Chapter 17: Inviting the Group Members
"She's got some nerve," Toriko muttered, his nose twitching. He had only just met Tina, but his sensitive sense of smell had already committed her scent to memory. Are all reporters this bold these days? Daring to sneak into an IGO Biotope... was she not afraid of getting a one-way ticket to Gourmet Prison?
"You two, escort her out," Johannes ordered two of the guards.
"Sir!" The guards saluted and walked toward Tina.
"Let me go! So the IGO is all that great, huh? Interfering with a person's freedom!" Tina yelled, struggling violently as the two soldiers held her.
"The IGO does not interfere with anyone's personal freedom," Johannes stated calmly.
"Toriko, please! Let me come with you!" Tina pleaded.
Toriko thought for a moment. "Let her go," he said. "She's just an ordinary person with no power."
"Fine," Johannes conceded. "But no cameras." Tina's background check had come up clean.
"Alright," Tina sighed, a little disappointed about the camera ban, but glad she was at least allowed to go in.
Unseen by the others, Kenji had already flown up to the top of the wall.
[Star Forger]: "We're about to capture the Rainbow Fruit. Anyone want to come join the fun?"
[Miss Pink Elf♪]: "I happen to be free right now. I'm in!"
Elysia was intrigued. This would be their first in-person meeting.
[Ghost of the Uchiha]: "I still haven't dealt with Black Zetsu, so I will pass."
If Black Zetsu sensed something was amiss, his cautious nature would make him disappear without a trace. He hadn't returned to Madara's side recently, leaving no opportunity to eliminate the threat.
[Star Forger]: "What about you, Furina?"
[Lady Justice]: "I..."
Furina wanted to go, but she was scared. She had no real power. If something happened to her, Fontaine would be doomed.
[Miss Pink Elf♪]: "Come on, Furina! It should be safe. Right, Kenji?"
[Star Forger]: "Come on over. I can handle things at the 8th Biotope."
[Miss Pink Elf♪ has requested to enter.]
[Lady Justice has requested to enter.]
[Accept] or [Decline]
Kenji hit "Accept" without hesitation. He was about to meet them in person, not as 2D characters. A thrill of excitement ran through him.
A few seconds later, a spatial vortex swirled open. A pink-haired elf emerged, curiously looking around. Beside her, a nervous Furina stood stiffly.
The pink hair cascaded down her back, framing a flawless, beautiful face. It was truly Elysia, stunning enough to make one's heart skip a beat. The nickname "Pink Piggy" wasn't wrong; her Fire Moth uniform seemed to struggle to contain her ample assets, which threatened to burst forth at any moment. So big and white, he thought, referring to the uniform, of course. Don't get the wrong idea.
As for Furina, she was adorable, like a soft, sweet little cake. Her eyes had a certain innocent clarity. She had the looks, but her figure... she could probably sit at the same table as Hu Tao. Heh heh heh. A little teasing, and her Hydro energy would probably be overflowing.
"Hi! ♪ It's nice to finally meet you, Kenji. You're quite handsome," Elysia said with a graceful wave. "We've all introduced ourselves in the group, so no need for that."
"By the way, Kenji," she added, "I felt like you were thinking something naughty just now. Was I imagining things?"
Kenji simply nodded. "I was just curious about your current weight, Elysia."
Elysia placed her hands on her hips, feigning indignation. "It's very rude to ask a beautiful maiden such a question."
Kenji just smiled. Elysia's figure was perfect just the way it was.
"Furina! It's so good to see you! You're so cute! ♪"
Elysia turned to Furina and immediately pulled her into a hug. The collision with her "hearts of gold" was a 100% critical hit.
Furina was not pleased. Compared to Elysia's "assets," her own figure felt rather... flat. What did she eat to get them that big?
Kenji felt a pang of envy, but he was also witnessing the legendary "Herrscher of Queers" in action. Her first instinct was to get cuddly with the cute girl.
"Ahem. Focalors, did you tell your 'prime minister'—I mean, Neuvillette—where you were going?" Kenji quickly corrected himself.
"I'm not a fool! I told Neuvillette I was going to visit a friend for a little while." Furina shot Kenji a glare. How dare he call the great Hydro Archon a fool.
—Death penalty! It must be the death penalty!
Kenji nodded. Neuvillette had a lot on his plate and couldn't keep an eye on Furina every second. What a pitiful Dragon King, tricked by Focalors into being a beast of burden for five hundred years.
Elysia looked at Furina with a pitying gaze. When she had hugged her, she had used her Herrscher authority to subtly probe, and she had learned some interesting things. The self-proclaimed Hydro Archon before her had very little power, nowhere near the level of a god. The only thing that set her apart from a normal human was a strange power that granted her a long lifespan.
But... her heart was crying.
She was exhausted, pushed to her absolute limit. Her spirit was incredibly fragile. Elysia's heart ached for her. She had no idea what Furina had been through, but she could sense the overwhelming negative emotions: pain, exhaustion, loneliness, numbness... It was the first time Elysia had ever sensed such a concentration of negativity in one person. She didn't ask, because she knew Furina probably wouldn't tell her. This was a very strong girl.
"Stay close to me," Kenji said, directing the words mainly at Furina. She had no combat ability. As for Elysia, she would be fine here.
"Wait, are we supposed to jump down from here?" Furina suddenly realized how high the wall was. A fall from this height would surely turn her into Furina-paste.
"You don't know how to use a Wind Glider?" Kenji asked, puzzled.
"Uh... I never had the time," Furina said with an embarrassed laugh. She knew about Wind Gliders, but she usually traveled by foot or boat and had never needed one on flat ground.
"I'll carry you, Furina," Elysia offered, ever the helpful one.
Kenji's mouth twitched. Your intentions are so obvious, only a fool like Furina wouldn't see it.
Swoosh!
Kenji leaped off the wall. He'd leave Furina to Elysia. It was time for her to experience Elysia's "vicious" side firsthand.
Elysia smiled, standing behind Furina. She wrapped her arms under Furina's, pulling her into an embrace. Her soft, bouncy chest pressed against Furina's back, deforming under the pressure. Her mischievous hands roamed over Furina's chest, as if taking her measurements.
Furina's face turned beet red.
Ely, your hands! C-could you please not move them like that? A tingling sensation shot through her nerves, traveling straight to her brain, almost making her moan out loud. And also... why do you seem so practiced at this?
Before she could say anything, the two of them were airborne.
BOOM!
Not long after Kenji and the others landed, a section of the wall nearby exploded. Shattered concrete flew everywhere, leaving a massive, gaping hole in the thick wall.
"Kenji, you made it in," Toriko said, turning to look at him. "And who are these two?" He knew Kenji could fly, but he had never seen Elysia or Furina before. With their striking appearances, they couldn't be ordinary people.
"My friends, Elysia and Furina. They came to join the fun. No problem, right?" Kenji said with a smile.
"None at all," Toriko replied, shaking his head. If they were friends of Kenji, they were trustworthy.