"Eh? Where did he go? He was just right there."
Xia Ka said nothing, just squinting his tiger eyes at the spot where Natsuhiko had just stood, without speaking.
"Go ahead." Xia Ka said in a calm tone.
"Oh—" Alice responded, heading towards the dojo.
"Teaching based on aptitude, huh? Alice, this girl, her rigid learning and the rules, really aren't quite suitable for her..."
Xia Ka muttered to himself and also turned to enter the dojo.
...
...
The entrance to Twin Dragons City's black market.
With a smirk, Natsuhiko ignored the vendors selling cloaks and masks at the black market entrance, entering Twin Dragons City's black market.
'Just coming to Twin Dragons City and I'm having quite the luck, not only seeing Xia Ka but also encountering Alice, the future Unova Region Champion... I hope the black market will be just as smooth.' Natsuhiko secretly mused.
Just like Twin Dragons City, Twin Dragons City's black market is divided into two completely different styles.
It was very easy to find the Hunter Guild's base in the black market.
But unfortunately.
Originally supposed to be bustling, the Hunter Guild now had only a few people at the entrance, the large hall was dimly lit, and even slightly disarrayed, showing signs of a battle.
Natsuhiko paused at the hall entrance for a moment, eventually stepping inside.
"Sir, today the guild isn't..." Despite its desolation, there were still staff members in the hall.
Seeing Natsuhiko walking in, they hurried to greet him.
"Seems the ruin is just a facade." Natsuhiko silently lamented.
Ignoring the approaching staff.
Just as the staff was about to call in the internal guards, a red light shone from Natsuhiko's waist.
Soon after.
Kapu Bear appeared by Natsuhiko's side.
"Don't let anyone in." Natsuhiko instructed Bewear.
Bewear's eyes narrowed.
It directly hugged the nearby staff member then sat at the entrance to the interior corridor, showing its stance.
Natsuhiko glanced at the previously energetic staff member, now lying in Bewear's arms foaming at the mouth, his eye twitched involuntarily.
He could even hear the crisp sound of bones breaking.
Natsuhiko was well aware of Bewear's "Hug Kill" ability.
"And don't let anyone out either."
After stepping into the dark corridor and disappearing into the shadows, another statement from Natsuhiko echoed.
Bewear nodded heavily, sitting at the entrance.
Its eyes involuntarily looked at the staff member foaming at the mouth, eyes rolled back, as its paw "gently" tapped their face.
Quickly, two oversized cat paw cushion marks emerged on the person's face.
Confirming the person wasn't dead, Bewear tossed them aside.
Sitting cross-legged, arms crossed.
Hoping to wait for the next person who could withstand a hug.
...
"Master W, Mr. S is no longer here, we must make a decision quickly."
In the meeting room of the Hunter Guild's interior, around the conference table, sat the important core members of the Hunter Guild in Twin Dragons City, as well as Hunter W seated at the head.
With the death of "Hunter S,"
The Hunter Guild in the Unova Region was thoroughly thrown into chaos.
Within the Unova Region, under "Hunter S," there were two seated Hunters, namely W overseeing the north centered on Twin Dragons City, and "Hunter O" overseeing the south centered on Feiyun City.
Mr. S's demise was beyond everyone's expectations.
So the Hunter Guild in the Unova Region is now completely chaotic, each acting on their own.
The one seated at the head, wearing black-framed glasses, was a refined middle-aged man, thin and scholarly.
Hands supporting his chin.
Unbothered by the urging core members, merely mulling over gains and losses.
And his lack of response gave the others many opportunities for "self-expression."
"I believe with Master's ability, even if he can't seize the entire Unova Region, occupying half is possible, given some time, there might be a chance to fill Mr. S's vacancy!"
"I think, if we can align with a top seat, gain their support, and plan for a top seat, it's a good option."
"Align? You think at such a distance in Unova, who can we align with?"
"Miss T."
Suddenly someone mentioned this name, plunging the room into silence.
The person continued, "Although Miss T has just become a top seat, she now commands six seated hunters under her."
"But all six are holed up in Johto, do we have to run all the way to Chengdu?" Someone dismissed this with disdain.
"No, what I mean is, what if Miss T can seize both Johto and Unova regions?"
"This..."
Crack—
Suddenly.
The meeting room door was pushed open.
Standing at the doorway was a young man, adjusting his hat, dressed in a black suit.
The sudden opening of the door made everyone in the meeting room stand up from their seats.
"Who?!"
"Don't you know the Hunter Guild is in a meeting?!"
"Courting death..."
Ignoring these rebukes, the young man standing at the door calmly held a meaningful smile, looking towards the only person in the head seat who hadn't stood, the middle-aged man.
"N?"
Hunter W recognized the entrant as Natsuhiko; they had met during Hunter Guild meetings.
"Hunter N?"