Chapter 23: I've Got My Eyes on This Girl!
"In any case, when you're hungry, you eat."
Menchi decided not to argue with the boy who claimed to be 20 years old. She pulled out a knife-like kitchen tool from her waist, skillfully twirled it in her fingers, and smiled, "I'll go find something to eat."
Seeing her take out a kitchen knife, Lumin warily circled around and hid behind Arthur.
Arthur pointed at his head and then at the town behind them, as if to say, "Are you crazy? If you want to eat, why not go to town? Why insist on eating wild food?"
Menchi replied, "Aren't you the one who insisted on running out to the wilderness to train? I find it strange. Even if you want to practice Nen, you could do it in town. Why run so far early in the morning?"
Arthur said, "The place is too small to stretch out. Why did I come out to train early in the morning? At your age, with your Nen in such a mess, how can you sleep at night? If I were you, I'd be practicing Nen day and night, "
"I'm going to find ingredients!" Menchi ran into the depths of the forest with her kitchen knife.
"It's not even lunchtime yet! I am Arthur, and today, I'll train until I'm exhausted, and I won't eat lunch until it's time!"
Arthur shouted at Menchi's back, then crossed his arms and turned to look at Ginta, who had been quietly observing. Ginta just looked back at him, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.
The atmosphere seemed a bit awkward...
The silence was broken by a familiar, eerie Death Aura that Arthur felt entering his heart, followed by another, and another.
Arthur maintained his expression, estimating that as long as a living creature died within a kilometer of him, excluding invisible microorganisms, a Death Aura would enter his heart.
When the Death Aura entered his heart, it disappeared like a mud ox into the sea.
Previously, even a single Death Aura would cause Arthur's heart to ache, but now, with three Death Auras from Menchi's hunting, he didn't feel it as strongly.
Perhaps it was because he had become stronger than before.
Or maybe it was because the Death Aura accumulated in his heart wasn't that dense yet.
Or it could be that the process, reaction, and result of his heart absorbing Death Aura were entirely unpredictable...
...
"Why is there so little? It's not enough to eat!"
Arthur spat out a bone. Menchi's culinary skills were indeed as Ginta had said, winning the World Chef Competition at the age of 12. Even with just a few ordinary animals in the wilderness, without many seasonings, she managed to make them taste so delicious that one could almost swallow their tongue.
Menchi smugly said, "Who told you to share half with this Crescent Moon Tiger?"
Ginta finished his portion, wiped his mouth, and looked at the Moon Tiger devouring half a deer roasted by Menchi. "A qualified hunter is often loved by animals. So those poachers... just seeing them makes you dislike them."
Arthur patted Lumin's head and asked, "Why is it called a Crescent Moon Tiger? The name doesn't sound very auspicious."
Ginta replied, "Its scientific name has always been Moonwhite Tiger, named for its unique fur pattern in the moonlight. Because that color possesses a mesmerizing beauty, it's been listed as one of the world's seven great beauties by enthusiasts. As a result, Moonwhite Tigers have attracted more attention from admirers, collectors, and poachers... Over time, and no one knows when, people started calling this endangered tiger the Crescent Moon Tiger."
"...So it's literally tragic?" Arthur patted Lumin, then suddenly asked, "This Ghost Island appeared out of nowhere 24 years ago. Could it be the work of a Nen user? Who could have such power?"
Ginta nodded, organizing his thoughts, and slowly said, "Whether it's the work of a Nen user, or due to pressure from Kakin, as far as I know, no one has conducted a thorough investigation of this island, so there's no conclusion yet. This matter caused quite a stir back then, but it was quickly suppressed by the governments of both countries. Since this place was already a neglected, remote area, even online, there are hardly any records left...
"24 years ago, this island appeared out of nowhere. Moonwhite Tigers, which only inhabited the Kakin Empire on the Azian Continent, were found here. As a result, people quickly speculated that this island, which mysteriously appeared, came from the Kakin Empire. The Kakin Empire soon formally protested to the Ochima Federation, disputing Ochima's claim over the territory..."
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"24 years ago, on May 5, 1970, part of the Kavia region in the original Kakin Empire moved for unknown reasons, bordering the mainland of the Ochima Federation..."
Meanwhile, in the Blanchet Company building on the outskirts of the Crescent Moon Tiger Reserve, the person in charge of receiving Ochima's official representative, Sloer, was reading a document,
"For the next 13 years, the two countries continuously disputed the ownership of the original Kavia region, now known as Ghost Island, and on September 1, 1983, reached an understanding, introducing the third party, Fokeman Research Institute, to take full responsibility for the endangered species and natural ecology of Ghost Island...
"On December 20, 1990, Blanchet Company acquired Fokeman Research Institute, taking over the protection of Crescent Moon Tigers on Ghost Island while continuously developing tourism..."
