Raphael continues to adventure alongside Killua and Gon.
Raphael made sure to go through the finer details of the game, long before he met Gon and Killua, this was to set all the pieces on the board so that everything was easy to digest. He made sure to cover the mechanics, the way the island worked with its card system in check, and the fact that the magic system worked with the same functions as Nen, minus the requirements for the players having to learn all the conditions needed to use the card's ability.
The teen was ignoring the majority of the cards they obtained in-game, focusing mainly on the restricted slot cards, unless it was useful to add to the story, like the Accompany card.
It wasn't until the Bombers were introduced to the plot, was when Gon and Killua started to interject throughout the story, adding things he may have missed, or wasn't present for.
Once everything was covered the man finally spoke his piece, "So Ging created a game, based in the real world, that any Nen user could play? And Nen abilities could be used alongside the cards, as long as they don't specifically target the cards themselves."
"Yes, the cards were considered indestructible objects. I would assume that if you had the ability to copy those cards, they wouldn't function the same as the Greed Island, because those would be unaccounted for in the system. The Game Master was upholding the rules to the cards, so I would assume every time we used a card, the Greed Island Game Master's aura would activate the card."
"Wait, you're telling me every card we use that was assigned to Razor, we were weakening him?"
"I wouldn't say weakening, Killua. I would assume the aura needed to cast the ability was already stored in the card, and since all cards get recycled through their respective shop, it was just a matter of tugging on the Game Master's aura, to let them know when, where and what you wanted to do with the card."
"Interesting…" Killua thumbed his chin, this would've been cool information to have right in the beginning, "But wouldn't the cards weaken over time from constant use?"
"Inscription was most likely in play, just like the rings and memory card. Otherwise, constant use of the term book most likely would've made the ring degrade over time, kind of like hardware does, eventually creating lag or wild glitches in the system. Think of using Return, only for the randomness to summon an anvil at your, or at the end's position."
"Ging is quite impressive to come up with such a game. Sadly, I never got to see any of those features." Kite was surprised Ging hadn't shown any of those card's effects. It would've been impressive to witness in-person "It would've been impressive to witness it in action…"
The man then leaned forward, "It was very elaborate if it was merely designed to help prepare you for further training…" Kite wondered why Ging would go so far for a coincidence.
"Yeah, but it made me realise something. If Ging planned for me to go to Greed Island and meet his friends, Bisky and the others may have been another part of his plan." Gon could only gather this information from what Kite and Ging's friends, back on Greed Island, stated.
They've all pointed out that Ging was an extremely proficient, and powerful Hunter.
"Gon, again, this is some crazy speculation. Bisky knows of Ging, but didn't say at any point she had met him face-to-face. Maybe if Ging spread the rumour about Blue Planet and Archangel's Breath, being on Greed Island, but the timing of the window he would need to secure both Battera buying up the games, and Bisky signing up to be a player is next level planning.
"I'd have to agree, Gon. Issues could arise at any number of these milestones, that would set his entire plan back. Including you, meeting Kite…"
"Huh…" Kite thought about the multiple issues that could arise from this planned meeting "There's one little thing I want to know; you said you feel like Ging-san created Greed Island to train you, right?"
"More like Gon…" Killua deflected the situation, "I just happened to be there along for the ride."
"And I was only there to fulfil the contract my father made with Tsezguerra."
"I think that was part of Ging's plans, too."
Killua awkwardly turned away. Seriously? Gon just doesn't have a filter with these kinds of things, "I doubt it. Even if your father knew the intricacies of the Zol- my family, he should've known better than to get me involved with you. Nor should he have been aware of Nathaniel's contract with Tsezguerra."
"But we became friends instantly at the Hunter's exam."
"In-Instantly?" Killua found himself getting flustered again. Is he being serious? "I'm pretty sure it was a gradual process…"
"Nope, friends at first sight."
"Weirdo…" The boy quickly looked away, although he still found himself smiling at the affirmation.
Kite took in the silence. Gon might be onto something, "Our meeting here wasn't a coincidence."
"I feel the same…" Killua admitted quietly, "Well, the meeting, not the elaborate grand design part." Kite was an apprentice of Ging. There must be something they're supposed to learn from Ging's student, something Bisky would be unable to get across… "Surely, there must be a deeper meaning to this."
"What do you mean by deeper, Killua?"
"Think about it. Razor waited inside the game to test your strength. If you couldn't beat him, it was game over for us."
"Really?"
