Learning X Gourmet Hunter

At the Species Research Base, Kevin thrived like a fish in water.

After all, everyone conducting research here was a renowned expert in the fields of animals, plants, insects, and aquatic life.

Their attainments in biological research could be called unparalleled, and each had their own unique area of focus.

Not to mention the vast amount of data and archives stored within the base.

Kevin often wandered around the laboratories, taking opportunities to observe experiments and learn new things. It had to be said that he was exceptionally gifted at learning, with an almost photographic memory.

Kevin's daily routine was neatly organized, with training, potion-making, and gathering interspersed throughout.

After all, this was a Nature Reserve—a vast wilderness formed by several Nature Reserves and Forbidden Zones connected together. There was no shortage of all kinds of plants and animals.

Besides accompanying the conservation research teams on fieldwork, Kevin would sometimes head out alone to search for and gather the materials he needed.

It was not only materials that gave him a faint sense of desire that could be used in potions.

Just like that, time quickly reached the end of October.

In the early morning, the sky had only just begun to brighten, while thick white mist still spread across the Plaza outside the research base.

Near the woodland at the edge of the research base's Plaza was a specially designated area filled with tree stumps.

It had only recently been built and planned out.

Bang!

Bang!

Kevin was carrying out some simple training here, throwing punch after punch at the tree stump before him.

A closer look revealed that the marks left on the stump were not ordinary dents, but regular hexagonal imprints, as though they had been stamped onto it.

"Phew, I finally got results." Kevin let out a long breath as he looked at the hexagons imprinted on the stump.

At that moment, he had not drunk an [Iron Wall Potion]. The regular hexagons he had created were formed autonomously by his Aura upon impact.

He only had three [Iron Wall Potions] left. It was not that he had not made more, but that he had exhausted all the usable materials on hand.

"Clearly, the [Iron Wall Potion] is lower-level than the [Power Potion], yet learning Transformation of the same level is much harder."

Kevin had already figured out the reason for this. The key lay in the word "Transformation."

The effects and properties displayed by the [Iron Wall Potion] belonged to the Transmutation Type, while the properties displayed by the [Power Potion] were undoubtedly of the Enhancement Type.

The [Power Potion] strengthened the body's muscles, allowing it to unleash more visible Aura output, with a limit of 30%.

Therefore, after drinking the potion and using the Nen ability [Blank Meteor], he could successfully learn that ability.

It was just that the initial learning efficiency was low. He needed to keep drinking the potion and using it continuously in order to gradually improve, until he reached an explosive effect of the same level.

The [Iron Wall Potion], meanwhile, caused Aura to form hexagons, enhancing its ability to withstand impacts. Put simply, it changed Aura's structure and made it sturdier.

This involved the Transmutation Type. Kevin's learning efficiency in the Transmutation Type was 80%, so the time required for learning was relatively long.

Moreover, this kind of learning did not allow for halfway progress or merely weak effects. Either he learned it completely, or he had not learned it at all. Unlike the [Power Potion], there was no gradual process where efficiency steadily increased.

Based on this, Kevin classified the effects of learnable potions into two types.

The first was the buff-state type. It was easy to understand: it provided benefits to physical fitness, Aura, or other areas, such as making one faster, stronger, or able to sustain oneself longer.

It was a gradual type whose effects steadily strengthened, like progressing from a beginner's level 1 to the maximum level of 10.

The second was the transformation-granting type. It was like giving Aura a certain skill, causing it to change and acquire specific Traits.

For example, making Aura sturdy and hexagonal, or giving it a scorching effect.

This type was like having a learning progress bar. Drinking the potion to simulate learning would increase the bar, and only when it was full would the learning count as successful.

Even if the progress bar had reached 99%, as long as the final 1% was missing, there would still be no effect at all.

Either you knew it or you didn't. There was no such thing as kind of knowing it.

"Nen abilities really are complicated." Kevin grumbled inwardly.

He picked up the towel draped over his shoulder, wiped the sweat from his face, and walked out of the Training Ground in a thin tank top.

He was in a fairly good mood today. Before his [Iron Wall Potions] were completely used up, he had completed the simulated learning.

He could now freely turn his Aura into hexagons. As long as he entered a similar state, even if he did not consciously control it, his Aura would automatically take on that form to attack and defend.

Because it had operated automatically when he drank the potion rather than being deliberately controlled, it had become an instinct.

Suddenly, Kevin heard the sound of a car engine starting.

"So early?" Kevin was somewhat puzzled.

"Yo, Kevin, training again? You really are diligent." Begel sat in a camouflage Jeep that had stopped in front of Kevin.

"If you don't train regularly, your strength will decline." Kevin replied with a smile. It was a principle Biscuit had taught him.

Begel nodded slightly in agreement, then patted the passenger seat beside him. "Want to come along? I'm heading out to pick someone up."

"Pick someone up?"

"That's right, two Professional Hunters."

"What kind of Hunters?" Kevin asked curiously.

There were only a limited number of Hunter types he knew, and each had their own specialties. There were Ruin Hunters, Gem Hunters, Conservation hunters, and Yungu even called himself a Martial Arts Hunter.

"They're Gourmet Hunters."

Now that was interesting. Kevin's interest was immediately piqued. Since they were Gourmet Hunters, their cooking skills had to be quite good, right?

"Give me a moment. I'll go wash up."

"No problem, we've got plenty of time." Begel was in no hurry.

Before long, Kevin had gotten himself ready and climbed into the car.

Not long after the Jeep set off, it arrived at The Gate leading into the Nature Reserve. At a glance, two particularly eye-catching figures stood there.

One was a beautiful Girl with a hot figure and revealing clothes. Her short shorts, boots, and crop top showed off her lovely physique to the fullest.

Her short teal-green hair fell loose around her face, which retained a hint of childishness, though her delicate features were clearly beautiful.

Behind her stood an enormous fat man, seemingly more than two meters tall. He was round and plump, with a belly as spherical as a ball.

He was also wearing a crop top, though only because his belly was too big for his T-shirt to cover.

The Jeep stopped in front of them.

The Girl planted her hands on her hips, dissatisfaction in her voice. "You're too slow!"

"Sorry for making you wait so long." Kevin apologized with a smile. After all, if they had not waited for him, perhaps they would not have been kept waiting this long.

"It's fine. We only just got here ourselves," the round fat man said gently.

"I've obviously been waiting forever!" The Girl waved her Fist, her face full of displeasure.

"What are you talking about? It's only been ten minutes." The fat man refuted her in the same calm tone.

"Ten minutes is a long time too!" The Girl refused to let it go and jabbed him twice in the stomach with her elbow, sending waves of flesh rippling across his round belly.

The fat man merely chuckled, completely unconcerned. He had an extremely easygoing temperament.

Kevin and Begel silently exchanged a glance in the car. Their personalities were completely opposite, but this pair of partners seemed rather interesting.