At this time, Dolle Harbor was already visible in the distance.
Having drunk his fill, the red-nosed captain returned to his cabin and fell asleep.
When the ship arrived at port, the first mate personally escorted Luke ashore.
"Our captain said you're welcome to visit him again next time."
The first mate's expression was somewhat complicated.
"Although I believe that's a sincere invitation from him, I can't say it sounds like a good omen."
Indeed, the word next time meant Luke would have to meet this hunter exam pre-examiner again, which suggested that this hunter exam's outcome might not be so ideal.
The first mate wanted to say perhaps the captain had just been rambling drunkenly, but considering he got drunk from water... Even he couldn't explain that one.
"Still, thanks to you, things were much quieter on this voyage."
The first mate sighed. "If it weren't for you, I don't even want to imagine how this round of the examination would've turned out."
During their time aboard the ship, because the red-nosed captain spent all his time talking to Luke about Ging Freecss, he nearly forgot to perform the preliminary screening of applicants aboard the ship.
And since the captain was clearly too drunk to continue working, Luke had stepped in to lend a hand.
"It was nothing."
Luke said with a wave of his hand. "I just helped out a little."
Naturally, during this voyage, they encountered heavy winds and rough waves.
Those applicants who couldn't endure even that much hardship were, of course, eliminated.
However, the ignorant ones didn't think so; they believed seasickness was a normal reaction.
When they learned they had been disqualified, they immediately started shouting in protest, even attempting to storm into the captain's cabin.
But the captain was still in his drunken stupor, and there were so many disqualified applicants, practically a full shipload.
Even the first mate and sailors couldn't hold them back.
So… in that moment, Luke simply took action.
And just like that, the unruly applicants were all forced into silence.
After all, it was his fault the captain had gotten drunk and delayed the screening.
Helping clean up the mess and restore order was only fair, especially since he had learned plenty about Ging Freecss in return.
"Just head towards the Lone Pine Tree at the top of the mountain, right?"
Luke waved goodbye to the first mate and sailors while watching the passenger ship depart. Then he turned his head and set his sights on the largest pine tree.
If nothing unexpected happened, the fox family should be there.
Luke walked to the large map bulletin board nearby and checked the route.
And then...
"So, it's this trail up the mountain, huh?"
Just as he confirmed his route and was about to set off, a soft, childish voice sounded beside him.
Looking down, Luke saw a pretty little girl standing nearby, with a lollipop in her mouth, gazing at the same map of the mountain trail.
There was only one main path leading up the mountain to the lone pine tree.
"Big brother, are you going there too?"
She asked.
As if noticing Luke's gaze, the little girl blinked her pair of innocent eyes and looked over.
"I want to go play over there. Can I come with you?"
She took the lollipop out of her mouth and pointed toward the pine tree on the mountain.
"Didn't your parents tell you not to talk to strangers when you're outside?"
Luke crouched down and looked at the girl.
"They did..."
The little girl nodded first, then gave Luke a sweet smile.
"But I don't think Big Brother is a bad person."
"Is that so? A little girl's intuition?"
Luke smiled. "But sometimes, intuition isn't always right."
"You should still listen to your parents first."
He reached out and gently patted the girl's head.
"Besides, I don't think you're going there just to play, are you?"
He said softly, "If you're heading home, I can walk you there since it's on my way."
"Mm..."
The little girl blinked again. "I'll think about it after I finish playing."
"Suit yourself."
Luke stood up. "Save those words for your parents; no need to tell a stranger like me."
"Oh, and one more thing."
He glanced at her one last time. "Next time you want to disguise yourself as a human and interact with people..."
He reached out and touched her cheek, especially the small tuft of fur at the corner of her mouth.
"Make sure to hide your fur properly first; otherwise, people will notice right away."
"Ah?!"
The little girl gasped in shock, forgetting about her lollipop as she hurriedly covered her cheeks with both hands.
Luke didn't bother with her. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the figures approaching from behind her.
"Sorry about that, my daughter can be a little mischievous. I hope she didn't trouble you."
A couple walked up, looking quite similar to each other.
Both appeared fairly young in human form. The father stepped forward and politely addressed Luke.
"It's fine."
Luke replied casually.
They didn't look any different from ordinary humans.
But the little boy clinging to his mother's leg caught Luke's attention; he also had faint fur at the corners of his mouth, just like the girl.
The boy curiously peered at Luke while gripping his mother's trousers.
"Are you out here to buy supplies?"
Luke noticed the large backpack strapped to the father's back, packed full of goods.
Even the mother was holding two large bags filled with various daily necessities.
"That's right."
The father nodded and smiled. "We live up in the mountains and rarely come down."
"So whenever we do, we make sure to buy enough supplies to last us for quite a while."
"I see..."
Luke was genuinely curious about what kind of things a family like theirs would prepare.
He instinctively glanced at the mother's bags.
Inside were boxes of tea leaves, rice crackers, beef cubes, rabbit jerky, chicken strips, fish slices…
Luke: "..."
As expected of a fox family, they still can't hide their fox nature.
Chicken, fish, beef, rabbit... All sorts of meat.
"Since we have managed to take human form and even gained the intelligence to communicate with humans..."
The father noticed Luke's expression and chuckled.
"If we didn't interact with human society or enjoy the benefits of modern civilization, wouldn't that be such a waste?"
"And besides, it would be a pity not to make use of the conveniences and gifts that nature has allowed us to experience."
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