"That guide was way too rude," Leorio complained. "It's like he already decided we're going to fail this year."
How badly Leorio wanted to become a Hunter—and then a doctor—was something no one else could truly imagine. So when Mr. Kiriko casually mentioned that he'd be happy to guide them again next year, it left Leorio feeling deeply uncomfortable.
"The rookie pass rate is only once every three years," Kurapika said seriously. "Most newcomers can't endure the harsh tests and give up halfway. Some even suffer injuries so severe they're no longer allowed to take the exam again."
"But if it's that hard," Gon asked, puzzled, "why does everyone still want to become a Hunter?"
If the exam was so brutal, why did people keep lining up for it year after year? Surely not everyone was looking for their father. That line of thinking was clearly just him projecting his own situation.
That question was like poking a hornet's nest.
For once, Leorio and Kurapika were completely united. They didn't even bother eating anymore and moved straight in front of Gon.
"Did you really come to take the exam without knowing anything?" Leorio asked sternly.
"I didn't," Gon replied honestly.
He didn't think that was strange at all—but his animal instincts still made him subtly back toward the door, securing more favorable terrain.
"Then listen carefully," Kurapika said decisively. "Being a Hunter is the greatest profession in the world."
"It's the highest-paying profession in the world," Leorio added with equal conviction.
As soon as they finished speaking, they realized how wildly different their answers were—completely off the same track.
"Pretentious," Leorio muttered.
"Materialistic," Kurapika shot back.
They glared at each other, teeth clenched, on the verge of coming to blows.
Gon, meanwhile, was completely confused. What exactly is a Hunter? The two sounded completely different—both seemed right, and yet both seemed wrong. His head was full of question marks when the flames suddenly spread to him.
"Gon, listen carefully," Leorio said urgently. "Only official Hunters have licenses. With it, you can freely enter most countries and use tons of public facilities for free. If you become a private Hunter for wealthy clients, or a Treasure Hunter, you can make enormous amounts of money and live comfortably for the rest of your life."
Since neither could convince the other, Leorio redirected his firepower straight at Gon.
"That's not right," Kurapika countered firmly. "Maintaining the balance between humanity and nature is a Hunter's true duty. Capturing wanted criminals and illegal Hunters, protecting precious ruins and rare flora and fauna—those are a Hunter's responsibilities. All of that requires a sound body and an unbreakable will."
Despite the blood feud he carried, Kurapika still viewed the role of Hunters in an extremely positive light. The light in his heart had not been extinguished.
"So, Gon?" Leorio pressed.
"Which kind of Hunter do you want to be?" Kurapika asked as well, his passion unusually intense, step by step forcing a choice.
"I… I don't really know how to answer…" Gon said awkwardly. He genuinely had no concept of it at all.
Creaaak.
The door opened.
Lu Ou strolled in leisurely.
Gon's eyes lit up. Ou is so smart—he'll definitely know the answer.
"Ou! What kind of Hunter do you want to be?"
"Hm? A Hunter? What kind?" Lu Ou asked, clearly unaware of the conversation that had taken place—or that this was originally a scene meant to happen later in the elevator down to the exam site.
Gon hurriedly explained the argument between Leorio and Kurapika, then looked at Lu Ou expectantly.
Leorio and Kurapika also stopped arguing and turned to Lu Ou in unison, waiting to hear his thoughts.
"You want to become a doctor, right?" Lu Ou asked Leorio.
"Yes," Leorio answered seriously.
"And you—do you want to become a doctor?" Lu Ou asked Kurapika.
"No," Kurapika said firmly. "I want revenge." His eyes faintly reddened.
"Then do you want revenge?" Lu Ou asked Leorio.
"No. I don't have anyone to take revenge on," Leorio replied.
"You see?" Lu Ou said to Gon. "Their reasons for becoming Hunters are different, so the Hunters they imagine are different too. What a Hunter really is depends on why you want to become one."
The three listeners froze.
Even Leorio and Kurapika—who didn't understand why Lu Ou had asked those questions—were shaken.
That's right. When people's goals differ, the way they see the world differs. The methods they choose will differ as well. There was never anything worth arguing about in the first place.
"Ou, that makes so much sense!" Gon said, eyes sparkling like stars, looking every bit like a devoted fan.
If there were a number-one diehard fan, it would definitely be Gon—and he wasn't going anywhere.
"I need your help with something," Lu Ou said, a little unable to withstand Gon's intense admiration. His skin clearly wasn't thick enough yet.
"What is it? How can I help?" Gon responded instantly.
"We'll definitely help," Leorio added without hesitation.
Kurapika nodded as well, clearly sharing the same intent.
"Here's the thing," Lu Ou said. "As rookies in the Hunter Exam, the fact that we've made it this far already proves our ability. Do you have confidence that you'll pass?"
"Of course!" all three answered in unison.
Their goals might differ, and their personalities certainly did—but their overwhelming confidence was exactly the same. Birds of a feather flock together.
"Then as future Hunters," Lu Ou continued, "shouldn't we build good relationships with our future colleagues?"
The posture, the wording, the perfectly timed expressions—this absolutely looked like something learned from a real-world MLM seminar. One had to wonder if he was secretly moonlighting as a motivational speaker.
"Well…" Leorio hesitated. Does this cost money? If money was involved, he had to think very carefully.
When it came to money, Leorio was stingier than Scrooge. Until his dream was fulfilled and his knot untied, that wasn't likely to change.
Kurapika and Gon were both confused. The topic had shifted too quickly—even Kurapika, usually sharp with details, needed a moment to process it.
"If you know more people and have better relationships," Lu Ou said with a relaxed smile, his words flowing straight into their ears and sinking deep into their hearts, "doesn't that mean information can be shared? Hunters are always finding things—you never know who might come across exactly what you need."
Kurapika's eyes lit up. That makes sense… finding the Spiders would be much easier.
"And if your network is broader," Lu Ou continued, "your opportunities to make money increase too. Making real money always depends on connections."
Now Leorio fully understood. As someone who had clawed his way up through self-study alone, no one understood the value of connections better than him.
Both of them now stared eagerly at Lu Ou, hoping he would continue.
"So, Ou," Gon asked again, "what do you need our help with?"