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Gourmet Hunter - Chapter 471
🕑 Added 2024-06-29 20:47:39 +0000 UTCChapter 471: The Person I Want to See
Whale Island is an island some distance from the mainland, named after its whale-like shape.
The island's terrain is complex, home to various rare birds and exotic beasts, with dense rainforests and numerous bottomless lakes.
The native population here is very small; the entire island has only one village.
Though the resident population on the island is small, the number of transient visitors is high.
Fishermen who go out to sea from the mainland use Whale Island as a temporary rest stop, often staying for a few days before returning to port.
The residents of Whale Island primarily rely on fishing, with a small amount of farming. There is only one tavern operating in the village.
Most seafarers enjoy drinking, and upon arriving at Whale Island, they generally visit the island's only tavern for a few drinks.
On September 16th, the day after the Yorknew auction ended, a small, sail-less wooden boat drifted into the harbor, attracting the attention of many fishermen at the port.
Around it, six large fishing boats were docked at the harbor, forming a stark contrast with the small wooden boat.
"A solitary boat?"
Some fishermen speculated.
A solitary boat, also known as an unmanned boat, is seen as a drifting vessel with no one on board by seafarers.
Most fishermen have seen solitary boats, either empty or with a skeleton pecked clean by seabirds.
People near the small wooden boat approached it and saw a person lying inside the slightly deeper hull, face covered with an old-fashioned straw hat.
The person's chest showed no signs of movement, as if they had stopped breathing.
Among the men, one said, "The small boat couldn't make it over, this person might have drowned."
"Even so, we need to bring the body ashore and bury it properly," another man said.
"Let's do it."
The custom among fishermen is to avoid saying the word "dead" when dealing with bodies found on sea boats, and they must bury any body they find.
Every seafaring fishing boat carries a few buckets of soil from the land, just in case they encounter a body on a solitary boat.
These men prepared to move the body from the wooden boat, while other fishermen gathered to watch.
At that moment, the presumed body suddenly sat up, causing the straw hat to fall.
The men who were close to the boat were so startled by this unexpected movement that they stepped back a few paces.
"Excuse me, is this Whale Island?" the man on the boat asked as he picked up the straw hat and put it back on his head, then grabbed a fishing rod and stood up.
The young man with black hair and a straw hat was Luo.
The men stared at Luo with wide eyes, instinctively nodding.
Seeing this, Luo thought he had reached his destination.
The man who had earlier assumed Luo was dead regained his composure and said, "I thought you were dead."
"Uncle, is it really okay to curse someone like that?" Luo raised an eyebrow and jumped from the boat to the shore.
"Sorry, sorry." The man, straightforward in nature, realized his words were offensive and immediately apologized.
Luo didn't mind, rubbing his stomach, and asked, "Is there a restaurant here?"
Upon hearing Luo's question, the men exchanged glances, realizing that Luo was likely unfamiliar with Whale Island.
"No, but there's a tavern in the village where you can get food," someone replied.
"Thanks."
After thanking them, Luo headed towards the village.
The people at the port watched Luo leave, and the brief interruption ended, with everyone returning to their activities.
Whale Island's port is large, but the village is small, with few visible buildings, scattered and loosely arranged.
As Luo walked into the village, he easily caught a whiff of alcohol.
Following the scent, he quickly found the tavern and pushed the door open to a lively atmosphere.
The tavern was almost full, likely with fishermen from the six large fishing boats at the port.
"Welcome."
A pleasant female voice greeted him.
Luo looked up, his eyes lighting up slightly.
The voice belonged to a young woman with short orange hair, her bangs swept back, revealing a smooth forehead. She had delicate features and expressive eyes, somewhat reminiscent of Ging.
Mito, Ging's cousin.
In the original story, Mito didn't appear much and for long, but she left a deep impression on Luo as a character he liked.
This time, coming to Whale Island, besides visiting the Swamp King, he also wanted to see Mito in person.
"The seats are almost full. If you don't mind, you can squeeze in further inside." Mito, noticing the young man's gaze, subtly pointed to the crowded seats inside.
Her tavern had hosted many guests over time, and she had encountered all sorts of men. Most men looked at her with a similar gaze.
That look of instant attraction towards a woman—basically the look of a lecher.
But a young man like Luo was the first she had seen.
Luo, unaware that Mito had lumped him in with the rough men around, nodded and walked inside.
Seats were tight, and Luo barely found a somewhat free table and placed his fishing rod down.
Without wearing the human skin mask, his fair and delicate face stood out among the sunburned and wind-battered men.
The fishermen at the same table glanced at Luo, feeling he looked unfamiliar and not like one of their own.
"What would you like to order?"
At this moment, Mito, having finished her other tasks, came over to take Luo's order.
Regarding service, Mito hadn't used polite language from the beginning, indicating that this tavern didn't sell service.
"What do you have to eat?" Luo asked.
"Seafood-based dishes, with rice, fried noodles, or rice noodles..." Mito quickly listed several main courses, with seafood as the highlight, along with some mountain delicacies.
Whale Island's sparse population was offset by its rich resources, abundant with forest delicacies.
"I'll have the seafood fried rice and a glass of fruit wine." Luo didn't think long before placing his order.
"Got it."
Mito noted the order, smiled slightly at Luo, then walked towards the kitchen by the bar.
While waiting for his food, Luo scanned the tavern.
Fishermen were playing cards, most drinking and chatting.
Luo didn't actively listen, but the fishermen's conversations naturally reached his ears.
Amidst the noisy chatter, he heard topics like the once-in-ten-years tide, a narrow escape, and finding a boatload of rare fish species.
"Big brother, are you good at fishing?"
Among the many noisy voices, a childish voice caught Luo's attention.
Following the voice, he saw a six- or seven-year-old child in a green short-sleeved shirt and shorts, with black spiky hair and eyes the same color as Mito's.
At this moment, the child was staring wide-eyed at the fishing rod Luo had placed on the table.
Luo looked at the child and couldn't help but smile.
Ging's son, Gon...
"Of course I'm good."
Luo winked at Gon, seriously saying, "I can catch any fish without bait."
"Really?"
Gon's eyes sparkled with admiration.
The fishermen at the same table looked at Luo's boasting with speechless expressions. They didn't know Luo's fishing method, which indeed didn't require bait. If they had to count, the black cat could get rid of the fishhook's positioning and act as bait.
"Of course. Do you want to learn?"
Luo reached out and ruffled Gon's hair, thinking about whether to take a photo for Ging. On second thought, he decided it wasn't necessary, believing that Ging would secretly observe Gon's growth in some way.
"Yes!" Gon nodded eagerly.
"I'll teach you after I finish eating," Luo said with a smile.
At this moment, someone pulled the excited Gon back—it was Mito, bringing Luo's seafood fried rice and fruit wine.
She placed the tray on the table with a slight force, looking at Luo with a faint hint of hostility.
"Uh..."
Luo was momentarily speechless, not understanding where Mito's hostility came from.
Could it be the remark about catching fish without bait? But it was true—by using the black cat, he could catch any fish without bait.
"Here's your seafood fried rice and fruit wine."
Mito set the tray on the table, then silently pulled Gon away.
Luo scratched the back of his head, feeling puzzled.
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