DISCLAIMER: I do not own Hunter X Hunter

Chapter 18: No Other Choice

Back to OPERATION: Rescue Killua from His Psychotic Family.

The group settled on one of the stone benches in the courtyard, trying to figure out their next step—or at least get a clue about where Mt. Kukuroo might be.

Leorio scratched his head.
"Never heard of it before."

Morgan shrugged.
"Same here."

With no leads between them, they turned to the most logical person in the group.

"Kurapika, do you know where it is?" Leorio asked.

It was only then that they noticed he wasn't listening. Kurapika sat there, staring at the grass as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world.

Morgan snapped her fingers in front of his face.
"Hey! Attention, Mr. Kurapika! We need your brain!"

"Huh?" He blinked, startled, finally looking up at them.

She snapped her fingers again, more pointedly.
"Killua? Mt. Kukuroo? Ring any bells?"

"Do you know where it might be?" Leorio added, hopeful.

Kurapika, clearly just catching up to the conversation, shook his head.
"No, I don't… We could look it up online."

Morgan narrowed her eyes at him.

"Yo!" A voice suddenly called out.

They turned to see none other than Hanzo approaching.

Morgan's heart nearly leapt out of her chest. She immediately took a step back, grabbing Leorio by the shoulders and attempting to use him as a human shield.

She had genuinely thought Hanzo had left already—he was the most eager one to finish the orientation, after all.

"I'm heading back to my country," Hanzo announced. "It was a short, yet oddly long acquaintance, but I had fun."

Then his eyes landed on the small figure awkwardly trying to squirm out of his line of sight.
"Why are you hiding?" he asked, clearly amused.

Because Morgan had just remembered the horrific crime she had committed:
'Hitting a man where it hurts most.'

"I-I'm really sorry for, uh… hitting you there," she stammered. "Don't hold a grudge, okay? It was self-defense!"

It really was. A low blow, yes, but she had just been trying to avoid getting clobbered.

Hanzo shrugged casually.
"Nope. I won't."

Morgan groaned.
"Oh, come on! It was just one good kick compared to you literally breaking Gon's arm. It's not like I hit you that hard."

She glanced at him, silently praying she hadn't ruined his chances of producing future Hanzo juniors.

"Can you guys stop?" Leorio cut in with a grimace. "I wince every time I picture it."

Hanzo laughed. "As much as I'd love to get revenge for that, I did worse to you and Gon."

Morgan exhaled in relief.

Before heading out, Hanzo casually handed each of them a business card. "In case you ever want to visit my country," he said with a grin.

The four of them stared at the cards, wide-eyed.

"A ninja handing out business cards?" Leorio muttered.

Morgan smirked. "That's a first."

"Hey."

Another voice called out.

'Can't they just call people by their names? Morgan internally grumbled.
Just once? Not 'yo' or 'hey'?'

They still had unfinished business to discuss, after all.

The voice belonged to Pokkle.

He approached them with clear purpose: to apologize to Kurapika. Pokkle regretted venting his frustration on the blonde after losing by default. Kurapika, too, offered a sheepish apology for losing control earlier. What Gon had said in the conference room must have resonated with him. Now that he had passed, Pokkle was determined to make the most of it.

"So, what's next for you?" Morgan asked, curious.

"I'm going to travel the world," Pokkle declared, his voice filled with renewed determination. "Gathering information and discovering new species—as an Exotic Game Hunter."

Morgan hummed thoughtfully. "That sounds cool."

Gon's gaze suddenly shifted to the gadget Pokkle was carrying.
"Hey, what's that?" he asked, leaning in slightly.

Pokkle lifted the device. A tablet.
"Oh, this? You can use it to access all kinds of information. Need me to look something up?"

Gon's eyes brightened. "Can you search for a Hunter named Ging? Ging Freecs?"

Pokkle nodded and began typing. His eyes narrowed slightly as he scanned the results.
"…Huh. Who is this Ging guy?" he muttered.
"All the info on him is locked behind a tight security system. It requires a ton of different access codes."

He glanced at them, baffled.
"This guy's got some serious influence—even at the national level."

