The V5 had no objections or opinions, and just approved it like that???
Hmm, they probably don't realize that there's someone within V5 who has connections with Morin.
"Then it's settled. January 7th at 5 PM, make sure to be at the designated place to serve as an examiner."
"I'll have Beans send you the location. Don't forget to come up with the test questions!!"
Morin acknowledged, "Got it. But aren't you worried, old man, that I might just come up with random questions and mess up the test?"
"Yo, yo, yo, don't worry about that. Even if something like that happens, we have the arbitration committee. I'm not the chairman for nothing. Have you forgotten what happened during the second round of your test?"
"Is that so? Then I'll handle it myself. Rest assured, the test will definitely be within reasonable bounds."
"Really? Then I'll be looking forward to it."
After hanging up with Netero, Morin glanced at Ging, who was engrossed in his books and documents nearby.
"Do you want to join me for some fun?"
With nothing else to do, serving as an examiner could be quite entertaining.
"Me? I'll pass."
Ging shook his head. "I'm not interested in the Hunter Exam."
"Really? But think about it. If you were the chief examiner and these candidates passed under you, maybe some hunters in the association would be willing to speak on your behalf," Morin coaxed.
"Give me a break."
Ging lifted his head from his sea of books, staring with his deadpan eyes. "If I were to go by my temperament, the moment the test ends, the Hunter Exam Review Committee would probably receive a flood of complaints from the candidates."
Hmm, that's indeed possible.
Morin decided not to force someone unwilling and started pondering the upcoming test.
What kind of question should he set?
Biscarma, a well-known tourist city in the Karokucci Empire, is right next to the city housing the Hunter Association headquarters.
This year, it had the honor of being the official venue for the Hunter Exam.
The method to find the main venue for this year's Hunter Exam was as peculiar as ever:
First, find room 503 in a certain apartment building in Biscarma, call the intercom, and ask, "Is this Mr. Michel's home?" Someone would then answer that Michel is in room 603.
Once there, someone would direct the candidates to buy something from the DickSakura shop in front of the station.
At checkout, presenting a card with "DickSakura" on it would lead someone to guide them to the final exam venue.
And you could even keep the items you bought from the shop.
The Hunter Association profited from this, quite nicely indeed.
As Morin grumbled about this peculiar way of finding the venue, he arrived at the vast, empty basement designated as the exam venue just in time.
It was precisely 4:55 PM, five minutes before the test was scheduled to begin.
Standing in the stairway, Morin watched the only iron door in the expansive basement, waiting for the official start of the test.
Outside the door, without needing to sense the aura, Morin knew it was packed like a can of sardines with candidates.
Fortunately, once they spread out, there was enough space, at least for combat purposes.
"One thousand four hundred and eighty-nine people~"
After calculating the number of candidates in his mind, Morin began contemplating the testing method.
He had a rough idea on his way here, but some details could still be refined.
"Ding-ling?"
Just as he was deep in thought, the special test timer given by Mr. Beans rang in his hand.
The time had come to 5 PM.
"Time's up?"
Morin stretched slightly and pushed open the door ahead.
"Let's begin."
"Squeak—"
The iron door opened, and the second phase of the Hunter Exam officially commenced, with the first round about to start!
In the vast, empty basement, all the candidates gathered, casting either wary or unfriendly glances at those around them, maintaining what they believed to be a safe distance.
The atmosphere in the basement was heavy and tense, naturally making one serious.
Yet, amidst this atmosphere, a short, cool-looking boy with silver-white hair, appearing around thirteen or fourteen, moved effortlessly through the crowd without any pressure.
With his hands resting on the back of his head, he looked around at the competitors with a bored expression, completely unaffected by the serious atmosphere.
"There are quite a lot more people this year, but the quality isn't much better, huh?"
Killua, attending the exam, couldn't help but yawn, while touching the badge with the number 1219 on his chest.
Based on his observations, there were nearly fifteen hundred participants in this Hunter Exam.
"I wonder if there's anyone I know among them?"
"Hopefully, the questions will be straightforward so I can finish early and return. Gon and Biscuit Krueger are still waiting for me at 673~"
Killua muttered to himself, then his ears perked up, prompting him to look to his side.
"What, you didn't pass the last Hunter Exam either?"
A familiar voice rang out, along with the number of people approaching, instantly letting Killua know who it was. He couldn't help but pout.