The person in charge put down the document, expressionless, "According to the contract we inherited, without the Kakin Empire's official consent, the Ochima Federation has no right to apply for any investigation or research on Ghost Island. So, Mr. Sloer," he glanced at Kanzai, who was almost smoking from his ears, "I'm afraid I can't agree to your request."
Sloer chuckled, "I've already told you, Kakin has agreed to our investigation."
The person in charge replied, "The response I received was that Kakin's official side hasn't heard of this matter."
"This was personally promised by Kakin's First Prince, Benjamin Hui Guo Rou."
"The First Prince is not the king, and his verbal promise doesn't have legal effect."
"I personally have high hopes for the First Prince's future succession. I've heard that the current king, Nasubi Hui Guo Rou, also has high hopes for his eldest son."
"That's their royal family matter, and I won't comment."
"I've heard there's a legendary tomb of an ancient Kakin king on this island?"
"...I've never heard of such a thing," the person in charge replied, his expression unchanged.
Seeing that the other party didn't take the bait, Sloer touched his balding head.
He leaned back in his chair, picked up a teacup, and blew on it, "Your company has been managing this island for nearly five years, yet you haven't conducted any in-depth investigations? Hehehe, I find it hard to believe. If it were me, I'd have thoroughly investigated this place on the first day. After all, it's the tomb of that Ancient King of Kakin, isn't it? Haven't there been rumors about it in recent years? I thought your company acquired Fokeman Research Institute to investigate the tomb of the Ancient King of Kakin."
The person in charge emphasized, "I'll reiterate, Fokeman Research Institute was poorly managed and on the verge of bankruptcy. Blanchet Company, out of goodwill, acquired the institute and took over the protection of Crescent Moon Tigers here. Also, we don't know, nor do we believe, there's any tomb of the Ancient King of Kakin here. If Mr. Sloer doesn't have official permission from Kakin, please leave."
Sloer didn't seem in a hurry, staying there and engaging in a war of words with Blanchet Company.
On one hand, Ochima's official side would pressure the First Prince to fulfill his promise. On the other hand, perhaps the amateur hunters who had already infiltrated the reserve would yield some results.
Kanzai, however, was getting a headache from listening. He quietly asked one of the accompanying Ochima officials, "What's this Ancient King of Kakin? Is he famous?"
"You really don't know?" The official was surprised, "He's the legendary king who almost unified the entire Azian Continent, a great figure known to everyone, printed in textbooks..."
"Forget it, it sounds complicated," Kanzai interrupted.
The official swallowed his words, thinking, "If you don't have the patience to listen, then don't ask! Illiterate!"
Kanzai stood behind Sloer, already lost in thought.
It would have been better to join those amateur hunters and investigate the reserve. He hadn't seen a Crescent Moon Tiger in person yet...
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"Where are all the Crescent Moon Tigers? I haven't seen a single one..."
In the outer zone of the reserve, Shizuku walked through the forest, glancing at the sun, which had passed noon, and found a shady spot to sit down.
Flap, flap... Two crow-sized birds landed on the branch above her, peering down suspiciously.
Shizuku raised her hand, and a vacuum cleaner-like object appeared out of nowhere.
"It's her Nen ability! Conjuration Type's 'Deme-chan'..."
The "Arthur Crow" naturally recognized the strange "vacuum cleaner."
This bizarre thing had a biological-like mouth that could suck in anything Shizuku deemed non-living, with no apparent limit to quantity, volume, or size. Shizuku herself didn't know where these things went after being sucked in...
Unaware of the crow's analysis of her ability, Shizuku spoke to the "vacuum cleaner" in her hand, "Deme-chan, bread."
Poof! The "vacuum cleaner" spat out a pile of freshly packaged bread, landing on the ground in front of Shizuku.
Shizuku picked it up, ate a few pieces, and felt thirsty, "Deme-chan, water."
Poof! The "vacuum cleaner" opened its mouth again, spitting out a bottle of mineral water, seemingly fresh off a supermarket shelf.
Shizuku unscrewed the cap and took a couple of gulps. As she tilted her head back, she noticed the two birds staring at her from the tree branch. Despite being just birds, they seemed to be watching her intently...
In fact, the two "birds" shared the same thought in their minds: "This is a must-have skill for home and travel. I've got my eyes on this girl!"
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"What do you mean you've got your eyes on her?!"
Menchi's panicked voice snapped Arthur back to reality.
Menchi drew her kitchen knife from her waist, warning Arthur, "Even though you claim to be 20, I haven't fully believed it yet. Besides, you still look like this, and I can't accept you... Arthur, right? Don't have any strange thoughts about me! It's impossible!"
Arthur was at a loss for words, finally saying with a blank expression, "You have short hair and short-sightedness! What's wrong with the way I look? I've even seen a fifty-year-old woman who still looks like a doll-like little girl pretending to be young! Tsk..."