Chapter 84: Boiled Eggs (Part Two)
"Don't celebrate too early," Menchi shouted.
Her voice instantly snapped the relaxed examinees back to attention.
Most of them had thought that once the eggs were in the pot, the test was basically over.
"Don't forget," Menchi continued, raising one hand with a stern expression,
"the exam isn't finished yet."
Whenever it came to cooking, this was simply how she was—and it was unlikely she'd ever change.
"From now on," she announced,
"I want you to turn the eggs you collected into proper boiled eggs."
Earlier, after inspecting the eggs, Menchi had allowed the candidates to toss them into the massive pot to boil. Many had assumed that was enough.
Clearly, it wasn't.
Halfway measures were never acceptable.
"I'll remind you again," Menchi said seriously.
"Making a boiled egg is not as simple as it sounds. Cooking time is the key. Spider Eagle Eggs are nothing like ordinary eggs—the boiling time is completely different."
"If you boil them too long, I don't need to tell you what kind of taste you'll get. And if they're undercooked—elimination."
Her tone was as strict as ever, but compared to earlier, she was noticeably calmer.
More importantly, she explained the characteristics of the Spider Eagle Egg in great detail—clearly offering clues on purpose.
After all, the ability to observe, analyze, and draw conclusions from hints was also an essential quality for Hunters.
Of course, Osren might have enjoyed this moment more if everyone didn't look so ridiculous.
Each candidate held a small cloth pouch in both hands, eyes fixed on the pot where bubbles roared endlessly.
At the bottom of the pot, the eggs lay still—for now—waiting for their next change.
"Gurgle… gurgle…"
The water continued to boil violently.
Osren's sharp eyes caught it immediately—some of the Spider Eagle Eggs were beginning to stir.
"Isn't it about ready?"
Leorio asked, holding his pouch with a troubled expression, staring at the eggs uncertainly.
"No," Kurapika replied, eyes locked onto the pot.
"I think it needs a little more time."
"I don't even know how long a normal egg takes to boil," Killua admitted helplessly, holding his pouch with one hand.
"I always thought you just threw it into water."
Given Killua's complete lack of everyday knowledge, Osren had no doubt that if he were dropped into the modern world, he wouldn't even know how to make instant noodles. (Jk)
Gon, on the other hand, was unusually quiet.
Instead of staring at the pot, he was watching Osren closely.
Gon wasn't foolish—when there was an experienced veteran around, following them was obviously the smartest choice.
Killua's comment and Gon's reaction reminded the others of something important.
If anyone here knew exactly when the eggs would be done, it was Osren.
Back when he first picked up the eggs, Osren had already weighed and examined them carefully.
The required cooking time was something he knew by heart.
Right now, he didn't have the leisure to chat.
Because the critical moment was arriving.
Clink—clink—
The eggs began to rise with the boiling water, bumping gently against one another.
A crisp, almost musical sound echoed from the pot.
Osren's gaze sharpened.
Now.
"—!"
With a sharp motion, he moved.
Osren plunged his small pouch into the pot.
With sharp eyes and swift hands, he scooped out the egg he had carefully selected and personally thrown into the pot.
Gon and the others—who had been watching Osren closely the entire time—reacted instantly.
Now.
Without hesitation, they moved, each retrieving their own egg from the boiling water.
The remaining examinees were hardly fools.
Several of the sharper ones had been watching Osren all along. After all, someone who had been the only one to pass the sushi test and could even command a Face Ape was clearly not an ordinary candidate.
The moment Osren lifted his egg, they knew the timing was right.
With Gon's group following immediately after, the rest of the examinees erupted into action.
"Quick, get it out before it overcooks!"
"Hurry!"
"Move faster!"
In just a few moments, the pot was left with nothing but clear, boiling water.
Every egg had found its way back into its owner's hands.
"Uh—"
Buhara had been about to let out a warning, but before he could even finish the sound, what he saw stunned him into silence.
Apparently, there were candidates who understood the cooking time. Combined with their flexibility in handling ingredients during the sushi and roast pig tests, they were already approaching the level of the gourmet hunters he knew.
Menchi nodded in satisfaction.
She was especially pleased with Osren's performance—though she found it puzzling.
From what she could tell, Osren had never encountered Spider Eagle Eggs before. Yet despite that, his timing had been flawless.
That was… interesting.
"You were about to go easy on them just now, weren't you?" Menchi snapped, glaring sideways.
Although many candidates had followed Osren's lead, that couldn't be helped—after all, all the eggs were boiled in the same pot.
But Buhara's obvious attempt to go easy on them was something Menchi absolutely could not tolerate.
Buhara, well aware of her temper, didn't argue.
In any case, his attempt hadn't succeeded.
Menchi merely grumbled a bit before turning to explain the differences between Spider Eagle Eggs and ordinary eggs—after all, ingredient discernment was a crucial skill.
"This is a common egg," she said, handing one out.
"And this is a Spider Eagle Egg. Compare them yourselves."
Hands-on experience was the best teacher.
"This is incredible!"
"A normal egg doesn't even come close!"
"Spider Eagle Eggs are amazing!"
After tasting both, the examinees were instantly conquered by the flavor of the Spider Eagle Egg.
The taste was unlike anything they had ever experienced.
"Smooth going down, rich in flavor, melting the moment it touches your tongue," Osren said thoughtfully after a bite.
"A lingering fragrance, yet filled with vitality. Contradictory sensations fused perfectly—exceptional."
He didn't even need to taste the ordinary egg to know how extraordinary this was.
And if a normal Spider Eagle Egg tasted this good, Osren's anticipation for the king egg only grew stronger.
"Deep and mellow, melting instantly, with a powerful aftertaste," Kurapika added.
"It feels as though the spider's vitality itself remains within the boiled egg."
"I've never eaten a boiled egg this good in my life," Leorio exclaimed.
"No wonder they made us risk our lives for these," Hanzo said approvingly.
"This flavor is easier to understand," Gon said cheerfully.
"Unlike that moldy rice—I still couldn't tell what it tasted like. I wonder how Osren's version would be?"
"What moldy rice?!" Menchi exploded instantly.
"That was Hornscale Rice, from the Big Horn Bear! I told you—it's a delicacy beyond compare!"
Failing to properly appreciate gourmet cuisine was simply unforgivable.
"Big Brother Todo, here—have half of mine."
Gon smiled and split his Spider Eagle Egg, handing one half to Todo, who had been standing there awkwardly the entire time.
After all, Todo hadn't managed to retrieve an egg himself.
And without an egg, there was no tasting—and no passing.