"Yeah, so if Razor was a testing threshold you had to bypass, Kite is another one. He will have another role to play on your way to meeting Ging…"
"I wonder what that is…"
When the boy turned to question the man of that possibility, he was already deep in thought.
"Kite?"
The man looked up, his eyes meeting Gon's, "I wonder what role…?"
"Your final test was finding Ging, right?"
The man found himself turning to Killua, "That's right."
"It was a daunting task, correct?"
The man offered a single nod, "The best Hunters in the world are not only masters of hunting, but concealing themselves too…"
"And yet, you were able to find him."
"That is true…"
"Once you cleared your final test, Ging must have decided you were worthy of handling this."
"Handling this? Handling what, Killua?"
"Exactly, what? Is basically what we need to figure out…"
Kite looked long and hard at Killua, wondering what was going through the kid's mind. There was no way he was meant to give the location of Ging, that would make this whole meeting pointless.
Still… it's good to test them, to see if they're prepared for what's to come "Say, Gon… Do you want me to tell you where Ging-san currently is?"
There was a long pause of silence between everyone, Killua looking towards his best friend.
If he says yes, this whole adventure ends once they meet the man…
If he says no, then begins the gruelling test Ging had planned for them, through Kite…
Gon watched the crackling fire. He knew the answer long before Kite asked him, "No, we need to find him on our own."
Kite was proud of the boy's response. He's not looking for an easy way to Ging. Gon was determined to find him, no matter how difficult it was going to be. "That's a good response."
"But enough about that, I want to hear about Ging! Tell me everything you know!"
Killua looked at his friend's face, taking in the radiant glow of happiness. He smiled unconsciously, that same fuzzy feeling returning in his chest.
Gon wants to be with him for as long as it takes to find the man. No shortcuts.
Just him…
His friends…
And everything he'd need to do in order to find Ging.
"~"
Kite went through a list of Ging's achievements, things he knew of, ruins the man helped rediscover and repair, beasts he tamed, small to larger beasts, creatures that were on par with the size of dragons.
Gon took all of it in with glimmering eyes.
"He even helped stop some creatures from going extinct. Such as the two-head wolves' breed. Picky little creatures there are. If only one is interested, the other might fuss and try to lure the other head away."
"Really? Is Ging really involved with that kind of stuff too?"
"Certainly. Ging-san is involved with a wide array of Hunter activities. He's never formally applied because he doesn't want to expend the energy, but he's more than qualified to be a Triple Star Hunter."
"Triple star…? What's that?"
Raphael finally piped up, "Awards for Hunters who go above and beyond the norms. The first star is awarded for those who complete an extraordinary feat. The second is to train a student who earns their own first star. And the third… well, I'm not sure."
"There's a little more to that than just extraordinary feats." The man chuckled at the boy's enthusiasm, "You need to maintain the first five Hunter Bylaws as well as have a student who obtained their first star. For the third star, you must achieve multiple feats… which is why…"
Kite pointed at the boys, "Ging-san is more than ready to claim his third star. There are less than ten of these Hunters in the world. The title Triple Star Hunter is reserved for the best, of the best."
"So, Ging is as good as the best!"
"Certainly…" The man took a sip of his tea, "Ging is also famous for discovering the Lurka Ruins and the Kongo gold vein."
"Ah!" Gon beamed at one of the places mentioned, "One of the Examiners we had told me about Lurka Ruins!" The boy went on to explain what he heard, Kite nodding along, adding only bits and pieces when needed.
The discussion went on long into the night, everyone unable to sleep from the excitement buzzing.
By the time anyone realised what had happened, morning had already sneaked up on them, the fire blackened, barely smouldering wood giving away how much time had passed.
Kite started cleaning up some of the mess, dampening the scuff marks left behind by the fire.
"Oh, speaking of which. What happened with Ging's License? I left it back on Whale Island."
"Yup. It's in my safe deposit box back in Yorknew city."
Raphael slowly turned to look at his friend. He must have misheard that, "I'm pretty sure I misheard you, but you're keeping Ging's Hunter License in a safe deposit box."
"No, you heard correctly…"
"What were you planning to do if you met Ging instead of Kite?"
"Ah…"
Raphael, facepalmed. Just when he thought things couldn't get any worse, Killua had to say something, "Now ask him where he keeps his License…"
Raphael slowly peeked up from his palm, "Please don't tell me…"
"In…" Gon awkwardly scratched the side of his cheek, "In the same safe deposit box."
"Just, why…"
"Because it's my safe deposit box…" Killua teased his friend. He made a similar point, and that's the answer he got.
This only made Gon shove his friend, "But it's true. It's safe there."
