Buhara remained silent.
Glancing at Sean, the young man strolled leisurely, leaving behind a trail of afterimages. In the next second, he had already appeared on top of the airship, taking out a fishing rod to start fishing. He left Number Two behind, smiling as he accompanied the candidates in a game of 'egg retrieval'. Poor things.
Aside from Satotz and the other examiners, and a handful of candidates like Illumi and Hisoka, not a single person noticed his strange behavior.
Perhaps it was just as the Chairman said: 'This is likely the willful freedom of the strong.'
"Ahem."
Standing with her back to the airship, Menchi also noticed Sean's movements. She glanced at him discreetly, cleared her throat, raised the egg in her hand, and spoke to the candidates. "This is the ingredient I want—the egg of a Grape Spider."
Grape Spiders, in order to prevent their eggs from becoming food for land beasts, suspended them one by one in the ravines using tough spider silk.
"All you need to do is jump down, grab an egg, and climb back up the cliff."
"I'm reminding you, the water current at the bottom of the valley is very fast. If you fall, you will die without a doubt."
'Of course, there are exceptions,' Menchi complained inwardly. 'Like the Chairman, or that detestable guy, Sean Zoldyck.'
"That's great!"
"I've been waiting for this kind of exam!"
"Compared to cooking or whatever, I'm definitely more suited for this kind of adventurous work!"
Some were fearful, while others were eager to try. Led by the 'confident ones' like Gon, Kurapika, Leorio, and Hanzo, they jumped off the cliff without hesitation. The remaining incompetent ones, like Todo, trembled with fear. Even if they gritted their teeth and jumped, they would merely be throwing their lives away for nothing.
Therefore, it is said that the world of Hunter x Hunter is an extremely dangerous world that disregards human life.
In a single test, with examiners and even the Chairman present, people would still die. This shows just how common it is.
"Sometimes giving up can also be considered a virtue." Netero looked with dark eyes at the candidates who either fell to their deaths in the river valley or were washed away by the rapid current into the estuary and drowned. His face showed neither sadness nor joy, completely devoid of a Bodhisattva's compassionate heart.
But all of this had nothing to do with Sean anymore.
Hashirama stood with one foot on the airship's gunwale, resting his chin in his hand as he watched Sean with boredom. The young man was fishing aimlessly in this sea of clouds; was he trying to be funny?
"Kid, there's no water and no fish. Are you fishing for air?" The First Hokage watched for a long time but couldn't see the trick.
"If you don't understand, just go back. It's time to switch someone else in." Sean sat cross-legged on the deck, immovable as a mountain. Naturally, he wouldn't explain to Hashirama that a sea of clouds is also a sea. As long as it is a sea, he can fish in it, and he can unlock the 'Aokiji Template' and push the characteristic [Water] to completion. The notification sound echoing in Sean's mind was proof of this.
[Capturing ripples, listening to the voice of [Water], sensing the rhythm of [Water]... Characteristic [Water] exploration in progress.]
[Admiral 'Aokiji' template unlocking started.]
[Current unlock progress: 69%.]
It was looking very close to the next stage of 70%.
'Perhaps, it will be today.'
Sean's eyes flickered, and his Nen threads groped their way down through the sea of clouds, extending as far as possible.
Hashirama's mouth twitched. He put his hands on his hips, gave a laugh, and said, "Don't be in such a hurry, Sean. Have pity on this old man who finally got to come out. How about giving me a little more time to enjoy the scenery?"
"Not a chance. Mr. Hashirama, it really is time for you to go."
half a day passed, and the second phase of the exam was declared over. The candidates, including Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio, boarded the ship one after another. Subsequently, the airship took off with a hum. Sean shook the fishing rod in his hand and suddenly pulled it upward. A Cloud Fish, swinging its tail, was grabbed by his single hand and captured.
Hashirama's eyes widened. He didn't expect it could be played like this. He opened his mouth, just about to say something, when he was instantly swept up by the surging clouds of consciousness, dragged into the sea of clouds, and pulled down.
[Detection, current unlock progress: 69%-70%]
[Harvested Aokiji ability — "Conqueror's Coating"]
"Ararara... That really is heartless." The Ice Admiral rode his bicycle, emerging from the sea of clouds. He coldly glanced at Hashirama, who had just been dragged down. The First Hokage was clawing at the air, shouting "Wait!" at Sean. It was truly a wretched sight.
"So... Sean, would you call this being ruthless after getting what you wanted?"
Sean remained silent.
