Gourmet Hunter - Chapter 329 (Patreon)

Chapter 329: Birth

In the Zoldyck family’s view, installing an elevator on Kukuroo Mountain is seen as quite a lowly act. Besides, given the height of Kukuroo Mountain, climbing up and down serves as a good form of exercise.

Illumi had made countless trips up and down the mountain, following a well-trodden path. Today, he followed this familiar route, climbing at a pace faster than walking on flat ground.

He had no intention of waiting for Luo, or rather, he would wait for Luo at the top of the mountain but wouldn't slow down to match Luo's pace, as that would be uncomfortable.

Seeing Illumi leaping up to a height of forty to fifty meters with a few jumps, Luo touched his chin, thinking that this method of daily mountain climbing was indeed characteristic of the Zoldyck family.

Luo looked up at the increasingly high-climbing Illumi, the corners of his mouth slightly curving. Suddenly, he jumped from the spot, using "Empty Step," with each step in the air propelling him upwards, surpassing Illumi in a few breaths.

"Empty Step" was the name Luo gave to this technique, meaning walking in the air. However, the actual effect was far from the implied meaning.

Seeing Luo seemingly stepping on invisible stairs towards the sky, Illumi was momentarily stunned.

Although Nen abilities were bizarre and varied, it was the first time he had seen someone use Nen to do such a thing.

Using "Empty Step," Luo quickly left Illumi behind, swiftly approaching the mountain top.

After a while, Luo reached the top and stood at the edge, waiting for Illumi to catch up.

About five or six minutes later, Illumi arrived at the top, not even slightly out of breath, indicating the rigorous training methods of the Zoldyck family.

Upon reaching the top, Illumi didn't greet anyone and headed straight to the house.

Luo smiled indifferently and followed Illumi.

Luo had been to the Zoldyck household once before and knew where Maha’s room was. However, as a guest, he needed Illumi to lead the way and couldn’t wander around on his own.

The house was large, with a dark style. It felt particularly desolate due to the lack of people around.

After a long walk, they finally reached Maha’s room.

Illumi knocked on the door, and a moment later, Maha’s voice came from inside.

“Come in.”

Hearing the response, Illumi opened the door and walked in, with Luo following.

It was still that large room with very little furniture.

Maha sat in a chair, holding a cup of hot tea, his eyes narrowed, focused on the cartoon playing on the old television.

Illumi and Luo stood to the side, and only then did Maha shift his gaze from the TV to Luo, saying, “Just leave it after you’re done, no need to see me.”

He thought Luo was returning the magical beast dragon and felt that leaving it behind would suffice without the need for a personal visit.

Luo understood Maha’s meaning and felt slightly embarrassed, saying, “Well, the magical beast dragon is dead.”

Upon hearing this, Maha’s narrowed eyes opened a bit, his brows furrowing, asking, “Dead?”

“Yes,” Luo nodded.

Maha fell silent. Taming a magical beast dragon wasn’t easy. It was an essential means of transportation for the family, often proving quite effective. This was the first time they had lent it to an outsider, and it ended up dead.

Regardless of his relationship with Netero, Maha felt displeased but didn’t show it on his face.

Illumi’s reaction to the dragon’s death was indifferent. He just stood by quietly, feeling a bit schadenfreude inwardly.

“No matter the cost, I’ll compensate,” Luo said sincerely, grateful from the bottom of his heart to the Zoldyck family’s dragon. If it hadn’t been for the dragon, he wouldn’t have reached Devil Island in time to rescue Sanbica.

To think deeply, without that dragon, Sanbica would likely have suffered misfortune.

At that time, he didn’t expect the prison side to have "Surprise Box," nor did he anticipate the flying artificial beast, resulting in the dragon’s death. Thinking back, he felt quite sorry for the dragon.

“We don’t lack money,” Maha’s light words dismissed Luo’s offer.

Indeed, for the Zoldyck family, whose business deals were in the billions, money wasn’t an issue.

No matter how much Maha demanded, Luo thought it wouldn’t be a problem. Hunting A-class ingredients or buying a few treasure hunters’ leads could quickly amass a significant amount of money.

However, for the Zoldyck family, some things couldn’t be resolved with money because they weren’t short of it.

This troubled Luo.

“Then you suggest a solution,” Luo said helplessly, giving the initiative to Maha.

