Chapter 30: He's an Emission Type
Kanzai was like a little tiger with flames shooting from his forehead. Even though Douglas, a high-level amateur hunter, knew that the anger of this member of the Twelve Zodiacs wasn't directed at him, he still felt a bit intimidated.
"Alright, Kanzai," Ginta interrupted, breaking the tense atmosphere. "I don't think Arthur meant it that way."
He turned to Arthur and asked, "Do you know about 'Specialization'?"
"Who doesn't?" Arthur scoffed, then paused before saying, "Explain it in detail."
Kanzai rolled his eyes. His temper flared up quickly but also subsided just as fast.
"We'll talk about it later," Ginta said. The factional conflicts within the Hunter Association didn't need to be explained in this setting.
"Forget it," Arthur said, grabbing a pen and signing his name in swift strokes, using a unique and intricate script.
Shizuku was curious. "What kind of writing is that?"
Arthur replied, "It's an obscure script; it's natural you wouldn't recognize it."
"Oh," Shizuku nodded.
...You guys aren't really studying the contract, are you? Douglas internally complained. Signing so quickly, why even bother asking for advice?
"Alright, everyone, get ready. In 20 minutes, we'll head to the reserve," said Sloer, an official from Ochima, checking his watch with a smile. "I don't want to return empty-handed. Although only five days remain, with Blanchet Company's clearance, we can investigate openly. Hopefully, we'll make substantial progress."
"What exactly are we investigating that's so hard to find?" Menchi wondered, turning to see Arthur and the others already leaving.
Douglas leaned in and sighed with the wisdom of experience, "It's not that we're inefficient; it's that the people from Kakin are obstructing us. The agreed 20-day period has been mostly wasted by their delays..."
"Oh," Menchi nodded, then turned to leave. "Ginta, Arthur, wait for me."
Douglas: "..."
Shizuku found an old book from somewhere, adjusted her glasses, and quietly started reading in a corner.
...
"Are you leaving?" Menchi looked at Ginta.
"Of course, my task is complete," Ginta replied.
"You finished the poacher-catching mission a while ago, didn't you?" Menchi put her hands on her hips.
Arthur said, "The task he refers to is guiding you in your Nen Ability training, right? Ginta, you haven't explained Specialization yet. Are you trying to sneak away?"
"..." Ginta stopped at the door, thought for a moment, then turned back. "Guiding a newcomer like Menchi is a task without compensation."
"Huh?" A question mark appeared on Menchi's forehead. "Why mention that?"
"Although newcomers might achieve something in the future, which could be credited to the mentor, the potential of a newcomer is an uncertain factor," Ginta explained calmly. "If it were a Specialist, they would refuse such time-consuming tasks with no tangible reward. Moreover, the risk is too high. No matter how lucrative the reward, they won't take it. They'll choose low-risk, high-reward, and time-efficient tasks."
"Any self-respecting hunter should despise such fools," another voice chimed in from behind.
Arthur and Menchi turned around.
Kanzai, grinding his teeth, said angrily, "Those Specialists are an insult to the word 'hunter'! Their cowardly pickiness with tasks is infuriating!"
Menchi was stunned and asked, "Then what makes a qualified hunter?"
Kanzai replied, "Anything but those Specialists!"
Ginta said slowly, "A hunter is someone who always maintains enough patience, curiosity, and never fears any challenge or difficulty. If it were Chairman Netero, he might answer like that."
"Do you have a 'prey' you're willing to pursue at all costs?" he asked Menchi and Arthur.
"Of course, I'm a Gourmet Hunter!" Menchi puffed out her chest, thumbs up, pointing at herself. "I'll do anything for food."
Arthur smiled, "I guess I do, but the goal is a bit far, so I don't want to say."
Kanzai said, "I used to find you annoying, but now you're somewhat tolerable!"
"You're the 'tiger'," Arthur said.
Kanzai was puzzled, not quite getting it.
Menchi found it hilarious; Arthur was too mischievous.
Ginta also smiled, waved goodbye, and set off on his journey.
In the reserve, at the Blanchet Company's research facility, Sloer shook hands with the person in charge, smiling, "We should be able to conduct a formal investigation now, right?"