He looked at Aokiji with a strange expression. Aokiji stopped his bicycle expressionlessly and breathed out a mouthful of cold air. "Don't look at me with those strange eyes. We are both men; doing this is somewhat chilling to the heart."
Although he didn't know who the person being dragged down was, if there was a first time, there would be a second. It was inevitable that he would suffer such treatment in the future.
What a pity.
'Chilling? What does that have to do with me?' Sean turned his head to look at Aokiji and said, "Mr. Kuzan."
"Instead of wasting effort worrying about others, why don't you teach me Conqueror's Coating?"
The propellers shredded the air, emitting bursts of humming sounds. There was still some distance to the next stage, Trick Tower. Not seizing this free time to grind experience would be a waste of life. This was also the reason why Sean didn't want to bicker with Aokiji.
"Ararara... True enough. If I'm not responsible, I'll be dragged down. It's enough for that senior to do that kind of thing alone." Aokiji met Sean's clear gaze head-on and made a sarcastic remark. "Let's begin."
Sean gave a noncommittal sound and glanced inconspicuously at a certain nook in the corner.
"One thousand one hundred fifteen... one thousand one hundred sixteen... one thousand one hundred seventeen..."
The bald man who was lying on the deck doing one-thumb push-ups felt a warning sign in his heart. He dodged behind a wall, poking out half his face to peek quietly.
The young man gave an expressionless glance, sweeping lightly over the direction where he was. In an instant—
Cold sweat poured down Hanzo's entire body.
'Crap! He definitely discovered me!'
'Damn it, bad luck! Why did I bump into him here?'
"Hohoho... You seem to look unsatisfied."
"Why don't we switch?"
As if hearing Hanzo's inner thoughts.
In the candidate rest area of the airship—
A certain perverted magician was hiding alone in a corner of the lounge playing a game of stacking card pyramids. He raised his eyes and swept the room. Not finding the figure of his favorite 'apple', only a clone sitting cross-legged in the corner, he felt inevitably disappointed in his heart. So much so that he hugged himself and smiled depressingly.
"Where exactly did your main body run off to? Why leave me here with this pile of trash?"
"How about... I just kill them all? Hohoho..."
"Eek... This lunatic is acting up again!" Tonpa circled around Hisoka, hiding far away from him. He was just preparing to bamboozle Kurapika and Leorio to prevent them from sleeping.
Unexpectedly, a fierce and domineering aura swept over like a gale. Immediately—
He felt his vision go black, his world spun, and with a thud, he fainted on the ground!
"Sean, the first step to learning Conqueror's Coating is to first understand the reality of your own Haki."
"Release your Conqueror's Haki with all your might and try to expand its coverage to the maximum!"
At the end of the deck, Aokiji and Sean stood against the wind. The Admiral's cloak with the word 'Justice' printed on the back seemed to be truly lifted by the wind, fluttering majestically.
Opposite him, the young man's black hair danced wildly in the gale. After hearing Aokiji's words, he withdrew his gaze and slammed the fishing rod heavily onto the deck!
With a muffled thud, like a muffled bell tolling, ripples of sound waves oscillated. Following the intent of his heart, the Conqueror's Haki exploded forth!
With him as the center, it savagely tore through the gale, sweeping out towards the surroundings.
Hanzo bore the brunt of it. His expression tightened, and he was almost blown away. He dug his five fingers into the wall, barely escaping disaster.
'What is this guy, Ben An, doing? Releasing his aura for fun?'
Hanzo had seen Conqueror's Haki before; it looked familiar.
previously, during the operation to clear the Man-faced Apes, it wasn't that Sean hadn't displayed his extremely powerful aura, but that was to clear out the apes.
But what was he doing now? Could it be that he was training?
'That's truly rare!' Hanzo was completely baffled. He had grown up so big, yet he had never seen anyone specifically training their 'aura' before.
Holding an attitude of secretly learning, he watched with unblinking eyes. The domineering and fierce Conqueror's Haki swept past him and rolled directly towards the various cabins of the airship.
In the lounge, after Menchi announced free time, apart from Gon and Killua who went out to explore and were grabbed by Netero to play a ball-snatching game, most of the candidates who passed the exam were gathered here.
Kurapika, Leorio, Snake Charmer Bourbon, Beekeeper Ponzu, Martial Artist Cherry, Lion Hunter Geretta...
Either lying down, reclining, or curled up in a corner napping. They were just about to take advantage of this window to rest well and replenish their physical strength, but unfortunately, they witnessed the scene of Tonpa falling headfirst.
