January 3rd, 1999
On the outskirts of Aganon City, Northwest of the United States of Saherta.
"Oi, brat! You better hurry up if you still want to attend the Hunter Exam!"
Outside of a two-story wooden house in the middle of a forest, there's a gruff-looking older man with a wrinkled face, thick messy fair hair atop his head, a lack of eyebrows with thick eyebrow ridges, deadened eyes, and a well-defined muscular build wearing a traditional Keikogi waiting for someone with his arms folded.
This man is Genzan Taira, a Grandmaster of the self-created martial art Koei-Style. He originally attested strongly to his disciple's decision on taking the Hunter's Exam, going as far as to give his disciple's an impossible test that supposedly going to take years to complete, in only 1 year. But against all the odds and expectations, his disciple manages to finish it in only 8 months, surprising him with his disciple's great talent.
'Damn it! He has such a great talent in martial art, enough to even make me envy, but why, rather than be an accomplished Martial Art Master, he would go on to become one of those damned Hunters.' Genzan's eyebrows twitched as the image of his old rival came into his mind 'Curse that damn geezer Netero, and the hunters under him. If my disciples were to stay with me he could've mastered my techniques in a few years.'
As he was lost in his thought, the door of the house swung open showing the disciple he has been complaining about. The disciple in question is wearing a pale yellow sleeveless turtleneck sweater, covered by a dark red bomber leather jacket with a brown collar fur. Wearing a dark blue fingerless leather gloves, with baggy khaki pants tucked into black and white strap boots, and an old dark-tinted large aviator goggles resting neatly on his forehead.
His disciple name is Manfred Richtheim, a poor child he decided to adopt because of his unique Hawk-like eyes. The boy has dark hair and soft facial features with sharp eyebrows that make him look like he's frowning all the time.
"I'm ready." The boy said.
He keeps silent as he gazes at the boy's sharp eyes sternly. He could see the boy's eyes are determined and calm, yet he could still see a hint of nervousness.
"Are you sure you are ready? There is still a chance to turn back, I won't be angry. I would pretend none of this ever happened." He asks one more time to make sure whether he still has a chance to change the boy's thoughts.
"Yes teacher, I'm ready. I had already finished your test and you also made a promise. 'A man should not go back on his promise', that is what you taught me had you not? So please, let me do this." The boy's brows twitched "Don't try to change my mind, because it's not happening." He crossed his arms, looking straight into Genzan's eyes.
He understood that gaze. The determination to do whatever it takes to achieve his goals. After all, he has also been in the boy's position once. A distant memory from the past that he has always tried to hide from anyone.
He closes his eyes and gave a reluctant sigh, realizing there's no point in anything. So he decided to just stay silent and head toward the port to see his disciple off.
The walk to the port was calm and peaceful. Both master and disciple live far away from the city so it would take quite a while to reach the port.
Time passes until both master and son arrive at the bustling seaport. In the port, one can see many people going back and forth going on their day. As it was Sunday, the port is not as crowdy as it usually was. Both master and son walk ahead ignoring those who are trying to sell them their goods until they arrived at the ship that is supposedly going to take them to the Hunter Exam.
Genzan turns around, folding his arms to take one final look at his adopted son/disciple.
And just like that, both master and son immediately enter an intense staring contest. Many people steer clear away from them to not get involved in whatever they are doing as they both emit an intense aura at each other.
They keep glaring at each other for a few minutes, before Manfred finally caves in from the pressure. But because of his prideful nature, he refuses to end it at his loss, so he decided to give his master a surprise attack. The one move he knows his master is weak at.
"Hah! Brat, you are still far too young to play this game wi-" Genzan ridiculed his disciple for his attempt at intimidation, but is caught by surprise when his disciple decided to go in and hug him.
Genzan opens his mouth, trying to say something, but Manfred tightens his hugs, rendering him speechless of his disciple's antics. He shakes his head out of amusement and pats his beloved son's head.
"Alright, alright, I get it. You love me and all of that embarrassing stuff. Now let go of me already. You are making this awkward." The man said with embarrassment and annoyance as he returns the hug.
Manfred smiles as he lets go of Genzan, the man he calls sensei and father for a good 8 years.
Manfred immediately decided to board the ship as he was excited to finally take the first step toward his dream. When he finally reaches the top and boards the ship, he turns around giving his father one final salute.
Seeing that, Genzan sighed, returning the salute back to the boy with a barely noticeable smile on his grim face.
'Brat, you better do what you promised me and become a great Hunter like you promised me, or else I will go and beat you up.'
With that final farewell, the ship raises its anchor preparing to go to the next stop for the next batch of applicants who are ready to take on the Hunter's Exam.