CHAPTER 218: FOOD ALERT!

Their figures disappeared swiftly, as if afraid that lingering even a moment longer would doom them to the same fate.

Hearing Meowth’s exclamation and witnessing the Thunderbirds’ hasty retreat, everyone now understood what had just happened.

"Is that its own ability?"

"Or is it related to those pieces of equipment?"

Ging stroked his chin, watching Meowth with keen interest as he muttered to himself.

At this point, Ging’s curiosity about Meowth far surpassed his interest in the Thunderbirds.

Though he knew Akira’s Nen beasts were bizarre in all sorts of ways, this cat felt different from the others.

Maybe it was because it walked upright and spoke in human language?

Beside him, Beyond also fixed his gaze on Meowth, unable to hide his astonishment.

If this was its own ability, did that mean this feline Nen beast could materialize firearms?

Those glasses also seemed suspicious.

A Nen beast related to firearms didn’t sound particularly impressive—after all, their team already had Golem, who could materialize countless weapons.

But what if it wasn’t?

Like Ging, Beyond found himself increasingly intrigued by this cat, sensing there was more to it than met the eye.

In truth, their instincts were correct.

Meowth would go on to shock them in many more ways.

After the brief moment of surprise, Muherr quickly directed the others to clean up the corpses.

"Sammy, come check if these birds are edible!"

After giving the order, Muherr turned and called out to the cook, Sammy, beckoning him over.

Sammy, a man of few words, nodded and approached one of the Thunderbirds.

He spread his hands, holding them slightly above the bird’s body as streams of aura flowed through him.

The energy gathered in his palms, glowing like an old lightbulb as they gradually brightened.

Sammy’s hands acted like faucets, and the pure, abundant aura wrapped around the Thunderbird’s body as gently as flowing water

.After enveloping for a while, the aura surged back into Sammy’s body like a receding tide.

Yet it was still evident that some of the aura had been depleted during this process.

Simultaneously, certain information about the Thunderbirds was reflected in Sammy’s mind through the aura.

[Food Warning]: Using aura to envelop an object—the more intricate or massive the object, the longer it takes, and the aura continuously depletes during the process.

When the time arrives, the remaining aura returns along the same path, bringing back partial information about the food and whether it is edible.

Sammy had a tough childhood.

Though he didn’t grow up in Meteor City, he often went hungry.

As a result, he frequently had to scavenge for food in desolate wilderness or filthy places.

As an adult, his circumstances improved, and due to his childhood experiences, he embarked on a quest for gourmet cuisine.

However, his philosophy differed from that of many Gourmet Hunters.

Some Gourmet Hunters sought superior ingredients to create more exquisite dishes.

Sammy, on the other hand, pursued the art of making ordinary ingredients taste exceptionally delicious.

Neither approach was absolute—just a matter of preference.

Sammy’s willpower stemmed from his past, and the creation of this Nen ability was closely tied to it.

Among Gourmet Hunters across the Six Continents, this Nen ability was undoubtedly top-tier.

If deployed in the Dark Continent, it would be even more extraordinary!

One could say that among Gourmet Hunters, few possessed a Nen ability as suited for the Dark Continent as Sammy’s.

Although Meowth’s [Danger Detector] could achieve similar results, there was no denying the critical importance of Sammy’s Nen ability in the Dark Continent—it determined whether food could be safely consumed.

For anyone venturing into the Dark Continent, Sammy’s ability would shine brightly, holding pivotal significance.

This was precisely why Beyond chose to bring a chef along.

Journeying to the Dark Continent was no trivial matter—he could have easily foregone a chef, as the Six Continents offered plenty of emergency rations like canned food.

Opting for such provisions would not only save space but also make them easier to carry, given their compact size.

He could have replaced the chef’s spot with another formidable fighter, thereby boosting the team’s combat strength.

Yet Beyond chose not to.

All because Sammy’s Nen ability was that crucial!

"Edible!"

After a few seconds, Sammy opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them, and declared with confidence.

Muherr’s expression brightened slightly as he instructed the team to store away two of the Thunderbirds, leaving one to be sampled later.

Unlike their prepared ingredients, the Thunderbird carcasses couldn’t be preserved for long.

So, since they were safe to eat, priority was given to consuming them first.

In nature, competition was ever-changing.

The roles of hunter and prey could reverse at any moment.

The Thunderbirds had attacked them fiercely, intending to make them the meal.

Yet in the end, it was the Thunderbirds that were eaten, while the group remained unharmed.

This truth was a recurring theme throughout the world of hunters.

"We brought up some of those strange fish as well."

"Though they’re definitely not edible."

"But certain parts of their bodies might be useful." Lilith spoke softly as a small pile of hammerhead fish lay stacked on the deck nearby.

These had all been hauled up by Marione’s puppets.

Transporting the entire catch would have overloaded the ship, so only a portion was brought aboard—otherwise, there would be no space left for future hauls.

The group gathered around the fish, observing the creatures that had just moments ago plunged them into peril.

The fish had shark-like bodies, each measuring roughly half a meter to a meter in length—considerably smaller compared to the Thunderbirds.

But what they lacked in size, they made up for in numbers.

Dozens of them lay in the pile.

Their bodies were marked with purple spots, a clear sign of Lilith’s toxins having taken deep effect.

This was also why Lilith had declared them inedible.

On the entire ship, she was the only one who dared to eat these fish.

Aside from their shark-like bodies, the most striking feature was the dark, metallic lump on their heads, which faintly reflected light.

Thud. Thud.

Lilith lightly tapped one of the lumps, producing a dull, metallic sound.

"This part is distinctly different from the rest—exceptionally hard, even harder than steel."

Ging, his hand enveloped in aura, also tested the lump.

Just as Lilith had said, it was incredibly tough.

At that moment, a voice chimed in from the side.

"In the Visca Forest of the Six Continents, there’s a type of boar called the ’Great Stamp.’"

"It has a long, sturdy snout capable of smashing rocks with ease. The snout evolved to protect its vulnerable forehead."

"And this peculiar fish also has a hardened structure on its face."

Akira stepped slowly across the deck before stopping beside the pile of hammerhead fish, speaking at a measured pace.

"So... this fish grew these lumps to protect a weak spot on its body?" Ging raised an eyebrow.

He couldn’t spot any vulnerable areas on the fish.

"No, quite the opposite. I brought up the Great Stamp as an example."

"If the boar’s snout developed actively, then these lumps are something the fish was forced to adapt."

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