"You often push your body beyond its limits, don't you? At your age, that's not a good thing."
Yamcha lived in the vast desert region of the Dragon Ball world. He had no renowned master, no grandfather who was a disciple of a martial arts god, and no noble lineage. His training was entirely self-driven—relentless exercise, dedicated practice—his opponents were wild beasts and wolf packs. It was no surprise that such an improper training method left hidden ailments in his body.
It was precisely because of this that he had already surpassed his original strength from the manga, despite not yet reaching the age at which he originally appeared in the story.
Yamcha wasn't surprised by Tonio Trussardi's words because this was exactly why he had come here.
"I have traveled the world in pursuit of dishes that invigorate my customers. I studied Chinese medicinal cuisine, learned herbalist techniques from indigenous Amazonian tribes, and researched rare herbs in Africa. I have integrated all these skills into my cooking."
Tonio spoke confidently, sharing his experiences.
"I've never served a guest like you before—this will be an interesting challenge. But don't worry, these problems are minor. I will prepare a special dish just for you."
With a smile, Tonio disappeared into the kitchen, leaving behind a clueless Josuke and an eager Yamcha.
Tonio specialized in creating medicinal dishes tailored to a customer's health issues. However, his treatment process was rather... unsettling. This was likely why he had been expelled from Italy—after all, any normal person witnessing his methods would find them horrifying.
Yamcha had investigated this Italian restaurant not long after arriving in Morioh. He waited until now to visit for safety reasons, and as an extra precaution, he brought along the "strongest healer"—Josuke Higashikata.
As long as he didn't die instantly, Josuke's Crazy Diamond could heal him back to perfect condition. This ability was arguably the most powerful healing technique in the entire JoJo series.
According to Yamcha's intel, Tonio was genuinely just a chef who cared about his customers' health. But there was always a chance of unexpected danger, and having Josuke around significantly increased his safety.
"Hey, Yamcha," Josuke whispered, leaning closer. "These so-called health foods always taste terrible because they prioritize nutrition over flavor. If it turns out to be disgusting, we'll just ditch the bill and leave. No way we're wasting money on something like that."
Yamcha simply nodded. Given their lack of information, Josuke's skepticism was understandable.
In reality, Tonio was running his restaurant at a loss. All of his ingredients were precious medicinal herbs, yet he only charged 3,500 yen per dish—a price that barely covered costs.
Yamcha's attention, however, was on the glass of water on the table.
Even the water served in this restaurant was medicinal.
The seemingly ordinary glass of water was actually made from snow that had melted from Mount Kilimanjaro 50,000 years ago. Even if you had money, you wouldn't necessarily be able to get your hands on something like this.
Yamcha drank it in one gulp.
It was incredibly delicious.
At that moment, Tonio emerged from the kitchen, carrying an appetizer.
"This dish is specially prepared for you."
"Thank you for the meal. It's truly delicious."
After an unsettling but ultimately healing process, Yamcha felt as if a hundred pounds of weight had been lifted from his body. He was lighter, his punches carried more power, and his entire being felt rejuvenated.
"Hey, Yamcha, are you really okay?"
Josuke, who had just witnessed the disturbing "healing" process, asked nervously.
"There's nothing wrong, Josuke. In fact, I highly recommend you try it. It's incredibly delicious."
Yamcha suggested. He could clearly feel that after consuming this meal, his training efficiency would skyrocket.
Josuke shook his head, unwilling to undergo such a bizarre "treatment."
After paying the bill, Yamcha turned to the ever-smiling Italian chef.
"Mr. Trussardi, your extraordinary culinary skills have truly impressed me. Would you be willing to teach me?"
The body is the foundation of one's strength. To become stronger, a robust physique is essential.
Though Tonio's "healing cuisine" was so effective thanks to his Stand, Pearl Jam, his deep knowledge of medicinal herbs played a crucial role as well. This was what Yamcha valued most.
Without Tonio's knowledge and cooking expertise, merely obtaining Pearl Jam wouldn't have produced the same results.
Yamcha wanted to learn that knowledge.
"You want to learn? Of course, I'll teach you," Tonio said with a smile.
He was not a man who hoarded knowledge. He wanted more people to fall in love with Italian cuisine. Spreading the joy of Italian food was one of his lifelong dreams. Since Yamcha wished to learn, he was happy to teach—although Yamcha was only interested in the medicinal aspect and not in cooking itself.
"But before we start, you must wash your hands thoroughly."
For the first time, Tonio's smile faded. He looked at Yamcha seriously and handed him a bar of soap labeled "Medicinal Soap."
"The kitchen is a sacred place. Cleanliness and hygiene must always be maintained."
Tonio spoke with utmost seriousness.
The man had an absolute obsession with kitchen hygiene.
And so, Yamcha's daily life became much busier. No longer just spending time with Josuke, he now traveled back and forth between his training and Tonio's restaurant, where he studied under the chef.
Tonio was truly a man who had traveled the world. His knowledge of both medicine and cuisine was unparalleled.
He answered every question Yamcha had, allowing his understanding of medicinal herbs to progress rapidly. After some time, Yamcha was even able to prescribe basic herbal remedies based on a person's condition.
As for his cooking skills… well, progress was mediocre at best.
Yamcha was simply terrible at cooking. While his food was barely edible, its appearance was downright horrific. Despite wielding a sword with great skill, he just couldn't handle a kitchen knife properly, which often led to Tonio scolding him.
Days passed.
The number of mysterious deaths in Morioh steadily increased.
Even with Yamcha's warnings, Jotaro was still struggling to find any leads. At one point, he was even ambushed by two Stand-using rats and nearly lost, a stark reminder that his era was fading.
The invincible Star Platinum, which had once defeated The World in a single punch, was no longer the unstoppable force it used to be.
That day, Yamcha left Tonio's restaurant, pulled out his pocket calendar, and marked a date.
Then, he looked up at the sky.
The time had come.
It was time to begin executing his ultimate goal in this world.
What was the true prize to be gained from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable?
The answer was—Stand Users.
(End of Chapter)