Meteor City is unique; it's not a typical urban slum.
While the area outside is choked with garbage, the streets within are surprisingly clean and organized. The buildings are predominantly yellow and white, constructed with decent materials. Ignoring the surrounding landfill, it could pass for a normal town.
Its inhabitants are all abandoned individuals, unregistered and untraceable. They survive by scavenging and recycling materials from the landfill.
Despite their harsh circumstances, the people of Meteor City are remarkably resilient and cheerful. Their social order, however, isn't governed by conventional morality.
It's a world of survival of the fittest, a predator's law—simple, yet fair. This has fostered a straightforward and unpretentious nature among its residents. Orion hadn't anticipated starting his Hunter x Hunter journey in such a dangerous place. This was truly "hell mode."
"If this is Meteor City, then you…"
Orion stared at the girl, increasingly familiar, who had taken his clothes—exchanging them for the white judogi she now wore.
"What's your name?" Orion asked.
"Machi," the pink-haired girl replied calmly.
"And yours?"
"Orion," Orion replied, a little strangely.
It was her!!
He hadn't expected to encounter a Hunter x Hunter character so soon. Meteor City, a pink-haired girl, and that Judogi—only Machi from his memories fit the bill.
Machi currently appears as an adorable little girl.
He knew this seemingly cute loli was no pushover. She's a future member of the notorious Phantom Troupe, a group known for vicious crimes worldwide, far from harmless.
"Why… did you save me?" Orion asked curiously.
"Two reasons," Machi said impassively. "One, your clothes. Two, intuition."
Orion understood. The clothes were obvious, but the intuition?
Machi possesses exceptionally strong and accurate intuition—a near-supernatural ability.
"Anything else?" Machi asked, noticing Orion still deep in thought.
"If not, I'm going to sleep."
Sleep? Orion was startled. It was already late at night.
"What perfect timing for me to wake up," he thought.
Watching Machi ignore him and settle onto the hammock, Orion shook his head.
"I need to rest; my brain feels like it's about to explode."
The transmigration, the Nen ability, the memories—all the events, coupled with the lingering headache, left Orion exhausted despite awakening his Nen. He lay down on the dilapidated wooden bed.
"Machi looks about eleven or twelve. In the original story, she was twenty-four when the Phantom Troupe assembled in Yorknew City. This means it's twelve or thirteen years before the main plot begins."
"I wonder if the Phantom Troupe even exists yet. Machi being alone suggests… probably not…"
Orion's eyelids grew heavy, and he soon fell asleep. He didn't dwell on the future dangerous criminal on the hammock beside him, thinking of her simply as a child.
You can't judge her present based on her future. Most importantly, Orion sensed no malice from Machi. If she had wanted to, she could have simply taken his clothes and left him. Instead, she found him some rough clothes, suggesting no ill intent. That's why he slept soundly.
However…
While he slept peacefully, on the hammock beside him…
Machi turned over, quietly watching Orion's even breathing, her expression unreadable.
The next day…
"Ugh?"
Orion woke to a strange smell.
"What's that smell?!"
He sat up, seeing Machi holding a chipped wooden bowl, scooping up something black and gooey with a broken spoon.
"You're awake?" she said without looking up.
"What are you…?" Orion pointed to the bowl.
"Half my daily rations," Machi said, spooning the black substance into her mouth.
"You eat this every day?" Orion glanced at Machi's still-developing upper body. The food looked and smelled unappetizing, and certainly lacked nutrition.
"Not for you," Machi said between chews. "I saved you, took your clothes; we're even. If you want to eat while staying here, you'll need to earn it."
That smells like stinky tofu; I don't want to eat that… Orion thought, but asked honestly,
"What do I need to do?"
After sleeping and awakening his Nen, Orion felt incredibly refreshed and invigorated, but also incredibly hungry.
"Come with me to the landfill," Machi said, taking another spoonful. "I'll get you a free protective suit—the lowest grade, but it should be enough against radiation and fumes." That "should" is cleverly used… Orion thought.
"Looks like I'll be hungry this morning," he sighed, then remembered his daily gadget draw.
"Draw!"
His mind plunged into the Four-Dimensional Pocket. A moment later, he straightened up, smiling at Machi.
"Hmm?" Machi raised an eyebrow, sensing a newfound confidence and assurance in Orion's smile.
"Machi," Orion said, chest puffed, "What's most important in Meteor City?"
"Survival supplies," Machi replied after looking at him. "Food, weapons, and medicine."
Food is essential, weapons are needed for survival, and medicine is for injuries. Without these, survival in Meteor City is impossible.
"What's most important?" Orion pressed, his smile widening.
"Food," Machi answered instantly.
Weapons and medicine are less crucial if conflicts are avoided and caution is exercised. Food, however, is absolutely essential and the hardest to obtain in Meteor City. While weapons and medical supplies can be scavenged, food is scarce, and much of what is found is contaminated.
"Exactly!"
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