Whale Island isn't large; it's not even as big as the Zoldyck family's estate on Kukuroo Mountain.
But compared to the coldness of Kukuroo Mountain, Whale Island has towns and markets. Relying on the Hunter Exam to attract a large number of candidates each year, its tourism industry and prosperity far exceed Kukuroo Mountain's.
The street vendors hawking their wares, the hotels and restaurants offering discounts to attract customers, the street performers juggling and putting on shows... all of this was a lively atmosphere that Kukuroo Mountain lacked.
Following Roy, Gotoh even saw many bizarrely dressed individuals. They carried, slung, or held all sorts of weapons and equipment, blatantly strutting through the streets. They were likely candidates who had arrived in an earlier batch.
"Young master, there's a restaurant up ahead with nice decor. Let's eat there." After a short stroll, it was time to eat. Gotoh saw a restaurant ahead that was doing good business. The main hall was bustling and more than half full, so he figured the food must be decent.
Roy wandered through the market, feeling as if he had instantly returned to the past. His home in that previous life also had street scenes like this. Lost in memory, he walked right past the restaurant and instead asked Gotoh, "Can your phone take pictures?"
Gotoh was stunned. If he had known the young master wanted to take photos, he would have brought the camera. He nodded and said, "It can."
"The quality just isn't very good."
There were no smartphones in this era. Most phones were button phones; a flip phone was considered high-end.
Roy knew this and didn't insist. He led Gotoh through the streets and alleys, away from the bustling city center, gradually walking towards a quieter place.
They passed a lush green meadow, and a small tavern could be vaguely seen. It was a typical Japanese-style single-family building, with the business downstairs and living quarters upstairs. The sign above the door read "Mito O Tavern."
The boy stopped in his tracks, turned, and gave Gotoh a "V" sign.
Gotoh: "..."
He was silent. He glanced at the somewhat dated tavern, where he couldn't even hear the sound of customers talking. He really didn't understand why the young master would ignore all the beautiful scenery along the way and instead choose this place for a photo op.
The young butler obviously didn't know the special significance of "the place where the dream began" to a reincarnator... Because this was where the plot began, taking a picture was proof that he, Roy, had been here, existed, and would continue to exist in the future...
Click
Gotoh took out his phone and pressed the "shutter." The check-in was complete. Roy didn't even look at the photo, just instructed him to have it developed when they got home. He then leaned on his cane sword, walked to the door, and pushed it open...
Creeak—
"Welcome!"
A bright, feminine voice rang out. A young girl holding a tray and wearing a headscarf walked out from behind the counter. She had orange, shoulder-length hair and beautiful, amber-colored eyes. She looked to be about sixteen or seventeen. Her eyes looked a lot like a certain guy who liked to participate in the "Where Are We Going, Dad?" show, but she lacked his shrewdness and ambition. Instead, she had a gentleness mixed with a streak of toughness.
"Two," Roy held up two fingers.
He led Gotoh to the bar and sat down.
The shop was very quiet, with only one other table of customers. Perhaps it was because Pariston had stopped most of the candidates, or perhaps because this place was far from the town and only had a few neighbors, making it rather remote. It lacked much of the hustle and bustle, giving it an added sense of peace.
"Okay, please have a seat." Two glasses of ice water were pushed in front of them. Mito smiled and handed over a menu. Roy casually ordered an omurice with orange juice. Gotoh followed, "The same as him."
While waiting for the food, he took the opportunity to survey the tavern's layout, identifying the entrances, exits, and emergency escape routes. His gaze swept past the customers at the other table, paused, and he leaned in to whisper to Roy, "Young master, that person over there seems to be a Nen user."
"He's not just any 'Nen user'..."
A white shirt, black long pants, brown shoes, a blue-billed cap, and a head of white hair so long and straight that it almost touched the floor as he sat... The moment Roy entered, he had recognized him: Ging's in-name-only disciple, Kite!
Only a second had passed since Gotoh looked over, but a pair of hawk-like eyes under the cap glanced back.
They first paused on Gotoh for an instant, then turned to Roy... The man's gaze hardened. He pressed down on his cap, inconspicuously burying his head...
'Danger!' The moment he noticed that boy, Kite's internal alarms blared, as if he were looking at a ferocious beast!
As a child, he had a natural affinity with animals, so he was exceptionally sensitive to "aura." This had nothing to do with "Nen"; it was more of an intuition. Because of this, he was discovered by Ging, who trained him as his in-name-only disciple and taught him "Nen." When they parted, Ging instructed him to pass the Hunter Exam and left him with a final test... "Find Ging."
So, Kite had obediently come. He chose Whale Island, his master Ging's hometown, as his starting point to take the Hunter Exam and begin his "Search for Ging." He just hadn't expected... to run into two experts right at the start, especially that boy.
Even without looking at him, he felt an extremely strong sense of pressure!
It was just like when he was a child and had wandered into the jungle while playing, encountering a Foxbear...
"Sir, your food is here!" At that moment, Mito, who had not yet become an "aunt," carried out the omurice and juice, emerging from behind the kitchen curtain. Kite knew the girl's identity. His eyelids drooped, and he used his peripheral vision to stay locked onto Roy and Gotoh.
The young butler pushed up the glasses on his nose. He freed his other hand and slid it into his pants pocket, silently gripping a coin...
"Eat."
Ding! A crisp sound interrupted the tense nerves of the two.
Roy picked up a fork and lightly tapped the plate.
He pressed down on Gotoh, who was ready to make a move, and as if no one else was around, peeled open the egg omelet. He scooped up a spoonful of fried rice mixed with ketchup and broken egg and put it in his mouth. He tasted it carefully and smiled at Mito, "The chef in your shop is very skilled. The rice is delicious."
"My mom made it." Mito beamed, still unaware of what had just transpired. She puffed out her small chest proudly. "My brother and I loved Mom's cooking the most when we were little..."
"Then you two must be very happy."
"I wouldn't say that, it's just average," Mito smiled humbly.
Roy nodded, then suddenly asked, "Why isn't your brother here? Just you, busy at the front..."
Kite's body tensed again. Even Gotoh put down his spoon...
Mito's expression dimmed, and she snorted, "Don't mention him. I haven't seen him home in years. Who knows what he's busy with out there..."
'Busy with what? Busy starting companies, exploring ruins, restoring ancient buildings, or... having kids...'
Roy calculated the time. 'It was around this time, when my mother Kikyo was pregnant with Killua, that Ging had Gon...' He looked up again at Mito, who was full of resentment. The poor girl still had no idea what she would have to face in the future.
He smiled and said no more.
After finishing the meal, he paid the bill and left the tavern with Gotoh.
Behind them,
Creeak
The wooden door closed and then opened again. A thin figure wearing a billed cap quietly followed...