Gourmet Hunter (HxH Fanfic)

The architecture of the Imperial Capital was built with stone bricks, with wide gaps between them. Its square, rigid style was vastly different from the buildings of the three great oasis nations, and every structure was adorned with lush, green ivy.

Three figures emerged from beside a two-story stone brick house on the outermost edge… three middle-aged men in their forties or fifties, with thick beards, dressed in simple attire made of animal hides, each carrying a weapon.

One held a vine bow, another a stone spear, and the last a rusted longsword.

"Impressive, youngsters. It's been over ten years since I last saw newcomers who could make it through the [Death Passage]." The bow-wielding man sighed as he looked at Law and the others, "Too bad that once you're in, there's no way out."

As he spoke, his gaze drifted toward Gel and Yaya in the group. His eyes didn't carry lust but rather the scrutinizing look of someone appraising future brides.

Gel and Yaya couldn't help feeling unhappy when they were stared by this man.

"What do you mean?" Ali suppressed the shock in his heart and stepped forward, shielding Yaya as he glared at the three strangers.

Meanwhile, Law's eyes looked past them, focusing on a cluster of three-story buildings about a hundred meters away.

The three armed men didn't answer Ali. When they noticed Law's attention fixed on a specific spot, their grips on their weapons tightened slightly, shifting into a more offensive stance.

"You're not hiding very well." Facing the three people's sharp gazes, Law said frankly.

The man holding the bow suddenly burst into laughter, waving his hand dismissively, "You've been spotted. Come on out."

As soon as he spoke, the members of Desert Hawks saw over twenty archers emerge from the shadows of the distant buildings, with their arrows nocked. Their expressions darkened, and weapons were raised in unison.

"Relax, we're quite welcoming to newcomers. But basic checks are necessary." The man holding the bow said calmly, "If you trust us, follow us."

After saying that, without waiting for a response, he turned and strode toward the cluster of buildings, his two companions casting silent glances at the group before following.

At the same time, the twenty-plus archers who had revealed themselves moments earlier melted back into the shadows.

The members of Desert Hawks did not follow immediately. Law watched the retreating figures, his eyes clouded with doubt.

At this moment, William suddenly trailed after them without saying a word, the earlier distress on his face now replaced with restrained anticipation.

Law suddenly understood what William was hoping for. According to the bowman, the living people here seemed to be adventurers who had come from the outside but, for some reason, couldn't leave.

'Sandstorms? Mountain paths?'

'Since one can come in, there is no reason why they can't go out. So what was the reason behind that man with the bow's words… 'once you're in, there's no way out'?'

'Is it the grassland?'

Law didn't stop William. He glanced back at the grassland two hundred meters away, littered with scattered bones.

Yet, along their path, there had been no natural traps or dangerous creatures.

If they wanted answers, they had no choice but to follow these people living in the imperial capital.

"Buhara, let's go."

Having made up his mind, Law quickened his pace to catch up.

Upon hearing this, Buhara pulled a palm-sized roasted spider from his bag and munched on it as he followed Law.

Now that the group had come this far, there was no need to stick together rigidly.

Ali took a deep breath. They had reached their destination, but the sudden appearance of these people had disrupted their original goal. Whether it was seeking wealth or fame, it was no longer easy at this moment.

"Let's follow."

After a moment of silence, Ali gave the order.

The group trailed behind the three middle-aged men, weaving through the buildings.

Along the way, Law noticed figures lurking in the shadows at regular intervals. It didn't seem like they were stationed there just because of the newcomers… this was likely a standard defensive measure.

After about twenty minutes of walking, the three men led them to a settlement where people were living.

Here, the buildings were free of ivy. A community bustled with activity, some busy with chores, children chasing each other in play… resembling a scene straight out of a rural village.

The sight struck Desert Hawks like a physical blow, countless questions flooding their minds.

'Is this... really the legendary Millenium Imperial Capital?

A few playing children spotted the outsiders and immediately changed course, clustering around them with curious eyes.

The adults also stopped what they were doing, stood up and began approaching.

"Newcomers?"

The villagers scrutinized the outsiders, and someone finally spoke up.

"Yeah, they just came in today. Is Sister Salin at home?" The man with the bow asked.

The person who had spoken earlier replied, "No, she went to the main city again."

"Then someone go and call Sister Sarine back." The man with the bow looked at the crowd that had gathered around them.

"How about I go?" Law suddenly suggested.

The gaze of the man with the bow shifted, silently assessing Law, his eyes sharpening with suspicion. His tone became cold and he asked, "Explain why you're volunteering."

"I know a woman named Salin. Though I can't rule out the possibility of it being a coincidence." Law said calmly.

Hearing the man with the bow mention Salin's name had surprised Law, but not too much. The moment he saw living people here, he had already considered the possibility.

William's mood had visibly shifted upon seeing the inhabitants… Clearly, he was harboring some hope. After all, he had come to the Forbidden Zone to retrieve what he thought would be a corpse.

But now, the person who should have been bones might still be alive.

The man with the bow looked at Law coldly. Judging by appearance, Law might even be older than him, so it was plausible he knew Salin. Still, there was no need to let a newcomer handle this.

"No need to trouble you." After saying that, he sent one of his own to the main city to fetch Salin.

While waiting for Salin to return, the man with the bow asked Law and his group to sit on a stone bench and even served them tea.

Four or five children, around six or seven years old, circled them restlessly, their wide eyes blinking with unconcealed curiosity.

William lowered his head and stared at the tea without saying a word, seeming a little restless.

Law glanced at him but didn't ask anything. Instead, he motioned to Buhara, signaling him to bring over the bag filled with cooked insects.

Buhara took off the bag and handed it to Law.

Law pulled out a few prepared insects and offered them to the kids.

The man holding the bow stood nearby, watching as Buhara happily munched on a roasted bug. He didn't stop the children from accepting food from outsiders.

The kids showed no fear at all. Their noses twitched at the aroma, and without hesitation, they grabbed the insects and scampered off.

Law smiled as he watched them run away, then surveyed the settlement. Including the guards he'd noticed earlier, there were about 350 people here… but only three or four women.

About twenty minutes later, the children came running back, wailing loudly.

One of the boys with the watermelon-headed hair hugged the man holding the bow and cried, "Dad, that old witch Salin stole my snacks again!"

The man with the bow's lips twitched in exasperation, looking helpless. He patted the boy's head helplessly, then looked toward an approaching figure and sighed: "Big Sis, why do you keep taking the kids' food?"

"To protect their teeth." Salin, who was walking over, declared righteously, then took a big bite out of a spider in her hand with a bold, unrefined gusto.