The group exchanged surprised glances.
'Is Gon's dad some kind of big shot?'

"Really?" Gon asked, tilting his head slightly.

"See for yourself." Pokkle turned the gadget around, letting them view the screen.

The four of them crowded together, eyes fixed on the display.

For some reason, all information regarding Ging—including his whereabouts—was strictly off-limits to ordinary Hunters. The layers of security made it seem unlikely that even veteran Hunters couldn't access the page easily.

"Wow, Gon," Leorio muttered in awe.
"Your dad must be really important."

Gon simply grinned, as carefree as ever.
"Really?" he repeated.

Morgan, meanwhile, stared at them, slightly bewildered.

'Why does it feel like I'm surrounded by extraordinary people?' she mused.
'One's from a clan with freaky power-enhancing features. Another is the son of an elite family of assassins. And now, I find out one is the child of some big-shot Hunter.'

'Seems like it's just me and Leorio who come from normal backgrounds…'

She side-eyed Leorio.
' Or maybe he's secretly got some royal bloodline or something.'

Pokkle handed them his calling card.
"Let me know if anything comes up. This is my email address," he said with a polite nod.
"I hope we meet again."

With a small wave, Pokkle hurriedly left the courtyard.

It was only after he disappeared around the corner that they collectively realized—
They had completely forgotten to ask about Mt. Kukuroo.

"...We're idiots," Leorio deadpanned.

To clarify their questions, they headed to the hotel's internet café. They settled at one of the computer units, with Kurapika taking the seat and handling the search.

With just one click, countless sites about Mt. Kukuroo appeared.

Morgan had expected it to be difficult to find any information—

'Surely the Zoldyck family's existence would be shrouded in secrecy.'
But no.
It was as if their fame was intentional. Or they simply didn't care about being known.

"Kukuroo Mountain…" Kurapika muttered as he scanned through the overwhelming amount of text. "They seem to be quite famous, even though no one has actually seen them. Their estate is even a tourist attraction."

They searched for the exact location of Kukuroo Mountain. It was in the Dentora Region of the Republic of Padokea.

To their surprise, the place turned out to be in a relatively stable country that even allowed ordinary tourists.
It was the opposite of what they had imagined—they had expected some ominous, lawless region.
You know, the kind of place where professional killers would live.

"How the hell did an assassin family's home become a tourist attraction?" Leorio asked, baffled.

"At least it'll be easy for us to get there," Morgan pointed out.
"So… should we buy the tickets now?"

Without hesitation, Kurapika quickly booked the soonest available tickets.

After rushing through the traffic, they barely made it in time for their departure.

.

.

.

The airship hummed softly as it sailed through the sky, the faint vibrations of the engine thrumming beneath the floor.

Morgan exited their room, her hands loosely tucked into her pockets.

Up ahead, she spotted Kurapika and Leorio leaning casually against the wall near the corner, clearly waiting for her.

Kurapika stood with his arms crossed, his posture composed but subtly tense.
Leorio, on the other hand, rested one shoulder against the wall, looking as laid-back as ever.

Kurapika's gaze shifted toward her.
"What about Gon?" he asked, his tone calm but laced with faint concern.

Morgan shook her head slightly.
"He's not coming," she replied.
"Said he'll eat whatever we bring back."

Kurapika's brows knitted slightly. He stared past her for a moment, lost in thought.

Morgan didn't need to ask to know what was on his mind.

"He's probably still upset about Killua leaving," Kurapika murmured softly, almost to himself.

Leorio let out an exaggerated sigh and waved a dismissive hand.
"Eh, don't stress over it," he said confidently. "It's normal for Gon to worry—he's too soft for his own good."

He shoved his hands into his coat pockets and shot Kurapika a reassuring look.
"But trust me, he'll eat. That kid could be drowning in his own thoughts and still have room for dessert."

Morgan let out a faint chuckle.

"Besides," Leorio added with a grin, "if he doesn't eat, I'll just eat his share. Problem solved."

Kurapika shot him a brief, unimpressed glance.

The three of them made their way down the corridor toward the canteen.

