Kaizen was meeting Netero for the first time.
It was also the first time Netero had seen Kaizen in person.
Yet, the two of them spoke as if they were already well acquainted.
Strangely enough, neither found this odd.
Due to his knowledge of the original course of events, Kaizen had a deep understanding of Netero. He also knew about Netero's connection to the Zoldyck family.
Netero had been a close companion of Zeno Zoldyck and had a solid friendship with Silva.
At the same time, Netero had been aware of Kaizen for quite some time. Through Mizaistom, he had learned a great deal about him.
However, Kaizen was still somewhat surprised by Netero's proposal.
"I'm a candidate in this year's Hunter Exam," Kaizen thought. "If the examinees who passed found out their Nen instructor was someone taking the exam at the same time as them, wouldn't they find it hard to accept? Wouldn't that interfere with their training and understanding of Nen?"
Netero simply smiled.
"If they can't even handle that, how can they hope to become proper Hunters?"
Kaizen considered this carefully.
He hadn't expected Netero to bring up this point. But now that he had, Kaizen found himself agreeing.
Firstly, he had been delayed last year due to affairs in the United States of Saherta, which had prevented him from taking the Hunter Exam. Now, making full use of this year's exam was crucial—but difficult.
Passing was one thing, but ensuring that he absorbed everything the exam had to offer was another challenge entirely.
From his past experiences, he knew that achieving 100% mastery under normal circumstances was nearly impossible.
But what if he took on the additional role of teaching Nen to the examinees who passed?
Logically, this could be seen as an extension of the Hunter Exam itself. In doing so, he could further hone his abilities and contribute to the exam's ultimate purpose.
It might even aid his progress with the crystal ball training.
From this perspective, it seemed like a reasonable idea.
Besides, in terms of ability, he was more than qualified to instruct the new Hunters in Nen.
Kaizen was not just strong—he had built a solid foundation.
After all, he had been trained by the likes of Maha Zoldyck, Zeno, and Silva, all top-tier Nen users. His understanding of Nen went beyond the basics.
Not only had he mastered the fundamental four principles—Ten, Zetsu, Ren, and Hatsu—but also advanced techniques such as Gyo, In, Ken, En, Ko, and Ryu. His skills had been polished to a remarkable degree.
Furthermore, his knowledge far exceeded that of an ordinary Nen user.
Kaizen had sparred with the Zoldycks, observed Ging Freecss in battle, and had even studied the fights of Floor Masters in Heavens Arena.
He had visited unusual places like the Kingdom of Taris and had seen the governing systems of powerful nations like the Kingdom of Fiora and Saherta.
His mind was filled with countless memories, some from this world, some from beyond.
Meteor City had shown him creatures reminiscent of spell-casting monsters.
His exposure to various systems, strategies, and martial arts gave him an edge few could match.
So, Kaizen made his decision.
"If the chairman thinks it's fine, I have no objections."
Netero grinned. "Then it's settled."
A surge of powerful air pressure rushed upward, lifting them into the sky.
Each of them held an egg in their hands.
Netero quietly departed, leaving Kaizen with a lingering question.
Why had Netero chosen him for this? Why not someone else?
The Hunter Association had many members who were truly devoted to it. There were also countless registered Hunters who would accept a job if the pay was right.
So why him? Why not someone like Illumi?
"Could it be because I was trained by my great-grandfather?" Kaizen mused. "Is Netero curious about that?"
After thinking for a while, he considered an alternative.
"Once the exam is over, I can ask my great-grandfather for advice. If he disapproves, I can come up with an excuse to back out."
However, he had already decided on one thing: if he did teach, Killua and Gon wouldn't be part of his training group.
"Their growth path is already set. That won't change."
Instead, he considered the others: Leorio, Kurapika, Pokkle, Hanzo.
"It'll be one of them—or maybe more."
...
With the return of the examinees, Split Mountain became lively once more.
Some candidates were celebrating their success, while others were visibly shaken. A few who had refused to take the leap looked embarrassed.
But Kaizen noticed something important.
The number of examinees who jumped was higher than the number who returned.
That meant some of them hadn't made it back up.
For those without special abilities, a fall from such a height likely meant death.
"Congratulations on passing this test," Menchi announced, addressing the examinees who had successfully retrieved their dream eggs. "Now, please cook the eggs and enjoy the fruits of your labor."
"This is the essence of gourmet hunting."
"As Gourmet Hunters, we risk our lives for ingredients. Only with this awareness can we become true masters of our craft."
She then turned her sharp gaze toward the candidates who had previously mocked the profession.
"Now... does anyone still think being a Gourmet Hunter is a joke?"
The examinees in question lowered their heads in shame.
After a short while, the water began to boil.
One candidate peeled an eggshell, releasing a faint yet rich aroma that wafted across the mountaintop.
The candidates who hadn't jumped swallowed hard, regret flashing across their faces.
Killua walked over to Kaizen.
"Kaizen, did you jump off the cliff just now?" Killua asked, frowning. "I don't remember seeing you go down."
He replayed the scene in his mind multiple times, convinced that Kaizen had never made the jump.
Yet somehow, there Kaizen was, holding an egg in his hand.
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