Three days later, the results of the third phase of the exam were announced.
Xiang Nan was the very first to pass.
In total, thirty‑seven people completed the test—one more than in the original storyline.
Although the Amori Brothers died (which should have reduced the pass count), the "butterfly effect" seems to have changed things.
Gon and his three main‑character friends, plus Manman, were ranked somewhere around twentieth place.
Because Xiang Nan "cheated," Hisoka was pushed down to second place instead of taking first.
After that, everyone boarded an airship again and headed for an isolated offshore island.
Seen from above, the small island curved like a crescent moon; the surrounding shoals and coastal waters were filled with wrecked ships.
The island was called Zevil Island. It was not the fourth‑exam venue; examiner Lippo had added it as an extra test to thin the numbers further.
The airship dropped the examinees onto the deck of a dilapidated vessel and immediately took off.
Xiang Nan and the others then met an elderly couple who lived on that ship and pretended it was the island's sole "hotel."
Anyone wanting to stay on the island—and thus obtain food and water—had to meet their demand: pay ten million Jenny for lodging, or be turned away.
That fee could pay for half a year in a six‑star hotel—an astronomical sum for nearly every examinee.
Hence, the candidates had to salvage treasure from the nearby wrecks and trade it for the couple's "charity," receiving free rooms in return.
The old pair claimed to be antique dealers with deep historical knowledge and sharp appraisal skills.
Xiang Nan knew exactly what would happen next but did not expose them.
Eventually the examinees satisfied the couple's request and obtained room keys.
Because rooms were limited, they were assigned in pairs.
While searching the wrecks, Kurapika found the remains of a ship that seemed to belong to the Kurta Clan and even recovered a pendant.
This reignited his hatred for the Phantom Troupe: those clansmen had likely died while fleeing the "spider" pursuers.
They had not escaped their fate; the Kurta's legendary "Scarlet Eyes"—one of the world's seven most beautiful sights—had been taken all the same.
The pendant, however, was a replica, though Kurapika did not know; he merely recognized the unique ornament from clan records and ultimately threw it into the sea.
By this stage, almost everyone left was a named—or at least pictured—character from the original series, even if some were minor background roles Xiang Nan couldn't recall.
He still recognized several:
Geretta, who used blow‑darts;
Pokkle, the living "power‑level meter";
Ponzu, the insect tamer with poison bees in her hat;
Bodoro, the martial artist; and others.
(In Chapter 157, Bodoro should be Cherry. I thought it was different anyway, small mistakes.)
Xiang Nan's roommate turned out to be Tonpa—fate really had a sense of humor.
In the source material, Tonpa first shared a room with Illumi, then kept swapping keys until he landed in Hisoka's room—stacking danger upon danger. Miraculously, Tonpa survived the night unscathed.
Now, thanks to Xiang Nan and Manman's arrival, events diverged and Tonpa was paired with Xiang Nan.
The moment Xiang Nan walked in, Tonpa broke into a sweat and bolted. Soon after, Tonpa traded rooms with another minor character.
That replacement introduced himself as Agon—simple‑looking, long hair tied back, clad in a cloak with ethnic flair. Anyone who cleared three Hunter‑exam stages, plain or not, could not be weak. Agon clearly feared Xiang Nan, and the two barely spoke.
Night came. Without telling Manman, Xiang Nan slipped away while everyone slept and left aboard an airship with the elderly couple.
Lippo's bonus test was to strand examinees—without explanation—on a resource‑scarce island. Because of special oceanic conditions, rising tides would soon erode it; in time, waves might even submerge the island.
Hidden clues had been left behind; examinees had to find them, survive the "natural disaster," and make their way to the real fourth‑exam site, Watch Island, not far from Zevil Island.
Xiang Nan already knew that a Hunter Association ship would pick up the deceptive couple, so he simply tagged along and boarded as well.
He had still played along in the early rounds, but by the third phase he was outright cheating.
…
Inside the cabin, Lippo—sporting a mohawk and a comically sharp face—glared darkly at Xiang Nan.
No one, not even the old couple, had noticed Xiang Nan sneaking aboard. In fact, Lippo himself wouldn't have realized there were three passengers if Xiang Nan hadn't come forward.
Lippo: "What do you think you're doing?"
During the third exam Xiang Nan had speed‑ran Lippo's entire setup, treating it like air. Now he ignored this bonus round as well, giving Lippo no face at all—annoying even a examiner who knew how strong Xiang Nan was.
Xiang Nan (hands in pockets, smiling): "This is just one way of passing, isn't it? You never laid down explicit rules or requirements, so I'm free to complete your test however I like."
Below, examinees had poured onto the deck in alarm, but the airship was already well aloft; they could do nothing.
Lippo: "I'm the examiner. I can revoke any candidate's qualification—yours included."
Xiang Nan: "True—but you still have to follow regulations. I checked: if you disqualify me now I can appeal to the Hunter Committee, because I never broke any rule. In the third exam, Netero said we only had to reach the ground—no method specified. I did that, and you declared me first, which means you accepted it.
Same here: you never stated how we must leave the island or reach the fourth test site, so I'm free to do it my way."
Lippo fell silent.
Lippo (after ripping open a snack bag): "How did you figure it out?"
Xiang Nan (tapping his ear, making it up): "I heard it. My hearing's sharp."
Lippo (grinding crumbs): "Slacking off isn't a good habit."
Xiang Nan (shrugging): "You know these exams mean little to me. Why jump through hoops when I can still clear them?"
Many strong fighters had taken past Hunter Exams merely to get a license, and Xiang Nan's stunt was hardly unique—just unusually bold in this cohort.
Lippo (sighing after a few more bites): "Fine, fine… don't gloat now."
He admitted that he'd left loopholes that Xiang Nan had simply exploited. With the matter laid bare, further argument was pointless. Lippo could only accept it.
Once everything was settled, Xiang Nan turned and walked away.
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 120 Chapters Ahead of Others!