Meeting with Toriko and the others

Noctis and his family is in a train to Gourmet Fortune, the town where one of the heavenly kings reside in seclusion because of his body. Noctis had Fenrir transformed into a wolf pup while Irene put some restraining runes on Fenrir to hide its strength.

Noctis gave his family a crash course about most of the common sense in this world. They are still adapting to the lifestyle where everything is focused on efficiency. Noctis brought them to the clothing shops and bought different kinds of outfits for different occasions. They are currently wearing their adventurer clothes.

Noctis, due to helping Ichiryu fend off the GT Robo in 8th biotope, graciously gave him first-class tickets. Noctis wasn't surprised about how the IGO president know about his companions. IGO is a big organization and he is sure that he have eyes everywhere so he gladly accepted the tickets. When he first arrived in this world, Noctis wasn't sure if he could beat Ichiryu. But after having the half-dragon transformation, he is now confident he could fight on equal terms or even have the advantage with Ichiryu.

Noctis also accepted the reward of going to the first biotope because he knows that after the puffer whale arc is the colosseum and he will meet the 3rd heavenly king who could maybe help Helen of her disfigured face. That heavenly king, is a man who pursues beautiful things so he is sure that when it comes to recovering skin-related problems, he would have the perfect solution for it.

Also, other than the reward he will get from the IGO President, he would let his family get accustomed to the dangers of this world. Maybe help them sharpen their instincts since its still a long time when they last touched weapons.

Noctis didn't have to ask around where Cavern Lagoon is. A lot of Gourmet Hunters arrived to try their luck in capturing the phantasmal ingredient, Puffer Whale. The way inside the Cavern was like a labyrinth and it would take luck for normal people find the right path and it requires their abilities to catch the Phantasmal Puffer Whale who come to the hidden cave beach inside Cavern Lagoon every 10 years through the underwater tunnel in order to breed. 

Seeing a lot of people the group were curious about the place they would be going but Noctis just shut his mouth and told them to find out themselves.

When they arrived in front of the cave, he saw characters he knew. The reporter Tina and the unlucky Bishokuya trio of Zombie and his goons. Seeing that the reporter Tina is still outside, he was sure that Toriko's group still haven't arrived yet. The group sat down on some rocks and were curious about the people watching the entrance, a few seconds later, screams of agonies were heard inside the cave. Noctis and his group looked calm as if the screams were normal while some of the bishokuya who wanted to try their luck trembled as their knees felt like jelly.

"Son, why did we go to this place and why did we stop? You're waiting for someone?" Regis asked his son who nodded.

"Yes, I'm waiting for someone. Someone requested me to babysit him and his group and ensure he comes out safely, he is a friend I made in this world. Of course the reward is generous as well. Also you could use this place to hone your senses and regain your battle instincts." Noctis said and Regis looked displeased but decided to follow his son's arrangements.

After almost an hour of waiting, the meditating Irene opened her eyes. Noctis already told Irene about the marks to remember like the claw marks on his face and nudged Noctis. Toriko's strong nose smelled a familiar aroma and looked at the big stone on the side only to see Noctis coming out of the rock. Seeing Noctis, Komatsu's eyes went wide while the heavenly king, Coco looked at Noctis curiously. He could not see the future of Noctis after reading the electromagnetic waves that he usually uses in predicting. He then looked at Komatsu and his face turned into shock, he could not see the 'Shadow of Death' from Komatsu's body.

It could only mean that Komatsu would not die anymore causing him to sigh in relief. Though his shock was seen by Toriko and Noctis.

"Coco... don't tell me... you saw it?" Toriko said with a frown on his face and Komatsu looked at Toriko, Coco, and Noctis with a confused face.

"Sorry, Toriko. I saw the 'Shadow of Death'." Coco said which made Toriko serious.

"What is this shadow of death you are talking about?" Komatsu naively asked.

"Coco's eyes were enhanced that he was able to see electromagnetic waves from a person. He mainly uses it in fortune telling. As for the Shadow of Death... simply put, once you have it then you will surely die." Toriko said and Komatsu screeched after hearing Toriko's explanation.

"Did you see the shadow of death on us? Should we back out? Who's the one who has it?" Toriko asked unwillingly.

"Yeah, Komatsu did have one before until we met your friend. Coco by the way." Coco said as he reached out his hand for a handshake as he introduced himself to Noctis. Meanwhile Komatsu felt his heart stop after hearing that he has a shadow of death looming over him.

Noctis nodded and shook his hands.

"Noctis, just call me Noct like the others." Noctis said with a smile.

"So... I thought that you have something to do?" Toriko asked him while Noctis just laughed.

"Well, I didn't thought that I would finish it quickly. Also I came because someone asked me for some puffer whales." Noctis said and Coco who is proficient in reading electromagnetic waves couldn't tell if he was lying or not. Although he is a little wary about Noctis, he decided to trust his friend's intuition, it was also because of Noctis that Komatsu's shadow of death vanished.

"Well what are we waiting for? I heard that puffer whales only stays for a limited time so we need to hurry." Toriko said while Komatsu is still scared from what he heard earlier.

"Don't worry Komatsu, the shadow of death has vanished and wouldn't trouble you for now." Coco consoled the scared Komatsu.

"Oh, by the way, I brought my family to have some taste of the puffer whale as well." Noctis said and five people with weapons emerged from the back of the rock. Coco once again was astonished that he couldn't read anything from the E.M. waves as if they were avoiding them.

Noctis then introduced everyone to Toriko, Coco, and Komatsu. When they heard that Noctis' wife is also coming along, Toriko was not surprised as well as Coco... but Komatsu...

"Eeeeeh?! Noctis-san already has a wife?! A-aren't you too young to be married?!" Komatsu asked freaking out.

"Why? I'm near my 30s, what age do you think a person should get married then?" Noctis asked while Irene is chuckling and amused about Komatsu's reaction. Amongst the Royal Family members, Partners are almost decided by birth to increase influence to their allied forces. Sometimes they would get married even earlier to seal the deal.

"Uhhh... you should at least own a house... a good paying job... and then..." Komatsu listed out some things that he thought he needed before stopping as if thinking of something.

"And lastly... at least complete my dream. My dream of cooking the best food I could offer with the best of my abilities." Komatsu said before raising his head and looked at everyone looking at him weirdly.

"Well, its your preference. Everyone has preference. Let's go and get some puffer whale already. Maybe we can catch lots of them if we go quickly." Noctis said while shrugging and all of them walked towards the cave to start their hunt for Puffer Whales.