In contrast, Elder Veyron, who remains safely within Meteor City, might benefit from its newfound notoriety, attracting mafias and dangerous organizations, and gaining profit through them.
When faced with profit, especially as the ruler of Meteor City's upper echelon… even if Chrollo hadn't already learned much about the outside world, he knew enough to understand that Elder Veyron couldn't be fully trusted.
Perhaps in the future, when there were no conflicts of interest between the two sides, Elder Veyron might be willing to help them.
But if it even touched a tiny sliver of his own interests, or if he could exchange Luke and Chrollo for a good profit, Elder Veyron would most likely sell them out without hesitation.
But that was no longer their concern.
Now that the deal with Elder Veyron had been completed, the members of the Phantom Troupe began enjoying their own personal time.
Everyone was ready to embark on their own journey.
This also perfectly confirmed the meaning of their group's name.
But…
"I was still hoping we could keep acting together and become the world's greatest villains."
Seeing the others preparing to leave, Uvogin muttered a little reluctantly.
"When we've each experienced more of this world and accumulated enough material and background..."
Shalnark found a backpack and put it on his shoulder while grinning at Uvogin: "When that time comes, we'll come back and film our work together."
"I believe that by then, Uvogin, you will be a well-deserved superstar."
"Hahaha, really?"
Hearing this, Uvogin burst into laughter: "Then I'll be looking forward to it!!"
His laughter was so unbridled and unrestrained that the old beams of the abandoned building trembled, sending dust drifting down onto the floor, onto the very ground their departing footsteps would tread.
Feitan and Phinks teamed up, preparing to explore other dungeons in this world.
Machi asked Uvogin and Nobunaga to take her with them to the Heavens Arena.
That suited Uvogin just fine; his fists had been itching lately, and the bodyguards they fought this time were far too weak to be satisfying.
So, he readily agreed.
Chrollo planned to travel with Shalnark to learn more about the true nature of this world.
Pakunoda, as always, quietly followed without complaint.
As for Franklin…
"I'm planning to go back to Meteor City."
This elder brother, truly caring about the team, said, "I remember there are some promising folks there."
"Let's see if we can recruit them all as new members."
His dedication and loyalty to the team earned the others' genuine respect… at least for about three seconds, after which they all went back to minding their own business.
They respected Franklin's choice, but wouldn't let anyone else's choices sway their own.
Each one of them understood independence deeply.
And so, the rest departed separately, leaving Luke alone once more.
The rest of the group had no interest in Luke's next destination.
So he plans to head alone to the exam site, preparing to participate in the newest round of the hunter exam.
"When I've learned more about this world..."
Before leaving, Shalnark promised him: "I'll definitely come to see the hunter exam myself!!"
After all, obtaining a hunter's license was certainly worth it.
The privilege of entering 90% of countries and 75% of restricted zones around the world was enough to tempt any adventurer.
"I believe that."
Luke smiled and waved, bidding farewell to his companions one after another.
"But I won't wait for you this time."
"I'll go to the Hunter Exam site first and scout the way."
And so, Luke set out on his journey toward the Hunter Exam, an event deeply tied to the entire Hunter × Hunter storyline!
The hunter exam was an annual qualification test organized by the Hunter Association.
Through multiple stages of assessment, it selects elite individuals with strong willpower, insight, and practical skills...
Those who pass receive a hunter's license and choose from a variety of career paths.
The exam has been held annually on January 7th since 1713, and later registration was required through the official website.
The first task for successful applicants is to locate the actual venue.
Applicants must rely on the little information they obtain along the way to find the venue, which is also a test for the applicants.
To reduce the number of applicants, the Hunter Association has set various traps along the way.
The venue changes each year and is located in a difficult-to-find location.
Without the help of a guide, it is difficult for applicants to reach the venue.
Therefore, the normal process is for applicants to find a guide first, who will verify their abilities, before they can reach the venue.
Currently, Luke's most familiar guide is the fox family that lives beneath the Lone Pine Trees at the top of a mountain in Dolle Harbor.
After successfully registering, Luke immediately began his journey.
[Are you going to take the Hunter Exam? I never thought you'd end up on this path...]
In the network world, Ickshonpe rapidly flipped through the papers in his hands while marveling: [So, in the end, every adventurer's final destination is just that hunter license?]
"Can't help it..."
Luke's virtual projection sighed softly.
"Who gave the hunter's license so many privileges?"
"When I went to the Daragas Forest Wildlife Park before, the security guard at the gate stopped me."
"If it hadn't been for someone with a hunter's license taking me in, I might not have even gotten the chance to meet Ging Freecss."
[Hearing it like that...]
The words quickly appeared on the cardboard in Ickshonpe's hand: [It sounds like it's better not to get that license.]
[Stay away from Ging Freecss and cherish your life!!]
Those last few words clearly came straight from his heart.
[If you really want to go to those places...]
Ickshonpe continued typing: [I can lend you my hunter license.]
[Anyway, I'm in this world, so that kind of thing is useless to me.]
Well, for someone who lived entirely in this network world, a hunter's license was indeed meaningless.
"Forget it..."
Luke waved his hand. "Your hunter license is bound to you."
"Your license is bound to you as its registered user, and some places require identity verification; it would be inconvenient."
Luke smiled. "Besides, I don't like using someone else's things. It's an easy way to invite unnecessary trouble."