This was the first time 12-year-old Kurapika had witnessed the grandeur of a city.
The farthest he had ever been was a nearby town, where a three-story department store was the most prominent building. Now, that department store, which had once amazed him, seemed rather ordinary, even out of place and old-fashioned.
There were no scattered, messy street stalls; all businesses were confined within orderly shopfronts. On the wide, clean streets, cars of various colors and designs, and pedestrians in an array of novel styles, were all sights Kurapika had never encountered before, as if he had stepped into another world.
The traffic lights at the intersections and the white pedestrian crossing lines on the road also filled him with novelty.
If it weren't for the heavy burden of his clan's uncertain fate pressing down on his shoulders, he surely would have been eager to explore every place he could, to broaden his horizons.
Clenching his fists, he swept all positive emotions into a corner, even transforming them into guilt. He had no need to worry about becoming too excited and making his eyes red.
Now was not the time to dwell on unimportant matters; he had to focus on his goal for this trip—the library.
The path to the library was rather long and required transportation.
Not a Chocobo, commonly used in his village, but those man-made conveyances made of metal and equipped with wheels.
He followed the woman who called herself "Moe" onto the most common form of public transportation—a bus.
Based on the information on the bus stop sign, Kurapika inferred that this was a motorized vehicle that followed a fixed route, had a dedicated route number, and could carry dozens of passengers, making it a highly utilized form of public transit.
Moe, it seemed, could not speak and only communicated with Kurapika through pen and paper, so Kurapika didn't expect her to explain the unfamiliar surroundings.
Although Kurapika was grateful for her help, he desperately wanted to get away from her.
Because she did not agree with Kurapika returning to the village.
She stated that according to the "future" she "knew," the Kurta Clan's affairs would be reported in the news, becoming known to the whole world. She intended to wait until the news hype died down before quietly taking Kurapika back to the village.
She firmly believed that "doing nothing" could mitigate the impact of the "butterfly effect."
If she hadn't discovered that the "fated" "survivor" was about to meet their death, she likely would have chosen to stand by and turn a blind eye to evil, rather than intervene to save someone—how could she be so cold-blooded!
Despite his thoughts, Kurapika did not question her aloud.
How could her years-long steadfast philosophy be easily shaken by Kurapika's few words?
Moreover, Kurapika couldn't immediately formulate a rebuttal to her philosophy unless a flaw could be found in it.
However, there was too little known information.
What troubled Kurapika even more was her self-confession. She claimed to be "someone who should not have been born," and when she mentioned, "When I was still in my mother's womb, I should have strangled myself with the umbilical cord," Kurapika felt a shiver of dread.
If she was truly sincere in saying those words…
Kurapika thought, then she might be a bit unhinged.
Did it start when she "forever lost my younger brother"?
He didn't know.
At least, Kurapika knew he should outwardly comply with her arrangements for now.
Feigning admiration for the scenery outside the bus window, Kurapika was actually continuously planning his escape.
He had to return to the village as soon as possible to confirm the situation; perhaps… perhaps everyone could still be saved!
Directly opposite to Moe's objective, Kurapika wished that the "news about the Kurta Clan" she predicted would never arrive.
Using the excuse of "wanting to borrow books of interest," Kurapika requested to go to the library.
This was not a lie, but Kurapika had a hidden agenda within it—his knowledge of the outside world was limited, and he needed to gather as much information as possible to devise the most effective escape plan!
Despite it being Kurapika's first time at a library, he was a quick learner. By observing the actions of those around him and the notices posted in the library, he quickly understood the rules and etiquette to be followed.
Maintain silence, take care of books. Entry to read does not require formalities, but borrowing books to leave does.
The bookshelves were labeled, and the classifications were clear at a glance. After walking past several rows of shelves, Kurapika tentatively told Moe that he knew how to find books, and since there were many things he wanted to read, it might take a considerable amount of time. He suggested they arrange a meeting spot and he would rejoin her after finding the books he wanted to borrow.
She pondered for a moment and nodded.
Just as Kurapika had expected, she was particularly indifferent to matters outside of "destiny." Or perhaps, she underestimated Kurapika, thinking a child couldn't cause any trouble.
She found an empty seat and sat down.
Indeed, as long as she stayed near the library's only entrance and exit, Kurapika couldn't escape from the library—there was nothing to worry about.
Kurapika withdrew his gaze, clenched his fist, and encouraged himself. He recalled the adventure biography he couldn't put down, imagining himself as the protagonist, a Hunter, stepping resolutely into the depths of the bookshelves.
The first thing he needed to find was geography books.
Based on the various signs he saw on the road, he knew the name of the city he was currently in. Combined with the name of the closest town to his village, he could determine the starting point and plan the route home.
