On the plains to the west of the forest, the setting sun dyed the grass golden.
Seven or eight Red-Haired Armored Boars were leisurely grazing on the green grass; they were the size of small calves, covered in dark red, hard fur, with bone-plate-like protrusions on their backs that could effectively defend against ordinary attacks.
These creatures were quite vigilant, taking turns looking up to observe their surroundings while eating. Leo hid behind a bush downwind, waiting patiently.
About twenty minutes later, a relatively young Red-Haired Armored Boar detached from the group and walked toward a berry bush at the edge of the plains.
The opportunity had arrived. Leo approached silently like a shadow.
His Level 23 physique allowed him to perform near-perfect stealth—his footsteps were as light as falling leaves, and his breathing was kept to a minimum.
Five meters, two meters... The Red-Haired Armored Boar seemed to sense something, stopped eating, and raised its head.
At that very instant, Leo moved.
He did not use any weapons, nor did he make any unnecessary movements. He pounced like a leopard, his left fist striking precisely at the weak spot behind the Red-Haired Armored Boar's ear.
The force was controlled perfectly—enough to stun its brain, but not enough to shatter the skull and ruin the meat. The Red-Haired Armored Boar let out a muffled grunt and collapsed.
Leo immediately followed up with a hand strike, shattering its cervical vertebrae.
The entire process took less than three seconds, clean and efficient.
[Life Energy + 13]
[Level: 23 (18.4%)]
A good harvest. Leo hoisted the approximately 200-pound carcass of the Red-Haired Armored Boar, as easily as if he were carrying a bag of cotton.
He turned and headed back to the palace with a steady gait. On the way, he thought about the future.
According to what Serena said, it was now January 1996. The Hunter Exam storyline would begin in 1999; there were still three years left.
This time had to be fully utilized. First, lifting the Zetsu state was the top priority. He was still two Levels away from Level 25; based on his current leveling efficiency, it would take about a month or so.
What then? What should he do after leaving the Secret Realm?
Leo thought of the Chimera Ant incident in NGL; that disaster occurred around May 2000.
The strength of the Ant King and the Royal Guard was terrifying, but the ordinary soldier ants and squadron leader-level ants were excellent hunting targets. Hunting them could yield massive amounts of Life Energy, providing an opportunity to become stronger quickly.
However, with his current strength, he could barely handle a squadron leader, let alone the Royal Guard or the Ant King. He had to improve as quickly as possible.
Learning Nen Ability was the key.
Although he knew the basic theory of Nen through the manga—the Four Great Principles, the six Nen types, Vows and Limitations—figuring it out on his own was ultimately inferior to having a Master's guidance.
Moreover, his lack of combat experience was a fatal weakness. Heavens Arena was a good choice. It would allow him to earn jenny to solve his financial problems and accumulate experience in fighting against Nen Users.
Reaching above the 100th floor would also grant him a private room and time for training. But those were matters for later.
For now, he needed to establish a good relationship with Satotz and his group. The connections and resources of a Hunter would be helpful for his future development.
As his thoughts drifted, the palace appeared in his field of vision. Leo stopped in the open space below the palace and began to process the prey.
Half a year of living in the wild had made him skillful: bleeding, skinning, removing organs, and butchering the meat—the entire process was smooth and fluid.
He specifically left the hide intact—the skin of a Red-Haired Armored Boar could be processed to make high-quality leather armor.
Afterward, he started a campfire, set up a grill, and put the large chunks of pork on it to roast. He took several small leather pouches from his backpack, which contained several natural seasonings he had discovered in the Secret Realm.
The flames licked the meat, the dripping fat sizzled, and the enticing aroma of the mixed spices gradually permeated the air.
As the sky grew dark, Serena and Casper walked out of the palace.
"It smells so good!"
Casper's eyes lit up, and he walked over quickly.
"Such a big pig, thanks for your hard work!"
Serena sniffed, a flash of appreciation in her eyes.
"Yo, I didn't expect your cooking skills to be this good."
Leo flipped the roasted meat and smiled.
"It's nothing. This Secret Realm has some special crops that can be used for seasoning, which I discovered by chance. It's just finished roasting, come and eat."
"Then we won't stand on ceremony!"
Casper quickly sat down, looking impatient.
Serena shook her head helplessly at her companion's embarrassing behavior and sat down as well. She seemed casual, but in reality, she chose a position where she could observe both Leo and the surrounding environment.