Kite found himself laughing at Gon's earnestly. It was funny that Gon intended to meet Ging without at least his License in tow.
"Killua, please tell me you didn't keep yours in his box too."
"No…" The boy scoffed at the idea, pulling his card to spin it between his fingertips, "I kept it on me."
"Good." Raphael sighed in relief. At least someone has their thinking cap on, "Because you can use your card to get into places you wouldn't normally get into."
"I know…"
"But are you sure you should've left those licenses there?" Kite tilted his head in confusion. Where they are currently, and where the licenses were, were pretty far away, "You're actually quite far from them?"
"Ah…" Gon looked at the man, just as confused as him, "Where are we?"
"A country called Kakin, towards the middle of the Azian continent." The man picked up his bag, gesturing to the boys, "We should start heading back, it's a long trek back.
"Okay!"
"Well, he gave me his license so I could hold onto it for him. But I'm entrusting it to you now." A small smirk escaped his lips, "You could try giving it to him, but he might not even bother taking it back.
"Alright…"
The four made their way through the forest, crossing through the many roots, Gon now wondering about something.
All they spoke about was Ging, which is what he wanted to learn about. But he failed to realise that there was zero intersection between the stories Kite told them, and the man's own achievements.
He would've thought there were a few stories where the two worked together for some greater goal, but there was nothing of that sort.
"What about you Kite?"
"Hmm…"
"What kind of work do you do?"
"Biological surveying, hired by Kakin. Mainly ecological research, the discovery of new species." Seeing their befuddled reaction, he lifted a finger, "You want to see some footage of a couple rare species we found?"
Killua and Gon raised their hands, interested in seeing some of the creatures Kite had discovered.
Raphael could only watch their giddy expressions as their eyes were glued to the screen.
Kite showed creature after creature, some big, some small. It seems Kite's group didn't have a limitation on what they sought.
They had been trekking for what felt like hours, the conversation stretching on with multiple discoveries along the way.
Kite was even collecting specimens as they conversed.
Eventually, the man continued their earlier topic, "We're not the only group in the area. There are some groups studying the changes in native species' habitat and population fluctuations."
Raphael posed a question, "You've mentioned 'we' a couple of times. But we haven't stumbled across anyone so far. Are they in a different part of Kakin?"
"Actually, we're on the way to meet up with them. There's seven of us working as a team. I'll introduce you to them. They may be amateurs, but they're still skilled Hunters."
"Oh, in what way?"
Kite grinned, "Their skills come from their talents, not their raw strength."
"Oh, that would be cool to hear from their side of things. I'm mainly an Information Hunter."
"I remember you mentioning that earlier. In any particular field? You did mention things that were lost to history, things that can keep cultures alive and thriving…"
"Not really, I prefer the unknown rich history, like the things on Greed Island, more unusual stuff that could be lost forever, if nobody continues to keep records of it happening."
"So more into the lost records side of things, huh…" Kite gave pause, "Would learning dead languages count towards that?"
"I suppose. Can't retell history without some kind of conversation between languages."
"Hmm, I feel like you would get along with Lin Koshi." The man looked behind him, "Speaking of the devil, it looks like my team arrived."
Kite got up to greet his friends, "Perfect timing."
There was a group of six people of various sizes. The first of the group to say anything was the large man, both in stature and weight with bear-like features, "We're bac-" He stopped mid-sentence when he noticed three extra people unaccounted for, "Huh?
The young lady wearing a beret, and a camera hanging around their neck looked as confused as her much bigger friend, "Kite…" She leaned past the man's shoulder, now observing the three kids. There shouldn't be anyone else besides their team in the restricted area.
Not only that, how did they find the man, "Who are these kids?"
"My friends. They dropped by for a visit on their travels."
"Really, this far out in the boonies? It's a pleasure to meet you all the way out here." The woman pointed a thumb at herself, finally introducing herself to the trio, "I'm Spinner Clow. Call me Spin! Nice to meet you." She held out her hand to shake their hands.
The only thing that didn't match her stylish clothing was the beret she was wearing.
Since she was the only one wearing a camera, she was probably the one capturing most of the pictures.
Raphael assumed she was planning to be some kind of hunter that has to do with pictures, possibly record keeping.
Gon took her hand, giving it a gentle shake, "I'm Gon Freecss."
Her hand snapped back, her bubble gum popping in shock. She couldn't have heard that correctly. Was this the son of the man that trained Kite? "F-Freecss…? You mean, he's…"
"Yes, Ging-san's son."
"Nice to meet you, Spin."
