Mito rushed out from behind the bar, grabbing Ging's collar. "You! You actually dare to show your face!"
"Leaving Gon and disappearing for twelve years! Get out!"
"You're not welcome here!"
Burning with anger, Mito turned into a T-Rex, looking like she was about to eat Ging alive.
Sean leaned lazily against the bar, watching with great interest. Ging raised his hands in surrender, begging for mercy and swearing he would leave soon and not disturb Mito and Gon's happy life. Only then did he receive Mito's temporary forgiveness. He and Kite sat down next to Sean.
"Ooh! The scumbag got told! Well done, Miss Mito!" Crazy Slots's red nose twitched, and it waved its hands excitedly.
Ging: "..."
He glanced helplessly at Kite. Kite, wearing a blue baseball cap, shrugged. "Don't look at me."
"Fine." Ging's mouth twitched. 'Whatever.' He turned his head, his eyes sharp, and looked at Sean. "Teacher Ben An, showing up at this time... you're not here to take this year's Hunter Exam, are you?"
"You followed me all this way just to ask that?" Sean smiled and nodded at Mito, taking a glass of beer from her. He took a long gulp and let out a satisfied breath.
Ging chuckled. "Of course not. With a dangerous guy like you coming here, I had to at least come and take a look, right?"
'Dangerous?' "You flatter me, Mr. Ging." Sean swirled the beer in his glass and chuckled. "I'm just a lousy manga artist. I'm not worthy of such high praise."
"A lousy manga artist wouldn't have the ability to kill three members of the Phantom Troupe alone." Ging said meaningfully, recalling the battle he'd seen nine years ago. 'The kid could defeat Silva back then. Now, nine years have passed. Just how much has he grown... I really can't see through him.'
Ging sized up Sean. A hexagram faintly shimmered deep in Sean's right eye as he glanced back at Kite and Ging.
'Kite has a "Double Limit Break" physique and a "Triple Limit Break" Nen level. His overall strength is rated C. He's slightly stronger than Uvogin, Nobunaga, and the others, but only by a limited amount. In the original story, he had no problem dealing with captain-level ants, but it's not surprising he was killed by Neferpitou when facing squad-leader-level ants or higher. But Ging...'
'His three major stats, "Strength," "Speed," and "Aura," are all "Triple Limit Break." His Nen level is even more exaggerated, having broken the limit four times—one time more than me. No wonder he could lock onto my position with just his En the moment I stepped off the airship.'
"You can eat the wrong food, but you can't say the wrong words, Mr. Ging." Sean slanted his eyes at Ging. "The people Ben An killed... what does that have to do with me, Sean Zoldyck?"
"I'm warning you, don't slander me."
Ging and Kite: "..."
"Hahaha! This guy is too much! Hey, Sean Zoldyck, you don't really think everyone else is an idiot, do you?" Crazy Slots clutched its stomach, laughing.
Sean took a gulp of beer, his face impassive. He gave Kite a cool glance. "Control your pet. I can tolerate its barking once, but I won't allow it to bark twice."
"Who are you calling a dog?!" Crazy Slots's expression changed drastically. Kite clamped a hand over its mouth and ordered gruffly, "Shut up!"
Unexpectedly, Crazy Slots bit down on the skin between Kite's thumb and forefinger, jumping up and down as it cursed, "Bastard! Taking his side, are you?"
"Why should I shut up? He called me a dog, and I'm not allowed to curse back?"
"I won't shut up! Piss you off, nyah nyah nyah!"
Kite: "..."
Dark lines appeared on his forehead. He looked at Sean helplessly. "Sorry, this is embarrassing."
"Heh. Whether I'm embarrassed or not isn't important. Since you can't control your pet, I'll teach it a lesson for you." 'Strike three.' 'Crazy Slots, do you have any idea how annoying you are?'
Ripples spread from deep within his left eye, one circle after another. Sean reached out his hand toward Crazy Slots. "Universal Pull!"
Ging and Kite's bodies suddenly stiffened. They just felt a wave wash over them. With a "swoosh," Crazy Slots screamed as it was torn from Kite's control, flying past Ging's eyes and landing in Sean's grip!
Sean immediately grabbed it by the throat. "Go on! Bark again. I'm listening."
"Uu... ugh..." Crazy Slots's throat was constricted, unable to make a sound. It frantically slapped at Sean's large hand, repeatedly looking to Kite for help.
'Rinnegan!' Kite shifted, about to stand up, but Ging calmly pressed him back down with one hand. "Nen is a reflection of the heart and personality. Are you controlling your Nen, or is your Nen controlling you, Kite? You need to seriously consider this question."
'[Crazy Slots]: A random lottery that conjures different weapons, not decided by the host, Kite, is itself a manifestation of insufficient control over one's Nen.' Kite silently sat back down in his chair.
Ging let out a breath of relief. He pretended to glare angrily at Crazy Slots. "See how it is? There's always someone stronger. Without Kite, you're nothing. Hurry up and apologize to Mr. Sean!"
"Uu... I was wrong..." Crazy Slots kowtowed frantically to Sean.
Sean didn't even look at it. He casually tossed it back. "You're paying for this meal!"
"I'm paying..." Ging chuckled, adjusted his cap, and yelled to the kitchen, "Hey... Mito! Put it on my tab!"
Swhiish—
The kitchen curtain was yanked open. Mito stormed out, holding two plates of omurice. "You must have a death wish, Ging!"
"Ahahaha! Well, if not a tab, then Kite! Help me cover this. I'll pay you back when I get paid."
'You've never paid anyone back!' Crazy Slots ducked its head and hid behind Kite. Kite didn't say a word and just paid the bill.
Only then did Mito let Ging off. She snatched the money, snorted, and disappeared back into the kitchen.
"Phew. When women get serious, they're still just as terrifying." Ging wiped the sweat from his forehead and muttered under his breath.
'Heh.' Sean gave a noncommittal, cold laugh. "If you have something to say, Mr. Ging, just say it."
"After all, you don't have much time left."
Shoveling a spoonful of omurice into his mouth, Sean's ears twitched. The breeze blew in, bringing an image with it—
Just five minutes ago, deep in the primeval forest of Whale Island, Gon had made a beautiful cast, hooking his line around a tree. He leaped down, using the force of his fall to catch the Lord of the Lake!
"Oh yeah! I can finally go take the Hunter Exam!"