Outside, the moon was bright and the stars were few.
Because there was no storm, the night sky—black and velvety like satin—was filled with glittering stars, scattered generously across the sea and the Sea God. Everything looked hazy and dreamlike.
Yet beneath that beauty lurked danger.
Clang!
Crack!
The sharp sounds of weapons colliding rang out without end.
By the time Lu Ou and Gon rushed outside, Kurapika and Leorio were already locked in a fierce battle.
Back and forth they went, evenly matched. Leorio hadn't expected this awkward-looking boy to be so capable, and Kurapika hadn't expected that this seemingly grown-up man actually had real skill.
Simply put, the two had begun to feel a sense of mutual respect. After all, respect is earned only between the capable—no one admires the weak.
"Not bad," Leorio said, raising an eyebrow.
"You're not bad either," Kurapika replied.
They exchanged a look, sparks practically flying in the air. One moved like an arrow released from a bow, the other like a tiger descending a mountain, and once again they charged at each other in perfect sync.
Neither intended to yield. Both fought with full concentration.
Snap.
Leorio's short blade slipped past Kurapika's guard and rested against his neck, while Kurapika's staff hovered just inches above Leorio's head. The clash ended in a perfect stalemate.
Their movements froze at the same time, locked in place for a long moment.
"Hahahahaha!"
Suddenly, both men withdrew their weapons and burst into hearty laughter.
Seeing this, Lu Ou finally relaxed. Earlier, he'd been slightly worried—without the "catalyst" of that unlucky guy who fell into the sea in the original story, these two might really have fought to the death.
If that had happened, he would've had no choice but to intervene. Anyone who'd watched the anime knew that Leorio and Kurapika were reliable companions. Sure, one had a sharp tongue and the other was cold, but those traits were shaped by their experiences—something outsiders had no right to judge.
Lu Ou subtly relaxed his hand, a flash of brilliant red disappearing without a trace.
"That's great! I knew they'd become good friends—just like us!" Gon said happily.
"Yeah," Lu Ou replied with a knowing smile, glancing at Gon. In truth, Gon was the impressive one. Though sometimes single-minded, his thinking was incredibly simple and direct.
If there's a conflict, fight it out. Once it's over, it's over.
A simple principle—but how many people could truly understand it?
"Who said he's my friend?"
"Who said he's my friend?"
Kurapika and Leorio spoke at the same time. Realizing it, both snorted and turned their heads away.
That small incident brought the four of them closer together.
Before long, laughter rang out again. The four stood together, gazing at Doli Island as it drew nearer, imagining the colorful future ahead of them.
"I apologize for what happened earlier, Mr. Leorio," Kurapika said, looking toward the coastline where the first light appeared.
That faint glow was like sunlight spilling into the blue sea. What had once been a cold, still lake now seemed to flow like a lively river. Kurapika himself appeared full of vitality.
"No need to be so formal—just call me Leorio," Leorio said, scratching his head awkwardly. Then he straightened up, his expression serious. "I should apologize too. Everything I said about your clan earlier—I take it all back."
"…Mm," Kurapika replied.
Everything fell perfectly into place. The Red-Nosed Captain even delivered a final gift to cement their newfound friendship.
"All four of you—pass," the Red-Nosed Captain said with a smile.
Lu Ou and the others were delighted. They had finally taken their first successful step in the Hunter Exam.
Especially Lu Ou—knowing how much excitement lay ahead, he couldn't help feeling thrilled.
At dawn, the Sea God docked steadily at Doli Island's harbor.
The remaining successful examinees poured off the ship, eagerly scattering to ask for directions to Sabba City.
Compared to the shabby trio of the original story, a group of several dozen people now felt like an upgraded luxury edition.
"Thank you, Captain, for giving us such a pleasant journey," Gon said.
"Many thanks for your hospitality," Lu Ou added, hoping the captain would generously provide the shortcut to Sabba City.
Lu Ou was eager to see the animals that could transform into humans. After all, in his original world, cultivation was forbidden after the founding of the nation—if people saw real yokai, they'd probably run faster than ever.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"And who knows whether those wild beasts or magical creatures are edible… and what they taste like?" Just thinking about it made Lu Ou's mouth water.
"I've fallen so far…" Lu Ou lamented inwardly.
Ever since gaining the power of the Face-Fruit, he felt himself sinking deeper into the abyss of being a foodie. Whenever he saw something new, his first thought was whether it could be eaten—and the second was which part was the most valuable.
As a qualified Face-Fruit user, Lu Ou felt confident he could go farther and farther down this glorious culinary path.
Kurapika and Leorio also stepped forward politely to thank the captain for his care along the way.
Clearly pleased, the Red-Nosed Captain laughed. "Even though you've reached Doli Island, the road ahead is still long."
After they nodded, he continued, "Since that's the case, I'll tell you one more thing—consider it a special service."
"See that massive cedar tree over there? Head in that direction and you'll find a shortcut to the test site. Once you understand, get moving—the test has already begun."
He pointed to a huge cedar tree that stood out clearly atop the mountain.
"Thank you, Captain!" the four said together, waving goodbye to him and the crew.
"The cedar tree's direction is the exact opposite of the road to Sabba City," Leorio said, troubled.
The group stood in front of a city map, studying the routes. On the surface, Leorio was right—going to the cedar tree meant taking a detour.
"I don't think the captain would mention the cedar tree for no reason. So let's go there. We'll vote—majority rules. Those in favor of going to the cedar tree, raise your hands," Lu Ou said, determined not to let Leorio fall into the trap bus and have to backtrack later.
"That sounds fun! I vote for the cedar tree," Gon said immediately.
"I agree. Going to the cedar tree seems better," Kurapika said. Ever since witnessing Lu Ou's sea ritual, he'd inexplicably trusted him. Mysterious and capable—following him didn't seem like a bad idea.
"I never said I disagreed. If everyone's on board, then let's go together," Leorio said, scratching his head before reluctantly agreeing.
"The bus to Sabba City is about to depart—the bus stop's over there," a voice suddenly interjected.
Lu Ou looked up.
Orange short hair, two sticks on his back, a sly expression.
This was Matthew—the same guy from the original story who tricked Gon into carrying him the whole way. Seeing him in person, he looked even more sleazy than in the manga.
Matthew had succeeded originally because the trio had split up. Now that Gon had like-minded companions, he was far less likely to pay attention to a stranger.
The four merely glanced at Matthew in unison. The others looked especially puzzled, then promptly ignored him.
"Alright, let's go," Lu Ou said, taking the lead.
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