As they entered, the warm scent of fried food filled the air. The place was small and simple, more like a fast-food counter than a cafeteria. Above the counter, menu boards displayed pictures of burgers, fries, rice meals, and skewered meats. The sizzle of oil and the clatter of trays added to the familiar bustle.

Leorio was the first to stride over, already eyeing the food.
"Now this is what I'm talking about," he said, rubbing his hands together. He immediately pointed at a double-patty burger with extra cheese. "I'll take two of those. No, five."

Morgan raised a brow.
"You do remember we're bringing food back for Gon, right? Not feeding a basketball team."

Leorio shrugged.
"Hey, more for us if he doesn't finish it," he said with a wink.

Kurapika, ever the practical one, chose a simpler meal—grilled chicken with rice and a side of mixed vegetables. He also ordered an extra serving for Gon, keeping it light and easy to eat.

"Maybe we should grab something sweet too," Morgan suggested, eyeing the display case.

She spotted pre-packed fruit cups and small slices of cake. After a brief moment of consideration, she grabbed a couple of fruit cups.
"Just in case Gon's not in the mood for anything heavy," she added.

Leorio smirked.
"Or in case you want dessert."

Morgan shot him a flat look but didn't deny it.

Once their trays were loaded with food—far more than necessary, thanks to Leorio—they paid at the counter and headed back.

Leorio carried most of the food, balancing the tray precariously with one hand while popping a fry into his mouth with the other.

"Careful. If you drop that, I'm not sharing," Morgan teased.

"Don't worry, I've got the reflexes of a—"

Just as he was about to finish, the airship gave a slight jolt, causing him to stumble. The tray tilted dangerously, fries threatening to make a break for it—but at the last second, he managed to steady it.

He flashed a triumphant grin.
"See? Like a pro."

Kurapika shook his head lightly, but there was a faint smile on his lips.

As they made their way back to their cabin, the corridor was quieter than before—most passengers had already retreated to their rooms. When they reached their door, Morgan turned the handle and pushed it open.

Inside, the cabin was dimly lit.

Her eyes drifted to the large window. Gon sat by himself, staring out at the clouds drifting past. She paused. He wasn't usually one to sit still for long, and the way his hands rested loosely in his lap—fingers slightly curled, shoulders slumped—felt off.

Morgan made her way over, balancing her haul of food in her arms.
"Hey, Gon," she greeted, sliding into the seat beside him.

"Food's here," Leorio announced behind her, dropping the tray on the small table in the center. Without hesitation, he unwrapped one of his burgers and took a massive bite.

Morgan grabbed a fruit cup and held it out to Gon.
"Figured you might want something light," she said casually. "You look like you're thinking so hard, it's making me tired just watching you."

Gon turned to her, and for a brief second, she caught the worry flickering in his eyes.
"Oh, hey, Morgan," he mumbled. His voice was soft, almost absent. "I was just… thinking."

She held his gaze for a beat, then gave a small nod.
"Yeah," she said simply. "About Killua, right?"

His lips pressed together faintly.

She leaned back slightly, keeping her tone easy.
"You know Killua—he's a tough cookie. We'll figure out a way to get him back."

'Can they really take him back?
Would his family allow it?
Heck, would they even let him see them again?'

The doubts pressed faintly at the back of Morgan's mind, but seeing Gon like this, she figured it was better to act positive.

Leorio, sensing the shift in mood, quickly jumped in.
"Gon, don't worry too much! We've been in worse scrapes before, right?" he said with a confident grin. He gestured to the table piled with food. "Besides, with all these food, we've got the fuel we need to think up a great plan."

Kurapika smiled faintly.

Gon's shoulders eased slightly. He glanced at them, his expression softening.
"Yeah, you're right," he murmured. "Killua's always been able to take care of himself. We'll just have to make sure he knows we're coming for him."

Kurapika handed him the plate of grilled chicken and rice they had bought.
"Eat," he said quietly but firmly. "You'll feel better."

