Gourmet Hunter (HxH Fanfic)

Machi's kick silenced the entire scene.

Law reached up to wipe nonexistent sweat from his forehead, realizing he had underestimated Machi's strength.

'She could actually kick such a strong adult one meter away with one kick. Such image was as surreal as a petite girl kicking a bear.'

The onlookers, many of whom had come to spectate, now cautiously observed the frost-faced Machi. As the saying goes, there are all kinds of birds in the forest, and there were many 'loli enthusiasts' among the people present.

Machi has an excellent look, so it is inevitable that she will be noticed by those loli enthusiasts. However, due to the iron rules of Meteor City, they can only hide their thoughts for the time being.

Now, when they saw Machi's explosive show of violence, they quickly abandoned any improper thoughts.

Marza had a good physique, but he was kicked without any defense. So when he landed on the ground, one of his cheeks was swollen.

Machi strode forward a few steps, leapt onto Marza's chest, and crouched down, grabbing his collar to yank his head off the ground.

"Machi, don't..." Seeing Machi's subsequent actions, Law couldn't say more before Machi cut him off, "Don't talk."

"…" Law was rendered speechless.

"Marza, the fact that Law hasn't been expelled means the council has already accepted him. You know what that signifies." Machi said, with her eyes piercing Malza like needles.

Marza's cheeks were swollen and half of his lips were crooked. After hearing what Machi said, he knew that saying any extra words now would only make himself worse, so he gritted his teeth and said nothing.

He also understood the weight of Machi's words, but since Law came to Meteor City, he had never left Machi's house and had not shown enough presence, so he thought that even if he killed Law, the Council of Elders would not trouble him.

Who would have thought that his plan to trouble Machi would backfire so catastrophically?

Seeing that Marza didn't say anything, Machi shoved him down with force, causing the back of his head to hit the ground heavily. Then, she stood up, looked down at Marza, who was grimacing because of the back of his head hitting the ground, and said coldly: "Take care of yourself."

After saying that, she stomped on Marza's chest, then jumped down, picked up the gas mask that fell on the ground, and then turned to walk towards the stunned Law and said, "Let's go, Uvogin and Nobunaga are still waiting for us."

"Okay."

Law glanced at the motionless Marza on the ground and then quickly followed after Machi, who had already walked several steps ahead.

Machi's behavior just now seemed really...cold, but Law understood they were meant to protect him.

'Maybe this is just the way things are in Meteor City. I'm sure we'll encounter more guys like that one who would kill at the drop of a hat.'

As he walked side by side with Machi, Law suddenly thought about how Machi would become a ruthless killer in a decade. He had an urge to talk with Machi all night… Well, just to let her open up for an honest conversation.

'Wait... Uvogin and Nobunaga? Aren't those two alos members of the Phantom Troupe?'

Law suddenly recalled the two names that Machi had just mentioned, 'Could it be that the other two people with Machi that day were Uvogin and Nobunaga?'

'They already know each other at this point?'

Law frowned slightly. He had been planning to keep Machi away from the members of the Phantom Troupe, but it seemed that his plan had failed before it even started.

'Even if I know the plot, it's still at least ten years before the main plot begin. When the Phantom Troupe first appeared in Yorknew City, Machi looked to be in her twenties, but I don't know her actual age. I also don't know when the Phantom Troupe was formed.'

'I don't have enough information. If I want to keep Machi away from the Phantom Troupe, I'll have to take it one step at a time. Until then, I should focus on improving my own strength.' Law thought, the mention of Uvogin and Nobunaga made him even more determined to increase his strength.

"Law, where are you from?" Machi suddenly asked as they walked.

"Hmm?"

Hearing this, Law snapped out of his thoughts, but he found himself unable to answer the question.

'Where did I come from? If I told you that I had somehow transmigrated from Earth to this world, which is just a manga in Earth, would you believe it?'

Because the question was so to the point, Law was not only unable to answer it, but also unable to change the subject, so he could only remain silent.

Machi glanced at the quiet Law, then silently withdrew her gaze, thinking that Law was unwilling to speak of this matter, and did not dwell on this issue. Instead, she said, "It doesn't matter where you came from or what your previous principles were. Since you have chosen to stay in Meteor City, you'll have to adapt to its ways."

At this point, Machi paused, and her tone became a little softer, "Although it is one of the iron rules here is not to kill fellow residents, it is not absolute. It cannot guarantee anyone's safety."

"If someone tries to hurt you, you must retaliate twice as hard. Make them understand the cost of messing with you."

Law listened carefully, then let out a soft sigh.

He turned to look at Machi's profile, and a hint of pity quietly emerging in his eyes. He couldn't imagine what kind of environment Machi had grown up in to develop such a perspective. After all, she is only ten years old now.

"You could've just crippled him. Also, don't look at me with that kind of expression." Machi's eyes were still fixed forward, but she could feel Law's pitying gaze.

Law shrugged, then turned his head and said, "I was planning to, but only if he actually hurt me. After all, I'm new here, so it's better to keep a low profile, right?"

'Low profile…'

Machi raised an eyebrow, 'Giving someone a middle finger back wasn't exactly low-key behavior.'

"In this place, only by acting in a high-profile manner can people around you recognize your strength and dare not provoke you."

Machi's eyelids drooped and she said calmly, "Just like before… If you don't get some interest back from the person who provoked you, others will think you're a pushover that can be beaten at will."

'I think it's more awesome to scare the other person so much with just one sentence that he doesn't even dare to move, and the deterrent effect it creates is also very effective.'

"I understand." Faced with the teachings of the indigenous Machi, Law naturally did not dare to say this, and could only nod in response.

Adapting to the unique environment of Meteor City was going to take time for someone like Law, who had come from a harmonious society.

After walking for a while, they saw the outline of the exit, where two people in hazmat suits were standing.

Machi stared at them from a distance and suddenly said, "Pity is the cheapest emotion here. I hope you remember that."

"Then why were you willing to bring me back, provide me with food and accommodation, and even teach me the common language?" This time, Law couldn't hold back his curiosity anymore and blurted out his thoughts.

Machi turned her head and gave a flat smile, and then responded with the most unexpected answer Law could imagine.

"Intuition."

The cool little girl lifted her index finger to her temple and answered like this.

At this moment, Law became more and more convinced that he could not treat Machi as a ten-year-old little girl, 'People from Meteor City really could not be understood by common sense.'

…

About five minutes after Law and Machi left, Marza finally dared to get up. At this time, the fear caused by Law's words had dissipated like smoke, leaving anger and hatred in its place.

The crowd that had gathered to watch the fun hadn't dispersed yet. When they saw Marza finally stand up, a few bystanders began mocking him.

"Marza, didn't you eat today or what?"

"Getting sent flying by little Machi's kick… what a sight! What a waste of all that muscle."

"I think that pretty boy was a little creepy. One sentence and Marza didn't even dare move."

"I think he is frightened by the look in that pretty boy's eyes?"

"Marza, what did that pretty boy do to you? Look how scared you are."

Listening to the unscrupulous laughter around him, Marza lowered his head, with fury flashing in his eyes. He ignored these people and walked straight towards the alley in the building complex.

How could he swallow such humiliation? Besides, he had someone to back him up!