Hunter Association Headquarters
Netero stood by the window, gazing at the cityscape, his eyes full of thought.
Just then, a knock sounded behind him.
"Come in."
The door opened and in walked the smiling Vice‑Chairman, Pariston.
"It's you."
At the sight of him, the old man's stern face relaxed into a smile.
"Chairman, I hear the Association's new Hunter, Xiang Nan, is training under the two‑star Gourmet Hunter Linne. Did the senior take him on as a student?" Pariston got straight to the point, asking with a grin.
"Oh?"
Netero looked surprised. "Really? How come I didn't know? Xiang Nan… that name sounds familiar, who is he again?"
The old man stroked his beard and tapped his head, as though he couldn't recall.
"He was Chief of the Joint General Staff of the Republic of Padokea's military before joining us—and was directly involved in the Zaban City incident," Pariston reminded him warmly, as if expecting this reaction.
"Oh… him. I remember a bit now."
Netero nodded. "But he isn't a Gourmet Hunter, is he? What business would he have with Linne?"
With that single sentence, the old man turned the questioning back on Pariston.
"I heard it from a few Gourmet Hunters… This Xiang Nan is impressive. They say he even sparred with Senior Linne and showed frightening strength," Pariston praised, then fixed his gaze on Netero. "As Vice‑Chairman, I think the Association should cultivate talent like this. With his potential, becoming a Triple‑Star Hunter shouldn't be hard. We have only a handful of medical‑type professional Hunters, and their achievements are modest. If Xiang Nan shines in that field, it would boost our public influence and advance human medicine."
"You rate him that highly?"
Netero grinned. "Medicine is a tough foundation to build on…"
"Indeed… I've only met him once, so I'm not well acquainted. But management must think about the Association's future," Pariston nodded. "Compared to Senior Linne, he should have met you during the Hunter Exam, right? It looks as if he joined just to find a mentor and deepen his Nen training… Did you turn him down?"
"I believe he mentioned something like that…"
Netero sidestepped the question.
"Chairman, while Xiang Nan's background is special, he has retired from the Padokea military, joined us as a pro Hunter, and displayed astonishing talent. We shouldn't look at him with suspicious eyes. Of course, I understand the pressure you're under. But wouldn't raising a powerful challenger be more interesting for you?"
Just then, Pariston seemed like a leader sincerely seeking opportunities for a subordinate.
Netero actually felt a little embarrassed… In this light, the Vice‑Chairman looked more understanding and upright than the Chairman himself.
"Thank you, Pariston—hehehe… With you around, I really have one less thing to worry about."
"Mm… I'll give your suggestion serious thought," the old man replied.
"All right, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
Pariston turned and walked out.
Only after he left did Netero sigh softly; the helpless look on his face slowly melted into quiet delight.
As if he wouldn't know about Xiang Nan.
He had spoken with Linne by phone…
And he himself had asked Linne to help Xiang Nan.
That little fox Pariston… understood perfectly well.
…
Elsewhere, Xiang Nan was still undergoing Linne's "bizarre" training—namely, strengthening his body.
It was called bizarre because he had effectively become an ingredient in Linne the gourmet's cooking.
Using her special Nen ability—through frying, stewing, stir‑frying, and other "techniques"—she refined him together with the life‑force he absorbed.
For Xiang Nan it was agony, nearly hellish.
Yet after each meal and inhuman torment, he felt a marked boost in physical power and a larger aura reserve.
According to Linne, she could use this "method" on him only because his body was strong enough and his Nen control precise enough to endure it. But it couldn't be done too often, or he might literally end up as her "food."
Each boost subtly eroded his body's resistance.
Her ability was extremely fierce.
Thus Xiang Nan could supplement himself with external life‑force only a limited number of times—exactly fifteen.
That tallied with what Linne had said: even she could only give him a temporary physical upgrade and no more.
Two whole months passed.
Xiang Nan's Nen reserve doubled!
The suffering was brutal, but the gains were immense.
During those months of hunting ingredients with Linne, his understanding of life broadened: ripping out a furious beast's heart works because its heart, in its rage, pumps more blood—the core of its aura.
But some special species were different.
For example, the giant Snow Eagle. Because of its unique life cycle, most of its life energy passed to the next generation when it laid eggs, then slowly recovered over a long period.
Thus the fresher the egg, the purer the life‑force, and the easier for Xiang Nan to absorb.
So he and Linne staked out for days, finally finding a Snow Eagle about to lay, and stole the egg the moment it was laid.
Some "ingredients" peaked in life‑force only during mating… and so on. There were many such cases; it wasn't just about snatching strong hearts.
Their hunting targets ranged widely.
Prey big and small—some no larger than a fist and seemingly harmless—had different life‑energies because of their unique biology.
Many creatures were not physically strong, yet their life‑force was far from weak, because life‑force involves more than flesh—it's tied to the soul's will. Even species with only basic instincts carry innate genes that grant extraordinary traits.
Xiang Nan's gains weren't merely physical; more valuable was what he learned.
Linne opened a door straight onto "life" itself… and made him realize how terrifying top Gourmet Hunters could be.
She knew these lifeforms inside out.
Through this path Xiang Nan, in just two months, grasped a special ability—so quick that even Linne was surprised.
Ordinarily it took Gourmet Hunters years to reach that level; some never managed it at all.
Perhaps, as a doctor, Xiang Nan had an exceptional sensitivity.
Linne said that by mastering this skill, Xiang Nan had finally stepped onto the threshold of truly powerful Nen users.
That skill was observing life‑force—sensing and interpreting aura.
Different creatures emit auras tied to their will; aura reflects aspects of the source: temperament, physical strengths and weaknesses, survival style, and more.
Thus, at first sight, Linne knew he was a cunning "brat"—only by cornering him could she see his true strength.
Xiang Nan's aura was steady… yet sly in its flow.
Do not underestimate this: in battle, reading aura and the information it returns lets a Hunter instantly build a sketch of the target in the mind—an innate advantage.
Before, Xiang Nan could only judge an opponent's attack tendencies and power level.
Personality, combat focus—all unknown until fighting began.
Now he could anticipate them to a degree—practically a cheat.
Like having an "x‑ray mod."
"Different life‑forces have different qualities. Just as no two people are exactly alike, neither are their auras."
Linne's words stayed with him.
…
Two months later, his training ended.
Xiang Nan formally took his leave of Linne.
The old woman said she had nothing more to teach him.
After escorting her back to a city in the Kukan'yu Kingdom, he prepared to return to the Republic of Padokea.
As a member of the Shadow Beasts, he had been absent from the Ten Dons for too long; shirking duties might draw complaints.
Though the Shadow Beasts seldom had to act…
"Old lady—let me thank you properly."
He said it suddenly as they parted.
After more than two months together, their relationship had grown easy.
"Well, you've got some sense, brat. Since you guessed, just keep it in mind—don't brag."
"Though I didn't like you at first, stinky kid, I have to admit—Netero's eyes are sharp… You truly have the talent to be a top Gourmet Hunter. What a waste… insisting on being a doctor, honestly…"
She rolled her eyes at him, then, like an ordinary old woman strolling outdoors, grumbled as she walked off with her hands behind her back.
Xiang Nan watched her receding figure and smiled.