Chapter 18: What Disney
As expected, searching for Ochima Federation, Ghost Island, along with keywords like ghosts and spirits, mostly yields results related to supernatural tales.
What caught Arthur's attention was that these related search results, judging by their publication dates, didn't show any concentrated period of high activity. Over the past few years, the last decade, and even twenty years ago, there have been sporadic interviews, news, and rumors...
"Rumors may not be false, and ghosts may not be real," Arthur thought. "In the Hunter World, strange tales are usually related to 'Nen'."
The pale boy he accidentally saw in the woods might be connected to some peculiar Nen.
"Huh? That's strange..." Menchi muttered as she looked at the search results on the screen.
Arthur casually asked, "What's the deal with Blanchet Company, the one responsible for the Crescent Moon Tiger Reserve?"
"What's the deal? That's the deal. They manage and operate the reserve on this island," Menchi said, puzzled.
"Is the amusement park here also owned by this company?"
"It's a big company. I heard it's a world-class giant corporation."
"Blanchet... how do you spell it?"
"Oh, 'Blanchet', it's easy to spell. It's a surname."
"Then you do it."
Arthur stepped aside, gesturing for Menchi to sit down.
Menchi didn't hesitate, typing away on the keyboard, and pulled up the introduction of Blanchet Company,
"Blanchet Company, also known as Blanchet Elf Company, was founded by Alain Trail Blanchet in 1987. Its industries include film entertainment, media networks, theme parks, amusement parks, and the collection and preservation of ancient cultures... Its video website iTube has become the world's largest online video publishing platform... According to the latest financial data, the company's total assets amount to 12,916.6 billion Jenny..."
Basically Disney!
Arthur could barely contain his urge to comment. Founded in 1987, and not even eight years later, you've made nearly 13 trillion? Why don't you just go to heaven?
Wait...
He pushed Menchi's hand away and clicked on the founder's name with the mouse.
"Alain Trail Blanchet, a member of the Hunter Association, classified information. Estimated personal assets rank among the top five richest in the world..."
Only fifth?
Arthur exhaled. As expected, a Hunter, so it's fine.
In this world, among the top 100 richest people, about 60 are professional Hunters.
Holding a Hunter License makes things incredibly convenient in various industries. The governments of most countries in the world give some respect to this small card. Most ordinary people also have considerable trust in the abilities of the cardholders...
All this fuss, and now I'm hungry.
Arthur looked at the sky. After spending half a day in the internet cafe, the evening glow was already out, casting a unique beauty over the amusement park, which had fewer people than during the day.
"I heard from my teacher that this Alain Trail Blanchet..."
Menchi turned her head from the computer screen.
The boy who was just pointing and commenting beside her was nowhere to be seen, and even the little gray bird he had with him was gone!
When did he leave?
How come I didn't notice at all...
"Such impressive skills." Menchi leaned back in her chair, looking at the screen in front of her. "After dealing with those five poachers outside the reserve, he probably didn't have much strength left..."
When her teacher took over those poachers, he pointed to the groggy Galo and said to her, "If you had faced him alone, you'd probably be dead by now. Don't act impulsively and run around alone. Although you have a license, you're not truly qualified yet. Of course, that's partly my responsibility..."
Menchi couldn't help but feel guilty. Her mindset was still stuck in the identity of a gourmet and chef, and she really needed to train hard.
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Arthur left the internet cafe, bought some feed for the chirping little rock sparrow, and then had a casual meal at a small street restaurant.
He originally thought that Menchi, the spicy girl, would come looking for him again, and he was ready to order an extra meal for her, but she didn't show up.
Maybe she's angry because I've messed with her several times?
Arthur didn't really care. He just didn't want to encounter a formal professional Hunter like Menchi because his Hunter License was a "black card". But he wasn't afraid of interacting with her, after all, he had picked up this license. What could happen if it was discovered? The Hunter Association itself doesn't care what happens to lost licenses.
After eating, Arthur strolled with the bird in the comfortable night breeze and found a small inn to stay in.
...
The faint moonlight slanted through the window, covering half of Arthur's body as he lay on the small bed with his legs crossed.
When he was living like a wild man in the woods, keeping company with tigers and wolves, he didn't feel anything. But now, after spending most of the day in the bustling crowd of the town, he felt a strong sense of loneliness, as if a part of his heart was empty...
[Stop.]
"Is it because Lumin isn't here?" he murmured to himself.
[Don't think about it anymore.]
He sensed the location of the Star Mark. He hadn't given Lumin any commands to control it, so the Star Mark on it was dormant and barely detectable. But the two white birds he had tasked with following Lumin and listening to it had their Star Marks activated...
[Let bygones be bygones. Why trouble yourself?]
Sure enough, in a place not too close, probably in the woods outside the reserve in the middle of the east coast town area, he could sense the Star Marks of the two white birds. One of them hadn't moved much. Lumin was probably happily dealing with its dinner...
"Chirp?"
The little rock sparrow stumbled on Arthur's body, flapping its wings and rolling around in confusion before finally hopping up.
"..."
Arthur, lost in thought for a long time, couldn't help but smile. He lifted his finger to nudge it away, causing the little rock sparrow to peck at him in annoyance.
Opening the window and looking at the crescent moon in the sky, Arthur decided to set aside his past life for now. Since he was living in this world, he should focus on the present!
What lies ahead?
He should have a goal to pursue, so that life would have some direction...
Arthur reached out, as if trying to grasp the moonlight.
Menchi, that girl, is a Gourmet Hunter. Her goal is probably to pursue more delicious food. In this world, there are various types of Hunters, such as problem hunters, crime hunters, lost item hunters, relic hunters, treasure hunters, beast hunters, poacher hunters, hacker hunters, poison hunters, ancient book hunters, and even the simplest and most straightforward bounty hunters...
What about me?
Arthur suddenly remembered a line from the manga, spoken by the protagonist Gon's unreliable father: "What I want has never changed, from the past to the present. It's that 'something' that I don't have in front of me... In fact, I don't care if I can truly obtain it. The real reward appears during the effort to get it, even before actually obtaining it..."
"I've decided."
Arthur closed the window, sat on the edge of the bed, and raised his palm. A white aura bullet quietly floated in the air, invisible to the naked eye.
"I'll choose an almost impossible ultimate goal, so I can chase it for a lifetime and won't have time to think about anything else," he said with determination, smiling. "Since extraordinary power is real, why not try to truly transcend and become an immortal, undying, and indestructible existence?"
"Chirp?" The little rock sparrow stepped on the bed sheet, tilting its head to look at him.
"What do you think? Is it feasible?" Arthur laughed.
Just then, his expression changed slightly as he looked to the north outside the window.
A faint signal from the Star Mark suddenly activated there.
It was the two birds he had sent to monitor the small yacht. They had seen humans approaching the boat!
Arthur immediately switched control modes, projecting his consciousness onto the two birds many kilometers away...
(End of Chapter)