577 HxH: The Strongest Assassin

"It's really beautiful here."

Tessia stood on the deck with her arms wide open, welcoming the sea breeze.

Sally leaned casually against the railing, her whole body at ease.

Shizuku silently pulled out her notebook and began scribbling something down.

Kaizen, on the other hand, focused on the translucent, colorless crystal orb floating in front of him—visible only to his eyes.

"It's time."

Small glimmers of light from the surroundings were being pulled toward the crystal, drawn into it like stardust into a black hole.

Nearby, a few tour guides were leading passengers to the deck, pointing things out enthusiastically.

"Everyone, welcome to the Sea of Waves."

"The water here is incredibly clear—you can see dozens of meters down. If you're into diving, this is your chance. The cruise will anchor here for the next two hours."

"During this time, we'll also be serving lunch."

"The ship's restaurant is open, and all the chefs onboard are from Gourmet Paradise. Their skills are on another level compared to regular chefs."

"All ingredients are freshly sourced from the sea—nothing frozen, nothing artificial."

"Now, allow me to introduce you to Gourmet Paradise in detail."

"The cuisine here is some of the best in the entire human world—no exaggeration."

"Top chefs from around the globe gather here."

"From haute cuisine to comfort food, it's all available."

"This is a true paradise for food lovers."

"There are even specialists who venture into the world's most remote, dangerous, and uncharted regions—deep seas, snow-covered peaks, ancient forests—to procure ingredients for these chefs."

"These individuals are known as Gourmet Hunters."

Kaizen's eyes narrowed slightly.

Gourmet Hunters?

Their strength might not match licensed Gourmet Hunters, but the essence was similar.

"In terms of food, Gourmet Paradise is a world apart from anything you've ever known," the guide said proudly, clearly passionate about their job.

...

"Gourmet Paradise is divided into four main regions," the guide continued.

"The first is called the World Zone."

"It wraps around the island and is the most accessible area for tourists."

"Most foreign chefs operate here."

"In terms of culinary mastery, the World Zone is the entry level of Gourmet Paradise."

"But it offers a huge variety of options."

"And it's more affordable."

Kaizen nodded.

So this World Zone was the 'beginner's district'—big, bustling, filled with shops and chefs of all kinds.

Most were probably outsiders who had come here after hearing about this culinary holy land.

Just like fighters from across the world flocked to Heavens Arena—some to refine their craft, others to build a name for themselves.

Naturally, the range in skill would be wide.

Though "uneven," by Gourmet Paradise standards, they were still far above the average chef outside.

...

"The second area is known as the Academy Zone," the guide continued.

"It's home to a prestigious culinary school—The Court of the Moon."

"Talented young chefs from all over the world study there."

"The school has both a middle and high division."

"Don't underestimate them just because they're students."

"Even junior division students have incredible cooking ability."

"High division students could run their own restaurants outside without issue."

"And the Top Ten of the high division?"

"They're leagues above chefs in the World Zone."

"Their dishes are close to perfection. Just one bite... and you'll be thinking about it for days."

"Sometimes, they hold culinary battles on-site."

"If you're lucky, you might get to witness one—and even taste the food!"

Kaizen raised an eyebrow.

The Court of the Moon, split into middle and high divisions… Top Ten students… culinary battles...

...

"The third area is reserved for elite chefs who graduated from the Court of the Moon."

"These are not open-entry establishments. You'll need to qualify first."

"There's a screening process. If you don't meet the criteria, don't bother trying to get in—they won't make exceptions."

"Honestly, I've worked this job for years and never made it in myself."

"And don't try to force your way through."

"The guards in that zone aren't ordinary humans."

"If you break the rules, you'll be banned from Gourmet Paradise forever."

Kaizen barely registered the last part.

With his credentials, gaining entry wouldn't be a problem.

Menchi held a solid reputation in the culinary world, and Kaizen had ties to the Zoldyck family—especially Maha and Zeno.

He was confident the door would open when the time came.

...

"The fourth zone," the guide said in a hushed tone, "is shrouded in mystery."

"There's almost no public information about it."

"Only a select few are allowed to enter."

"No one knows what kind of cuisine is served inside."

"Just making it into the third zone is considered an extraordinary feat."

As the guide spoke, a ripple of excitement spread through the crowd on the deck.

People leaned in, fascinated by the layered structure of the paradise—and especially drawn to the mystery of the fourth area.

Humans, after all, are drawn to challenge. What's easily accessible loses its appeal, but a place with a threshold? That becomes an obsession.

No doubt, Kaizen thought. That fourth area must be where Linne and the others are.

...

The cruise ship came to a gentle stop.

Above, a flawless blue sky stretched across the horizon. Below, the sea glistened in the midday sun.

The restaurant crew sprang into motion.

Some tourists changed into swimsuits and splashed into the water.

The ship had platforms extended over both sides, forming floating decks on the sea's surface.

Kaizen and the others went down to explore.

If you want to understand something, you can't just hover above it. You have to go where the people are.

Tessia dove in headfirst with a whoop.

Sally dangled her legs in the water, smiling as the waves splashed up.

Shizuku, ever composed, kept writing notes in her book.

Kaizen sat beside Sally and casually waved to a passing waiter.