"In the Heaven's Arena, you seemed so strong, yet you didn't get a Hunter License either!"
---
"Hahaha, see you later during the Hunter Exam."
"The Hunter Exam is completely different from Heaven's Arena... Oh right, this is your second time taking the test, so you're a veteran now. No need for reminders from me, haha." Patting Killua on the shoulder, the Amori brothers left in high spirits, leaving Killua looking at them as if they were a bunch of fools.
"These idiots, still the same as ever..."
Besides the Amori brothers, there were other familiar faces for Killua, like the purple-clad, pigtailed sumo wrestler Todo who caused a scene during the Menchi test, the bee lady Ponzu, the monkey handler Sommy, and Pokkle, who was eliminated by Morin in the fourth round.
These familiar faces, along with many new candidates, made this Hunter Exam seem much more interesting.
After a quick scan of the room, Killua exhaled a breath and stretched lazily. Then—
"Click."
The sound of the door opening instantly drew everyone's attention.
"Shh!"
All eyes from over a thousand candidates focused on the slowly opening iron door.
"Why is it him? Could it really be that man?! Everyone, long time no see, huh?"
"Is the test finally starting?"
Everyone thought to themselves, the new candidates wearing expressions of confidence and eagerness.
The veterans, however, felt a tightness in their chests, clenching their fists in determination.
"This time, I have to pass!"
Candidates like Ponzu, Pokkle, the Amori brothers, and Sommy all reinforced this resolve in their hearts.
Killua, meanwhile, watched the iron door, now almost fully open, with a disinterested and bored look.
The figure behind the door gradually came into full view for everyone.
Tall and clad in a black trench coat, with a handsome appearance and a subtle aura of intimidation that made the candidates fall silent.
"Is this the examiner for the Hunter Exam?"
The more than a thousand new candidates stared at Morin, who was surveying the surroundings, thinking to themselves.
"He looks way too young for the role."
His youthful appearance seemed incongruous with his position, unsettling them slightly.
This was just the impression of the newcomers; the veterans had a completely different experience.
"Why is it him? Could it really be that man?!"
At the sight of Morin, Ponzu, Pokkle, Sommy, and others were initially stunned, then rubbed their eyes in disbelief, screaming internally.
Simultaneously, their hair stood on end, goosebumps covering their skin, and cold sweat began to soak through their backs.
In the last Hunter Exam, Morin left an impression on them that was nothing short of profound.
It was almost a shadow over them!!
Especially for Pokkle, who fell in the first round last time because Morin targeted him and snatched his badge.
He was easily eliminated, and the deep sense of powerlessness and realization of his own insignificance remained vivid in his memory.
Whether in terms of strength or other aspects, Morin's prowess left an indelible mark on them.
Some veterans, like Todo, although they didn't witness Morin's strength and style in the third and first rounds, would have passed without pressure.
Not to mention in the fourth round, where his domineering stance at the entrance left a lasting image in the minds of Ponzu, Sommy, and others.
With his skills, passing the Hunter Exam was no issue.
But who would have thought that he not only became a Hunter?
He actually became the chief examiner for the Hunter Exam, appearing before them in this capacity!!
What the hell?!
It's only been a year!
Sommy, Ponzu, Pokkle, and the Amori brothers continued to shout internally.
What can you do in a year?
We've been struggling for a living, working hard to gather enough strength to pass the next Hunter Exam, sacrificing for our dream Hunter careers. And in the blink of an eye, a year has passed, and just when we're fully prepared to challenge the Hunter Exam again?
The candidate from back then has become our examiner. How can this not stir one's heart and shatter one's mindset?
"There are quite a few familiar faces, huh?"
As Morin's gaze swept across, spotting many familiar faces, his previously indifferent expression turned into an amused smile.
With a smile on his face, his eyes scanned over some familiar faces, then he raised a hand and, meeting the tingling gazes of Ponzu and the others, softly said:
"Long time no see, everyone."
Who wants to see you again?!
Their hearts were in turmoil, but their faces showed awkward smiles.
The new candidates looked at the examiner, then at the other candidates with peculiar expressions, feeling puzzled and skeptical.
This examiner seems to know some of the candidates here, so could they be colluding?
Based on this speculative reasoning, the other newcomers remained silent, plunging the scene into an eerie atmosphere.