Immediately after, before they could react, the candidates with weak bodies and congenital deficiencies rolled their eyes back and followed in Tonpa's footsteps, falling to the ground one after another.
Thud.Thud.
Like dumplings being dropped into a pot, the candidates all fell into comas.
Kurapika, Leorio, and the others who could barely maintain consciousness looked at me, and I looked at you, staring at each other in blank dismay. Their sleepiness vanished instantly.
"Heh... This scene feels somewhat familiar. Kurapika, give me a hand, I don't seem to be able to get up either..." Leorio, leaning half against the wall, felt dizzy. He tried to grab Kurapika, but his arm went limp and lost strength, causing him to grasp at empty air.
Fortunately, Kurapika was quick-eyed and deft-handed. He reached out a hand and scooped him up, preventing him from falling backward and hitting the back of his head.
"I advise you to just lie down and rest." Kurapika made the decision for Leorio, pressing him onto the floor of the lounge to force him to rest.
Leorio's eyelids were fighting frequently. He didn't hold out any longer. Following the step down Kurapika offered, he lay down to 'play dead'. Before closing his eyes, he took advantage of his last shred of consciousness to look with difficulty at Number Two. "Teacher Ben An... could you please warn us next time you release your aura?"
"I really don't want to faint inexplicably like this..."
Leorio's words struck a chord in everyone's hearts. Even thinking with their backsides, everyone knew who did it.
Many gazes converged on Number Two. Number Two opened his eyes and gave a wicked smile. "Reminding you all, it wasn't me who did it, okay?"
Everyone's mouths twitched. If not you, then who? Do you take everyone for fools?
What a pity, now was not the time to find fault. Under the impact of the Haki, a huge trouble was waiting for him right before his eyes. Or rather, waiting for him, Bourbon, Ponzu, Cherry, and Geretta.
Because a certain perverted magician hadn't fallen either. He seemed eager to make a move, unable to control his killing intent any longer.
"Ah... Subarashii... Do you want to play the examiner game again?" Hisoka extended a finger and pushed over the card pyramid he had stacked with great difficulty.
The corners of his mouth pulled obliquely upward, hooking into a deep V-shape. Those eyes, wrapped in sinister and perverted mirth, swept over Kurapika, Bourbon, Ponzu, and the others one by one. The group shivered in unison and took out their weapons to stand guard.
"Hohoho... Forget it. You trash aren't as good as a single finger of my Ben An."
Hisoka stood up slowly, picked up a Joker card scattered on the floor, blew on it, and held it in his mouth. He turned and walked out of the lounge.
As he walked, his body couldn't stop trembling, and his wanton laughter unscrupulously penetrated the entire lounge.
"Ah... Ben An, my beloved Ben An, what exactly are you doing? I... am really so curious..."
"Hohoho..."
Crazy! 'Is this guy blind?'
'Such a big Teacher Ben An is sitting right here, can't you see him?!'
'Damn it... acting like a psychopath every day. The day he gets himself killed, I won't be surprised at all.'
Watching Hisoka leave, Bourbon, Ponzu, Cherry, and Geretta all let out a sigh of relief, flipping their hands to put their weapons back.
At this time, Geretta quietly crept to Kurapika's side, pouted his lips towards Number Two, and shouted, "Hey... Kurapika, you are closest to Teacher Ben An. Why don't you say something to him?"
Say what? Ask Teacher Ben An to kill Hisoka? A faint, cold sneer hung on the corner of Kurapika's mouth. He looked at Geretta and the others and said mercilessly, "Hisoka was right."
"We are just trash."
"He doesn't even care whether we live or die. Do you think Teacher Ben An will take us seriously?"
Bourbon, Ponzu, Cherry, Geretta: "..."
What you said makes damn sense.
Indescribably, Geretta and the others didn't feel a trace of humiliation.
When the gap in strength reaches a point where it is hard to catch up even with a lifetime of effort, accepting one's mediocrity doesn't seem like such a big deal.
For example, the examiners who were leisurely sipping fragrant tea and shedding their fatigue were doing this very well.
"What do you think?"
Inside a luxuriously decorated tea room on the second floor of the airship.
Menchi crossed her legs, sipping tea comfortably. She looked at Buhara and Satotz next to her; there was no trace of the listless appearance she had when scolded by Netero.
Think about what? Buhara grabbed a handful of chocolates and stuffed them into his mouth. "Hey, Menchi, are you asking about the strength of the candidates?"
"Of course! You pig." Menchi gave a cold snort. "Right. Although they were supposed to be all eliminated, suddenly so many extra people appeared."
