Time passed, and we finally arrived in the Republic of Padokea by airship.
Leorio: That flight was so relaxing!
Kurapika: Well, this time we were in first class—not like during the Hunter Exam.
Max: And it was all free! This Hunter License is amazing we can get the first class easily with free food.
Leorio: I Know Right?
Gon: So, what are we gonna do now?
Kurapika: We'll take a train to Dendora from here. From there, we'll head toward Kukuroo Mountain.
Gon: Okay!
We went to get train tickets—well, mostly got them for free thanks to the Hunter License. First class again. We even got our own private cabin. The moment we stepped inside, we were impressed.
Leorio: So this is what a first-class cabin looks like...
Gon: Wow!
Gon plopped down onto the plush sofa.
Gon: It's so soft! Ah—what the...?!
He tried shifting positions, only to slide off the seat completely.
Kurapika (giggling): What's the matter, Gon?
Gon: This thing is too soft! It's hard to move!
Leorio: That's a good thing. You're still injured, so just stay there and rest.
Gon: No way! I was hoping we could explore the train together!
Leorio: Are you kidding? Never again with you. You always end up poking your nose where it doesn't belong. I'll pass.
Kurapika then sat down in one of the chairs himself—only to awkwardly slip the same way Gon did. Gon and Leorio didn't seem to notice... but I did.
Max (thought): He's kind of cute when he make a mistake like that... But like Rintarou Okabe once said—he's a guy.
Gon: What am I supposed to do?
Leorio: Ask Kurapika. If you really wanna go.
Gon: Well, Kurapika—huh?
Just as Gon was about to ask, both he and Leorio turned to see Kurapika sitting stiffly with his legs spread from the earlier slip. Embarrassed, Kurapika quickly shut his legs and straightened up.
Kurapika: O-Oh! What were you saying, Gon?
The mood turned awkward. Gon, now unsure, backed off.
Gon: Never mind...
I couldn't resist.
Max: Jeez, Kurapika. You say you're a guy, but that was pretty cute just now.
Kurapika just glared at me, still red with embarrassment. Gon and Leorio shared a thought silently—he's got a point—but wisely said nothing.
After we finally settled into proper sitting positions, the train began to move. While on board, we enjoyed some snacks during the ride.
Leorio: You can't even feel the train shaking in first class.
Gon: Yeah. But how did we even get these seats? I heard there are only two first-class cabins on this train.
Max (thought): Did he not hear what I said earlier? No... did he not hear the explanation when Mr. Bean was talking? Wow, what a kid.
Leorio had the same thought. Kurapika sighed and decided to explain.
Kurapika: It's because we have these.
He held up his Hunter License.
Gon: Our license cards?
Kurapika: That's right. The Hunter Association gets priority seating on all major forms of transportation. That's why it was so easy for us to get these seats. This was covered during the orientation, remember?
Gon: Really?
Max: Yeah. Do you think we could afford this without a Hunter License? We're 100% broke, you know. Not a single Jenny.
Max (thought): Or maybe that just applies to me... I already spent most of mine before the exam. But even if the others still have some left, it's not much.
Leorio: You were too busy thinking about how to find Killua. No wonder you didn't learn much.
Gon rubbed the back of his head and laughed awkwardly.
Leorio: Well, whatever. I'm just glad we get to ride in first class. I can never get much sleep when I travel in coach.
Kurapika: There's a way, you know.
Leorio: Huh?
Kurapika: A way to sleep in coach.
Gon: Yeah? What is it?!
Max: Oh, oh! Let me guess. Is it... taking a sleeping pill?
Kurapika: Well, that's not entirely wrong, but it's not ideal. Taking sleeping pills in coach can leave you groggy upon arrival, and there are potential side effects—restlessness, or even sleepwalking.
Max (thought): I don't think that really applies to people like us, though.
Kurapika pointed to his Hunter License and continued:
Kurapika: Pretend these are coach seats. The main issue is the armrests—they make it hard to get comfortable.
Gon: Right.
Kurapika: So, how do you deal with that?
Gon and Max looked confused. As Kurapika continued explaining, Leorio began thinking:
Leorio (thought): I'm a Hunter... So why am I getting a lesson on how to sleep in coach?
Kurapika: Hey, Leorio, are you even listening?
Leorio: Yeah, yeah, I'm listening.
Max & Kurapika (thought): No, he's not.
