The moment they stepped outside the massive coliseum for the brief intermission, Krad's stomach let out a growl so loud that nearby tournament spectators turned to stare.
"FOOD!" Krad shouted, clutching his belly dramatically. "I NEED FOOD RIGHT NOW OR I'M GONNA DIE!"
Ragnar, who had been quietly following them after his defeat, jumped back in surprise. "What the hell?! I thought there was some kind of emergency!"
"There IS an emergency!" Krad collapsed onto his knees right outside the coliseum entrance, causing confused tournament-goers to walk around him. "My stomach is launching a full-scale rebellion! This is worse than your Thousand Cutting Winds technique!"
"...Are you actually serious right now?" Ragnar stared down at the young fighter who had just defeated him, now rolling dramatically on the stone steps. "You survived a legendary tournament battle and you're being defeated by hunger?"
"Don't underestimate hunger, old man!" Krad pointed dramatically at the sky. "It's the most dangerous enemy of all! It strikes when you least expect it! It grows stronger the longer you ignore it! And worst of all..." He leaned in conspiratorially, "it makes you cranky!"
"Krad," Mist said with barely contained amusement, "before we go hunting for food, there's something we need to discuss."
"Food first, talking later!" Krad sprang to his feet with renewed energy. "I could eat a whole dragon right now! A big one! With barbecue sauce!"
"It's about your generous recruitment offer to Ragnar," Mist said, trying to keep his expression serious.
"Oh yeah! That!" Krad turned to Ragnar with sparkling eyes. "Welcome to Tiger Squad, old man! You're gonna love it! They fight bad guys, help people, and eat amazing food together!"
"They?" Ragnar exclaimed.
"Krad," Mist's voice had a teasing edge, "you do realize you're not actually an official member of Tiger Squad yet, right?"
Krad froze mid-gesture. "What do you mean not official? I'm standing right here! I've been following you around! I call you Captain!"
"You call me Captain because you decided to call me Captain," Mist pointed out with a smirk. "Not because I officially gave you the title to use."
"But... but..." Krad's face went through several expressions of confusion. "I've been doing everything you say! I've been super loyal! I even polished your sword that one time!"
"You polished my sword without permission and nearly ruined the enchantments," Mist reminded him.
"But I did it with LOVE!" Krad protested. "That's gotta count for something!"
Ragnar looked between them, confused. "Wait, are you saying he's not actually a member of your squad?"
"He's a probationary candidate," Mist explained, clearly enjoying himself. "His official status is enthusiastic follower."
"ENTHUSIASTIC FOLLOWER?!" Krad's voice cracked. "I prefer devoted disciple or loyal apprentice or future legendary member!"
"How about persistent pest?" Mist suggested with a grin.
"CAPTAIN!" Krad looked genuinely offended. "I am NOT a pest! I'm a valuable addition to your team!"
"You're a valuable addition to my headaches," Mist replied, but his tone was fond.
"That's the same thing!" Krad declared. "And anyway, I'm GOING to be an official member! So really, I'm just recruiting Ragnar in advance!"
"That's not how recruitment works," Mist said.
"Says who?" Krad crossed his arms defiantly. "I'm using future tense recruitment! It's totally valid!"
"Future tense recruitment?" Queen Hania couldn't help but smile. "Is that a real thing?"
"It is now!" Krad announced. "I'm inventing it! Captain Mist, you're witnessing the birth of a new recruitment strategy!"
"I'm witnessing the birth of a new headache," Mist muttered.
"See? I told you I was valuable!" Krad beamed. "Now, back to the important stuff, FOOD! My stomach is eating itself!"
"Wait, wait," Ragnar held up his hands. "So you're not actually qualified to recruit me?"
"I'm GOING to be qualified!" Krad insisted. "It's like a pre-order! You're getting early access to Tiger Squad membership!"
"That's..." Ragnar paused, "actually the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."
"But you're smiling while you say it," Krad pointed out triumphantly.
"I am not smiling," Ragnar said, while clearly trying not to smile.
"You totally are! Captain Mist, look! He's smiling!"
"I can see that," Mist said dryly. "Though I'm not sure if it's amusement or concern for your mental health."
"Both probably," Ragnar admitted. "But you know what? I like the enthusiasm. Consider me pre-recruited."