"By the way, where is Mr. Satotz?"
Leo asked, while cutting a large piece of golden-roasted meat and handing it to Casper.
"Oh, him? He's still busy."
Serena took the other piece of meat Leo handed her.
"He'll be down in a bit. He gets very serious and focused once he enters work mode, and he won't rest until he finishes what he's doing."
Casper nodded while eating.
"Mm-hmm, don't worry, he'll be down right away. This meat is delicious! The skin is crispy, and the inside is so tender it's juicy..."
As he was speaking, Satotz's figure appeared on the palace steps.
He was still wearing that suit, but he had taken off his white gloves, and his purple hair looked softer in the glow of the campfire. Leo stood up.
"Mr. Satotz, thanks for your hard work. I specifically saved the best part for you."
He pointed to a large piece of tenderloin on the grill, near the center of the fire, which was roasted to perfection.
Satotz looked at the enthusiastic Leo, the corners of his eyes lifting slightly, revealing an almost imperceptible smile.
"Thank you for the trouble, Mr. Leo."
He walked down the steps and took the wooden plate and roasted meat from Leo. The three sat around the campfire, and Satotz sat down as well.
"Regarding this trip to the Secret Realm," Satotz said, cutting a small piece of meat with elegant movements.
"We will probably stay for about ten days to conduct a preliminary survey. Do you have any issues with that?"
Leo replied gently, "No problem. I've been here for over half a year, so I'm not in a rush. I'll wait until you finish your investigation."
Satotz nodded and began to eat. His table manners were very refined, forming a sharp contrast with Leo, who was wearing animal skins and grabbing the meat with his hands, but he didn't seem aloof; instead, there was a strange harmony.
The campfire crackled, and the aroma of meat filled the air. The four of them chatted while eating, and the atmosphere gradually became relaxed.
Casper took the initiative to talk about some interesting stories from his archaeological work—the experience of being chased by ancient traps in a certain ruin, or discovering stone tablets recording ridiculous legends at another site.
He spoke vividly, gesturing with his hands, which made Leo smile.
Leo also shared some of his daily life in the Secret Realm: how he discovered those seasoning plants, how he avoided the tracking of certain dangerous creatures, and how he found temporary shelter in heavy rain.
He deliberately omitted the specific details of his hunting and the growth of his own strength, describing only survival techniques.
Serena introduced some basic information about the outside world to Leo—because she heard Leo say he had lost his memory.
She mentioned the names of several major continents, an overview of the current international situation, and the existence of the Hunter Association, though, of course, she didn't delve into the specific work of a Hunter.
Her introduction was concise and practical, clearly considering what Leo would need to know after leaving the Secret Realm in the future.
Satotz listened quietly most of the time, occasionally calmly correcting a detail or two when Casper exaggerated too much, or adding key information when Serena's introduction had omissions.
He didn't speak much, but every sentence was precise.
Taking this opportunity, Leo asked seemingly casual questions about the outside world's timeline, technological level, monetary System, etc. This information was crucial for his future planning.
During the conversation, Leo also expressed his desire to have the opportunity to systematically learn combat skills after leaving the Secret Realm.
This paved the way for him to go to Heavens Arena in the future without revealing that his understanding of Nen Ability exceeded what it should be.
The dinner lasted for over an hour. When the last piece of meat was eaten, the campfire gradually died down.
"I'll take the first watch tonight."
Serena stood up and brushed the food crumbs off her hands.
"Casper, you take over from me in two hours. Mr. Satotz needs a full night's rest."
"Understood."
Casper nodded. Satotz looked at Leo.
"Mr. Leo, just follow your own schedule. However, I suggest you rest inside the palace; the forest is not safe at night."
"Okay, thank you for the reminder," Leo replied.
He did indeed intend to return to the palace—after all, that was the "home" he had maintained for half a year. The four of them simply cleaned up the tableware and food scraps.
Satotz and Casper returned to the palace to continue organizing the day's data, while Serena jumped onto a nearby high rock and began to keep watch.
Leo lay on the "bed" he had made of hay and animal skins, listening to Serena's slight breathing outside, his thoughts turbulent.
Ten days. The Satotz team would stay here for ten days.
He had to seize the opportunity during these ten days. He needed to assist them in their investigation to build trust, while also continuing to hunt to increase his Level.
Then, follow them out of the Secret Realm and enter that vast and dangerous world. The Hunter World.
Leo closed his eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep.