"I hope they change the assessment content."
"I have no interest in cooking."
"Those two examiners should be punished. They have no respect for people and are just messing around!"
"They're obviously toying with us."
"It's disgusting!"
The examinees murmured among themselves, frustration evident in their voices.
What they didn't know, however, was that Menchi and Buhara were also relieved.
Menchi's strictness wasn't without reason.
The moment she chose cooking as the assessment, this outcome was inevitable.
Menchi couldn't lie when it came to food. If she did, her Nen would suffer a devastating backlash. This was the price of her vow and the constraints of her abilities.
If all the examinees were at the same level as those whom Buhara had easily knocked down, it wouldn't have mattered. The exam could have simply ended there.
But that wasn't the case.
The quality of this year's Hunter Exam candidates was shockingly high—far beyond the norm.
Hisoka, Illumi, and Kaizen were the only ones whose strength had already reached an A-rank level.
Three highly skilled Nen users.
On top of that, there were other formidable participants:
Hanzo, a top-tier ninja.
Killua, heir to the Zoldyck family.
Gon, son of Ging Freecss.
Kurapika, the last survivor of the Kurta Clan.
Even people like Leorio, who would normally be considered an exceptional talent, barely stood out in this group.
It was rare for more than a handful of candidates to pass the Hunter Exam.
In most years, one or two would be considered normal. Four or five was already a lot. Some years, no one passed at all.
Yet, in the original timeline, seven examinees passed. With Killua included, that made eight.
Now, in this altered reality, Kaizen had joined their ranks.
That meant nine people could potentially qualify for Hunter status this time.
The quality of this year's examinees was unheard of.
If Menchi failed them all due to personal bias, it would be a loss not only for the candidates but also for the Hunter Association.
Many of these examinees had impressive backgrounds. While they might not all fully align with the Association's ideals, some would certainly become valuable assets in the future.
Take someone like Leorio, for example.
And it wasn't as if Menchi feared retaliation from the likes of Hisoka.
Things had escalated beyond what any of them—examiners, the Association, or the candidates—had wanted.
Menchi glanced at the airship hovering high above. Even as the loudspeakers blared criticisms of her, she felt a sense of relief.
...
Hisoka tucked his cards back into his pocket.
A figure appeared at the edge of the airship.
A moment later, they leapt off without hesitation.
Plummeting toward the ground in freefall, their speed increased rapidly.
Boom!
The impact sent tremors through the earth, raising a thick cloud of dust.
When it settled, an old man stood in the clearing.
He wore a primarily white martial arts uniform with blue patterns. His hair, beard, and eyebrows were all white, showing his advanced age.
His hair was so thin that only the top portion remained, tied into a small bun. His ears were notably large, and his expression remained unreadable.
Some candidates, unfamiliar with him, whispered among themselves.
"Who's that?"
"Why is there an old man here?"
"Don't tell me the Hunter Association is really that short on people?"
Hisoka observed the newcomer with intrigue.
Illumi glanced at him before looking away.
Netero, however, was not a stranger to them.
Gon and Killua were curious.
Kaizen, too, studied the old man carefully.
One of the strongest Nen users in the world.
Netero—an S-rank Nen master.
One of the five most powerful individuals in the known world.
Even my great-grandfather couldn't defeat him...
Kaizen recalled what Zeno had told him.
Netero was the only person to have ever fought Maha Zoldyck and survived.
Of course, that was referring to a real battle—not mere training sessions like the ones Maha had given Kaizen.
...
Menchi and Buhara quickly stepped forward to greet him.
"Chairman."
The murmuring among the candidates ceased instantly.
Many had dismissed the old man at first glance, but upon hearing his title, their attitudes shifted to one of respect.
An old man with no credentials was one thing.
But the chairman of the Hunter Association?
That was entirely different.
The position of Hunter Association Chairman symbolized power, influence, and unparalleled strength.
Netero nodded slightly.
"Menchi, Buhara, you two really botched things this time."
Menchi lowered her head. "Chairman, I'm sorry. It was my failure. Please allow me to resign as an examiner. I leave the next stage in your hands."
Netero hesitated briefly before speaking.
"That won't be necessary. Finding a new examiner on such short notice would be troublesome. You will remain in your role."
"However, the results of this test will be annulled."
"You will choose a new challenge for the candidates."
"Be more careful this time."
"Also, you must personally demonstrate the task to set an example. That should make it easier for the examinees to accept the results."
Menchi was silent for a moment before nodding.
"Understood, Chairman."
After a brief pause, she took a deep breath and made her decision.
"The second phase of the Hunter Exam... will be the Spider Eagle eggs Test."
The announcement sent a wave of murmurs through the crowd.
"Spider Eagle eggs?"
"What kind of test is that?"
"Cooking again?"
"If she wants to fail us, she can find a way no matter what the test is."
"Exactly! This sounds easy, but the real issue isn't the task—it's the examiner."
"Some of us actually did well on the pork dish, but no one passed!"
"Are they going to mess with us again?"
Frustration bubbled up among the examinees.
Some turned toward Netero, searching for reassurance.
"It shouldn't be the same this time, right?"
"I mean, the chairman himself is here now."
"He already criticized them earlier."
"If they pull the same stunt again, wouldn't that be defying the chairman?"
"Maybe this test will actually be fair."
"I sure hope so..."
------------
+415 chapters on patreon.com/FanficsHub