"YES!" Krad pumped his fist in the air. "I'm the best recruiter ever! Captain Mist, you should promote me to Head of Future Recruitment!"
"I should promote you to Head of Getting Food Before You Pass Out," Mist replied. "The intermission is only thirty minutes."
"FOOD!" Krad's priorities instantly shifted. "Right! Come on, new teammate! Time for your first official Tiger Squad mission!"
"I thought you said he wasn't official yet," Ragnar said to Mist.
"He's not," Mist confirmed.
"Then how can this be an official mission?"
"It's a pre-official mission!" Krad explained as if it were obvious. "We're really innovative with our terminology!"
"You're really innovative with your delusions," Mist said, but he was fighting back laughter.
"Thank you, Captain! I try my best!"
Twenty minutes later, they found themselves in the bustling Food District, with Krad leading the charge like a general commanding troops.
"Alright, team!" Krad announced, striking a heroic pose. "Our mission is simple: locate and consume the most delicious food in this district!"
"Team?" Mist raised an eyebrow.
"Pre-team," Krad corrected quickly. "Future team. Potential team. Team-adjacent group!"
"I vote for group of people following the hungry idiot," Mist suggested.
"That's not as catchy," Krad replied seriously. "Plus, it doesn't sound official enough."
"Nothing about this is official," Ragnar pointed out.
"Yet!" Krad added with unwavering optimism. "The key word is 'yet!'"
The aroma of various foods hit them as they walked deeper into the district. Krad's eyes went wide as he took in the sight of dozens of food stalls.
"Look at it all!" Krad spun around like a kid in a candy store. "Where do we even start?!"
"Maybe we should be systematic about this," Mist suggested. "Pick one place and---"
"SYSTEMATIC?!" Krad looked at him like he'd suggested something deeply offensive. "Captain! You don't approach food systematically! You approach it with your HEART!"
"I'm starting to regret bringing you anywhere near food," Mist said.
"Too late! You're stuck with me!" Krad closed his eyes and took a deep breath through his nose. "The heart knows what it wants."
"That's... actually not how hunger works," Ragnar said uncertainly.
"Trust me on this, pre-teammate!" Krad's eyes snapped open, and he pointed directly at a stall with a small line of players. "There! The adobo place! I can smell it from here!"
"How can you possibly smell one specific dish in all this chaos?" Queen Hania asked, genuinely curious.
"It's a Captain skill!" Krad declared proudly.
"You're not a Captain," Mist reminded him.
"I'm a Future Captain!" Krad corrected. "Future Captain Krad has enhanced food-sensing abilities!"
"That's not a real rank," Mist said.
"It is in my heart!" Krad placed his hand over his chest dramatically. "And my heart is very official!"
"Your heart is very loud," Ragnar observed as Krad's stomach let out another thunderous growl.
"Four plates, please!" Krad called out to the vendor before anyone could object.
"Coming right up!" the vendor replied cheerfully. "That'll be 120 Pesos!"
"I'll pay," Ragnar offered, reaching for his coin purse.
"No way!" Krad blocked him. "This is my treat! I'm the one who recruited you!"
"You didn't recruit me," Ragnar reminded him. "You pre-recruited me."
"Same thing! Future me is very generous!"
"Current you is very broke," Mist pointed out. "You spent everything on equipment repairs."
Krad's triumphant expression crumbled. "Oh. Right. I forgot about that tiny detail."
"Tiny detail?" Mist shook his head. "You mean the detail where you have no money?"
"It's a temporary cash flow issue!" Krad declared. "Very temporary! Like, as soon as I win some prize money, I'll be rich!"
"I've got it," Ragnar said gently, placing coins on the counter. "Consider it... payment for the entertainment."
"Entertainment?" Krad looked confused.
"Watching you try to recruit people to an organization you don't belong to is pretty amusing," Ragnar explained with a grin.
"I DO belong to it!" Krad protested. "I belong to it so hard! Captain Mist, tell him how much I belong!"
"You belong to it like a stray cat belongs to a household," Mist said thoughtfully.
"That's the spirit!" Krad beamed, completely missing the insult. "See? I'm practically family!"
"Practically," Mist emphasized.