Some time passed, and we still hadn't arrived. But from the window, we could finally see Kukuroo Mountain in the distance. Gon was brushing his teeth, Leorio was adjusting his tie, and I watched them both with a confused expression. Kurapika was still out of the cabin—I had no idea what he was doing.
Max (thought): Why is Gon brushing his teeth here and not in the bathroom? And what's with Leorio changing his tie? …Well, okay, maybe Leorio just wants to show off a new tie. But Gon… whatever.
Leorio: There it is.
Max (thought): That place looks terrifying.
Gon: Killua lives on that mountain?
Leorio: Yeah. Kukuroo Mountain is where the Zoldyck family estate is. Now that I've seen it with my own eyes… it gives me the creeps.
Max: Is that their house up on the peak?
Leorio: Considering Killua's family are elite assassins, anything's possible.
Just then, Kurapika entered the room.
Kurapika: We'll have to be very careful about how we approach this.
Max (thought): What kind of timing is that? Classic anime logic.
Leorio: I say we check into a hotel first and come up with a plan.
Max (thought): This train already feels like a hotel...
Kurapika: Yeah, and maybe ask around the village for information.
Max (thought): That's actually reasonable.
Gon: We don't need to do all that. We're just here to visit our friend! Who knows—maybe he'll even let us stay overnight at his place!
Max (thought): The first part—no. The second part—maybe. How are we supposed to find the place without asking around?
Leorio: Are you really that clueless—WAIT, WHAT?!
Leorio turned and saw Gon using his brand-new tie as a napkin after brushing his teeth.
Leorio: That's a brand new tie, you little—!
Gon blinked, clueless, then smiled with that dumb innocent face before bolting out the room.
Leorio: Get back here! Gon!
Leorio ran after him. Kurapika chuckled, watching them with a faint smile.
Kurapika (thought): I guess we don't have to worry too much.
Max (thought): Why didn't you just brush your teeth in the bathroom…? Oh right, he's still a kid.
Time passed. Eventually, the train arrived at the station. Without wasting time, we set off to gather information about Kukuroo Mountain.
After asking around for a while, we finally got some helpful info—from a friendly woman running a fruit stall.
Fruit Stall Lady: Kukuroo Mountain? Ah, so you want to see the Zoldycks. There's a tour bus that leaves from the village once a day. A guide even goes with you!
Leorio: A tour bus?
Gon: They actually have that?
Max (thought): Ha! I knew I was right.
Kurapika: We're not here to sightsee... We have actual business with the family.
The fruit stall lady let out a long, tired sigh—like she'd heard this exact line a hundred times.
Fruit Stall Lady: There seem to be a lot of tourists with "business" with the Zoldycks.
Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika exchanged confused looks, unsure of what she meant. Max, on the other hand, understood immediately—but chose not to dwell on it.
Fruit Stall Lady: Well, anyway, your best bet is still the tour bus.
We decided to think more about what she meant later and thanked her.
Gon: Thanks a lot, ma'am!
Fruit Stall Lady: You're welcome, sweetie.
With that, we headed off and boarded the tour bus bound for Kukuroo Mountain. while the bus on the move a guide girl introducing herself her as Coco Loo. The passengers erupted in cheers, some even snapping photos of her.
Max (thought): Looks like this guide girl has a lot of fans... unlike the one from the fourth phase of the Hunter Exam.
She began explaining something to us.
Coco: "Okay, thank you for joining the Lamentation Tour today. We will be visiting Kukuroo Mountain, home to the famous Zoldyck family of assassins."
Then Leorio leaned toward us and whispered:
Leorio: "Look behind the seat."
We all turned to look—two people sat there, each carrying a weapon.
Leorio: "They obviously aren't tourists."
Kurapika: "Yes... My guess is that they're bounty hunters. They've probably come to try and capture members of the Zoldyck family for the reward money. That woman in the village must've thought we were planning the same thing."
Max: "You're probably right. I mean, they're elite assassins. No way they don't have bounties on them."
Coco called for our attention again, and we turned back to face front.
Coco: "Everyone, please look to your right. That is Kukuroo Mountain, where the Zoldyck family lives. A dense forest surrounds the 3,722-meter mountain, and the Zoldyck estate is somewhere on it. But no one has ever actually seen the estate itself."
We listened to the explanation—well, not all of us. The bus ride still had about an hour or so to go. Leorio was already asleep, and Gon was quietly staring out the window, deep in thought. Only Kurapika and I were still paying attention.
Coco: "The Zoldyck family includes ten members: A great-grandfather, grandfather, grandmother, father, mother... and five children. All of them are assassins!"
