'Hold back, hold back...'
Menchi kept repeating to herself, forcefully suppressing the urge to punch Killua away.
Law glanced at Menchi's attire: her long hair was tied up, she wore light makeup, and a fiery red, off-the-shoulder floor-length gown accentuated her fair collarbones.
When a woman with a good figure changes her dressing style and puts on a little makeup, it's often stunning and can even make her almost unrecognizable.
"They happened to be hungry, so I brought them along. You don't mind, do you?"
Law smiled at Menchi. The reason he brought the two third wheels was precisely to avoid certain situations.
If he hadn't already been in a relationship with Machi, Law wouldn't have minded having a proper romantic candlelit dinner with Menchi.
"N-No, I don't mind." Menchi forced out a smile uglier than crying. Her personality really wasn't suited for hiding emotions.
Not just Law, even the straightforward Gon could tell Menchi actually minded a lot.
To this, Law could only silently apologize and pretend he didn't notice Menchi's discomfort.
"Aren't you going to let us in?" Killua pouted.
His words directly walked him into Menchi's line of fire.
One minute later, Killua sat at the table with a lump on his head.
A pair of high heels lay scattered casually on the carpet nearby, the heel of one broken.
The dining table was covered with a white tablecloth, featuring a candlestick with a white flame and a bottle of fine red wine.
The table was laden with delicacies, complete in color, aroma, and taste, leaning towards a Western style, but the portions were not small.
Menchi didn't hide her resentment as she looked at Law sitting directly opposite. He continued pretending not to see it, savoring the feast Menchi had carefully prepared.
The ingredient grade was between C and B, but after Menchi's preparation, the flavor and texture were not inferior to A-grade ingredients.
It had to be said that although Menchi was young, her culinary skills and strength indeed matched her Single-Star title. No wonder she was hailed as a genius.
If she weren't so young, attaining a two-star title shouldn't be a problem.
However, Menchi was probably the same type as Linne, only interested in gourmet food throughout her life. So, no matter how high her future achievements might be, she would likely cap at being a two-star Hunter.
"Delicious."
Gon ate with evident delight.
"It's passable," Killua said, but his movements were no slower than Gon's.
Watching what should have been a romantic candlelit dinner turn into a family meal, Menchi just felt utterly drained. At the same time, she also sensed Law's rather deliberate attitude.
After a satisfying meal, Law and the two prepared to leave.
"Law, I have something to say to you."
Just as they were about to leave, Menchi stopped Law.
Law stopped, and Gon, seeing this, also stopped. Killua looked at Law and Menchi with a knowing expression.
"I'm listening," Law turned to face Menchi, seemingly unaware of the two large lightbulbs beside him.
Menchi glanced at Gon and Killua, her mouth twitching slightly. She finally understood… Law was definitely doing this on purpose.
Seeing this, Killua, using exploration as an excuse, pulled Gon away.
Even though Menchi had given him a lump on the head, he had at least managed to get a free feast, so he'd reluctantly help her out this once.
Seeing Killua being so perceptive, Menchi felt delighted and immediately apologized in her heart for hitting him with her high heel earlier.
"That Killua kid."
Law watched Killua and Gon leave, shook his head slightly, then looked at the slightly blushing Menchi.
Menchi's personality and words were always straightforward. She disliked pretense and didn't care about gender distinctions. In her view, a man pursuing a woman and a woman pursuing a man were the same.
Now, with the two lightbulbs gone, it was the perfect opportunity for a confession.
"Law, go out with me!" Menchi didn't need to build up to it; she was blunt and direct.
Although he had somewhat anticipated it, when Menchi actually stated her feelings, Law was still a bit unable to comprehend it. After all, he and Menchi had only met briefly years ago.
Even though he had helped her once back then, it shouldn't have lingered until all these years later.
Their perspectives differed. Law naturally couldn't understand Menchi's feelings at that time, nor did he realize the weight of a deep impression left in a young girl's heart.
Perhaps because Menchi was so direct, Law didn't beat around the bush either and refused directly: "I have a girlfriend."
Menchi was stunned for a moment, her eyes dimming slightly, but she quickly adjusted and smiled. "Then, do I have a chance to steal you away?"
"No," Law said seriously.
"How do you know without trying?" Seeing Law's seriousness, Menchi also became serious.
"She tied me up with her threads, making a dead knot that no one but her can undo," Law said with a smile.
Hearing this, Menchi fell silent.
The night deepened, but the oasis city remained brightly lit.
That night, quite a few people had complex emotions.
The next day, Illumi left by airship, while the other successful examinees remained at the hotel, perhaps contemplating their future paths, but they would leave by tomorrow at the latest.
Although most examinees stayed, the Association's personnel responsible for the test, including Menchi, left first.
As the Association's airship flew into the sky, Law received a text message from Menchi. The content was just a single cartoonish emoji: a gleaming kitchen knife.
'For a Gourmet Hunter, what exactly did sending a kitchen knife emoji represent?'
Law stood on the hotel rooftop, watching the Association's airship depart.
Tonpa emerged from the stairwell and came to Law's side.
"What are your plans after this?" Tonpa asked.
"Plans?" Law thought for a moment but didn't answer. Instead, he materialized his book.
Seeing Law's action, Tonpa looked puzzled.
Flip, flip, flip.
The book opened automatically, pages turning rapidly before stopping.
A name, a picture of a heart.
Law took the heart out from the page and looked at Tonpa. "Yours."
Tonpa looked at the heart that belonged to him. His reaction was unexpectedly calm, "Returning my heart to me now?"
Law didn't speak. With a raise of his hand, he pressed the heart back into Tonpa's body.
Tonpa silently raised his hand and pressed it against his chest, finally feeling the heartbeat.
"I'm going back to the Dark Continent. It might be in a year, or maybe three years. This time, you can choose freely. Whether to come or not is entirely up to you," Law said.
"I'm not going to that godforsaken place a second time," Tonpa snorted coldly, then pulled out his Hunter License and grinned slyly, "With this license, plus the treasures I brought back from the Dark Continent, I'm going to travel the world for the rest of my life, drink the strongest liquor, and ride the hottest women!"
"Lofty aspirations."
Law patted Tonpa on the shoulder and then walked towards the stairwell.
Tonpa watched Law's retreating back, hesitated for a moment, and then said solemnly, "If you ever need my help in the future, just give the order."
Law suddenly stopped, turned back to look at Tonpa, and smiled. "Actually, there is something."
"Huh?"
Tonpa was stunned for a moment, then made a bitter face. "Can I take back what I just said?"
"I'm afraid not," Law said with a beaming smile.
Tonpa immediately looked up at the sky speechlessly.
"Do you know the NGL Autonomous Region?" Law posed a question.