Gon hesitated briefly, but at the steady look in Kurapika's eyes, he gave a small nod. Slowly, he picked up the fork and took a bite. His movements were slow at first, almost absentminded, but with each mouthful, he ate more steadily.

Leorio leaned back with a satisfied sigh.
"Told you he'd eat," he said, flashing Kurapika a smug look before stuffing another huge bite of burger into his mouth.

Gon let out a soft laugh, the tension in his face easing. He grabbed a fruit cup and popped one into his mouth, offering them a small, grateful smile.
"Thanks, guys," he muttered.

Leorio grinned.
"And just think—once we get Killua back, we'll have even more reason to celebrate," he added, shooting them a wink. "Passing the exam... and getting Killua back."

Morgan agreed.

"That works too. We can eat at an expensive buffet restaurant. At least I'll get to use my license once before I give it away."

The three looked at her in silence. Maybe, thinking she was joking.

"Huh? Give it away?"

"Yeah," Morgan said with a faint shrug, keeping her voice light. "I never really aimed to become a Hunter like you guys. I needed the license to save the people who are important to me."

Leorio's brows lifted slightly. He leaned forward. "Right… you did mention that before."

Morgan nodded. "I didn't take it because I wanted to."

Leorio frowned. "Forced?" He sat up straighter. "By who?"

"By the people who made sure I had no other choice."

"Can you tell us?" Gon asked.

'Well, they are curious... Might as well tell them.'

Morgan cleared her throat. "There's this family in our town—the Rios," Morgan said evenly, but the name came out sharper than she intended.

She leaned back slightly, her eyes narrowing faintly. "One of the original locals of Brimholt. They also held the mayor's seat."

Her tone was casual, almost detached, but the tightness in her voice betrayed her.

"They've been after a certain family's land for years—the Normin's." Her fingers traced the rim of her fruit cup absently. "That's the family I'm trying to save."

She didn't look at them when she said it. Just kept her eyes on the table, her grip tightening slightly. "I've known them forever. Not related but they're… family. Their land's valuable. Strategic. Of course, the Normin's refused to sell."

Kurapika's voice cut in, "So, they targeted them?"

Her eyes flickered to him briefly. She nodded once, curtly.
"When they couldn't buy the land, they framed the Normin's. Planted evidence. A ring with a symbol of the family, conveniently stolen from the Rios'. With their money and influence… the Normin's didn't stand a chance."

Gon's grip tightened faintly around his spoon, eyes focused on her.

Morgan's voice was steady—too steady. "I was at the Normin's house when it happened. Their son was framed… he panicked the moment he realized what the item was. Or who it belonged to. He cried. Freaked out."

Morgan stared at some indistinct point beyond the room. "I knew Uncle—the family patriarch—would step in to protect his son." A small pause, almost imperceptible. Then her voice thinned. "So… I stepped in first."

Leorio's brows drew together. "You… what?"

Morgan's lips twitched at the corner—something like a smile, but too brittle to hold. "I claimed responsibility. If uncle had been taken, it would've been over. They would've had him by the throat—forcingthem into a deal to sell the land." Her eyes flicked downward, briefly, as if considering the weight of the next words. "I thought if I took the fall instead… since I wasn't related by blood… they'd be more likely to believe I acted alone."

For a moment, no one spoke. Even Leorio—who usually had a snarky remark ready—was silent.

'They must've thought I was stupid for stepping in like a try-hard heroine.' Morgan thought.

Kurapika's eyes didn't waver. "And it worked?"

"For a while." Morgan's voice was almost teasing.
"You should've seen the Rios' faces after the stunt I pulled. They captured me. But they didn't stay humiliated for long." Her tone flattened. "They claimed I was ordered by the Normin's. Said I was too close to the family for them not to be involved."

She let out a sharp breath, almost a scoff.
"The item they accused me of stealing? Worth millions—maybe billions of jenny." The corner of her mouth lifted slightly, but there was no humor in it.

Her gaze hardened.
"The families had been feuding for years. The Rios wants to take Normin Family down. So, they pushed for an investigation. Of course, they were too confident about it. Like they knew exactly how it would end." Her fingers curled slightly against her arm. "When I was captured, they privately made me an offer," she said evenly. "They'll stop the investigationby getting them something they wanted—a Hunter's License."