Max (thought): Five kids? Man, his wife must be tough. As expected of an elite family. I always thought the Zoldycks had a harem, and Killua was some secret bastard son... Sigh, I really read too many romance, fantasy, and murim novels in my past life.
The bus began to slow down.
Coco: "We're moving a bit closer to the mountain now. Let us approach."
Shortly after, the bus arrived at the destination. We stepped off—and were immediately impressed by the enormous gate standing before us.
Leorio: "That gate is really something..."
Max (thought):What do those numbers mean...?
Then Coco began explaining.
Coco: "This is the front gate of the Zoldyck estate, also known as the Door to Hades—because no one who's entered has ever come out alive. To enter, you must pass through the door next to the security checkpoint. But everything beyond the gate is private property, so we can't go any further."
Max (thought):So she doesn't know what the numbers mean either...
Leorio: "Hold on! This is the front gate?! But the mountain's way over there!"
Coco: "Correct. The Zoldycks own all of Kukuroo Mountain—and the surrounding land."
Leorio: "So this entire area is their backyard?!"
Gon: "Hey, Miss Guide Coco."
Coco: "Yes?"
Gon: "What do we have to do to get inside?"
Coco (visibly irritated but still smiling): "Little boy, were you even listening to my explanation?"
Gon: "Uh-huh. But—"
Coco: "If you go inside, you'll never come out alive! Assassins live in there!"
A tick mark appeared on her forehead as she kept her strained smile. Then, the two suspicious guys from earlier started walking toward the security post.
Guy 1: "It's all a sham."
Max (thought):That's a cool weapon... but still not good enough. Maybe I'll forge one myself someday.
Guy 2: "A so-called family of assassins no one's actually seen."
Guy 1: "A photo of just one of their faces is worth a hundred million."
Leorio: "Seriously?! Damn, I should've taken a picture of Killua!"
Gon and Kurapika stared silently at Leorio.
Max (thought):Damn, me too... wait—if I get targeted, that'd be meaningless anyway.
Guy 1: "Just another case of wild rumors hiding a boring truth."
They approached the small security booth. An old man stood guard. One of them grabbed the old man and demanded:
Guy 2: "Open the gate."
Old Security Guard: "I-I can't do that... The master would not be pleased..."
Guy 1: "Don't worry. We're gonna kill your master."
The old guard sighed and reluctantly handed over the key. As soon as the guy got it, he threw the old man aside. Gon ran over.
Gon: "Are you okay?"
Max (thought):This guard's no ordinary geezer... He can use Nen, but he's still weak. So, not all Nen-using old men are monsters, huh. He probably sensed my Nen-infused weight too... but chose not to comment.
Old Guard: "Yes, I'm fine."
The two bounty hunters entered the gate and closed it behind them. The old man sighed.
Old Guard: "Man... Mike's gonna end up snacking between meals again."
Gon: "Huh?"
Max (thought):Mike? Wait—did he say "Mike"?
Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream echoed from behind the gate. Then the doors creaked open again. A massive hand—definitely not human—tossed out two skeletons. They clattered to the ground, completely stripped of flesh.
Leorio and Kurapika froze, wide-eyed. Coco and the other tourists screamed and bolted back onto the tour bus.
Old Guard: "Sigh... He's only supposed to eat at designated times."
Max (thought):What the hell is that thing...? Definitely not human... but smart enough to close the gate afterward. Still, it's weaker than me.
Old Guard (shouting): "Mike! Don't blame me if you get fat!"
Max (thought):...He might have heard that. Whatever Mike is, he's not normal.
Kurapika: "What was that?"
Max: "Probably Mike. I'm guessing he's... a monster."
Max (thought):Mike the monster? Mike Wazowski? Nah, no way. That hand's way too big. And he doesn't eat people.
Leorio gulped, but to his credit, didn't run.
Then Coco called out from the bus.
Coco: "Hey, boys! What are you doing?! Get back on the bus!"
Gon: "You can leave. We're staying here."
Coco: "Huh?!"
The old guard looked at Gon in surprise—this kid actually wanted to stay.
Max (thought):I could leave… but I'll trust in the protagonist's luck, just this once.
The tour bus rumbled away, leaving behind a trail of dust and no second chances. Without a word, the old guard turned and gestured for us to follow him. Curious, or perhaps surprised by our decision to stay, he led us into the his small security post. His name was Zebro. Once inside, we began explaining our reason for coming.
To be continued...