"Ryker... really? You mean it? Oh, thank you!"
Aunt Mito's eyes welled up with tears.
Last year, Ryker had taken first place in the island's wrestling tournament. He was young, handsome, skilled, and powerful—the Prince Charming of Whale Island in the eyes of countless local girls. If he was going with Gon, Mito felt a weight lift from her shoulders.
"But being a Hunter is incredibly dangerous. Are you absolutely sure about this?"
"I've been waiting for this day for a long time, Aunt Mito," Ryker said with a reassuring smile. "And thank you. For everything."
Whale Island was a paradise, a sanctuary from the world. But in a universe teeming with monsters and Nen masters, staying here with a System like his would be a waste of a second life. He had already farmed every mob in this starter zone to extinction. What was he supposed to do? Grind level 1 turtles for another four hundred years?
True ambition lies beyond the horizon.
The bonfire that night was unprecedented.
The flames danced high into the night sky as villagers sang and danced around the fire. A line of young women approached Ryker, shyly presenting him with parting gifts—hand-knitted scarves, gloves, charms. The pile grew until he couldn't hold any more.
At fifteen, Ryker was the collective dream of Whale Island's youth. But dreams, like ships, were meant to sail.
"Ryker! Will you come back when you're a Pro Hunter? I'll wait for you!"
"Take care of yourself out there!"
"You promised we'd go fishing this summer, Boss Ryker! Sob..."
"Hey kid! When you get back, I'm letting you marry my daughter! Hahaha!"
Even though it was Gon who had initiated the journey, Ryker found himself the center of the farewell. His reputation for kindness and strength had endeared him to everyone, from the elderly to the toddlers.
Of course, Gon had his own warm send-off. Whale Island was a place of genuine love, devoid of the cynicism found elsewhere in the world.
The next morning, the ship for the Hunter Exam arrived on schedule.
The entire population of the island stood on the pier to see them off.
"Safe travels, Boss Ryker!!"
"Gon! Be careful!!"
"Don't forget us! Come back soon!!"
Uncle Cohen, Aunt Mito, and everyone else waved furiously as the ship pulled away. Under the bright sun, Whale Island shrank into the distance until it was swallowed by the horizon.
"Mito! I'm going to become the best Hunter in the world! When I come back, I'll be the greatest Hunter you've ever seen!! I promise!!"
Gon shouted from the deck, his eyes wet but shining. This was his first time leaving home, but his resolve was iron. And with Ryker beside him, he wasn't alone.
"The best Hunter in the world? Heh."
A sneering voice cut through the sentimental moment.
"You kids really underestimate the job."
"Every year, millions of experts gather from all over the world for the Hunter Exam. Only a handful are chosen. Don't talk big, little boy."
The other applicants on the deck glared at them with disdain.
Ryker's gaze swept over the crowd, his interface flickering to life.
Name: Yamada
Traits: [One-Handed Swordplay] (White), [Petty Theft] (White), [Weak Kidneys] (White)
Name: Daisho
Traits: [Strength] (White), [Dual Wielding] (White), [Erectile Dysfunction] (Green)
Name: Iwato
Traits: [Marksmanship] (Green), [Poisoning] (White)
Trash. All of them.
Weak stats, pathetic skills, and riddled with embarrassing debuffs. Ryker couldn't even muster the interest to sigh. A medium-sized fish offered better loot than this entire boatload of losers. It was no wonder they wouldn't even pass the preliminary phase.
But then, his eyes landed on two figures in the corner.
Name: Leorio Paradinight
Traits: [Heart of Gold] (Gold), [Medical Aptitude] (Gold), [Master Haggler] (Purple), [Leader of Men] (Blue), [Street Fighting] (Blue)
Name: Kurapika
Traits: [Scarlet Eyes] (Red), [Avenger] (Gold), [Leader of Men] (Purple), [Rationality] (Purple)
Red.
Ryker's heart skipped a beat. [Scarlet Eyes] (Red).
Was Red a tier above Gold?
It made sense. This was Kurapika—a prodigy capable of solo-killing Phantom Troupe members right out of the gate. Seeing such high-tier traits confirmed that leaving the island was the right choice.
Should I kill him?
The intrusive thought flashed for a millisecond before Ryker dismissed it. He wasn't a psychopath. Besides, he didn't know if killing humans worked the same way as fish, and he wasn't about to test it on a protagonist. Not yet.
Sensing the gaze, Kurapika looked up, his brow furrowing slightly. Ryker gave a polite nod, diffusing the tension.
"What are you doing? Katzo! Call yourself a sailor?"
A shout from the cargo hold broke the silence.
A skinny sailor in a striped shirt stumbled onto the deck, kicked from behind. A crate of green apples spilled from his arms, rolling across the floorboards. Several stopped right at Ryker's feet.
"Clumsy idiot! Can't even stand up straight! Hahaha!"
"Just get off at the next port, useless!"
A group of veteran sailors laughed cruelly.
"S-sorry..." Katzo, the rookie, stammered, scrambling to pick up the fruit.
He reached for the last apple, but another hand got there first. Ryker picked it up and held it out.
"Here."
"Thank you!" Katzo breathed, relieved.
"Don't mention it." Ryker's tone was indifferent. He glanced at the bullying sailors. Pure white trash traits. Boring.
The veterans sneered at the two "kids," not realizing they were moments away from a potential beating. But the cabin door swung open just in time.
"Oi! You lot! Quit slacking and get back to work!"
The Captain stepped out—a short, stout man with a gin-blossom nose, clutching a bottle of liquor.
The sailors scattered like rats.
"Those guys have no discipline. Don't mind them, they aren't bad people deep down," the Captain grunted, offering his bottle to Ryker. "Want a drink?"
"Thanks, but I don't drink," Ryker smiled, his eyes analyzing the old man.
Traits: [Navigation] (Blue), [Wine Tasting] (Blue), [Judge of Character] (Green).
Decent utility skills.
"Good lad," the Captain laughed, taking a swig. "You might be the most promising candidate I've seen all year."
"Really? Captain, what about me? What about me?" Gon jumped in, eager.
"You're not bad either! But you'll have to work harder to catch up to this one," the Captain teased.
Suddenly, the sky darkened. Above them, a flock of seagulls began to circle the mast, crying out in agitation.
Ryker looked up, sniffing the air. The pressure was dropping fast.
"A storm is coming," Ryker said calmly.
Fifteen years on Whale Island hadn't just given him muscles; it had given him the instincts of a master navigator.