Paths: Changes×Chances

chapter 9

The light of the sun could be seen slowly rising from the horizon, the sing of the dozen different species of birds created a beautiful symphony, the morning breeze washed over Whale Island like every other day

Above the small town of fishermen, a path led to a small house on top of a hill

In front of the house three figures stood, one was an old lady staying by the entrance, she watched with a warm smile the scene before her: a younger woman speaking to a boy, the boy wore a black t-shirt and short green pants, green boots and a backpack, he seemed around 14 and as tall as the young woman, maybe a little taller, after a small conversation the woman hugged him and he hugged back, the hug went on for a while

"I'll be back next summer or so" said Gon releasing the hug "I hope you won't mind" he said while frowning, he felt happy to go out and live another adventure but he didn't feel like leaving his Aunt alone again

Mito looked at him for a second before smirking "I won't mind" she said "just remember to stay safe and have fun" she didn't like having to see Gon go again but at the same time she knew he was happier exploring the world, keeping him in a small island where there was nothing else he could discover, she couldn't force him to stay away from his friends

After one final hug and goodbye, Gon departed towards the port, the ship had arrived already

The ship wasn't one of the wooden vessels Gon used to take but a massive galeon, the ship had been built recently and Gon heard Morel had helped with the researches, the ship was designed to hold it's own even against the most furious storm and it was exceptionally fast too, the fifth fastest ship in the known world, the Ameriko Vesuko (Amerigo Vespucci is an italian vessel I've had the luck to see in person and this a reference)

To get to the Republic of Ochima it would only take a week, the ship was used to make trips from continent to continent and due to it's size it could do so without taking slower but safer routes

Gon got on board and was met by a general chaos, being the ship enormous it required a lot of work from the crew, he walked around the deck before a man, tall and wearing a uniform got in front of him

"Do you have the permission to be here, little boy? Minors have to be accompanied by adults to be on this ship and also need special tickets..." Gon looked at the man in the eyes for a second. He almost laughed as he pulled out his hunter license because of awkward he felt

"Does this count as a special ticket?" He said, bringing the piece of plastic in front of him

The man's eyes almost came out of his orbits after seeing the license, and he began nervously speaking again

"Oh, sorry, I didn't...I....you...may proceed" as he gestured to the cabins and handed a key to Gon "room...279...make yourself at home" before walking away

As the man walked away, Gon heard him mumbling something:"How is a kid so young a freaking hunter?"

Gon looked at the key for a second, and then he headed for his room. He thought for a second that the room was a bit too fancy, but he didn't mind. He was a hunter, after all. He could afford some luxury every now and then

He sat on the bed and brought out his new smartphone. he started playing some video games to entertain himself

He was playing a game called "Dungeons," and as he went through the fifth level, the ship started to take off

The fifth level was a giant mansion filled with monsters to get through the areas he had to defeat ordes of said monsters and get to the throne room where he would have to face a boss