Gourmet Hunter - Chapter 473
Added 2024-06-29 20:48:46 +0000 UTCChapter 473: The Sound of Wind
Luo led Gon into the forest.
From afar, Whale Island looked like a whale with most of its body exposed. On the whale's head, there was a chimney-like structure, the island’s only active volcano, occasionally emitting puffs of smoke.
At twilight, when the light was dim, Whale Island resembled a peculiar steamboat, with smoke from the volcano appearing like coal smoke.
Using the volcano as a landmark, a tall mountain stretched downwards, forming a rich ecosystem with forests, lakes, and even streams.
Most of the island's residents lived near the port. There was a stream leading straight into the forest. Midway through the stream, on the plains, were a few households, including Gon's home.
Luo was heading to the nearest forest along the stream.
"I have a fishing rod at home, but Aunt Mito won't let me touch it," Gon opened up as they entered the forest.
Luo asked, "What kind of fishing rod?"
Gon replied, "It's like a regular fishing rod, but the float is a red bead."
The fishing rod left by Ging? The same one Gon used in the Hunter Exam in the original story.
"Why won't she let you touch it?" Luo continued.
"Because Aunt Mito doesn't want me going into the forest," Gon answered earnestly.
"Uh, but we’re already in the forest," Luo said, glancing at the lush trees around them, with sounds of various birds and insects in the air.
Gon looked up innocently, "Because you're with me, Luo."
Luo was speechless at Gon's logic, then teased, "Aren't you afraid I might be a bad guy who kidnaps children?"
"No, you're not a bad guy," Gon stated firmly.
Luo could only smile wryly and pat Gon's head, dropping the topic.
To prevent Gon from becoming too interested in the forest, Luo stopped at a small lake on the forest's edge. The Swamp King couldn't possibly be here, but it was good enough for teaching Gon to fish.
"Let’s choose here," Luo said, surveying the sparse trees around.
"Okay!" Gon excitedly ran to a rock by the lake, pointing at his feet, "Luo, here!"
"Good spot," Luo smiled, leaping through the air, covering a dozen meters to land steadily on the rock, leaving Gon in awe.
"Amazing!" Gon exclaimed, stars in his eyes, clearly an inexperienced child.
"I have something even more amazing. Close your eyes and open them when I count to three," Luo said mysteriously, switching the fishing rod to his left hand.
Gon obediently closed his eyes.
Luo called out the first number, then quickly summoned the black cat, speeding up his count to three.
Gon opened his eyes eagerly and saw Luo holding a lifeless-looking black cat. "Wow, a cat!"
"Impressive, right? I conjured it. But there’s more, want to see?" Luo dangled the cat like a lure.
"Yes!" Gon nodded vigorously.
"Watch closely."
Luo hooked the black cat onto the fishing line and cast it into the lake.
With a splash, the cat sank, while Luo seriously held the rod.
Gon watched, mouth agape, his innocent heart shocked.
After a few seconds, Luo's eyes sharpened, and he jerked the rod. The black cat emerged from the lake, a small fish in its mouth.
"See? No bait needed," Luo said, taking the fish from the cat and handing it to Gon.
"For the trade, for the trade," the black cat muttered to itself, playing its role.
Gon's mouth hung open, face covered in imaginary black lines. This was baitless fishing.
Seeing Gon's expression, Luo felt his image collapsing and coughed, moving on to digging for worms to redeem himself.
Before long, Luo had a pile of worms and returned to the rock to start normal fishing.
With each fish caught, Gon gradually recovered from the earlier shock.
Luo’s fishing skills were actually decent, having honed them while practicing boat racing in Mafando Port. But using the black cat made fishing more efficient and productive.
Luo demonstrated advanced fishing techniques, then handed the rod to Gon, teaching him patiently.
An hour passed quickly, and they caught over twenty fish.
Gon’s smile never faded, delighted.
Whale Island had few residents and even fewer children.
In Ging’s time, Mito was his only peer, and now, Gon only had a girl named Nezu as a peer.
In other words, Gon had no playmates, and Luo’s presence brought him the joy of a companion.
This lake on the forest’s edge was small, with few fish of varying sizes, but the larger ones seemed to have good meat.
Luo released the smaller fish, keeping a few larger ones. He started a fire by the lake to grill the fish.
Gon, eager to use the fishing rod, practiced casting while Luo prepared the fish.
After a while, an unfamiliar aroma wafted over, drawing Gon’s attention from fishing to the grilled fish over the fire.
Luo called Gon over.
The scent was too enticing. Gon ran over and sat down, eyes sparkling at the fish.
Luo handed him the largest fish, tossing the smallest to the black cat perched in a tree.
The blatant favoritism!
The black cat silently grumbled.
Seeing Luo give him the largest fish, Gon became even more convinced that Luo was a great person.
"Try it, the best grilled fish in the world," Luo said, smiling.
The seasoning was a rare creation, a Nen product made by Linne with her fusion ability, truly unique.
Gon took a bite and couldn't stop, exclaiming how delicious it was, finishing the fish quickly.
Luo smiled and handed him a second fish.
After a satisfying meal, Luo continued teaching Gon fishing techniques. Time flew by, and soon it was dusk.
"I need to hurry back. Aunt Mito will worry if she can't find me," Gon said, noticing the time.
"I'll walk you home," Luo said, sending Gon back but staying out of sight.
In the orange twilight, Luo watched as Gon was scolded and dragged home by a worried Mito.
Gon looked back at where Luo was hiding, disappointed that he refused the invitation to stay.
Night fell, and the moon rose, casting a silver glow over the field, with dim lights from a few distant houses.
One house entwined with a tree was Gon's home.
Luo quietly approached and heard Mito’s still angry scolding, mixed with another gentle, coaxing voice.
"Always single, not without reason," Luo thought, hearing the wind chime.
Looking up, he saw a wind chime swaying by the eaves, its clear sound resonating.
Luo stood there, deeply moved.
Even though he had been in the Hunter world for a long time, seeing this wind chime felt unreal, like a wind sound swirling in his mind.
The moon reflected in the water jar rippled gently.
On the second-floor balcony, an old wooden chair stood, the evening breeze ringing the wind chime.
In Luo's mind, a scene unfolded: Mito sitting on the chair, gazing at the moon as if looking at a distant place, with a hint of longing.
In the entire picture, only her lonely profile was visible.
Thinking of this, Luo looked up at the moon tonight.
"The moonlight is beautiful," he sighed, the sense of unreality dispersing with the evening breeze.
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