'The person I most want to face...'
Law knew this Q&A session was how Netero decided the matchups for the final phase of the test.
Although Netero's expression was normal when he asked, Law couldn't shake the feeling there was some ill intent behind it.
If he answered truthfully, Netero might do the opposite, making him face the examinee he least wanted to fight. In short, no one knew what Netero would actually do.
Should he deliberately say the opposite, or answer truthfully?
If Netero was determined to mess with him, any answer would lead to the same outcome.
"Number 301 (Illumi)," Law chose to answer truthfully.
Netero nodded and then asked, "And who is the examinee you least want to compete against?"
"Numbers 99 (Killua) and 389 (Gon)," Law said.
"Understood, understood. One last question: why do you want to become a Hunter?" Netero asked.
"So I don't have to pay for airship rides," Law replied.
"..." Netero was speechless.
A moment later, Law asked seriously, "Any more questions?"
Netero shook his head. "No, you may leave."
Law stood up. When he reached the door, he turned back to look at Netero and asked, "Old man, you're not going to abuse your power for personal revenge, are you?"
Netero's expression immediately turned stern. "The Hunter Committee is always fair and just..."
Click.
The door closed. Law was gone.
Netero, completely unruffled, took out paper and a pen and wrote something down. Then he called the next examinee in.
"Number 99 (Killua), Number 405 (Law)." The former was who Illumi wanted to face, while the latter was who he did not want to face.
"How to put it... I think the most dangerous one is Number 405 (Law), so I don't want to face him," was Tonpa's answer.
"Number 405 (Law), I guess. Why? I dislike men who hide their faces. I bet he's really ugly," was Ponzu's answer.
"Don't want to face Number 405 (Law). He's strong. The others don't matter," was Xiaoyu's answer.
"Numbers 389 (Gon) and 99 (Killua). I don't want to fight kids. Who I'd like to face... probably Number 405 (Law), because he seems pretty strong," was Bodoro's answer.
"I want to fight Gon (389). Because we're the same age. For various reasons, I least want to face... Number 405 (Law)," was Killua's answer.
"The opponent I don't want to face is Number 405 (Law), because I'm no match for him. The one I most want to face is Number 389 (Gon), I think his strength is about the same as mine," was Pokkle's answer.
"If there's a reason, I'll fight anyone. If there's no reason, I don't want to fight anyone. If I have to choose, I don't want to face Numbers 405 (Law) and 389 (Gon)," was Kurapika's answer.
"I wouldn't choose 99 (Killua) or 388 (Kurapika). Who I want to face... hmm, no one!" was Gon's answer.
After the last examinee left, Netero had recorded all the answers.
"Almost all the examinees don't want to face Law?"
Netero held a brush, swiftly moving it across the board, creating the matchups based on each examinee's answers.
"This is even more interesting than I imagined."
Soon, the brackets were complete.
Netero looked at the matchup information on the board, a satisfied expression on his face.
Then, he called in the examiners for the test.
Menchi and the others looked at the brackets Netero provided and were dumbfounded.
Looking at this bracket, regardless of the fact that only one person would ultimately fail, the pairing process seemed chaotic and patternless. Everyone had at least two chances to fight, but some had three or even four chances.
The entire bracket structure, at a glance, would outright torture anyone with obsessive-compulsive tendencies.
"Chairman, are you serious about this?" one examiner asked.
Netero replied with a straight face, "Of course."
In any tournament bracket, only one champion is ultimately decided. Following conventional logic, that would be the final passer.
However, Netero was doing the opposite. It wasn't the winners who would advance, but the losers who would 'advance'. If an examinee ultimately 'advanced' all the way to first place, then they would be the one eliminated, while all the other examinees would pass.
In other words, in this final test, ten people would pass, and only one would fail. Compared to the first three tests, this was unprecedentedly lenient.
Netero didn't explain this point to the examiners, so they naturally found it absurd and exaggerated.
The final test didn't start immediately. The examinees were given three days to rest and prepare.
Three days later, the airship landed at a luxurious hotel in a desert oasis. This was the Association's property and the venue for the final test.
In a spacious, empty hall, everyone gathered. Not only were the examiners from the previous phases present, but also the eleven examiners in black suits who had tracked and observed the examinees' performances during the third phase.
Netero, as the head of the final test, looked at the examinees and said, "The final test consists of one-on-one matches."
As he spoke, he unveiled the announcement board beside him. "The brackets are as follows. The condition for passing the final test is simple: you just need to win one match."
"That is to say, the winner of a match does not fight again. The loser is the one who 'advances'. The person who advances all the way to the top is the one who fails. Understood?"
The examinees looked at the brackets on the announcement board, initially confused. After hearing Netero's explanation, they immediately understood.
"So the key point is that only one person fails, right?" Hanzo stroked his chin. Looked at that way, the pass rate was terrifyingly high.
"Correct."
Netero nodded.
Once confirmed, the examinees all felt much more at ease. Eleven examinees, with ten passing spots available. It was practically a blessing.
Law examined the brackets carefully, his face darkening.
If he wanted to face Illumi, he would have to lose three matches first. And even then, he might not necessarily face Illumi, because Illumi's first opponent was Tonpa.
That old man Netero had completely inverted his wishes. His very first match was against Gon.
The ones he didn't want to face were right at the start. The opponent he wanted to face was placed at the far end of the brackets.
"The combat rules are simple and clear. You may use any weapons. There are no specific restrictions. As long as you make your opponent surrender, you win the match."
Netero looked at everyone, raised his index finger, and said, "However, if you kill your opponent, you will be immediately disqualified. The remaining examinees will automatically pass, and the test will end there."
"Understood?"
Everyone nodded in response.
"Then..." Netero smiled. "Let the final test begin."
One of the black suit examiner took on the role of referee and came to the center of the arena. He first called for Law and then Gon to enter the ring.
Outside the ring, Hanzo, Pokkle, and the others looked at Gon with pity, 'Of all people to be paired with, it had to be Number 405. Well, maybe it's for the best. Let Number 405 win in the first round, then we won't have to face him later.'
The referee watched Law take his position on the left. He had been responsible for observing Law during the third phase, and as a result, he had spent a week like an idiot, keeping Law company at the starting point with nothing to do.
'This man's opponent is Number 389. The difference in their strength is too great. There's no suspense at all. I don't know why the Chairman made these brackets.' The referee glanced at Gon.
Law stood still, looking at the eager Gon, feeling a headache coming on.
Forget about him being unable to torture Gon like Hanzo did in the original work. Even if he tried, with Gon's stubborn personality, he would rather die than admit defeat.
"How about... we decide the winner with rock-paper-scissors?" Law suggested.
"Huh?" Gon was taken aback.