"!" Thus, he discovered that the starting point was on two different continents.
Such a great distance?! It far exceeded his expectations.
After checking the average speed of the world's fastest mode of transportation, the "airship," and roughly estimating the distance between the two points on the map, it also involved converting the scale. Kurapika had no paper or pen, so he could only perform rough mental calculations.
When his brain worked rapidly, it would heat up like a machine, and sweat beaded on his nose.
Calculating by the straight-line distance between the two points, it would take about five days by airship.
Kurapika was attacked near his village and woke up in this city, so the time he lost consciousness was likely more than a week. It was no wonder he felt inexplicably weak when he first regained consciousness.
However, he had no actual injuries, at most a lingering dull ache on the back of his neck. Recalling carefully, Kurapika remembered that when he was knocked down by the woman with silver-white hair, he actually felt a sharp sensation as if being pricked by a needle.
A needle?
…Was it the effect of a drug?
A new hope arose in Kurapika's heart.
Using drugs to induce unconsciousness implied that the silver-haired woman did not intend to kill him, so was that woman's statement meant to scare him?!
Perhaps his clansmen, like him, were not dead but had been captured.
Then, what was Moe's stance? And when did she "steal" him away?
Moe did not answer these crucial questions, and Kurapika couldn't force her to, so he could only worry privately.
Since he had confirmed the locations of the starting and ending points on the map, the next step was to understand the available modes of transportation.
In his village, the books Kurapika could access were less than one row of bookshelves in the library, leaving him with almost no choice. Now, surrounded by rows upon rows of bookshelves towering over his head, there were too many related books within the same category, dazzling him. It was like a pauper who suddenly acquired immense wealth, with banknotes piled at his feet, unsure of what to do with the money first.
After hesitating for a while, Kurapika decided to look at the books published most recently, as knowledge and information were constantly updated.
He buried his head in the sea of books, completely unaware that Moe was watching him. No, even if he had been on guard, he wouldn't have been able to detect Moe, who was standing in his blind spot and had concealed her presence.
Moe was, after all, a professional assassin certified by the Zoldycks. If an ordinary child could detect her presence, the Zoldycks should immediately revoke her certification and close shop.
Actually, Moe didn't care much about the books Kurapika wanted to read; she was tracking Kurapika merely out of concern for his safety.
After all, in fanfiction, libraries were one of Kuroro's favorite places.
Although Kuroro was not particularly obsessed with "cutting off the roots" and was somewhat indifferent to "avengers" who posed no threat to the Phantom Troupe, it was always better to be safe than sorry. Who knew if there might be an accident?
Besides, Kuroro was not the only dangerous individual in this world.
Thinking about it made Moe's stomach tighten. She found it hard to imagine how the 12-year-old Kurapika in the original work had managed to stay safe for the five years before the plot began, after seeing news of his clan's massacre.
Perhaps it was the protagonist's halo as one of the main characters? The adversities and fortunes encountered during one's growth were closely related to luck.
Many things, like natural disasters and man-made calamities reported in the news, really happened to you simply because you were unlucky.
In a world where the character "Kalluto Zoldyck" no longer existed, Moe couldn't help but worry about Kurapika's fate in the next five years.
Should she enhance Kurapika's combat power, giving him stronger self-protection abilities?
No, that couldn't guarantee his successful escape in all situations. When the gap between enemies and allies was too large, escape was merely a pipe dream.
Moreover, bestowing power upon a young avenger with an unstable mind was akin to handing a firearm to an infant; it was prone to accidental discharge and causing greater trouble.
"..." After repeated thought, Moe couldn't help but recall the needle Illumi had inserted into Killua's brain.
Yes, a single needle could make the other person automatically stay away from danger, greatly increasing their survival rate. What a convenient method!
No, no, no.
It was not suitable for Kurapika's affairs to involve anyone else, especially Illumi. He would surely be suspicious of her true intentions. After all, she couldn't provide a valid reason to explain why she was so concerned about a 12-year-old unfamiliar boy from a minority ethnic group.
She… she couldn't possibly explain that she wanted to play a nurturing game now, could she?!
Perhaps this reason might work?
No, no, no.
She had already decided not to do business with Illumi again. Did she want to be tricked a second time? That guy was truly no good.
"..."
Alright.
Since Moe didn't want to spend five precious years of her youth worrying about Kurapika's safety, she had to leverage her existing financial power and hire someone to protect Kurapika secretly, which might be a good option.
Then, there was another issue.
Kurapika was not an ordinary child.
Besides Moe, who had received a transplanted Scarlet Eye, Kurapika was known to be the last living Scarlet Eye in the world. Its price on the black market must be quite high, right?
