Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss, currently healing my broken bones and fractures with my muscles. I'm having Gin help me walk around.
In a small lecture hall where the six other Hunter Exam candidates who passed had gathered, Leorio and Kurapika were protesting to Netero about Killua's disqualification.
As their protest against Netero reached a stalemate, Gon entered the room with his left arm suspended in a bandage-wrapped sling. His battered appearance left everyone speechless, but he ignored them and walked straight toward Illumi, Killua's older brother.
"You said some harsh things to Killua. I don't want to interfere in family matters, but maybe you should stop. And you said you're going to kill me? That's not even funny."
Ignoring Gon, who was speaking right beside him, Illumi didn't even glance at him, let alone respond, treating him as if he weren't there.
"If that's how you want to play it, then so be it."
Seeing Illumi's attitude, Gon gathered his aura in his less-injured right hand and struck Illumi, who sat there ignoring him.
Finally, Illumi defended himself by extending his arm, and only then did he glance at Gon with a displeased expression.
"What? Are you looking for a fight? I was going to let you off easy, but maybe you should just die."
"You started it. You're the one who filled my important friend's head with all those lies."
Illumi stood up, enveloped in a dark aura, and Gon responded with an equally intense aura.
"Whether Killua befriends anyone or lives however he wants, you have no right to interfere. Stay out of our business."
"What's wrong with interfering in family matters? You stay out of our family affairs."
In the tense atmosphere, killing intent finally began to leak from Illumi, and in response, Leorio and Kurapika, despite their injuries, moved to protect Gon and aimed at Illumi.
Ignoring the two, who were barely holding their defensive positions, Illumi tried to attack Gon, but stopped when Gon spoke.
"If you want to fight, I'll be your opponent, Hisoka."
Hisoka, who had been watching the situation unfold, smiled wryly at Illumi's caution and suddenly addressed Gon.
"I didn't mention it before, but I've known Illumi for quite some time now. As a business partner, he's hard to come by. 'I'll grant you one request'... Sorry, Illumi, you were a good friend."
"It's not exactly thrilling, but the fact that Killua is getting stronger isn't necessarily a bad thing. I'll keep an eye on things for now."
Illumi immediately suppressed his killing intent and aura, raising both hands lightly to signal his surrender to Gon.
"You're the one weakening Killua, yet you say that? Just wait, I'll be stronger than you soon enough."
With Illumi having backed down, his aura also calmed, and Gon thanked Hisoka, who had been caught off guard, as well as Leorio and Kurapika for protecting him.
"Hmph, so the matter is settled. Now that everyone is here, I'll explain again, but the outcome will not change under any circumstances. It doesn't matter if anyone has complaints. From now on, you are free to act as Hunters."
Netero looked over the seven successful candidates, nodded in satisfaction at their faces, and continued speaking while stroking his beard.
"This year's Hunter Exam was a rare year of bountiful results, but becoming a Hunter is not the goal, it is the start. Those who stagnate will be mercilessly eliminated, and only those who move forward will survive. Never cease to strive for improvement."
With a loud laugh, he left the rest of the detailed explanations to Beans and headed for the exit.
As he was about to leave the room, he glanced back and caught Gon's defiant smile.
(I've been slacking off lately... maybe I should toughen up too.)
Hearing the phantom sound of footsteps approaching with incredible force from behind, Netero tightened his resolve, refusing to be easily surpassed.
His expression was a smirk backed by experience and confidence, a smirk that was as arrogant as it was intimidating.
After the detailed explanations about being a Hunter were finished, the successful candidates who had finally received their Hunter licenses set off toward their respective goals.
Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika, who had decided to go pick up Killua first, were approached by two men with shaved heads and large hats.
"Hey, you guys are going to see that Killua guy, right? I would've joined you if I didn't have a mission, but could you tell him I said hi?"
"I'm Pokkle. You guys seem decent, so I'd like to get along with you as fellow rookies. Count on me."
After introducing themselves, Hanzo and Pokkle exchanged their contact codes, chatted briefly, and parted ways, wishing each other safe travels.
Gon, as a senior monster hunter, introduced Pokkle to Kite and strongly urged him to ask Kite to train him.
"Excuse me, may I take a moment of your time?"
The one who approached Gon and the others was Satotz, the examiner from the first phase.