The person in charge withdrew his hand, "Haven't you been investigating for half a month already?"
Sloer didn't respond directly, smiling, "The core area is also within the investigation scope."
"The core area is the primary habitat of the Crescent Moon Tigers," the person in charge emphasized. "I don't know what you're investigating, but please don't disrupt the ecological environment here. The Crescent Moon Tigers are endangered, and this is one of their few habitats..."
Sloer said, "It's Kakin's fault for deliberately delaying."
"Watch your words, Mr. Sloer."
Arthur, Menchi, Shizuku, and others turned to see Babimyna leading several Kakin personnel over. His demeanor was distinctly military, with crisp and straightforward actions and speech. "Kakin's official recognition of this cooperation is already thanks to Prince Benjamin's full support."
Prince Benjamin? Arthur caught the keyword, but before he could speak, the curious Shizuku asked, "Prince?"
Menchi explained, "Kakin's prince. In their country, regardless of gender, as long as they're the king's children, they're called princes, treated equally."
"Ahem!" Douglas cleared his throat, explaining, "Benjamin Hui Guo Rou, the First Prince of Kakin's royal family, and the most likely to inherit..." Noticing Babimyna's sharp gaze, Douglas immediately shut up.
First Prince!
Speaking of which, Arthur remembered. Isn't he the muscle-bound man who appeared in the manga and strangled a lion with a bear hug?
He's also the full brother of that super perverted Fourth Prince...
In the manga's Kakin Succession War arc, although the text became increasingly dense, the first and fourth princes, those two volatile brothers, were prominently featured early in the conflict, leaving a lasting impression.
First Prince...
Arthur realized who his future enemy was.
A formidable person... The most dangerous part is that he's in a high position, commanding a private army, and is a Nen user himself. His subordinates likely include many Nen soldiers, such as Babimyna here and the man Arthur dealt with before...
"Is he also a hunter you hired?"
Babimyna suddenly pointed at Arthur, asking Sloer.
"Yes," the bald official replied with a smile.
Babimyna didn't say more. After all, Arthur looked too young... or rather, too childish.
Menchi, with a defensive demeanor, glared at him, as if saying, "Do you have a problem?"
As everyone left the research facility and was about to enter the lush forest ahead, others seemed to be in a watching mood.
Seeing this, Arthur raised his hand and asked, "For the investigation, are we free to act?"
Sloer replied, "Of course. Among hunters, there are many extraordinary individuals. We outsiders won't give unnecessary instructions. It's up to you to act independently. We just want results."
Arthur said, "Then let's act together!"
He pointed at Menchi and Shizuku. Shizuku looked around, as if confirming it was indeed her being pointed at.
"Huh?" Someone beside Douglas couldn't hold back any longer. In fact, since Arthur appeared and signed the contract, he had been displeased. Now he stepped forward, "You, kid, coming up and saying whatever—" His words got stuck in his throat because the boy pointed his finger at him.
"I see you guys seem to have a problem with me?"
A rapidly growing aura bullet spun and formed on Arthur's finger...
Hey, hey, hey! Are you kidding? Is this thing for real? It's deadly!
...I'm going to get killed!
Although Douglas and the others were amateur hunters, they were still Nen users. They weren't so oblivious as to not recognize the immediate danger of this Nen Bullet, and they broke into a cold sweat.
Arthur flicked his finger.
Boom!
The fierce Nen Bullet grazed the amateur hunter's cheek, tearing through three or four trees behind him...
The man's cheek was scratched, blood trickling down. His legs trembled, and he couldn't help but kneel before Arthur, who now looked down at him.
Arthur blew on his index finger, not bothering to look at the man in front of him, and asked, "Any more objections?"
"He's an Emission Type..." Kanzai and Babimyna thought almost simultaneously. "With such destructive power, his strength is impressive!"
Menchi was a bit confused, mainly because, in her view, Arthur wasn't supposed to be such a volatile character.
Even more confused was Sloer. As a non-Nen user, he couldn't understand what kind of magic this young hunter had performed to conjure an invisible "cannonball"...