Chapter 16: Someone as Handsome as Me Should Keep a Low Profile
Arthur chose the crowded amusement park mainly because it was located on the outskirts of the eastern coastal town, and he was closer to it.
The amusement park, as Arthur observed through the birds, was large, with no entrance fee at the gate, likely charging separately for different attractions inside. Surrounding the various amusement areas were commercial streets, restaurants, shops, small hotels, and cafes... small but complete.
"Not talking about you." Arthur patted the chirping gray bird on his shoulder, which he had named Taliyah.
He looked up at the sign of the restaurant in front of him, "Elf Grand Hotel."
Stepping into the hotel, the spacious and bright dining area was filled with the aroma of food. The room was half-filled with diners, many of whom were chatting and laughing, clearly taking a break after enjoying the amusement park. Some seemed to be tourists, snapping photos of the food and the park view outside.
Arthur, wearing an ill-fitting short-sleeve shirt and rolled-up shorts, looking like a street urchin, walked in boldly, ignoring the occasional curious glances. He picked an empty seat and plopped down, raising his hand and calling out, "Is there a waiter? I'd like to order!"
A waiter approached hesitantly, holding a pen and a menu board, looking at Arthur and then the entrance, "Little boy, where are your parents?"
Arthur was speechless; in his current state, even communication was difficult. It wasn't that the other party couldn't understand, but they wouldn't take a "child's" words seriously.
"I said I want to order. I'm starving!" He took out his Hunter License with one hand and some cash with the other, placing them on the table, "Do you have a lot of questions? Keep them to yourself; I won't entertain you."
The waiter, taken aback, examined the Hunter License, repeatedly checking it. It didn't seem fake, and in fact, no one could forge a Hunter Association license, the Hunter Association was backed by the world's five most powerful countries. Considering the mysterious nature of hunters, the waiter immediately changed his attitude, returning the Hunter License to Arthur and politely asking, "Sorry, what would you like to order?"
Arthur didn't pretend, knowing the cash he had taken from Musse's wallet totaled less than 200,000 Jenny. He wasn't in a position to splurge, so he ordered some filling and affordable dishes, along with a local specialty seafood fried rice, totaling only 1,699 Jenny.
The food arrived quickly, and Arthur devoured it, occasionally scooping some rice onto the table for the little Taliyah, who pecked at it happily, making a tapping sound. It was quite bold, hopping over to Arthur's soup bowl to drink, only to be flicked away by Arthur. He poured some soup into a cup for it. Taliyah tilted its head at him, seemingly confused or unwilling to hold a grudge, pecking at the cup with renewed vigor.
After eating his fill, Arthur paid and left, deciding to find a mall to buy some new clothes.
In a mall within the amusement park, the same scenario played out. After showing his Hunter License, Arthur successfully bought two sets of shorts and T-shirts, several pairs of underwear, and a pair of sneakers, finally, he had shoes to wear, wasn't it easy!
Arthur, both tearful and relieved, also bought some toiletries like toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, and body wash.
Leaving the mall, Arthur headed to a public restroom in the amusement park. It was clean and well-maintained, with no unpleasant odors. He nonchalantly stood at the sink, washing himself, lathering his hair with shampoo, while the men and women, boys and girls coming out of the restrooms stared in shock.
There's a saying, as long as you're not embarrassed, the embarrassment is on others.
Arthur rinsed his hair, changed into new underwear and shorts in the men's restroom, feeling refreshed.
"Why are you all staring at me?" He waved his hand, "Alright, move along."
Even after Arthur left, people were still talking, mostly about whether to call the police. He didn't seem like a child from a proper family, too wild!
...
Arthur, with a full stomach and a fresh look, felt light as a feather, whistling to call back the little Taliyah. The bird was busy bullying a little boy with an ice cream in the amusement park, daring to act recklessly, almost getting swatted down by the boy's burly father.
Thus, Arthur strolled through the amusement park, blending into the crowd, listening to the familiar yet foreign language of this world, feeling like a tourist in a foreign country.
"Chirp chirp!"
The little Taliyah, perched on Arthur's shoulder, looked behind him, flapping its wings and tapping his cheek.
"Alright, I noticed them a while ago." Arthur flicked the gray bird with his finger, "Since leaving the mall, these guys have been following me, probably because they saw my Hunter License."
The little Taliyah, dissatisfied, pecked Arthur's finger twice, as if saying, "I reminded you so cleverly, shouldn't you praise me and get me something tasty?"
Arthur, however, was contemplating whether to let the clueless tails follow him and then rob them instead.
"Better settle down first, the situation with the boat and any follow-up threats is still unclear..." Arthur considered, resisting the temptation to take advantage, "Someone as handsome as me should keep a low profile."
The few local thugs tailing him felt their target vanish in the blink of an eye.
"Where'd he go?"
"Damn, I thought we hit the jackpot, getting a 'black license' for free!"
"That kid's lucky. If we took it, it would be a good thing... With such a valuable license, he'd eventually be devoured by real villains, not even leaving bones..."
The thugs grumbled, eventually dispersing in disappointment at a fountain.
Behind the fountain, Arthur, with aura-enhanced hearing, listened to their muttering clearly.
"Black license?"
He jumped down from the fountain.
It's said that nearly a fifth of those who pass the hunter exam can't keep their licenses, and these licenses that end up on the black market are called black licenses.
"A genuine 'Blue Moon Pearl'! Only found in the moonlit tiger habitat, don't miss out!..."
The hawker's loud cry caught Arthur's attention with the keyword "moonlit tiger."
Around the amusement park, many souvenirs related to moonlit tigers were sold, including plush toys, piggy banks, pendants, stickers, and tattoos... everything imaginable.
Arthur approached the hawker's stall, examining the so-called Blue Moon Pearl. Compared to the jade-like glow of Lumin's fur under the moonlight, it was far less impressive, and he quickly lost interest, ignoring the vendor's attempts to keep him, and walked away.
He soon stopped at a crossroads with a signpost, a map of the entire amusement park.
What caught Arthur's attention wasn't the map itself, but a line of text in the corner.
"Blanchet Company · Ghost Island · Elf Amusement Park"
Arthur was full of questions.
What the heck is Ghost Island, and what the heck is Elf Amusement Park...
If he hadn't learned Nen, he might have thought he had crossed into the world of Pokémon.
"Blanchet Company, isn't that the company mentioned in the reserve?" Arthur mused, "Is the reserve also their business?"
"You're right, little boy." A voice approached, and Arthur turned to see two amusement park security guards.
The guard crouched down, kindly asking, "Little boy, where are your parents? Did you get separated from them?"
Arthur replied, "They were eaten by a tiger in the reserve."
"Uh..." The guards were at a loss, how do you respond to that?
"Chirp chirp!" A gray bird suddenly fluttered in front of them, and by the time they waved it away, the boy had vanished.
...
Ghost Island?
Arthur pondered the name, recalling the fleeting ghostly figure of a pale boy in the forest outside the reserve a few nights ago.
"Chirp~"
The little Taliyah returned, chirping triumphantly as if it had accomplished something.
"I'll buy you some feed after I finish surfing."
Arthur found a place that looked like an internet cafe, entering while muttering, "I got you as a tool bird, why do I have to spend money? I'll stew you for soup someday!"
What exactly is Ghost Island, where is it located in this Hunter World, and what year and month is it today...
Arthur had many questions.
Fortunately, Hunter World was a modern society in the internet age, and there was no problem that couldn't be solved by surfing the web.
If there was, it meant you weren't surfing professionally enough.
"Hey, open a computer!" Arthur slapped his Hunter License on the internet cafe counter.