Indeed, the family of four standing before Luke was the Fox family, the ones who served as guides to lead applicants to the correct exam venue.
The hunter exam, in order to filter through the millions of applicants, conducted preliminary screenings before reaching the main venue.
One of those tests required applicants to find a guide who knew the exam venue's location, someone like this fox family.
Usually, such guides would present a variety of questions or trials to assess whether the applicants possessed the necessary qualities and problem-solving ability.
But from the aura the fox father sensed from Luke, that pressure was no weaker than that of a true professional hunter, perhaps even stronger.
Clearly, Luke already possessed the qualities of a professional hunter.
Thus, the fox father didn't mind chatting a bit more with him.
Besides, given that this person had already noticed their daughter's nature, they might as well have considered that he was aware of their identities.
"If you don't mind."
The fox father said politely, "Why don't you come along with us?"
"I imagine your destination is the same as where we live."
At this point in time, the fox family wasn't yet in the state they would be in more than a decade later.
Both parents were still energetic and maintained their human forms well.
Perhaps as they grew older, it would become harder to maintain such appearances, forcing them to revert to their original beast forms.
As for the two little ones, the future brother and sister who would one day test Kurapika and Leorio, for now, they were still just a pair of mischievous little kids.
"We live up in the mountains most of the time."
The fox father said as they walked along the road toward the Lone Pine Tree.
"But after staying too long, we sometimes like to come down and stretch our legs."
"Getting a bit of contact with human society and civilization isn't a bad thing for us at all."
"Otherwise, if we stay cooped up in the deep mountains all the time, it's easy to get left behind by the times."
After saying this, the fox father couldn't help but chuckle.
"I heard that in the other part of the world, there's already a new technology called the internet that's become popular. If it weren't for the fact that there's no signal up in these mountains, I would want to try playing around with it too."
Indeed, he truly had the appearance of a beast but the heart of a human.
After all, with habits like snacking and drinking tea, there was hardly any difference between them and humans anymore.
And the fact that they were even recognized by the Hunter Association, hired specifically to serve as guides, spoke volumes.
In that sense, the only thing separating them from humans was their skin.
In some aspects, they even surpassed humans.
"You folks are surprisingly trendy."
Luke walked alongside the fox father, while behind them trailed his wife and their two little ones.
The boy, upon reaching the mountain, had immediately begun chattering excitedly while running around nonstop.
If his mother weren't watching him, he'd have already dashed into the nearby forest to roll around in the dirt.
The little girl, however, had puffed up her cheeks in frustration.
Because Luke had seen through her disguise earlier, she wasn't allowed to go out and play anymore and now had to follow them home.
She was truly sulking, both thoughtless and unhappy.
But under the fox mother's strict watch, neither of the two children dared make trouble.
Even the most mischievous little boy…
Smack! Smack!
After two slaps from his mother, he immediately became quiet and obedient.
A truly capable wife.
"There aren't many people living on this mountain."
The fox father explained: "Aside from us, there's only the Quizzing Lady, and a few homeless children she has taken in."
He said this as though it were nothing new.
As they followed the mountain path, a small cluster of houses came into view ahead.
"When those children grow up."
He continued: "The Quizzing Lady sends them to other branches of the Hunter Association to work. Then she adopts new ones to stay with her here, and the cycle repeats."
"Ever since I came here to serve as a guide, that Quizzing Lady has always lived here."
As the fox father spoke, Luke saw an old woman standing at the entrance ahead.
Compared to how she had looked more than a decade later, she hadn't changed much, perhaps a few fewer wrinkles, and her teeth hadn't yet fallen out to just two remaining.
Around her were the same group of children, draped in white sheets with their faces hidden.
"Good morning, Granny."
The fox father greeted her politely.
By age, seniority, and her devotion to raising children, the Quizzing Lady was someone deeply worthy of respect.
"You've returned."
The Quizzing Lady nodded at the fox father first.
Her gaze softened slightly when she looked at the two small fox children behind him.
But when her eyes turned to Luke…
"This is the applicant for this year's hunter exam, I presume?"
Her tone flattened again.
"Yes, I'm taking him to the Lone Pine Tree."
The fox father replied with a smile.
"Of course, I understand the rules."
After saying that, he turned to Luke apologetically, then led his wife and children to wait by the path leading to the Lone Pine Tree.
"Before the official hunter exam begins, each pre-examiner along the way must conduct their own evaluation."
The Quizzing Lady explained in a calm voice on behalf of the fox family.
"Even if you've earned their approval, you must still answer my question correctly."
"Otherwise, you cannot pass here."
"I understand."
Luke nodded without complaint.
It was the standard procedure; he would simply follow the rules.
The Hunter Association was, after all, quite fair.
As long as one met the conditions, they would pass.
It wasn't like some of the bureaucratic departments Luke had dealt with before, where even with all the paperwork in order, things were still endlessly complicated.
Moreover, while the Quizzing Lady outwardly appeared stern and unfeeling,
There was a hidden meaning in her words: If you can't pass here… if one was capable enough, they could simply find another path to the Lone Pine Tree.
Luke smiled faintly at the Quizzing Lady's expressionless face.
"So, playing word games started even this early, huh?"
That fits the Quizzing Lady's style perfectly.
Even in the future, her famously unsolvable questions followed this same approach.
And sure enough, what came next didn't surprise Luke at all.