The number of phases in each Hunter Exam varies, averaging around five phases per exam. However, adjustments are made based on the number of examinees.
Law knew very well that if Menchi continued to set the test questions, it would likely follow the original work: the new test would be to retrieve the eggs of the Spider Eagle from the canyon. If so, the difficulty would be too low.
Moreover, the quality of this year's examinees was significantly higher than in the original work, and the number was more than double.
The reason for this might be the butterfly effect caused by him, perhaps because Tonpa rescued examinees in the Milsy Wetlands, or perhaps because Hisoka didn't go on a rampage there.
In short, there were too many examinees.
A rough estimate suggested that at least over a hundred would pass the second phase. If that happened, this year's exam might need two additional phases.
So, increasing the difficulty of the test question slightly shouldn't be a big deal, although the word 'slightly' might be somewhat inappropriate here.
Retrieving the Packfish roe was actually quite difficult!
Menchi, as a Gourmet Hunter, knew this very well.
The airship arrived at the destination. Everyone disembarked one after another and arrived at the roaring riverbank.
According to Netero's requirement, Menchi also had to participate in the test as an examinee this time.
In contrast, Law and Tonpa, as examinees, only needed to watch from the side.
Law seemed to have taken over the examiner's role. Looking at the crowd, he smiled and said, "Retrieve the fish roe and hand it to me. That counts as completing the test."
Hearing this, the examinees remained silent. They had gotten a second chance, so what more could they ask for?
They walked to the riverbank, looked closely at the river emitting roaring sounds, and their faces showed gravity.
Just from the water's surface movement, they could judge the terrifying force of the current. The underwater turbulence was even more unimaginable.
Menchi took off her boots and started warming up, and then reminded: "Every year, over a thousand workers drown while trying to harvest Packfish roe. You only have one life, but the test is held every year. I advise you to think carefully before acting."
Hearing Menchi's well-intentioned reminder, many examinees who weren't strong swimmers immediately had second thoughts.
After the test started, no examinee had made a move yet, but the first examinee to withdraw appeared.
"I... give up," That examinee said unwillingly.
With the first withdrawal came the second.
Soon, as more and more examinees withdrew, the number of those who persisted dropped to less than a hundred.
Knowing when to retreat is the wise choice. If one insists on facing the difficulty head-on, they must bear the consequences themselves.
Directly persuading a portion of the examinees to quit was also within Law's expectations. One of his motives for taking the right to set the question was to reduce the number of examinees.
On the riverbank, Menchi finished her warm-up and then walked slowly along the bank, continuously observing the water's flow.
She wasn't looking for a spot with weaker currents, on the contrary, she was looking for a spot with turbulent flow, aiming to find traces of the Packfish as soon as she entered the water.
After walking about three hundred meters, she stopped. Under the gaze of the examinees, she directly plunged into the river.
So far, besides Menchi diving into the water, the other examinees were still watching.
Not far away, Netero came to Law's side and said, "You're being too reckless."
"Am I? If you had just given me the license earlier, none of this would have happened," Law retorted, curling his lip.
"The review results didn't comply with the rules, so they naturally needed to be handled properly," Netero explained with a straight face.
"I know, I know. Final interpretation rights and all that," Law shook his head slightly, then asked, "So, do you think the test question I set is problematic?"
Netero couldn't help but glance at the examinees standing still on the bank. "There's no problem, but I'm afraid only a minority of examinees will pass."
"A minority? There are many ways to solve it. It depends on their choices. It's not limited to brute force alone," Law said indifferently.
"What you say makes sense. However, I want half of the roe," Netero said calmly.
Law looked at Netero blankly. "What did you just say? I didn't hear clearly."
Netero just responded with a cold smile.
Law rolled his eyes. "At most, I'll give you thirty percent."
"Fine," Netero agreed simply.
A transaction was completed just like that, lightly and casually.
Netero knew that the test question Law set was of medium to high difficulty among past examiners.
It tested not only each person's ability to assess the situation but also implied the need for teamwork.
Retrieving Packfish roe alone was very difficult. But if several people cooperated, the difficulty would decrease, and so would the danger.
However, Law deliberately concealed one piece of information about the Packfish: each Packfish carries at least 500 grams of roe. So, a group of five was the optimal plan.
Moreover, Law seemed to have considered Menchi's style as well. Even so, how to utilize one's own advantages was the key to overcoming the difficulty.
In Netero's view, the test question Law set was, to some extent, more reliable than the cooking test Menchi set. However, after this phase, the number of remaining examinees would probably be small, so subsequent test phases might need to be canceled.
Nearby, Tonpa had a strange expression. The two hadn't deliberately avoided him during their conversation.
"Tonpa, go gather some firewood," Law suddenly instructed.
Tonpa didn't say a word and rushed into the forest.
During those years in the Dark Continent, he had gotten used to doing this. His efficiency was unquestionable.
Three minutes passed. Menchi suddenly surfaced on the river and swam towards the bank.
The examinees all looked over. They saw Menchi come ashore, dripping wet, holding a cluster of pink fish roe in her hand.
She didn't catch the fish itself but only took the amount of roe specified for the test.
This indicated that obtaining the roe didn't necessarily require killing the fish, and it could be done directly in the water.
Ignoring the other examinees' gazes, Menchi handed the roe to Law, completing this test as an examinee.
Law gently stored the roe, then quickly started a fire.
Menchi understood and sat by the fire to ward off the chill, secretly watching Law.
Netero saw that Menchi indeed only took 100 grams of roe. If Menchi, during her demonstration participation, had caught the entire Packfish, the examinees would have obtained the information that 'a single Packfish carries no less than 500 grams of roe'.
This was very important information. Law not only concealed it but was also confident that Menchi would only take 100 grams, no more, no less.
'Otherwise...'
Netero's gaze shifted to the riverbank. Apart from a few examinees forming teams on their own, the others showed no intention of teaming up.
Thus, within five minutes of Menchi retrieving the roe and coming ashore, three examinees had been swept away by the powerful current over a kilometer downstream.
If this continued, probably not many examinees would be able to complete the test.