Early Morning
The sky was just beginning to brighten, the sun not yet risen above the mountains.
Leaves in the forest still held morning dew, and a faint white mist permeated the dense, lush woods.
Even in the heat of summer, it made one feel a chill.
Kevin shook the dew off his raincoat, sat cross-legged on a mat of weeds, and looked ahead.
"Little runt, don't run. Let me check you."
Ging laughed and caught a small wolf pup that had run from his leg. After rubbing it a few times, he began pulling at its fur and even tugging its tongue, seemingly checking the health of the pups.
Even though the checks made the wolf pups whimper, the Double-Headed Wolf pair did not seem to mind. They simply lay quietly beside Ging.
This scene made Kevin purse his lips.
Damn it. You two weren't like this last night.
"Grumble."
A sudden sound made Ging and all the creatures present look at Kevin.
Kevin was not embarrassed. He nodded faintly. "It seems I must be hungry."
"It's time to eat. Let's go back, then." Ging stood up and clapped his hands.
"Woof woof."
The Double-Headed Wolf pair seemed to sense Ging's impending departure and whined around him.
How human-like, Kevin could not help but think.
However, seeing their two heads, one of which had a sharp horn on top, it no longer seemed strange.
"Haha, I'll be back to see you all again soon."
Just as they were about to leave, the larger Double-Headed Wolf approached Kevin, carrying a pitch-black horn in its mouth. It placed the object at his feet.
"For me?" Kevin pointed to himself in confusion.
The horned head of the Double-Headed Wolf nodded.
Kevin picked up the black horn. It was very light. He could see spiral patterns on it, and the cross-section was smooth and hollow inside.
Holding it in his hand felt strange, as if he truly needed this item. A slight craving surged through his body.
This couldn't be…
"That's right. These are the horns from their heads, but they're not broken off. They're naturally shed as they grow.
A Double-Headed Wolf will undergo four to five shedding cycles in its lifetime, with each interval lasting approximately fifteen to twenty years."
Ging explained from the side, seemingly sensing Kevin's confusion, and added, "Take it. This is his gift to you."
After speaking, his expression became a little smug. "This is something you can only get by coming with me, so don't underestimate its value. At large auctions, a Double-Headed Wolf's shed horn is worth about fifty million jenny.
If it's a whole horn cut off, its value can increase more than tenfold, which is why they are almost extinct."
As he spoke, Ging looked toward the few people tied up next to a large tree outside the cave.
They were the poachers from last night. Ging had not killed them. At this moment, they were tied hand and foot, their mouths stuffed with socks.
Although Kevin did not quite understand the purchasing power of tens of millions, the amount and Ging's reaction clearly indicated it was a considerable fortune.
But that was not why he kept staring at the horn in his hand. The moment he picked it up, he felt something from it.
Was it some kind of muscle memory? Kevin could not tell, but when he held the item, he felt a certain craving.
Why would he feel this way?
"It seems you're very satisfied with this gift. Let's go."
Coming back to his senses, Kevin saw Ging's retreating back and silently followed him.
Dragging the four poachers with them, they returned to the camp.
An off-road vehicle that had not been there earlier now stood nearby.
A muscular man in a camouflage vest, camouflage pants, and military boots leaned against the car, smoking.
His unkempt appearance, scars on his face, and sharp aura gave him an intimidating presence.
"Did you go see them?" the man asked.
Ging nodded, patted the man on the arm, and casually kicked the poacher at his feet. "They're yours. You must have been following them, right?"
The man merely nodded, his attention falling on Kevin.
His gaze was sharp, filled with obvious scrutiny.
Then he looked at Ging, clearly questioning him with his eyes.
Ging simply gave a slight nod.
"Begel Laghord, a Conservation Hunter."
Begel introduced himself briefly, nodded to Kevin, and without waiting for a reply, dragged the four poachers into the car.
As they were hauled away, the poachers stared wide-eyed at Kevin, whimpering as if trying to say something.
It was not until the car's taillights disappeared that Ging turned to look at Kevin, who was lost in thought.
"It seems you have many questions. Let's talk while we eat. Yesterday's deal is still valid. You can ask me anything you want."
Soon, simple self-heating meals were laid out on the portable table.
Kevin ate, filling his stomach while pondering and deliberating.
Finally, he asked, "What was that power during yesterday's battle? I vaguely saw something emanating from you and the leader. It was blurry, but I don't think I was mistaken."
He asked the question he most wanted answered, about the extraordinary power that clearly set this world apart.
After thinking for a moment, he added, "I have some fragmented memories in my mind, but they're incomplete. Something is missing."
Ging took a bite of his canned food and explained, "What you saw should be 'Nen.' It is energy that dissipates from life. Every living being possesses this power."
Then why had he only vaguely seen it from Ging and the leader last night?
"Ordinary people, or rather ordinary life forms, cannot sense the dissipation of Nen. It naturally overflows and is lost.
Nen users, or those in training, can sense and control it. In battle, it erupts violently in amounts far exceeding the slow overflow of ordinary people, making it easier to detect."
Life energy. Nen. Nen user.
These terms converged in his mind, as if activating remaining memories. Fragmented information surfaced in his consciousness.
He suddenly gained a certain understanding of Nen, but it was not systematic. It felt more like a summary of experience.
"It seems you've recalled something. Look carefully at my palm. Do you see anything?"
Ging suddenly opened his palm.
Kevin focused, frowning as he observed closely.
He vaguely saw something, still blurry but much clearer than last night. It was as if the memories in his mind had triggered a kind of muscle memory.
He was very good at observation.
He could sense something surging from his body. Was this the Nen Ging spoke of?
The Nen flowed toward his eyes.
He saw it more clearly.
"5?"
"That's right. It's the number five. You've already learned to use 'Gyo.'"
What kind of strange term was that now?
This word did not trigger any of his remaining memories.