“Simple, return the original,” Maha said calmly.

Luo’s brow furrowed. The dragon was already dead, how could he return it? Wasn’t this clearly making things difficult for him?

His mind raced, realizing he couldn’t avoid it now. Despite Maha’s calm tone, his attitude was unyielding.

When Maha said to return the original, he meant it without exception.

But how to return it? Go to Devil Island and retrieve the corpse?

Not practical, considering the body would likely be just a pile of bones, and the Zoldyck family wouldn’t want a useless pile of bones.

Or perhaps capture another dragon of the same kind?

Maha’s “return the original” probably meant this.

Thinking of this, Luo reluctantly agreed, saying, “Understood, I’ll capture a similar dragon and return it to you.” After a pause, he added, “A tamed dragon.”

Maha stared intently at Luo.

The added promise made him very satisfied, but he showed no sign, just nodded, accepting it.

Seeing Maha nod, Luo felt relieved, having temporarily resolved the issue. As for how to tame a dragon, he’d think about it later.

Setting aside this matter, Luo lifted the food box in his hand and smiled, saying, “I brought Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. It was freshly made at the foot of the mountain and should still be hot.”

Hearing this, a gleam flashed in Maha’s eyes.

Last time he brought Buddha Jumps Over the Wall back from the Hunter Association, it had cooled. Even reheating couldn’t restore the taste. Now Luo had brought a freshly made one, which was delightful.

Half an hour later, in the Zoldyck family’s dining room, everyone sat around a round table. The tableware had a distinct Chinese style, especially the white porcelain chopstick holders with red markings.

The allure of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was strong enough to gather everyone from the Zoldyck family.

As an outsider, Luo felt slightly uneasy sitting at the table.

“That must be Illumi’s mom, right? Her outfit is quite different from the original. Her belly is so big, I wonder how many months she is? She should be pregnant with Killua,” Luo thought, looking at the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall in the center of the table.

After sitting down, there was a brief introduction.

Among the Zoldyck family members, Luo had not met Kikyo and Milluki before, so this was the first time seeing them.

Kikyo was Illumi’s mother, and Milluki was his second brother, currently a chubby six or seven-year-old, who would later become a formidable tech nerd.

Luo remembered that Killua was the third child in the Zoldyck family, so he guessed Kikyo was pregnant with Killua.

Having an outsider at the table, except for Milluki, who curiously looked at Luo, everyone else treated him as a guest fit to share the table.

In the spacious dining room, an elderly woman in a maid uniform stood not far away. She was robust, resembling Bisky’s transformed form, standing there like a bodyguard.

This was Tsubone, who was both surprised and astonished. This was the third time she had seen an outsider dining with the family.

She held a camera, silently taking a picture.

The camera was prepared for Kikyo’s pregnancy.

When the lid of the jar was lifted, the unique rich aroma of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall wafted out with the hot steam.

Using Nen to maintain the temperature had some effect.

The Zoldyck family had eaten Buddha Jumps Over the Wall once before and recognized the dish.

Quickly, everyone had a bowl and began eating.

In about ten minutes, the jar was empty.

Luo’s jar wasn’t big, so there wasn’t much. Everyone was still unsatisfied after finishing.

Just as Luo suggested making another jar on the spot, Kikyo suddenly exclaimed.

“What’s wrong?” Silva, sitting next to her, immediately asked.

Kikyo frowned slightly, looking down at her belly. With her high pain tolerance, the first exclamation was out of unpreparedness, but after that, she could endure quietly.

Gently touching her belly, Kikyo smiled at Silva and the others, not at all like an expectant mother about to give birth, her reaction was calm.

Silva, Zeno, and Maha, having been through this before, knew what was happening. Even Luo guessed what it might be.

Tsubone, who was guarding not far away, hurried over. Assisting in childbirth was part of her duties.

“Madam, is it a sign of labor?” Tsubone asked.

“Yes,” Kikyo nodded, looking excited, showing no signs of pain.

No way… such timing?

Luo came to resolve the

 dragon issue but unexpectedly witnessed Killua’s birth.

What day is it today?

July 7th.

So, this was the day Killua was born.

“I wonder if I can take a picture after the birth,” Luo thought.

• Please take a moment to rate this novel at Novelupdate.

Table of content - Next Chapter >>>