Chapter 7 – Big on Face, Bigger on Luck
"Times are tough—if we can avoid guns and knives, let's avoid them, alright? Do me a favor and lower the weapon."
Osren jumped down from the embankment and took a few more steps forward.
Only then did the others notice his arrival. As his voice echoed across the tense scene, the four people present reacted in their own ways.
"Not this brat again. Always going on about how hard the world is… What's his trauma, anyway? Give him face? How much face could he possibly have?" thought Leorio with a frown.
"Osren, you're here," Gon greeted cheerfully, completely ignoring the mood.
"What is it with kids these days? Just because you're a child doesn't mean you won't be punished. Hunters—teach him a lesson while you're at it!" the crooked merchant bellowed.
But no one actually took Osren's words seriously. And that's when something happened—something that made everyone freeze in shock.
The fake Hunter wearing a green hat actually lowered his gun—the one he had pointed at Gon and Leorio.
He. Put. It. Down.
He really lowered the weapon.
The crooked merchant's face was full of question marks.
Leorio's face was full of question marks.
The fake Hunter had rationalized it: it's just a kid and a guy he already beat once. No need to aim a gun for now. Besides, he was a Hunter—someone with status and respect. Why would ordinary people dare challenge someone like him?
Yeah… the guy had lied to himself for so long, he was starting to believe it.
Bottom line: the fake Hunter decided to "give face" to the kid.
"Why are you just standing there?" Osren said, seeing Leorio frozen in place. "Now's your chance!"
Leorio snapped back to reality, lunged forward like an arrow, grabbed the fake Hunter, and threw him in a textbook over-the-shoulder slam. The man hit the ground hard, and his gun skidded across the dirt. Done and dusted.
"If I wasn't starving, I wouldn't have lost to you in the first place," Leorio said smugly as he pulled a fake Hunter license from the guy's pocket. Gon's suspicion had been right—this guy was a fraud.
Seeing his backup get flattened, the crooked merchant collapsed to the ground in fear.
The fake Hunter's mask was ripped off—figuratively. He didn't even bother retrieving the gun. He just scrambled away on all fours, fleeing in disgrace.
With the crisis averted, Leorio finally voiced the question burning in his mind:
"Why did that fake Hunter listen to you? Why give you face?"
"Because times are hard. What I said made sense, so he listened," Osren answered seriously after some thought.
Leorio stared at him like, Are you kidding me right now?
"If he actually cared about logic, he wouldn't be a poacher in the first place. Who'd buy that reason?"
"I think Osren made a lot of sense. I believe him," Gon piped up, as sincere and oblivious as ever.
Just like that, Leorio sighed. So tired. Don't wanna talk anymore.
"Times are tough. If I can help, I will. And if it makes sense, I think you'd give me face too, Leorio," Osren said earnestly.
Leorio scoffed. Give face? Yeah right—what am I, stupid?
Just then—clang, clang, clang!
A loud ringing bell broke the moment.
"Oh crap! The ship's leaving!" Leorio yelped, tossing a small paper-wrapped item to the crooked merchant.
"Take this as payment for setting the animals free. Hold onto it!"
With that, he sprinted toward the Kaijinmaru, the ship that would take them to Dolle.
"Osren, come on! If we want to take the Hunter Exam, we've got to get on that ship too!" Gon grabbed Osren and dashed after Leorio.
But by the time they reached the port, the Kaijinmaru had already set sail—just like in the anime.
"Wait, wait! We want to board too!" Gon shouted, chasing after the boat.
"Stop the ship!"
Leorio also shouted while running, but it was no use.
The ship's speed far outpaced their legs.
Captain Red Nose replied, "Too late! The ship doesn't stop. Come back next year!"
"Osren, what do we do now?" Gon turned to ask Osren.
In Gon's mind, Osren always had a plan—and he truly did.
"See that small hill over there? Wrap your fishing line around it and swing across. You should be able to land on the ship." Osren offered the exact solution Gon had just come up with in his own storyline.
"But at most, only two people can make it across this way." Gon eyed the hill and estimated the distance. It wasn't that the rod couldn't handle the weight, but the momentum wouldn't be strong enough to carry all three of them onto the ship.
"No problem. You and that guy go first—I've got my own way aboard." Osren patted Gon's shoulder with a calm smile.
"Alright, just be careful," Gon said, without a hint of doubt. Then he turned, full of urgency: "Leorio, let's go. Time to board the ship!"
He dashed toward the hill. Leorio glanced at Gon, then at Osren. The Kaijinmaru was already sailing—there was no other way to get on board. Which meant Osren had just given up his spot for him.
Gritting his teeth, Leorio followed Gon. He was starting to believe in that phrase Osren often repeated: "The world's a tough place—help when you can." This kid named Osren… really was a good person.
Gon reached the base of the hill, flung his rod, and wrapped the line tightly around the summit.
"Hold on tight, mister!" Gon shouted.
Leorio clenched his briefcase between his teeth and wrapped his arms around Gon.
This was it—all or nothing.
They launched toward the Kaijinmaru with the fishing rod's power, slamming into the raised sail. Gon, of course, landed with perfect form on the deck—just the perks of being the protagonist's son.
As for Leorio… naturally, he crash-landed in a messy heap—such was the fate of the "adopted."
"You okay, mister?" Gon asked.
"Stop calling me 'mister'! It's Leorio!" he snapped through clenched teeth.
"Leorio, where's Osren?" Gon looked around but didn't see him.
"Th-there…" Leorio pointed toward the harbor, eyes wide with disbelief.
Gon followed his gaze—
And saw, through the churning white waves, a tiny motorboat speeding smoothly across the water. At the back, the driver had the throttle maxed out as they made a beeline for the Kaijinmaru.
Sitting comfortably in the little boat was Osren. Though space was tight, everything he needed was right there—cushioned seat, fruit juice in hand, not a care in the world. Compared to Gon and Leorio's frantic dash, he was the picture of calm sophistication.
"Gon! Fishing rod!" Osren called as the boat pulled alongside the Kaijinmaru.
Gon, understanding instantly, lowered the line. Osren grabbed hold, used the momentum, and landed lightly on deck like a feather.
"Perfect," he whispered to himself.
"So that was your plan all along? Not bad!" Gon said, curious. "When did you arrange the boat?"
Osren shrugged. "I'd set it up earlier, just in case. Never thought I'd actually need it."