"Even though I really don't want to admit it, I must confess that the strength of the candidates this year is really not bad."
"No... I should say there are a few guys in there whose strength is particularly strong."
"Satotz, what do you think?"
Ho. If even you, Menchi, approve of the candidates, then what else is there to say?
Satotz enjoyed his afternoon tea with a tranquil expression. Hearing this, he nodded in agreement. "This year is different from previous years where there wasn't a single qualifier. On the contrary..."
"I feel this year will be a bumper year. There should be quite a few qualifiers."
"Like that bald guy, number 294?" Menchi took over Satotz's conversation. "That guy is one of the few who knew how to make nigiri sushi."
"And that white-haired kid, number 99," Satotz added. "You can tell he has great talent."
"Of course, he is from the Zoldyck family... He has been designated as the next head of the Zoldyck family," Buhara interjected.
The room instantly seemed as if the 'mute button' had been pressed, falling into a long silence.
Zoldyck... You'd better be talking about that kid riding the skateboard!
What a pity. Is it true that only that kid is powerful in his family? Not to mention his brother, number 301, Gittarackur, just speaking of that person...
Uh. Why did everyone stop talking when he was mentioned?
Buhara silently finished the chocolates on the table. He quietly looked at Menchi, then at Satotz. After hesitating for a long while, he spoke up to break the silence. "I say... we can be considered lucky. Fortunately, the Chairman arrived in time, otherwise... the consequences would be unimaginable."
With a guy like Sean Zoldyck who could fight back and forth with the Chairman, if Menchi had really offended him... something big might have happened!
Satotz gently placed his teacup on the table, glanced at Menchi inconspicuously, and said faintly, "Sean Zoldyck is an anomaly."
"From the moment he first glanced at me, I knew he wasn't simple. I just didn't expect that he would transform and be exaggerated enough to defeat the Chairman. honestly speaking... this is one of the few things in my life that has shocked me the most!"
The scene of the young man standing in the sky, with his back to the sun, commanding the True Several Thousand Hands to frantically strike against the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva... was deeply branded in Satotz's mind. He knew very well that he wouldn't be able to sweep this image out of his mind for the rest of his life.
"This is talent!" Menchi, who had always been at odds with Sean, remained silent for a long time before raising her head and taking a deep breath. "Thinking about it now, I even suspect the purpose of the Chairman's arrival..."
What do you mean? Buhara was stunned and looked at Menchi. What, wasn't the Chairman here to stop you from acting recklessly?
Menchi naturally wouldn't deny that, but slowly stated another possibility. "We must distinguish between primary and secondary. I'm saying, the Chairman very likely came primarily to see that guy, Sean Zoldyck, and only secondarily for the exam matters."
Menchi looked deeply at Buhara and Satotz, giving her basis. "Think about it, with a giant dragon mixed in among a group of candidates, can the Chairman be at ease?"
"Besides, it's not certain who the true next head of the Zoldyck family is."
Menchi thought of Killua. She really couldn't bring herself to like him; he was only slightly better than that detestable guy, Sean Zoldyck. Guessing he was Blood Type B—willful and arrogant—he definitely wasn't Menchi's cup of tea.
"You only figured it out after all this time?" Satotz wiped his small mustache. He was just about to say something else when suddenly—
The airship shook violently. The hull tilted, causing the room to tilt as well. The tea on the table splashed out with a crash , starting Menchi, Buhara, and Satotz!
"You three stop guessing blindly over there." Just then, a voice that was aged but still possessed a trace of vitality came through.
Unmistakably Netero. "Chairman!"
"What happened?"
What happened? A certain troubled child seemed not to want this old man to play ball properly.
Netero's figure flashed, sweeping towards the deck as he said faintly, "You will know what happened in a moment."
"Now listen to my orders. Satotz, you can fly the airship, go to the cockpit."
"Buhara, you go to the lounge and look after those fainted candidates."
"As for these two brats, I leave them to you, Menchi. Remember, they are not allowed to go to the deck!"
"Ouch..." One green and one white 'dumpling' were thrown in.
Menchi reached out and caught them. looking closely, it was Gon in her left hand and Killua in her right. She was stunned, raising her head to exchange glances with Satotz and Buhara, staring at each other in dismay.
Immediately following, a dominant and fierce gale poured into the tea room. Just as Netero had said, they finally understood what had happened—
That brat Sean wasn't having himself even before leaving.
The Grand Chairman suddenly regretted letting him participate in the Hunter Exam.