"If you're interested in the Dark Sonata, you can go to the lake where my ancestors first heard the melody. "
"Inside this metal box is the location of that place, along with samples of the local plants and lake water from that time."
"We don't need it anymore, but if you want to go..."
The Fox Father said calmly: "Then go ahead."
Luke looked at him, then suddenly smiled.
"Alright!"
He reached out and took the dirt-covered metal box from the Fox Father's hands.
The clue to the Dark Sonata's harp was now in his possession!
This was an unexpected gain.
Luke didn't necessarily intend to pursue it, though.
To music lovers, such a thing might be a priceless treasure.
But to Luke, it was just something interesting, a nice collectible if found, but not a big deal if not.
It would simply add a bit more depth to his personal collection.
After Luke pocketed the metal box, the Fox Father said no more.
After tidying up his new home a bit, he carried Luke into the distant sky.
By now, Luke was the only one who had made it here this year.
Thus, from the lone pine tree at Dolle Harbor, the guide, having confirmed his qualifications, led Luke, the sole applicant for the 274th hunter exam.
They traveled through the night beneath the stars.
When the moon sank and dawn's light began to rise, the Fox Father brought Luke to the location of this year's official venue.
"Let's see... This year's exam venue is..."
In a bustling city whose name Luke couldn't even recall, the Fox Father held a small slip of paper as they walked down the street.
"It says here: first, go to the bakery called 1/2, buy one-third of a muffin cake, then deliver it to the 1/4 bar, to the pink-haired bartender, and tell her to mix one-fifth of a glass of blazing sun..."
Luke, walking behind him: "..."
As expected, the Hunter Association's contact codes were as strange as ever.
Luke strongly suspected that these cryptic passwords were all the handiwork of Chairman Netero, an old man with nothing better to do, just amusing himself for fun.
Fortunately, the Fox Father knew the way.
And…
"They seem to be right next to each other."
The Fox Father stopped walking and pointed toward two shops ahead.
Well, weren't they right next to each other?
Luke followed the Fox Father silently into a bakery shop with a sign reading [1/2].
Then, it was the Fox Father's turn to walk out, looking speechless.
"Buying one-third of a cake would have been enough."
He looked at the extra cake in Luke's hands, wanting to say something, but held back in the end.
"The guide rules didn't say we couldn't eat a little more."
Luke took a bite of the steaming hot pancake, soft, warm, and delicious.
The honey and blueberry syrup drizzled on top brought out the sweet, fragrant flavor even more, tickling his taste buds.
"It really does taste great."
Luke nodded repeatedly while eating.
"As expected of a shop recommended by the Hunter Association, it's on another level."
"I thought the association only made this part of the exam so the applicants would boost the business of their affiliated shops."
"Looks like I was wrong."
After saying that, Luke stuffed another soft piece of pancake into his mouth.
The Fox Father: "..."
"The Hunter Association isn't that calculating."
The Fox Father sighed. "In fact, it's quite the opposite. The shops they select for the exam are all top-notch."
"As far as I know..."
He raised his chin toward the cake shop behind them.
"That cake shop was founded by a Gourmet Hunter from the association."
"And that Gourmet Hunter was a disciple of the renowned culinary national treasure of the association, Linne Horsdoeuvre."
"With such lineage, it's no surprise the flavor is this good."
Linne Horsdoeuvre, huh?
She once ventured into the Dark Continent alongside Netero and Zigg Zoldyck and managed to return alive.
Rumor had it that she obtained the Nitro Rice, extending her lifespan.
She even appeared later during the Hunter Association chairman election arc.
She was practically a living fossil, second only to Netero himself.
And as a Gourmet Hunter, her cooking skills were naturally exceptional.
But she was old now and rarely cooked personally; most of the time, her apprentices and disciples handled the work.
This cake shop was one of their achievements.
And it wasn't just the cake shop…
"The bar across the street is the same."
The Fox Father explained as he led Luke, still eating his cake, toward the bar.
1/4 bar, just like 1/2 bakery, clearly followed the same naming style.
It was likely owned by the same person, part of the same business line.
At the counter, the Fox Father found a short-haired bartender with pink hair and ordered a 1/5 blazing sun.
The bartender first glanced at the Fox Father, then at Luke, before lifting the barrier at the counter and revealing a passage leading behind the bar.
"Go on."
The Fox Father smiled at Luke.
"Every year, something unexpected happens during the hunter exam."
"There are millions of applicants, but only one in ten thousand ever reaches the official venue."
As he gave his final words of advice before the exam, he added sincerely, "In my opinion, Luke, you're just going through the motions with this Hunter Exam."
"When you get your license and become a professional hunter, I hope we'll meet again someday."
"Or perhaps..."
The Fox Father concluded earnestly, "In the near future, I hope to hear about the great achievements and shining reputation you will make across this world."
"I believe that one day, your name will echo across all six continents."
"I look forward to that day!"
Luke watched as the Fox Father walked away leisurely.
He didn't say any parting words.
"If fate allows, maybe we'll meet again someday."
"But as for reputation..."
Luke smiled faintly. "Perhaps it'll spread across the world, but by then..."
"I wonder if it'll be good or bad."
Recovering his composure, Luke turned toward the passage that the pink-haired bartender had opened for him.
Without hesitation, he stepped inside.
Just before he entered, the bartender discreetly slipped him a round white card, number 404, his number for this year's hunter exam.
Coincidentally, it was the same number Kurapika would hold in the future.
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