"Close enough!" Krad accepted his plate with reverence. "Now, pre-teammate Ragnar, let me teach you the proper way to appreciate a Tiger Squad meal!"
"This isn't a Tiger Squad meal," Mist said.
"It is if I'm eating it!" Krad replied with unshakeable logic. "Future Tiger Squad member meals are still Tiger Squad meals!"
"That's not how it works."
"It is now! I'm innovating!" Krad held up his plate like it was a sacred artifact. "First, you look at it. See how the sauce glistens? That's the shine of future victory!"
"You're impossible," Mist said, but he was smiling.
"Impossibly awesome!" Krad corrected. "Now, old man Ragnar, breathe in that amazing smell. That's the aroma of pre-teammate bonding!"
"Pre-teammate bonding?" Ragnar repeated, clearly trying not to laugh.
"It's like regular bonding, but with more potential!" Krad explained seriously. "Now, when you taste it, remember that you're not just eating food. You're eating the future!"
"I'm eating adobo," Ragnar said.
"Future adobo!" Krad insisted. "Everything is more exciting with future in front of it!"
He took a bite and his expression transformed into pure bliss. "Oh man, this is incredible! Future me is so happy right now!"
"Current you seems pretty happy too," Queen Hania observed.
"Current me is just a preview of future me!" Krad declared through a mouthful of rice. "And future me is going to be AMAZING!"
"Present you is pretty entertaining," Ragnar admitted, taking his own bite. "And this really is delicious. Why does it taste so much better than the nutrition bars I usually eat?"
"Because it's made with love instead of efficiency!" Krad explained. "Plus, it's enhanced by the power of pre-friendship!"
"Pre-friendship?" Mist looked at him incredulously.
"The friendship that's about to happen!" Krad said as if it were obvious. "We're like friendship pre-orders! Early access to awesome relationships!"
"You're going to give me a headache," Mist said.
"Future headache!" Krad corrected cheerfully. "Current you is fine!"
"Current me is questioning my life choices," Mist muttered.
"Future you will thank current you for making such good decisions!" Krad assured him. "Now, who's ready for the next food adventure? I saw a lumpia stall that's calling my name!"
"We just started eating," Ragnar pointed out.
"That's why it's called a food adventure! Multiple stops! Maximum deliciousness!" Krad was already plotting their route. "We're going to try everything!"
"Everything?" Queen Hania looked concerned.
"EVERYTHING!" Krad declared. "It's going to be the most epic pre-team bonding experience ever!"
"I'm starting to think following you is going to be dangerous," Ragnar said.
"Future dangerous!" Krad corrected with a grin. "Current you is perfectly safe! Probably!"
"That's not reassuring," Mist said.
"Future reassurance incoming!" Krad announced. "Just wait until you taste that lumpia! Your doubts will disappear!"
"My doubts are multiplying," Mist replied.
"Future multiplication of awesomeness!" Krad spun his explanation effortlessly. "See? I'm always right!"
"You're always something," Ragnar said, but he was smiling.
"Future something amazing!" Krad declared triumphantly. "Now come on! Those spring rolls aren't going to eat themselves!"
As they headed toward the next food stall, Mist couldn't help but shake his head in amusement. Krad might not be an official Tiger Squad member yet, but he definitely had the enthusiasm for it. And watching him try to recruit Ragnar with sheer optimism and creative terminology was certainly entertaining.
"So," Ragnar said as they walked, "when do I find out if I'm actually accepted into this organization?"
"When Krad actually gets accepted," Mist replied. "Which could be anywhere from next week to never."
"NEXT WEEK!" Krad shouted confidently. "Definitely next week! Future Captain Krad guarantees it!"
"Future Captain?" Mist raised an eyebrow.
"I'm aiming high!" Krad declared. "Future Admiral Krad has a nice ring to it too!"
"You're insane," Mist said.
"Future insane!" Krad corrected. "Current me is perfectly rational!"
"Current you is arguing about lumpia like it's a military strategy," Ragnar pointed out.
"Because it IS a military strategy!" Krad replied seriously. "Food is the foundation of all successful operations!"
"That's... actually not wrong," Mist admitted reluctantly.
"See? Future wisdom!" Krad beamed. "I'm going to be the best unofficial official member Tiger Squad has ever had!"
"That sentence hurt my brain," Queen Hania said.