Chapter 99: Roy VS Kite x Hunter Exam Imminent
Kite used Zetsu to suppress his aura, silently trailing behind Roy. Master Ging had once told him: "A good Hunter is naturally loved by animals." Later, after learning Nen, he realized it was a talent for blending with nature, technically termed Zetsu. Top-tier Hunters like Ging, if they truly wished to hide, could become completely undetectable.
Kite hadn't been learning Nen for long. While he couldn't reach that level, he wasn't bad either. He figured that maintaining a certain distance and using the surroundings for cover, following the two from afar shouldn't be a problem. He hid behind trees, telephone poles, street signs, and ornamental rocks. Seeing them head deeper into the jungle, he paused, intending to turn back, when the one leaning on the cane suddenly stopped. Immediately, an overwhelming "pressure" descended, catching him completely off guard. His knees buckled, and he nearly collapsed.
[Magnetism: Oppression]
Roy turned, leaning on his cane sword, and pressed a hand towards Kite. The boy felt as if another giant boulder had slammed down on his head. His knee joints creaked kaka, and he was forced to manifest his Nen ability.
"A roulette wheel spins in my mouth, numbers 1 through 9. It transforms into a weapon based on the number rolled."
"That's me, Crazy Slots! Let's roll some good luck!"
A clown with a pointed green hat, red nose, white gloves held up to its cheeks, and a square, open mouth holding a "number," popped out with a fwoosh. Its first words were a complaint: "Nngh... so heavy!"
"Damn brat, who did you piss off this time?"
"What's with this crushing force?"
"Shut up!" Kite opened his aura nodes, used Ten, and stubbornly resisted the magnetic force, refusing to fall. One hand hovered, ready to spin the slots at any moment. His gaze fixed intently on Roy, he explained, "I mean no harm." The boy took a deep breath. "I just wanted to ensure safety and see you off."
"This isn't 'seeing off'," Roy stated flatly, Gotoh standing beside him with a dark expression. To be followed, and for the Young Master to have to point it out... The young butler was furious and ashamed. Coins appeared in his hand, ready to be flicked. He aimed at Kite.
"Don't try to pretty up the word 'stalking'. Back at the tavern, I noticed your eyes were suspicious!" Sneaking glances was one thing, but daring to follow them out? Gotoh looked at Roy, seeking permission. "Young Master, should I just kill him after all?" Thin strands of Nen wrapped around the coins. With just a flick of his finger, they would shoot out.
The air grew heavy.
Roy raised a hand, signaling Gotoh to relax, then abruptly brought it down, increasing his Nen output. Kite felt another boulder slam onto his body. His back arched, and he desperately reached to spin the slots. But unexpectedly, a sudden "pulling force" struck. Crazy Slots vanished without a trace, reappearing in Roy's hand. He held it casually, his cane sword planted firmly before him, unmoving.
Deprived of his ability, Kite's concentration broke. He finally gave way and collapsed face down. Krak... krak... The ground spiderwebbed around him, forming a shallow pit. Then, the sound of unhurried footsteps reached his ears.
Kite struggled to lift his head from the pit. His cap had fallen off, leaving him looking utterly wretched. "I don't want to fight you! It's just that you're too dangerous!" he repeated, explaining himself.
"So?" Roy walked up to him, picked up the cap, and placed it back on his head. He channeled a stream of Nen into Crazy Slots, examining its texture. It was definitely a conjured item with physical substance. He looked quietly at Kite. "You have your thoughts, I have my methods."
"Since you chose to follow, you must be prepared to be discovered. I taught you a lesson. Even if your Master Ging were here, he couldn't find fault with it."
Kite's head snapped up. He stared at Roy in shock. "You know Mr. Ging?" he blurted out. Heaven knows, Kite had never told anyone about his relationship with Ging. How could this guy possibly know? And his Nen ability, what was it? "Oppression" was one thing, but what was that "pulling force"? A thousand thoughts flooded his mind at the mention of "Ging," leaving Kite utterly bewildered.
Roy didn't answer. He released Crazy Slots, letting it float back to Kite, urging him to spin the wheel. He raised his right hand again, canceling the pressure, stood up, and turned to leave.
"Nothing new under the sun. Consider yourself lucky you're a decent person."
"Let's go." The boy grabbed his cane sword, turned, and left without a backward glance.
Gotoh gave Kite one last cold look. "Count yourself lucky." He turned and followed.
Moments later, a mountain breeze blew past. Kite struggled out of the pit, gazed in the direction Roy had gone, and stood there, stunned, for a long time. The mysterious boy, his immense power...
"Mr. Ging was right. This world is small enough, yet large enough."
"I still need to grow much stronger!"
Finally, Kite adjusted his cap, waved his hand to dismiss Crazy Slots, and turned to leave.
January 4th. Three days remained until the start of the Hunter Exam.
After leaving Mito's tavern, Roy plunged into the jungle, casually broke off a tree branch to use as a fishing rod, found a lake, and began fishing. He sat cross-legged on a large green rock, Grandpa Zzigg's notebook open on his lap, turned to the "Hookless Fishing" page, a small stone holding it down. Nearby, Gotoh gathered firewood, built a fire, and prepared to grill fish.
"Young Master knew that man?" Master... Ging... Kite's strong reaction hadn't escaped Gotoh's notice. The young butler stole a glance at Roy's back, a strange feeling rising within him. It always seemed... as if the Young Master knew everything about the world without ever needing to leave home. It reminded him somewhat of the "gods" or "prophets" worshipped in some small countries or tribes.
"Wouldn't say 'knew'. Just aware of some things," Roy replied without elaborating. He was surprised to encounter Kite here, but upon reflection, it made sense. As Ging's only named disciple (in name, at least), if Kite was taking the Hunter Exam, it would be strange if he didn't make a pilgrimage to Ging's hometown.
A drop of Nen seeped from the end of the fishing rod, showing faint signs of condensing into a thread as it fell. Roy continued to temper his Nen thread, enhancing its texture.
One day passed, then two. The small Whale Island grew increasingly lively. Faintly familiar figures began appearing in various corners of the town. The man in bandages, the snake charmer, the boy with the bow, the Kurta girl in her ethnic attire, the blonde boy in a sharp suit slurping noodles at a street stall with his two bodyguards, and... a strange man with dozens of pins stuck in his face, who walked with a creaking sound, his expression unnervingly stiff.
☆ ☆☆
-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Inkshaper
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you