"Ging's friend?!!"
Gon's eyes lit up again.
He had just met Ging's disciple Kite, and now he met a friend of Ging's.
Today really seemed like a good day, letting him learn a lot about Ging!
"That's right, the relationship between him and me should be the kind..."
Luke thought for a moment and then very aptly summarized: "We could hardly wait to beat each other up."
Beat each other up?! Such a way between friends wasn't particularly unusual.
Gon nodded, somewhat understanding, having seen sailors and townspeople at Aunt Mito's bar drinking together.
They seemed like very good friends, often fighting over small things, even to the point of bloodied faces and bruises. But the next day, they were just like nothing had happened, still enjoying food and drinks together.
"So friends can beat each other up, and nothing happens..."
Gon pondered, gaining a new understanding of friendship.
"Then... sir Luke."
The atmosphere around Luke, along with the smile on his lips, made Gon swallow the word uncle he had wanted to say, and he ultimately addressed him as sir: "In your eyes, what kind of person is my father, Ging?!"
"Him? Arrogant, willful, reckless, doing things without any regard for others, he's an extremely over-the-top jerk."
Luke said without hesitation, listing a string of Ging Freecss's flaws, facts that were universally acknowledged and unquestionable.
"This is also recognized by almost all the professional hunters in the Hunter Association, the image they have of Ging Freecss."
He added with a smile, leaving Gon dumbfounded.
Gon: "..."
The shock he felt today was immense, leaving him a bit frightened even now.
"What, did you not expect Ging Freecss to be like this?!"
Luke smiled and came to stand beside Gon.
"Yes, I really didn't expect it."
Gon replied, dazed, while unconsciously shaking his head. "I... I can't tell what kind of person Ging really is."
What Kite had said earlier, Gon could tell, was genuine, from his heart. He truly admired his father and believed Ging was an excellent professional hunter. But now, with Luke, he received a completely opposite perspective.
And he could tell Luke wasn't lying. Moreover, since Luke said he was Ging's friend, this must be a genuine evaluation.
Especially, Luke mentioned that this was the shared recognition of professional hunters across the Hunter Association.
So what kind of person is his father, Ging Freecss...?
At only eight years old, Gon could not understand or make sense of it.
"In fact, neither Kite nor I said anything wrong."
Seeing Gon so confused, his mind in a fog, eyes shining with innocence, Luke chuckled: "The flaws I just mentioned are indeed traits of Ging."
"But those are just his personal character and approach to things. More so, it's due to his free-spirited, reckless style, not caring at all about others' opinions, that he gets evaluated this way."
"However, in terms of ability, he truly is a top-class professional hunter of our time."
"Whether it's his achievements as a professional hunter, or the numerous industries and accomplishments he built..."
"He is among the top hunters in this world."
Luke shrugged: "The only thing I disagree with in what Kite said is his line, Ging Freecss is the most outstanding hunter in the world."
"In my view, the only person who truly deserves that title is Chairman Netero."
"Ging Freecss indeed brought the profession of hunter to its peak, but it's still slightly short."
At least, Chairman Netero had already ventured into the Dark Continent. Ging Freecss was still struggling to gain permission to go there. From this perspective, he still couldn't compare to Chairman Netero.
"Ging Freecss is a living person. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, just like you."
Luke looked at Gon and smiled: "Even from just meeting you, I can roughly tell..."
"You must have a very stubborn temperament; once you decide on something, you must carry it out. For example..."
Luke glanced at the hunter's license safely tucked in Gon's pocket: "Right now, you must also be very curious about the hunter profession, right?"
"... Yes."
Listening to Luke, Gon gradually pieced together the image of Ging in his mind and nodded: "I want to understand what kind of magic the hunter profession holds that would make a man like Ging give up his family and child to pursue it."
Gon spoke his feelings truthfully. He was genuinely curious, with no hint of resentment, only a longing to explore the hunter profession.
"So instead of just being curious here, why not try it yourself? Participate in this work, become a hunter, and see for yourself?"
Luke pointed out what Gon had been thinking.
"Back then, Ging left Whale Island at twelve, and on his first attempt, he passed the hunter exam."
"If you can do the same at twelve, as Ging did, then you will have the true qualifications to follow in his footsteps..."
Luke paused, then smiled: "By the way, aside from my name, I forgot to introduce myself."
Luke became slightly serious: "I am a professional hunter, but also the Vice-Chairman of the Hunter Association."
"Vice-Chairman?"
Gon could not yet grasp the meaning or authority of the term.
"You can understand it as the second most important person among all hunters."
Luke summarized concisely. The most important person, of course, is Chairman Netero.
"Second most important..."
Gon's eyes lit up: "Then, sir Luke, can you help me find Ging?!"
"You're good friends, so you must have a way to contact him, right?!!"
"Yes, we are in contact, and we met not long ago."
Luke admitted without hesitation, nodding.
"However, if you want to meet him..."
Seeing Gon excitedly about to say more, Luke waved a hand with a smile: "Even if you use my way to get through to him, given his personality, he probably won't communicate with you."
"Not to mention meeting in person."
"Ging is that kind of difficult person. If he really wanted to see you, he would have done so already to let you know he's alive, instead of you thinking he's dead."
"If he doesn't want to see someone, even his disciple, Kite, can't see him."
"But since Kite followed Ging's path here and left that hunter license for you..."
Luke mercilessly dismantled Ging Freecss's plans and revealed his intentions: "That means he certainly has his own plan."