Leorio jerked forward. "Wait, wait, wait—what?" His voice cracked slightly. "A Hunter's License, for that?"

Morgan gave a small, deliberate nod.
"Yeah."

Kurapika's eyes narrowed. His voice was clipped, sharp.
"That's reckless. Making a deal like that just proves they were behind everything. It's too desperate." His gaze sharpened. "Why did you agree?"

Morgan let out a dry, humorless scoff.
"Of course it was desperate. It was practically a dare. Like they were saying, 'Yeah, we did this. And we can do a hell of a lot more.'"

"They own that town," she added, her voice low but bitter. "People who stand up to them either disappear or get framed. There is no evidence. No one we could trust. Not even the local government." Her jaw tightened slightly. "We were just… powerless."

Her eyes lowered slightly, the words almost catching in her throat.
"If I passed and gave them the license, they'd let the Normin's go. But if I failed…" Her voice faltered. "They wouldn't stop until they destroy them."

Kurapika's expression hardened.
"No, it's a win-win for them," he stated coldly. "If you pass, they'll get the Hunter license. If not, they'll have all of you—and the land. There's not even a guarantee they'll let you off, even if you pass."

"I know. But can you blame me?" The question came flat, almost a sneer from Morgan.

Leorio scoffed, leaning back slightly.
"Or maybe they didn't even expect you to pass in the first place." His tone was edged with disdain. "They just wanted you out…"

Kurapika's eyes narrowed further.
"You said they talked to you privately. That means no one knows about your deal, right?"

Morgan gave a slow nod.

"Knowing the Hunter Exam… how many died just taking it?" Kurapika's voice was grim. "They might've thought you wouldn't survive. Worse-case scenario…" His gaze hardened. "They'd blame the Normin's for your death."

Morgan's hands curled into fists.

"I didn't really have a choice," Morgan said softly. She let out a faint chuckle—dry, empty.
"Pretty cliché, right? Sounds like something out of a TV drama." She shook her head.
"But on the ground… for people with no power—it's just how it is."

Kurapika's voice was steady, almost clinical.
"Is..." he asked evenly. "Is that your only plan?"

Morgan's gaze flickered, just slightly. She exhaled quietly and leaned her head back, eyes drifting to the ceiling. She stared at it for a moment, as if searching for an answer she already knew.

"I had another dumb idea…" she muttered, voice flat. "Figured I'd sell it, together with the necklace I found. Hand the money to the Rios. Enough to get them off the Normin's back. Buy their so-called peace."

Her lips curled into a smirk, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"Seemed simple enough."

"Do they genuinely want the License?" Leorio asked.

"Oh, they do. The town knew they sent off their people to take the Hunter Exam, but none succeeded. So, yeah. It's a win-win for them. Either they get the land, or the License." Morgan said

Gon shook his head, his fists clenching slightly in his lap.
"There has to be another way," he said firmly, his voice almost pleading.

Morgan's eyes met his. For a brief moment, she stilled, caught off guard by the quiet intensity in his gaze. She saw it—the same kindness she remembered from the exam. The same unshaken belief that, no matter how impossible things seemed, there was always a way forward.

"Oh, come on, you guys." Morgan's voice was light, almost teasing. "I didn't tell you this so you could turn it into your problem." Her eyes flicked between them, lingering just long enough to make sure they heard her. "I just thought it'd be fair to tell you… since I already know your reasons for becoming Hunters."

"But the License is yours. You earned it." Gon said.

"I told you—I never cared about being a Hunter. I was fine living in peace back home. Unlike you." She let the words hang for a beat, then glanced at them. "You all had a goal coming here—life goals, to be exact. But me?" Her voice dipped to a near whisper, almost as if the words were meant for herself.
"I just want peace. At first… I never really understood why people join the Hunter Exam," she admitted. "I knew how dangerous it was. I'd heard the stories growing up—how people from my province left for the exam and never came back. Or when they did… they were missing a limb. Or two."

