"Times are hard. If we can avoid knives and guns, let's avoid knives and guns. Give me some face and put the gun down for now."
Luo Ou jumped down from the embankment and took a few steps forward.
Only then did everyone notice his arrival. After hearing his words, the four people present reacted very differently.
Why is it this guy again? Leorio thought. He keeps saying 'times are hard' like it's a mantra. Did something mess him up? Give you face? How big do you think your face is?
"Ou, you're here," Gon greeted him—completely ignoring the tension of the moment.
"These kids nowadays are all the same, acting recklessly," the black-hearted boss shouted. "Don't think you won't be punished just because you're kids! Mr. Hunter, teach them a lesson too!"
Simply put, no one took Luo Ou's words seriously.
And then—right at that moment—something happened that left everyone staring in disbelief.
The fake Hunter in the green hat actually lowered the gun that had been aimed at Gon and Leorio.
Lowered it.
He really lowered it.
The black-hearted boss was full of question marks.
Leorio was full of question marks.
The reason the fake Hunter lowered his gun was simple: in his eyes, they were just a kid and a defeated underling. Even if he didn't point a gun at them for the moment, it wouldn't matter. After all, he was a Hunter—a dignified Hunter. How could ordinary people dare to fight a Hunter?
After lying to himself for long enough, he had genuinely started to believe his own act.
All things considered, the fake Hunter decided to give this kid some "face."
"Why aren't you moving?" Luo Ou reminded Leorio when he saw him standing there dumbfounded.
Leorio snapped back to his senses, lunged forward in a single step, grabbed the fake Hunter, and executed a clean shoulder throw. The man slammed hard onto the ground, his gun flying out of his hand.
"If I weren't starving, do you think I would've lost to you?" Leorio scoffed smugly.
He fished a forged Hunter License out of the man's pocket. Gon's judgment had been correct—this guy was a fake Hunter.
With his support gone, the black-hearted boss collapsed onto the ground in terror.
The fake Hunter, his tiger skin finally stripped away, didn't even bother picking up the gun. He scrambled away on all fours, fleeing in disgrace.
The matter was perfectly resolved.
Leorio voiced the biggest question on his mind. "Why did that fake Hunter listen to you? Why did he give you face?"
"Times are hard," Luo Ou replied after serious consideration. "What I said made sense, so he listened."
Leorio stared at him with a are you kidding me? expression.
"If he cared about reason, he wouldn't be a fraud in the first place. Who would believe that explanation?"
"I think what Ou said makes a lot of sense," Gon chimed in at the worst possible timing. "I believe him."
At that moment, Leorio felt exhausted. Truly exhausted. He didn't even want to talk anymore.
"Times are hard. Help when you can. If it makes sense, I think you'd give me face too, Leorio," Luo Ou said earnestly.
Leorio snorted in disdain, thinking, Why would I give you face? Unless I'm an idiot.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
A rapid, urgent bell rang out.
"Damn it! The ship's about to depart!" Leorio yelled.
He pulled out a paper-wrapped bundle and shoved it at the black-hearted boss.
"This is compensation for releasing your animals. Take it."
With that, he sprinted at full speed toward the Sea God.
"Ou, hurry up! To take the Hunter Exam, we need to board the Sea God to Dolle Island!" Gon grabbed Luo Ou and ran after Leorio.
When they reached the harbor, the Sea God had already raised its sails and begun departing—just like in the original plot.
"Wait! Wait! We want to board too!" Gon chased after the ship, shouting at the top of his lungs.
"Stop! Stop!"
Leorio ran and shouted as well, but it was useless. The ship's speed far exceeded that of people running.
The red-nosed captain replied coldly, "Too late. The ship won't stop. Try again next year."
"Ou, what do we do?" Gon turned to Luo Ou.
In Gon's eyes, Luo Ou always had a solution—and this time was no exception.
"Look over there, that hill," Luo Ou said. "If you wrap your fishing line around it, you should be able to swing onto the ship."
"That would only work for two people at most," Gon estimated after looking at the hill. "It's not that the rod can't handle it—the swing just isn't strong enough to send three people over."
"It's fine," Luo Ou said, patting Gon on the shoulder. "You go with this uncle. I have my own way of getting on board."
"Okay! Be careful then," Gon said without hesitation.
He immediately got moving. "Uncle, let's go—we're getting on the ship!"
Gon ran toward the hill. Leorio looked at Gon, then at Luo Ou.
By now, the Sea God had already sailed out. Aside from this crazy method, there was no other way aboard—which meant Luo Ou had given up this precious opportunity to him.
Leorio clenched his teeth and followed Gon.
At this moment, he started to believe the phrase Luo Ou always repeated.
Times are hard. Help when you can.
This kid named Luo Ou really was a good person.
Gon reached the base of the hill and cast his fishing rod, looping the line around the peak.
"Come on, Uncle! Hold on tight!" Gon shouted.
Leorio bit down on his briefcase strap and wrapped his arms around Gon.
Everything depended on this one attempt.
Using the fishing rod's tension, they swung toward the Sea God, slammed into the raised sail, and followed the momentum—
Gon landed perfectly on the deck.
This was the treatment reserved for the protagonist.
As for Leorio, he predictably crashed down flat on his face in a sorry state.
That was the treatment for the adopted one.
"Uncle, are you okay?" Gon asked.
"Don't call me uncle," Leorio snarled through clenched teeth. "Call me Leorio."
"Leorio, where's Ou?" Gon asked, looking around and finding no sign of him.
"T-There…" Leorio pointed toward the harbor, eyes wide with shock.
Gon followed the direction of his finger.
Amid the churning white waves, a small boat was speeding along steadily. At the stern, the boatman had pushed the engine to full throttle, racing straight toward the Sea God.
Luo Ou sat comfortably on the boat. Though the space was a bit cramped, everything that mattered was there—a soft leather seat beneath him, a cup of juice in his hand. He looked utterly relaxed, forming a stark contrast to the frantic Gon and Leorio from earlier.
"Gon! The fishing rod!"
When the boat drew alongside the Sea God, Luo Ou shouted.
Gon immediately lowered the fishing line in perfect coordination.
Grabbing the line, Luo Ou borrowed the momentum and lightly landed on the deck.
"Perfect," Luo Ou thought to himself.
"So that was your plan," Gon said in amazement. "That's really clever. Ou, when did you arrange the boat?"
"I was just preparing in advance, just in case," Luo Ou replied. "I didn't expect I'd actually need it."
PS: Access advance chapters at