Yatagarasu, also known as the Eight-span Crow, the divine bird of Fusang.
Answering Sean's summons, it flew out from behind him.
With a spread of its wings, it cast a large shadow, startling Matthew, Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio!
"Wow, what a huge bird!" The spiky-haired kid looked up as the Yatagarasu flew over, flapping its wings. The Yatagarasu's long, sword-like beak jabbed—whether intentionally or not—and accidentally sent the stunned Matthew flying!
With a "Ahhh—" scream, poor Mr. Matthew turned into a shooting star and disappeared over the horizon.
Sean "raged." He slapped the Yatagarasu hard across the face, saying, "Watch where you're going. That's my 'friend.' Are you trying to kill him?"
"Scree~~~" The Yatagarasu, having been slapped, lowered its body aggrievedly.
Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio: "..."
They looked at each other. 'What the hell 'friend'? Uncle/Mr. Ben An, you definitely did that on purpose, right?'
Sean turned his head, glanced at the three of them, and asked, "Walk or fly?"
"Fly!" The three of them shivered and answered in unison.
Sean nodded, stepped onto the Yatagarasu's wing first, and stood on its back.
With Matthew gone, Leorio forgot about his broken-down bus, picked up his briefcase, and followed Gon and Kurapika, climbing up.
The Yatagarasu cried out, spread its wings, and kicked up two gales of wind, soaring into the sky.
Surprisingly, it was as stable as an airship!
"So cool! So amazing!" It was the first time in his life "flying," so expecting Gon to be quiet was impossible. The spiky-haired kid touched everything, wandered around, his little mouth babbling with constant amazement.
Finally, he received a punch from the忍-out-of-patience Leorio. "You little brat, settle down!"
Leorio glared at Gon irritably. Did this dead kid really think the Yatagarasu was an airship?
"Mr. Ben An, if I'm not mistaken, this is the summoning jutsu that the Animal Path of the Six Paths of Pain was good at, right?"
When Nagato attacked Konoha with the Six Paths of Pain, it was such a huge climax. As a fan of "Pot Shadow Ninja," Leorio had watched it with his blood pumping!
He never expected... manga to become reality. Sean actually used a summoning jutsu and called out a real Yatagarasu.
Leorio pushed up the sunglasses on his nose and guessed, "Mr. Ben An, you didn't base 'Pot Shadow Ninja' on yourself, did you?"
Kurapika, sitting cross-legged against the Yatagarasu's wing, twitched his ear and looked at Sean.
The young man stood atop the Yatagarasu's head, his three-meter-tall frame wreathed in sunlight. He chuckled softly, "What do you guess?"
He gazed into the distance, adding meaningfully, "Sometimes, silence is a virtue, kid."
Leorio: "..."
He awkwardly rubbed the back of his head and met Kurapika's eyes. The latter frowned, feeling there was a hidden meaning in Sean's words.
He took a deep look at Sean's back, and his gaze shifted downward... vaguely spotting a town.
"Thump-thump... thump-thump..."
The sky was blue, the clouds were white, the trees were green, but this town was desolate.
Patting the Yatagarasu, signaling it could return, Sean released the summoning. To another "Wow" from Gon, he was the first to set foot in the desolate town.
"Quiz Town?" A faint arc formed on Sean's lips. He reached out and caught a wisp of breeze.
Listening to the wind's heart, he instantly took in the entire town, including all its living and non-living things.
"Heave-ho~"
"Are you sure anyone lives in such a desolate place?" Leorio, clutching his beloved briefcase, jumped down from the disappearing Yatagarasu. His first instinct was to look around.
In the dilapidated town, the streets and alleys were empty. It was extremely eerie.
As far as the eye could see, there were only—
Mottled walls... stone-paved roads overgrown with weeds... and broken windows that creaked "Ga-zhi" in the wind, looking like they could fall apart at any moment.
Leorio instantly felt a chill crawl up from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head. It was sinister and unsettling.
"Oh, there are people. Quite a few, actually. Right, Uncle?" Compared to a certain idiot who aspired to be a doctor and make big money in the future... Gon walked up to Sean's side. His 'dog nose' went online, and he smelled many different scents.
"Indeed. We can't be careless. Leorio, can't you hear the breathing inside?" Kurapika shot Leorio a white-eyed glance. He looked big and tall, but he was just a crude oaf with dulled senses.
"Just to let you know, there are 54 people in total~" A small smile played on Sean's lips. As soon as he finished speaking—
Rustling sounds came from all directions, seeping in from everywhere, making the group shiver involuntarily.
"A ton of iron and a ton of cotton, which is heavier?"
"Iron."
"Wrong. They are the same. Both are one ton."
"An older brother and a younger brother, which one is older?"
"The correct answer is 'don't know.' Because they are twin brothers."
"Huh?"
"What is this nonsensical crap?"
Leorio was startled by the suddenly appearing voices. He quickly hugged his beloved briefcase, goosebumps uncontrollably popping up all over!
However, no one answered him. Aside from these strange voices, they could only vaguely hear the 'swish-swish' sound of clothes rubbing or being blown by the wind.
Gon and Kurapika, standing next to Sean, held their breath simultaneously.
Only Sean, with his hands in his pockets, showed no change in expression. He glanced casually toward an alley entrance.
In the shadows, an old woman, who had lost almost all her teeth except for two bare ones, was startled. She hadn't expected this guy, with his demonic, exaggerated height, to pinpoint her location at a glance and even count her "children" one by one.
She immediately gave Sean a deep look, thinking inwardly, 'Sure enough, this guy has also awakened 'Nen'?'
