"That actually makes sense. We might as well try—it doesn't take much effort anyway."
Killua found Lu ou's analysis quite convincing. Catching a few fish in advance wouldn't hurt, especially since they had nothing better to do.
After Killua nearly knocked the roasting pig straight into the fire and turned it into charcoal, Luou had ordered him to rest on the sidelines. Now Killua was bored out of his mind.
"Exactly. If we can stay one step ahead, this isn't just one plus one equals two anymore—it's worth trying," Kurapika agreed. Although there was still some risk, nothing came without risk. If you wanted to avoid all danger, you might as well go home and hide under your blanket.
"Then let's go."
Gon had been itching to fish for a while now. If the exam weren't holding him back, he would've jumped in the moment he saw the shimmering river. It reminded him of the happy days back on Whale Island.
"Count my share of the fish as part of yours, Lu ou," Leorio added.
Since Lu ou sounded so confident, Leorio figured the odds were good. Besides, he couldn't cook the pig anyway—better to be useful elsewhere.
As for why there would be sea fish in a forest park river, Lu ou maintained a blank expression and silently declared that this was an unimportant question.
While cleaning the pigs earlier, Lu ou had secretly observed the river. Occasionally, fish leapt out of the water—and he had clearly seen some vividly colored ones glittering in the sunlight. They were unmistakably tropical fish. There were also freshwater fish that looked suspiciously like crucian carp.
Freshwater fish and saltwater fish living together peacefully—honestly, it was about as absurd as Mars colliding with Earth.
That said, the river was long and winding, wide and deep, and no one knew where it led. It might even connect to the sea.
Gon had a natural talent for fishing, so entrusting this task to him might bring unexpected gains.
Before long, Gon and the others were enthusiastically catching fish.
Some jumped straight into the river to grab them—Leorio being the prime example. Others used fishing rods. And then there was Killua, who stood perfectly still, only for fish to mysteriously leap onto the riverbank near him.
"That kid's fast," Hanzo remarked in surprise as he arrived at the river carrying his boar, having just glimpsed the afterimage Killua left behind.
"These brats are treating this like child's play. Food isn't about quantity—it's a roast pig test. Why are they catching fish?"
A burly man scoffed as he glanced at Gon's group.
Many experienced fighters noticed their strange behavior. But after a bit of silent mockery, they let it go. After all, it was Luou who discovered the boar's weak point—they'd already benefited from that, so it felt better to keep the ridicule to themselves.
"What delicious fruits."
From afar, Hisoka watched Gon and the others display their fishing skills, visibly excited.
These were the fruits he had identified as worth cultivating. Just how delicious would they become once fully grown?
Hisoka licked his lips, his blood beginning to boil at the thought. Gon… Kurapika…
Wait.
Hisoka frowned slightly. It felt like he had forgotten something—but then again, maybe not. It probably wasn't important.
He promptly stopped thinking about it.
"Gon, Leorio, Kurapika, Killua—alright, time to head back," Lu ou called out.
By now, most examinees who were capable of hunting Great-y Wild Boars had finished and were beginning the final roasting stage. The timing was just right.
More importantly, the pigs were almost done.
Roasting such massive beasts was no easy task.
In the original story, Buhara would eat anything placed in front of him—perfectly cooked, burnt to a crisp, or half-raw—it all went straight into his stomach.
But for Lu ou, even if his skills hadn't yet reached the pinnacle, he absolutely refused to allow any food made by his hands to be "good enough."
That would disgrace the dignity of a future top-tier Gourmet Hunter.
Leorio and Gon returned carrying several fish together—one per person, with extras to spare. The haul was impressive.
"Lu ou! We caught a lot of fish—and Killua even picked up a really special one!" Gon said, stepping forward with his catch.
So many fish…
Most were common aquatic grass fish—the same kind Leorio once stole back on Whale Island. Blue fish, to be exact.
There were also two red fish about a meter long. Lu ou didn't recognize the species, but their plump flesh reminded him of salmon back on Earth.
Then Lu ou noticed something more surprising.
There were two rare fish among the haul.
One was half silver, half black, perfectly divided like yin and yang, about half a meter long. This was a rare sea fish known as the Eight-Direction Star Fish.
It was named for its eight-sided head—but the "star" in its name was special. This fish only appeared when the ominous Withering Sugar Star was visible in the Hunter world's night sky.
The Withering Star symbolized bad fortune. As a result, the Eight-Direction Star Fish was also called the Ill-Omen Fish.
No one knew its taste or effects—because aside from Luou, no one would dare cook it. Sailors who spotted the Withering Star would immediately turn their ships around and head home, let alone go fishing.
The other rare fish was completely crimson, smaller than the Eight-Direction Star Fish, and flat-bodied.
Lu ou guessed that this must be the Crimson Fish, the so-called "Treasure of the Riverbanks" mentioned by the red-nosed captain.
All of Lu ou's knowledge of fish in the Hunter world came from that red-nosed captain. His botanical knowledge, on the other hand, came from the ferocious fox.
There were also blue fish, swordfish, and whitehead fish—each rarely seen.
"Not bad at all," Lu ou said, clearly delighted.
He hadn't expected Gon and Killua to catch both the Crimson Fish and the Eight-Direction Star Fish. This exam site—the Forest Park—was practically his lucky land.
"So many fish in this river," Leorio said as he handed them over for Lu ou to choose, his eyes glued to the roasting pigs.
"Smells amazing!"
The aroma was even richer than before. The pig's skin was golden-brown and crispy—irresistibly appetizing.
If this weren't an exam dish, Leorio would've already taken a bite or two.
The others looked equally tempted—but they had to restrain themselves.
"Let's go, or we'll be late," Lu ou said.
Seeing that even the usually composed Kurapika looked tempted, Lu ou knew his cooking had improved yet again. Another step closer to his goal.
Noticing that some nearby examinees were already wrapping up, they stopped dawdling.
Hoisting their roasted pigs with both hands, they ran toward Menchi and Buhara.