She let out a faint, self-deprecating chuckle. "I thought it was reckless. Stupid, even. Risking your life for a title? For some license? It didn't make sense."

"All I knew about the Hunter License was that it had value," she admitted quietly, almost distantly.
"But after passing the exam… I realized it was worth far more—the privileges it gives you."

Her tone steadied, the weight of her realization sinking in.
"And that's when I understood… I realized it wasn't the license itself the Rios were after. It was what came with it. The benefits and the access."

Kurapika's expression darkened slightly, the realization settling in at once.

Leorio scratched the back of his head, vaguely recalling Bean's orientation about the License Card.

He let out a low whistle.
"Damn," he muttered, leaning back in his chair. "No wonder they wanted it."

Morgan's lips pressed into a thin line. She gave a faint nod, her expression grim.
"Exactly... The money they could get from selling the license? Nothing compared to what they could do with it."

Her jaw tightened slightly, her voice lowering. "They could wipe their crimes clean with the right connections."

Kurapika's gaze sharpened, his tone turning cold.
"They want it to make themselves untouchable."

"But… can they even use it?" Gon asked, his voice soft but urgent. His gaze flicked to Morgan.
"The license is registered to you, right? It's registered in your name."

Kurapika's eyes narrowed slightly, caught off guard by the observation. His gaze lowered in thought.
"He's right," he muttered. "Hunter licenses are uniquely registered to the owner. The Rios might have the card, but they wouldn't be able to access most of its privileges without you being physically present or providing authentication."

Leorio scratched his chin, brows knitting.
"Huh. So, it'd be basically useless to them… unless they kept you around."

Morgan didn't react. Her expression was flat, almost vacant. "Or unless they'll force me to cooperate," she muttered.

The room fell into an uneasy silence.

Gon's knuckles whitening faintly as his hands clenched into fists. "Then don't give it to them," Gon blurted out, his eyes locked onto hers, unwavering, raw with sincerity. "They're cheating. You shouldn't have to give it up."

Morgan was caught off guard by the force behind his words. For a moment, she just stared, unsure how to respond.

Her voice was quieter now, almost resigned.
"If there's no other choice…" she murmured, the words barely above a whisper,
"then I'll have to."

Gon shook his head, "There has to be another way."

Kurapika's voice broke the silence, soft but curious. "If you succeed…" he asked gently, tilting his head, "what will you do after?"

"Maybe…" she muttered, "I'll just go back to my town. Live a normal life again."

She shrugged faintly, as if the answer was obvious—trivial, even.
"That's all I ever wanted, anyway."

But her voice thinned ever so slightly. And in the back of her mind, her thoughts lingered elsewhere—far from the words she had just spoken.

'That's what I wanted… before... I think...'

Behind the Scenes:

It's a chill afternoon between takes. The crew is setting up for the Zoldyck Arc. Morgan is sitting under a tree, flipping through a script. Kurapika is quietly polishing bokken swords nearby. Leorio suddenly appears with a mischievous smirk and a camera.

Leorio: "Alright, alright, alright… serious question."

Morgan (not looking up): "That's already suspicious."

Kurapika (deadpan): "What do you want, Leorio?"

Leorio (grinning): "So… since this is technically a Kurapika x OC, slowburn romance, I gotta ask—are you two finally getting comfortable with each other? You know. For the future drama arc?"

Morgan glances at Kurapika, visibly caught off guard.

Morgan: "Define comfortable."

Kurapika (raising an eyebrow): "Define drama."

Leorio (waving a hand): "Come on! You weren't even speaking to each other much in previous chapters! And now you're finishing each other's sentences.

Leorio (teasing): "So? Do you think it's working? That classic slowburn? Y'all vibing now? Got the chemistry?"

Gon and Killua pop in from the side.

Gon (curious):
"Are you two gonna hold hands in the future drama? Or hug?"

Killua (smirking):
"Pfft. Doubt it. They'll probably just nod at each other dramatically for 10 plus chapters."

Morgan:
"If we do hug, I'll expect an applause."

Kurapika (dryly):
"And confetti. Maybe a cake."