-How? How can you still stand and live before me?" Livebearer asked as he stamped his fist to the table they were playing with and looked at Lev viciously. Aside from eating poisonous ingredients nonstop without getting full, what he doesn't understand is how can Lev still be alive after eating the vicious Poison Potato without even cooking it. 

"Heh. I appreciate these ingredients. So, now. Where can I get my prize?" Lev stood up as the game was already over. The bet that he was asking in exchange for his memory when he lost was a mere 50% of what they could income just for today. It might be a small number but thinking about the place could generate 100 trillion a day, such an amount was already incredible. 

"The winner of the game should already be decided. H-How?" Livebearer could not believe what just happened. He even already thought of how he could savor Lev's memories and yet he was lost completely. Though eating poisonous ingredients was of no issue to him since they could cook and prepare it themselves, he still had limitations. 

"I can't accept it!! I have enough for the game. I must eat your memories today. Everyone!!" Livebearer followed as he looked at Lev viciously. Following that, the curtain that surrounded the place fell and a group of masked people appeared while holding some weapons in their hands. 

"Cheap trick. Well, I'm kind of full so I might as well let loose some steam." Lev muttered while looking at the people around or was known as the people comprising the Underground Cooking World. He then just looked at Livebearer with a smile on his face before taking off his suit. 

"Listen! Don't let Chef Lev escape this place!" Livebearer shouted before he started dancing out his weapon while viciously looking at Lev thinking that since Lev was only a mere Chef, forcing him out was always in the remaining options.

Following that, a fight unknown to everyone who is gambling excitedly in the general and VIP area commences. As the place was in the underground, no sound could even be heard with the exception of the people who were in the monitoring room who could see all the events unfolding.