Kanzai looked like a small tiger with fire shooting from its forehead. Even though his anger wasn't directed at Liam specifically, it was enough to make Dago and the other amateur Hunters tremble.
"Alright, Kanzai," Ginta said, stepping between them. "I don't think Liam meant it that way."
He turned to Liam. "Do you actually know about Temp Hunter?"
"Who doesn't?" Liam said, then paused. "But you should probably explain anyway. For the audience."
Kanzai rolled his eyes. His temper flared hot and died fast—already the anger was draining away.
"We'll discuss it later," Ginta said. "This isn't the place."
"Fine, whatever." Liam grabbed the pen and signed his name.
You didn't even research the contract! Dago and the others thought, exasperated. You signed it so quickly—why bother asking for help in the first place?!
"Alright, everyone," Slohe said, checking his watch with a smile. "We leave for the reserve in twenty minutes. Blanchett Company has finally given us clearance for a proper investigation. I don't want to return empty-handed. We only have five days, but let's make them count."
"What exactly are we looking for?" Menchi asked, confused. "It can't be that hard to find, right?"
She turned around. Liam and Ginta were already heading for the door.
Dago sighed, approaching with the weariness of someone who'd been through too much. "It's not that we're inefficient. The Kakin side kept obstructing us. They dragged out the agreed twenty-day timeline, wasted more than half of it with bureaucratic delays..."
"Oh." Menchi nodded. "Ginta! Liam! Wait up!"
Shizuku pulled out an old book from somewhere—Liam had no idea where she'd been keeping it—pushed up her glasses, and settled into a corner to read quietly.
"You're leaving?" Menchi asked Ginta.
"Of course. My mission is complete."
"Didn't you finish the poacher job ages ago?"
"The task he's talking about," Liam interjected, "is teaching you Nen basics. Right, Ginta? Speaking of which, you still haven't explained the whole Temp Hunter situation. Were you planning to slip away?"
Ginta stopped at the door. Sighed. Turned back.
"The task of mentoring newcomers like Menchi," he said carefully, "is unpaid."
Menchi's jaw dropped. "What?!"
"There's potential future credit if the student succeeds," Ginta continued. "But that's uncertain. Which is why Temp Hunter refuse these assignments. No immediate reward, extremely time-consuming, and the outcome is a gamble." He paused. "They also avoid high-risk missions, even with generous pay. They only take low-risk, high-reward, short-term contracts."
"Any self-respecting Hunter should despise that kind of behavior."
Everyone turned. Kanzai stood behind them, fists clenched, teeth grinding.
"Those Temp Hunters are an insult to the profession! They're so picky it makes me sick just looking at them!"
Menchi blinked. "Then... what makes someone a good Hunter?"
"Definitely not being like Temp Hunters!" Kanzai snapped.
Ginta's voice was measured. "Someone who maintains patience, curiosity, and never fears challenges—that's a Hunter. At least, that's what Chairman Netero would say."
He looked at both Menchi and Liam. "Do you have 'prey' worth chasing? Something you'd pursue no matter the cost?"
Menchi puffed up her chest, pointing at herself with her thumb. "Of course! I'm a Gourmet Hunter! I'll do anything for the perfect dish!"
Liam smiled. "I have a goal. But it's pretty far off. Don't feel like talking about it yet."
Kanzai's expression softened slightly. "I thought you were annoying, but you're not half bad."
"Thanks, Tiger," Liam said, emphasizing the Zodiac title.
Misery Moon Tiger Reserve: Blanchett Company Research Station
Slohe shook hands with the facility's director, smiling. "So we're finally cleared for a proper investigation?"
The director withdrew his hand stiffly. "Haven't you been investigating for two weeks already?"
"The core zone," Slohe clarified. "That's now included in our access, correct?"
"The core zone is the primary habitat for Misery Moon Tigers," the director said. "I don't know what you're looking for, but please don't disrupt the ecosystem. These tigers are endangered. This is one of their last refuges—"
"Maybe Kakin shouldn't have delayed us so much," Slohe said pleasantly.
"Watch your tone, Mr. Slohe."
A new voice cut through the room.
Babimyna entered with several Kakin personnel, moving with military precision. His words were clipped, efficient. "Kakin's official recognition of this cooperation came directly from Prince Benjamin's efforts. Show appropriate respect."
Prince Benjamin?
Liam's attention sharpened. But before he could react, Shizuku—eternal curious child—asked, "Prince?"
Menchi leaned over. "He's a Kakin prince. In their country, all the king's children are called 'Prince' regardless of gender. Equality thing."
"Ahem." Dago cleared his throat. "Benjamin Hui Guo Rou. First Prince of the Kakin royal family. Most likely to inherit the—"
Babimyna's sharp gaze cut to him. Dago immediately shut up.
First Prince, Liam thought, memories clicking into place.
The guy from the manga who debuts by wrestling a lion to death with his bare hands. Brother of the psychotic Fourth Prince. Major player in the Succession War arc I barely got through before my head exploded from all the text.
This is my enemy. The guy who sent assassins after my godmother. The guy who wants me dead.
He has a private army. He's probably a Nen user himself. And he's got multiple Nen-capable soldiers—like Babimyna, like Musse who I killed...
I am so screwed if he finds me.
"Is this another hired Hunter?"
Babimyna pointed directly at Liam.
Slohe nodded, smiling. "Yes."
Babimyna studied Liam for a long moment. The boy looked... five? Maybe six? Too young. Probably a nepotism hire. Ochima's problem, not mine.
Menchi glared at Babimyna protectively, radiating you got a problem with my friend? energy.
Outside the Research Station
The group assembled at the forest's edge. Dago and his team looked like they were waiting for a disaster. The amateur Hunters had been watching tensions build and were clearly expecting drama.
Liam raised his hand. "Quick question: are we free to conduct the investigation however we want?"
Slohe nodded. "Absolutely. Hunters are... unconventional. We won't micromanage. Work independently. We only care about results."
"Great." Liam pointed at Menchi and Shizuku. "Then the three of us are working together."
Shizuku looked around, confused, as if checking whether he might be pointing at someone else.
One of Dago's teammates—the guy who'd been glaring at Liam since the contract signing—stepped forward. "Hold on. You can't just—"
He froze.
Liam had raised his index finger, pointing it directly at him like a gun.
An aura bullet formed on the fingertip. Small at first. Then growing. Rotating. Condensing. Building power with every passing second.
Oh god. Oh god that's real. That's not a trick. He's actually going to—
I'm going to die.
Dago and the others felt the pressure. Saw the compressed Emission energy. Knew—instinctively, viscerally—that if that bullet fired, someone was getting erased.
Liam's voice was casual. "You guys have had a problem with me since I walked in, right?"
The amateur Hunter's legs shook. Sweat poured down his face.
Liam flicked his finger.
CRACK.
The bullet screamed past the man's face—so close it drew blood from his cheek—and punched through the forest behind him. Three trees exploded in sequence, wood fragments spraying everywhere.
The man's legs gave out. He collapsed to his knees, blood dripping from his face.
Liam blew on his fingertip like it was smoking. "Anyone else have opinions?"
He's an Emitter, Kanzai and Babimyna both thought simultaneously. That kind of destructive power... he's good. Really good.
Menchi looked confused. Liam wasn't usually this violent. What's gotten into him?
Slohe—a normal human with zero Nen knowledge—stood frozen, trying to process how a five-year-old had just produced a cannonball from thin air.
What. The hell. Was that.