The Scarlet Eye was one of the "Seven Wonders of Beauty." Would the people hired to protect Kurapika, upon seeing his Scarlet Eyes, suddenly become greedy for wealth or want to possess them for themselves?
The human heart is unfathomable.
Kurapika was a hot potato, and Moe was extremely troubled, not knowing what to do with him.
After choosing the books he wanted to borrow and reuniting with her, Kurapika clearly felt the low pressure emanating from her, thinking she had become extremely impatient and was on the verge of an outburst.
Kurapika couldn't help but shiver. He instinctively realized he had to avoid such a development and cautiously approached her, saying, "I'm sorry for making you wait."
Moe seemed to have just snapped back to reality, and the low pressure vanished without a trace.
"I've chosen the books I want to borrow," Kurapika said, trying his best to maintain a steady voice.
Moe nodded, stood up from her seat, and reached out her hand towards the books Kurapika was holding.
To Kurapika's surprise, she took the books, did not check the titles, and walked directly towards the library's service desk.
"..." Kurapika followed her steps and watched as she placed the books on the counter and handed a card to the staff.
With the staff's slightly surprised expression, Kurapika also stared curiously at the card, as it was completely different from the borrowing cards held by others.
After the book borrowing procedures were completed, Kurapika couldn't help but ask about the card. Moe was quite straightforward, without much explanation, and handed the card to him, telling him to look for himself.
"This… this is…" Kurapika couldn't believe his eyes. He stopped walking and then quickly ran in front of Moe, blocking her path, and held up the card, "It says 'Hunter License'! Are you really a 'Hunter'?!"
As soon as he spoke, Kurapika realized his slip of the tongue. She had clearly stated her identity as a "Destiny Hunter" on the first day. His current question completely exposed his mistrust of her.
It couldn't be helped; she was vastly different from the image of a "Hunter" depicted in adventure biographies. The protagonists in those books were full of dreams and courage, objects of Kurapika's admiration. It was because he had read that book that Kurapika dreamed of the "outside world" and dreamed of becoming a "Hunter."
Feeling a slight sense of disillusionment, Kurapika remembered the elder's evaluation of books: "You are clearly influenced by that book now, harboring excessive fantasies about the outside world!"
Had he truly been mistaken, idealizing things too much?
"I… I read a book before, an adventure biography with a 'Hunter' as the protagonist," Kurapika said with a dim expression, yet his words carried a hint of hope. "You are quite different from the 'Hunters' described in that book. I know those are just stories. Can you tell me what a real 'Hunter' is like?"
Moe neither shook nor nodded her head. She placed her notebook, which she carried with her, on top of the books borrowed from the library and wrote:
[Let's go to where we'll eat first. It will be more convenient to chat after sitting down.]
Kurapika couldn't suppress his excitement and responded with an "En." Moe, who appeared calm on the surface, was also relieved by his enthusiastic reaction.
If the 12-year-old Kurapika lost his dream of becoming a Hunter at this point, he would deviate significantly from the original character setting, causing unpredictable butterfly effects and making the future even more uncontrollable—this was something Moe did not want to see, and it was necessary to try her best to prevent it.
So, how should she beautify the profession of "Hunter"?
Uh, first, she needed to explain why she was different from the "Hunters" in adventure biographies.
While waiting for their food, Moe began to communicate with Kurapika using pen and paper, biting the bullet.
[There are actually many types of Hunters.]
[For example, Gourmet Hunters, Ruin Hunters, Beast Hunters, Music Hunters, Gemstone Hunters, Bounty Hunters, Ocean Hunters, and so on.]
[They are all determined by each person's interests or goals, so there are all sorts of types.]
"If you say so…" Kurapika rested his hands on the table, leaning forward, and intently watched the words written by Moe's pen, "The Hunter in the book I read also exists in reality, right?"
[Based on your description, I think it can probably be categorized as a Treasure Hunter.]
"Then, what are the other Hunters like specifically?!" Kurapika quickly added, "Which of these Hunters have you met? What interesting experiences have they had? And… the Hunter Exam! I heard the Hunter Exam is very difficult! What kind of trials are there?"
"..."
There were too many questions to answer. Moe felt a bit weary.
However, this at least indicated that Kurapika, one of the main characters in the original work, had an extraordinary aspiration for "Hunters." If nothing unexpected happened, Kurapika should participate in the Hunter Exam. The key was the timing; it couldn't be too early or too late; it had to be the same session as Gon and Killua's to conform to the original plot development.
[Hunters, like ordinary people, have all sorts of personalities.]
[I haven't had my Hunter License for long, so I'm a newcomer and don't know much about other Hunters.]
[The Hunter Exam questions vary each year, but the principle remains the same, mainly testing physical fitness and mental strength.]
