Chapter 18: Some Kind of Disney
As expected, a search for "Ochima Federation," "Ghost Soul Island," and "ghosts" returned nothing but a slew of paranormal blogs and conspiracy theories.
What Kai found interesting was that the sightings weren't clustered. They were scattered, popping up in news reports and local rumors every few years—for the last ten, even twenty years.
A rumor doesn't mean it's false, and a ghost doesn't mean it's real, Kai thought. In the Hunter x Hunter world, almost every strange phenomenon can be traced back to Nen.
That pale-white boy he'd glimpsed in the forest... it was probably connected to some strange Hatsu.
"Huh? That's weird..." Menchi muttered, looking at the search results.
Kai casually asked, "So, what's the deal with that 'Blanchett Company' that runs the tiger reserve?"
"What do you mean 'what's the deal'? That's the deal. They manage and operate the reserve on this island," Menchi said, as if it were obvious.
"And they own this amusement park, too?"
"They're a massive corporation. One of the biggest in the world, I hear."
"B-l-a-n... how do you spell it?"
"Sheesh, it's 'Blanchett.' B-L-A-N-C-H-E-T-T. It's a last name."
"You do it."
Kai slid out of the chair, gesturing for Menchi to sit.
She plopped down and, with a flurry of keystrokes, pulled up the company's official profile.
"Blanchett Company, also known as the Blanchett Elf Corporation. Founded by Alan'tr'iel=Blanchett in 1987. Industries include: Film & Entertainment, Media Networks, Theme Parks, Arcades, and Cultural Preservation... Its subsidiary video site, 'iTube,' is the world's largest video-sharing platform... As of the latest fiscal report, total assets are valued at 12.9166 Trillion Zeni..."
It's... it's just Disney!
Kai had to restrain himself. Founded in 1987? That's not even eight years ago! And they've already made almost 13 Trillion Zeni?
Wait...
He nudged Menchi's hand off the mouse and clicked the founder's name.
"Alan'tr'iel=Blanchett. Member of the Hunter Association (Data Classified). Estimated personal wealth: Top 5, World's Richest Individuals..."
Only fifth?
Kai let out a breath. Oh, he's a Hunter. Right, that makes sense.
In this world, something like 60 of the top 100 richest people were Pro Hunters. With a Hunter License, every door was open. Governments and corporations all bent the knee.
All that shock had made him hungry again.
He looked outside. The sun was setting, painting the amusement park in a warm, evening light.
"My teacher told me that Alan'tr'iel=Blanchett..."
Menchi turned to talk to him.
The boy—and his little gray bird—was gone.
When did he leave? I didn't even sense him go...
"He's good," Menchi muttered, leaning back in the chair. "Back at the reserve... after he took out those five poachers, he must have been running on fumes..."
She remembered her teacher arriving to take the poachers into custody. He had pointed at the barely-conscious Garo and said to her, "If you had faced him alone, you'd be dead. Stop running off by yourself. You may have a License, but you're not a real Hunter yet."
Menchi felt a flush of shame. Her mind was still stuck on being a chef. She had to get serious about her Nen training.
Kai left the internet cafe and bought a small bag of birdseed for the chirping Rock Sparrow. He grabbed a quick dinner at a street-side stall.
He'd half-expected Menchi to track him down again—he'd even planned to order her something—but she never showed. Guess I annoyed her one too many times.
It was for the best. He was wary of "legit" Hunters like her, given that his own License was "black." Not that he was afraid. So what if it was found? The Association didn't care about lost licenses.
Full, Kai wandered through the park in the cool night breeze, Rock Sparrow on his shoulder. He found a small, cheap-looking motel and checked in.
...
Faint moonlight streamed through the window, covering the small bed where Kai lay, his legs crossed.
When he was in the wilderness with Butch and the wolf, training like a wild animal, he hadn't felt it. But now, surrounded by the noise and crowds of civilization, he was struck by a profound sense of loneliness. An emptiness.
Stop.
"Is it because Butch isn't here?" he whispered.
Don't go down that road.
He tried to sense his Star Markers. He couldn't feel Butch's—it was in its Dormant state. But the two white birds assigned to Butch were active...
Let the past go. Why torture yourself?
He could feel them. They were far away, near the center of the eastern coastline, still in the forest outside the reserve. One of them was holding still. Butch is probably enjoying his dinner...
"Chirp?"
Rock Sparrow, who had been dozing on Kai's chest, lost its balance, tumbled over, and flapped its wings, confused.
"..."
Kai, who had been staring blankly, let out a small laugh. He poked the bird, and it immediately pecked his finger in annoyance.
He opened the window and looked up at the crescent moon. He decided to put his past life aside. He was in this world now.
He needed a goal. Something to strive for.
Menchi was a Gourmet Hunter, searching for the ultimate flavor. This world was full of Hunters: Crime Hunters, Treasure Hunters, Beast Hunters, Poacher Hunters, Hackers, Toxin Hunters, Archaeology Hunters...
But what about him?
He suddenly remembered what Gon's deadbeat dad, Ging, had once said:
"What I want... is 'something' that I don't have right in front of me... The real treasure... is in the journey itself."
"I've decided."
Kai sat up. A ball of white, invisible Aura formed in his palm.
"I'll pick an 'impossible' goal," he said, his eyes hardening with a new resolve. "That way, I can spend a lifetime chasing it, and I won't have time to think about stupid things."
He smiled. "If this supernatural power is real... then why not try to truly transcend?"
"Eternal life, to be undying, and to become indestructible."
"Cheep?" Rock Sparrow tilted its head.
"What do you think? Sound like a plan?" Kai laughed.
Just then, his expression changed. He snapped his head, looking north.
He'd felt it. A faint ping.
The Star Markers on the two birds he'd left at the shipwreck... they had just activated.
Someone's at the ship.
Kai's consciousness instantly shot across the island, his mind pouring into his two bird-scouts.
(End of Chapter)