Chapter 26: The Gourmet Hunter
"We've completely lost sight of the chief examiner and the leading group. How are we supposed to reach the venue for the second phase of the exam?" Kurapika asked.
"Follow me. I can track Hisoka. If we follow him, we'll definitely reach the destination," Gon said.
An extraordinary sense of smell.
Mord glanced at Gon. Talents like this were innate, and Gon had never received any formal training from a master. After being left on Whale Island by Ging, he had grown up completely wild.
Yet, even with such a natural upbringing, his strength was enough to surpass ninety-nine percent of the Hunter Exam candidates.
This was different from Killua, who came from an assassin family and had been trained since childhood.
Mord even began to wonder if Gon was truly human.
He had some half-formed ideas, but now wasn't the time to test them.
"Because Leorio uses a very distinctive cologne, I can detect it from several kilometers away," Gon said confidently.
Although Mord could easily reach the second exam venue on his own, he was happy to take the easy way and hitch a ride.
He opened his character status panel.
[Name: Mord]
[Nen Ability Level: C-]
[Nen Ability: Zanpakutō]
[Awakened Attribute: Pierce, Gonryōmaru! – Adds lightning damage to Nen attacks (LV2: 1327/5000, can activate Shikai)]
[Enhancement-Type Energy: 80/100 (Conditions for unlocking new awakened attributes not met.)]
He had gambled correctly.
Not only did slaying the beasts himself contribute energy to his Zanpakutō, but even those killed by the fire added to it. At that very moment, the energy bar was still climbing.
"We're almost there!"
Gon's cheerful shout rang in his ears.
After a long run, guided by Gon, the three of them finally passed through the "dangerous" Numere Wetlands and looked up to see the figures of other candidates not far away.
A massive iron gate stood before the candidates who had successfully passed the first phase of the exam. Most of them were resting on the spot, while some were so exhausted they had collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.
Out of the initial 400-plus candidates, only about 150 to 160 had managed to reach this point unscathed.
Satotz stood in front of the gate, glancing down at his watch, clearly checking the time.
"It seems we made it," Kurapika breathed a sigh of relief.
"Leorio..." Gon, meanwhile, was already busy searching for any sign of Leorio.
Mord turned his gaze and had long noticed Hisoka in the distance.
Following Mord's line of sight, Gon saw Hisoka leaning casually against a large tree. Noticing Gon's look, Hisoka pointed toward another direction.
Sure enough, in the direction Hisoka indicated, everyone spotted Leorio slumped under a tree.
Gon and Kurapika hurried over to him.
Mord remained where he was, quietly watching Hisoka for a moment before turning and walking away in another direction.
Watching Mord's retreating figure, Hisoka narrowed his eyes slightly, his face once again breaking into a neurotic smile. He even unconsciously licked the playing card in his hand.
"Earlier in the Numere Wetlands, he clearly avoided me on purpose."
"To accurately sense my aura... This apple is clearly ripening. Should I pluck it now..."
"Everyone, you've worked hard. This is Visca Forest Preserve, the venue for your second phase of the exam," Satotz announced, standing before the massive iron gate with his arms spread wide.
"I'll take my leave now. Wishing you all swift success."
With those words, having completed his mission, Satotz once again began his stiff, peculiar walk back the way he came.
Rumble—
At the same time, the huge iron gate that had been tightly shut began to slowly open.
"All candidates who passed the first exam, please enter."
The voice rang out before anyone could see what lay beyond the gate.
As the gate gradually opened, everyone finally got a clear view of what was inside.
In the distance stood a two-story villa. The open area in front was flanked by hundreds of cooking stations, complete with grills, steamers, and every imaginable cooking utensil.
Additionally, beside each station was a small table laden with various seasonings and ingredients like chili peppers, eggs, and cooking oil.
If Mord had just transmigrated and this was the first scene he saw, he would have thought he'd landed in the world of Cooking Master Boy and was participating in the Super Chef competition.
Many candidates looked equally bewildered, unsure of the purpose of all these cooking stations.
"Welcome. I am Menchi, the examiner for the second phase."
"And I am Buhara, also an examiner."
Only then did everyone shift their attention from the strange cooking setups. In front of the distant villa sat a wide chair, where a strikingly beautiful woman with revealing, sexy attire sat in an imposing posture, scrutinizing Mord and the others.
Behind her, an enormous man sat cross-legged on the ground.
Even seated, he was nearly three meters tall, resembling a mountain of flesh from afar.
Gourmet Hunters, Menchi and Buhara.
Looking at the two people before him, Mord inexplicably recalled the image of the Fat and Thin Head Monks in his mind.
That's right—it was the contrast.
The petite and adorable Menchi exuded an overwhelming domineering aura from head to toe, while in stark contrast, Buhara, with his giant-like physique, appeared remarkably simple and honest, smiling as amiably as the neighbor's uncle.
Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle—
"What is that sound?"
A dull, thunder-like noise suddenly echoed through the scene.
"It seems someone is hungry," Menchi turned to glance at Buhara and said with a laugh.
Buhara chuckled sheepishly, "I'm starving."
Seeing her companion in this state, Menchi stood up and addressed the crowd, "Now, I will announce the content of the second exam—cooking!"
"What did you say? Cooking?"
What kind of test is this?
Almost all the examinees wore expressions of shock and confusion upon hearing this answer.
"Wait a minute, did you say cooking?" a yellow-haired, overweight wrestler loudly questioned. "Are you kidding? We're here to take the Hunter Exam."
"That's right," Menchi replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Creating a dish that satisfies us—that is the topic of the second exam."
"As for why we chose this topic, it's because... we are Gourmet Hunters."
When she mentioned the words "Gourmet Hunters," Mord could sense the genuine pride in Menchi's tone—a reaction that only comes from true passion for something.
Yet, many present simply couldn't comprehend it.
Some even couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
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