"Really?!" Everyone was shocked at the announcement. It wasn't an elaborate joke of some kind on Kite's part…
The man with the Afro pointed at the other two boys, "Are you also-"
Raphael waved his hand dismissively, "No- No… The name is Raphael Lucas, an Information Hunter."
"And you-"
"This is Killua Z-"
"Killua!" Killua's hand clasped his hand-over Gon's mouth, silencing him "Just, Killua… a professional, ex-assassin, turned Hunter."
"Really…?" Was that something someone really just announced? Also, he was pretty sure Gon was about to say his full name, but Killua covered it up.
Something starting with Z… and a professional assassin too.
The man hummed, trying to figure out who the boy was.
Kite held out his hand to the trio, "They're actually Pro Hunters. So, you should show them some respect."
"Wow!" It was one shock after another. First, they meet Ging's son, and find out one of them is an ex-assassin…
But the third is not only an Information Hunter, all three kids were Pro Hunters like Kite. This was multiple slaps across the face in rapid succession.
All three kids passed the exam…
One of which was Ging's son, no less.
The fact a professional ex-assassin was able to pass was nothing to scoff at.
But Raphael, they had no idea who he was, nor his family lineage. Were his parents skilled hunters too? Was he trained by the best of the best…
The man with the Afro was the first to break the silence, "Man, this is crazy! Not one… but three new Pro Hunters at our footsteps."
The man with the bear-like features laughed, a huge smile gracing his lips "Yeah, no kidding. Oh…" He slapped his hand in surprise. They had been so shocked from the reveal, that they failed to introduce the rest of themselves to the trio, "I don't think we finished introducing everyone." The man pointed a thumb at himself, "I'm Monta Yuras. But feel free to call me Mon."
"Nice to meet you, Mon." Gon smiled giddily.
The next one up was the short man with the glasses, "M-My name is Lin Koshi. N-Nice to meet you."
"Likewise…" Raphael held his hand out to the man, shaking it briefly, "Kite mentions we may have intersecting ideas. I might have to bounce a few off you."
"C-Certainly…"
Having shaken the rest of the trio's hands, the man with the Afro held a hand to his chest, "I'm Stick Dinner. I handle the cooking, which is pretty funny, right? Cause I'm a-"
"Stickler when it comes to making dinner?"
"Heh-"
"I lived the majority of my life with a single father, I see a pun when it's coming."
"Ehh…" Stick pouted, now pressing his index fingers together. It was a good pun, only to be ruined because one of the kids dealt with them all his life.
"Well, I think it's funny. It's nice to meet you, Stick." Gon offered an apologetic smile.
A bemused smile escaped Killua's lips, "Then why didn't you laugh when Raphael made the joke?"
"Ah-"
Stick's head could only drop in shame. Gon mustn't have really found the joke that funny.
The next to introduce themselves was the lady in overalls, one of the members besides Mon carrying bags, "My name is Banana Kavaro. Good to meet you." A dog's head popped out of one of the pockets of her bag at her introduction, Barking in excitement. It practically jumped out from the pocket of the bag to go after Gon who gladly picked them up.
As the dog sniffed the boy, the last member of the group introduced herself. A young woman even smaller than Lin, "I'm Pondungo Lapoy. How do you do?"
With the last member shaking hands with the trio, Kite addressed the main question he wanted to ask his friends, "So how were the Camp Tigers?"
Monta let out a huge smile, "We got awesome footage!"
"Yup!" Spinner jumped off the man's comment, "We managed to finish earlier than we planned. So now what?"
"Hmm…" Kite hummed at the question. They had no reason to finish up. They still had more time to optimise the remainder of the contract, "We still have another month until the contract runs out."
Monta gave a huge smile, "Why don't we keep working, focusing on smaller critters."
Killua made a face at hearing smaller and critter in the same sentence. He hopes they don't mean bugs, and by that…
They mean worms…
"Sure!" Stick stuck up his hand, laughing at his next joke, "No quitter hunts critters. Ya ha ha!"
Lin stuck up his hands, "O-Oh, if we discover seven more species, that's double the quota on the contract."
"Sounds good." Spinner gestured to the others, "I say that would be a good place to stop."
Hearing this Gon and Killua perked up. They're down for a challenge, especially when it comes to beating others that do something professionally.
"Oh, you want to join us?"
"Can we?!" The two chimed in unison.
Kite gave a nod. He could get on board with their enthusiasm, "Take it easy." Kite searched through his bag, producing a few cameras like Spinner's. He pointed at the features as he addressed them, "Take a digital picture with these cameras when you find something unusual. It'll automatically compare it to the database and tell you if it's a new species, or not."