Seeing Kurapika's indifferent reaction, Moe couldn't help but feel nervous, suspecting her answers might have been too brief and uninteresting, like pouring a basin of cold water on Kurapika's enthusiasm for the "Hunter" profession.
"Then do you think…" Kurapika's question this time was somewhat hesitant, "I can become a 'Hunter'?"
Moe nodded. Seeing his delighted expression, she lowered her head and wrote an additional note:
[However, you lack training now; it will take at least 5 years.]
"5 years?" Kurapika raised his eyes from the paper, his bright tea-colored eyes revealing a sharp intelligence. "Sister, is this also the 'future' you 'know'?"
Oh dear, his intention of emphasizing the time had been discovered. Moe chose to abandon her pretense and nodded.
"I don't believe in 'destiny' at all!" Perhaps to further bolster his aura, Kurapika stood up, widened his eyes, and stared at her without blinking, his face showing an expression of fearlessness. "I will become a 'Hunter' ahead of schedule! I will not let other 'futures' you 'know' happen!"
"Doing nothing is giving up, isn't it? Sister, is the meaning of your becoming a 'Hunter' to be a slave to 'destiny'?!"
Accustomed to being "mute" and not good at arguing, Moe was struck speechless by the 12-year-old boy's righteous words.
At this moment, the restaurant server brought their dishes, interrupting the atmosphere and perfectly saving the situation.
Besides being mute, Moe was also accustomed to being deaf; she paid no attention to the outside world and began to lower her head to eat.
Noticing her ignoring him, Kurapika became angry and was about to erupt when the untimely "gurgling" sound from his stomach sent all the anger in his chest rushing to his face, making his face turn red before his eyes.
Moe, sitting opposite him, suddenly became "acutely hearing" and raised her head simultaneously. Even though her heavy bangs and glasses blocked her eyes, Kurapika knew she was looking at him.
Under the effect of shame, Kurapika's anger became tinged with a bit of embarrassment.
He was about to say something aggressively when Moe raised her hand and shoved a piece of bread into his mouth, patting his head as she did so.
"...Mmph!" He dodged to the side a moment later, but Moe had already withdrawn her hand.
If he spat out the bread in his mouth, it would be a waste of food. So, Kurapika quickly chewed the bread in his mouth, swallowed it, and then solemnly declared, "Don't treat me like an ignorant child!"
[If you're sensible, then eat properly. If you're hungry, even adults won't have the strength to do anything.]
The principle of "people are iron, rice is steel" seemed to apply equally to the Kurta Clan. Kurapika fell silent, lowered his head, and ate heartily. He ate so quickly that Moe doubted more than once if he would choke, but he didn't.
Kurapika, whose appearance was as gentle as a girl's, ate with the demeanor of a male protagonist in a shonen manga, devouring the food before him like a whirlwind. He then picked up his water cup and drank it down in one gulp.
When the bottom of Kurapika's cup touched the table, Moe still had more than half of her food left.
"..."
"..."
Even without the Zoldyck's etiquette education, Moe always ate with restraint in front of outsiders, chewing slowly—she couldn't appear to lack upbringing.
While waiting for Moe to finish her meal, Kurapika picked up one of the books he had borrowed from the library and read for a while before putting it down.
"I'm going to the restroom," he said as he left his seat.
Then he climbed out the restroom window.
Although he hadn't expected things to go smoothly, the fact that his escape was foiled in less than a minute filled Kurapika with a sense of déjà vu, a feeling of being completely overwhelmed and hopeless.
His escape failed, and Moe grabbed his arm. Desperately trying to break free, Kurapika shouted, "I want to go home!"
Moe shook her head.
Gritting his teeth and planting his feet firmly, Kurapika switched tactics and attempted a flying kick at her.
Kurapika's combat skills were too immature. Even with the power boost from his Scarlet Eyes, his attacks were ineffective against a professional.
Moreover, he had not yet fully controlled his Scarlet Eyes, causing him to briefly lose his rationality. When his punches and kicks all missed, he actually bit the wrist of the hand Moe was holding him by, hoping she would let go out of pain.
"..."
Moe could have used "Nen" to protect her wrist, but she remembered that part of Kurapika's character prototype came from the creatures in "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind." She could only imitate the protagonist of "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" and passively allow him to use his teeth, thus appeasing his emotions.
Moe's HP -1
She was bleeding, truly showing no mercy.
Moe's HP -1
Although she had passed the Zoldyck's torture interrogation assessment, pain was still pain.
Mors's affection for Kurapika decreased.
Currently, Mors's total affection for Kurapika is: 0
Moe felt tired.
Moe wanted to give up raising him.
Moe released her hand.
Kurapika released his bite and, without any lingering, turned and ran.
This was completely different from what was promised! This was nothing like "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind"!