Satotz confirmed Gon and Ging's relationship once more, shared some information he knew about Ging, and made a request that was hard to tell if it was a joke or not: "Since he's a hunter I respect, please don't kill him when you hit him."
"You all will undoubtedly grow greatly from here on. This exam has given me a lot to think about. As the Chairman said, let's all strive to improve ourselves every day."
After shaking hands with the three of them, he left with the same good posture he had shown during the first exam, exuding a slight aura of authority.
"So, we're going to go pick up Killua, but are you two really coming with us?"
After the long but short Hunter Exam, Gon and the others left the venue and took a short break at a nearby café to discuss what to do next.
The topic, of course, was Killua, and since they were heading to the assassins' hideout, Gon was making final confirmations due to the expected dangers.
"Of course. Killua may be a kid, but if I leave him behind looking so miserable, I'd never forgive myself."
"We've only known each other for about ten days, but I already consider all of you my lifelong friends. Even if we end up going our separate ways, please let us stay together for a little longer."
Gon's words did not deter the two, who showed their determination to accompany him, their aura clearly brighter than when they first met.
"Yeah! I love you all too! I'll train hard and surprise Killua!"
Gon smiled broadly at their resolve and growth, while Leorio and Kurapika blushed at his straightforward words.
A strange atmosphere lingered for a moment as they drank their beverages, but the café's bell rang, signaling new customers.
"Sorry, did I keep you waiting? ♥"
Hisoka, who had been acting separately due to prior commitments, sat down next to Gon, who was sitting alone. He had been waiting at the café to ask Gon and the others for a favor.
"To get right to it, can I explain the details of the errand and what I need you to do? Especially for Kurapika, I think this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"Wait a minute, if Kurapika is involved, does that mean..."
Kurapika, who had a hunch about the conversation from the tournament, frowned, and Leorio, sensing something, created a tense atmosphere.
"That's right. The Phantom Troupe has decided on their next target. On September 1st, they're going after an auction in Yorknew City."
Kurapika's aura turned red with anger upon hearing the information about his revenge target, and Leorio, noticing this, quietly asked Hisoka.
"Setting aside how Hisoka got that information, what exactly is the favor you want us to do?"
"Actually, I've been targeting the Phantom Troupe's leader for quite some time now, and I'm ready to hunt him down. But his guards are too strong. ♦ So I want you guys to clear the way for me by taking out the other members of the Troupe. ♣"
"Huh, well, Gon aside, I don't think we, who are still beginners in Nen, can handle them. What do you think, Gon?"
"Honestly, we don't have enough time to train to fight them one-on-one. But if we have enough people, I think we can handle it."
Thinking that Gon's assessment wasn't as bad as he had expected, Leorio asked Hisoka while directing his killing intent toward him.
"To cut to the chase, are you a member of the Spider?"
Depending on his answer, Kurapika might attack immediately, but Hisoka answered calmly without disturbing his aura.
"Half right. Technically, I'm part of the group, but I didn't get the tattoo, and I have no intention of betraying them. So you can trust me with information about the group."
Kurapika took a deep breath to calm himself, then turned to Gon and Leorio and declared his decision.
"I've decided to accept Hisoka's request. But I can't drag everyone else into my personal vendetta—"
"Hey!"
Before Kurapika could finish, Leorio's fist smashed into his forehead, causing him to turn in pain. But to his surprise, Leorio's gaze was gentle, and Kurapika was left speechless.
"Considering your circumstances, it's no wonder you feel that way. But you just called us lifelong friends, didn't you? Sure, maybe no one else can be relied on besides Gon, but that's what friends are for, to be there for each other."
Roughly ruffling Kurapika's hair, he turned to Gon and declared with a serious expression.
"Going to college will have to be postponed for now. Train me hard until at least September, Gon."
"Of course! As Menchi-san said, strength is a minimum requirement for Hunters. I'll train you as much as I can until everyone is satisfied."
"I'll help you out separately from the commission fee, since it'll benefit me too if you get stronger."
Leorio expressed his gratitude for the words from the two overwhelmingly powerful individuals, while Kurapika bowed deeply in silence.
"By the way, Hisoka-san, how much will you pay for the commission?"
"Hmm, at least 500 million, and the rest will depend on the results ♦"
"I'll risk my life for it, sir!"
"You're getting ripped off, Leorio!"
"What!?"
"Heh, ha ha ha!"
It was the first time in about five years that Kurapika had laughed from the bottom of his heart.
***
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