Once Kite gave one each to the boys, Killua and Gon were already fiddling with them.
"If so, send the pics to the number, and within a few minutes, it'll be registered as a new species. Oh, and along with the discovery's name."
Hearing this, the two grinned at each other mischievously. Oh no, this was going to be like a repeat of learning Tsezguerra's ability to jump and levitate.
But still, Raphael found himself smiling. He had no reason to play this game with the two. He wanted to use this opportunity to converse with Lin, "I'll assist Lin."
"I-I'll be fine. I-I currently have found the most, at 1019."
This only spurred the others on. Now they are going to try to beat Lin's record, even though this group only intends to find at least seven more.
Lin didn't notice the storm he just ignited, opting to point out a fact about another member, "K-Kite has only found 68!"
"Dead last!" Dinner howled with laughter.
This only made the man lose his smile, "Hmph. I told you. I work with large animals; I suck at looking for tiny bugs!"
"That is true." Banana offered to calm down her friend's budding anger, "He did find the biggest discovery this trip, the Camp Tiger."
The two found themselves looking confused.
This was the second time they heard the name, so it must be a massive, if not important, find during their search to discover creatures. Killua was the first to question the group, "So, what is a Camp Tiger?"
Spinner got excited to retell the story, "Oh, it was such an amazing find." She procured a tablet, swiping through multiple videos "They're a species that use burning logs ignited by lightning, and stuff as kindle.
"As warmth or something?" Raphael questioned them. That's such an odd discovery.
"Actually…" Banana pressed on, "It's the first discovery of this kind, for a non-magical beast."
Landing on the right video, Spinner turned the tablet around to show the boys, "They prefer their meat cooked, over raw."
She clicked the play button. A video played out of a yellow and black striped tiger with a horn protruding from their head, piercing the fire.
A second beast came off-screen, meat pierced on their horn. When they shoved the tip of the horn into the fire, they realised what the first beast was doing.
"Seriously?" Killua's eyes brightened. He hadn't expected to see it happen, but the video provided the proof needed, "They're actually cooking it."
The first beast removed their horn from the fire, pressing their horn to the maw of the other.
They chewed on the meat as they continued to cook the meat on their horn.
"Aww, cute, they even feed each other." Raphael smiled at the video. They must be social creatures that hunt in packs, relying on each other during hunts and feedings.
Given what Spinner and Banana stated, they must eat it raw when kindling isn't an option.
So, biting chunks of flesh off their prey was probably the last thing they wanted to do. They most likely used their claws to shred slabs of meat off the hides before piercing it with their horn.
When the tiger showed that the horn could be retracted, the two were even more impressed.
"~"
When night came, the hunt for critters began. Gon and Killua practically ran off, eager to get started.
Raphael took this opportunity to split off with Lin, merely acting as a watcher. He knew the others would be impossible to keep track of, given what they'll be doing.
But he was interested to hear how Lin and the others had been doing this, "So what's the normal process for these sorts of things?"
"W-Well, it comes with experience and knowledge. L-Looking for tracks, markings left behind by critters and creatures."
"Cool…"
"L-Like this…" Lin moved a shrub aside, a trail left behind by a snake of some kind, "A-A Achalinus Artatus, harmless. You can tell by the markings of the scales left behind in the dirt."
Raphael peered down at the markings left behind, circles within prints left behind by the size of a scale. They look like suction cups.
Lin kept looking around until he found a beetle, taking a photo. He frowned, "G-Gon already found this one."
"Really, he works quickly…" Raphael took a deep breath, focusing aura into his eyes, "May I take a crack at this?"
"C-Certainly, but I found a lot doing this."
"There…" Raphael pointing towards a tree, his eyes following a critter moving about in the tree's leaves. Lin tilted his glasses, unable to see anything. When he moved closer, he saw the leaves rustle.
A squirrel popped out; a nut being held in its palms. It started chewing.
"I-Impressive…" Lin moved to take a photo, but the creature suddenly jumped.
Raphael caught it, the creature continuing to chew on its nut within the boy's palms.
"W-Wow, what Kite says about Hunters is true. I-I just thought it was a figure of speech." The man snapped a photo of the animal, only to frown. It had already been discovered, another, by Gon. He's been challenged, and it's only been the first night of many, "L-let's keep searching."
Raphael stuck the animal back in the tree, the creature scurrying back into the leaves.
A/N: Leave a review, it helps inspire me.