A non-Nen user could absolutely not use 'En'... The old woman really couldn't think of any other possibility.
However... she had clearly overlooked that some people are just naturally gifted, in tune with nature, and particularly sensitive to auras, like the scum dad Ging and his dad-complex son, Gon!
"Gon, go. Find her," Sean said, releasing the "dog."
Gon nodded, scrambled over to the alley entrance on his short legs, and pointed at the old woman, "Oba-san, found you!"
The old woman, knowing she was exposed, gave a sinister laugh. "Come out, children."
"Toge~ Toge~"
Dense footsteps suddenly echoed in the streets. Starting from scattered and chaotic, they became dense and numerous. Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio stared wide-eyed...
Fifty or sixty children, wearing white coats, masks, and hair dyed in various garish colors, walked out. They formed a line, blocking their path.
A careful count revealed, exactly as Sean had said, 54 people.
'He was that precise?' Kurapika peeked at Sean, once again feeling the man's unfathomable depth.
Unfortunately, Sean paid him no attention. He casually swept his gaze over the old woman leading them, and the Star of David in the depths of his eyes flashed for an instant...
[Appraise—]
[Target: Unnamed Old Woman.]
[Bone Age: Seventy-four.]
[Physique: 1200. (Normal human: 10) (Note: First-level limit broken)]
[Speed: 1094. (Normal human: 10) (Note: First-level limit broken)]
[Strength: 1153. (Normal human: 10) (Note: First-level limit broken)]
[Aura Amount: 1121. (Normal human: 10) (Note: First-level limit broken)]
[Overall Strength Evaluation: E+]
'First-level limit broken?'
Compared to the Red-nosed Captain on the Sea God, who hadn't even broken the first-level limit, this old woman was clearly a tiny bit stronger.
Unfortunately, only a tiny bit.
However, they hadn't even officially entered the Hunter exam site, and the examiners' level was already increasing. One could imagine...
The subsequent examiners would definitely be stronger and stronger, until Netero appeared...
His thoughts fleeting, Sean saw through the old woman's stats with a glance and immediately withdrew his gaze. The Star of David dimmed.
The old woman noticed this and shivered inexplicably. It felt as if she had been seen through completely. Her wrinkled face scrunched up. Suppressing the tremor in her heart, she coughed dryly. "If you want to go to the cedar tree on the mountaintop, you have no choice but to pass through this town!"
"The mountain path is full of wild beasts and magical beasts. It's not easy to walk..."
Leaning on her red-jeweled staff, which was marked with the "Examiner" symbol, she walked out from the crowd.
"Look, she has the same mark as the captain~" Gon finally spotted the pin on the old woman's chest and identified her as an examiner.
Kurapika looked over at the same time and came to a realization, "I see. This is also one of the 'Hunter Exam' checkpoints."
"This old hag is an examiner?" Leorio nervously adjusted his sunglasses.
Suddenly, the old woman shrieked, "The Heart-Pounding Two-Choice Quiz!"
She displayed an extraordinary facial expression, scaring both Leorio and Kurapika!
Damn, she's old, but her voice is loud. Even Sean, who was somewhat prepared, was startled by this old lady.
The old lady ignored everyone's reactions and continued, "Next, I will ask one question. You only have 5 seconds to think."
"If you answer incorrectly, you fail. You must give up on becoming a Hunter!"
And, "You can only give the specified answer. All other answers are wrong!"
Hearing these rules, the irritable Leorio couldn't hold back. "Wait a minute! Are all four of us supposed to answer the same question?"
Leorio, Gon, and Kurapika all glanced at Sean without a trace.
This scene was caught by the old woman, who thought, 'It seems this guy is the leader of these four.'
"That's right. Isn't this faster?" The old woman mentally noted Sean's appearance and said in a low voice.
Leorio was immediately unhappy and started bickering with Kurapika.
"If this guy answers wrong, won't I be dragged down by him?" Leorio pointed at Kurapika, indignant.
Kurapika sneered, retorting, "How is that possible? Of course, the reverse possibility is so high it makes me want to cry."
Although they said this, the two had long been on the same page as Gon. As for whether they included Sean, Sean didn't want to know, nor was he interested.
He looked directly at the old woman and said, "Don't waste time. Tell me, where is the door?"
A trace of crimson crept into his left eye... Sharingan, Hypnosis.
The old woman's expression immediately went blank. She nodded stiffly. "Okay~"
Under everyone's astonished gaze, she hobbled over to a wall and reached out to open the passage to the next checkpoint.
"Eh? Grandma, what are you doing?" The crowd of children blocking the path with the old woman was collectively dumbfounded.
The old woman remained silent, as if she had lost her mind. She bowed to Sean and said, "Please."
Sean "Mm'd" with a blank expression. "Thanks."
He stepped into the passage.
Well, no need to argue now. Leorio and Kurapika stared blankly at this scene. When they recovered, they looked at each other, speechless.
They clearly hadn't figured out why the old woman had suddenly changed her mind.
Just then, a green monkey "whooshed" past them.
Gon shouted, "Uncle, wait for me!"
He shouldered his fishing rod and ran in, following right behind Sean.
Seeing this, Leorio grabbed his briefcase and nudged Kurapika. "If it's Mr. Ben An, it seems like nothing he does is surprising."
So, "Hey, Kurapika, let's not just stand here. Let's go."
Kurapika said nothing, watching Sean's figure gradually disappear into the shadows of the passage. He took a deep breath, nodded, and followed.
"Creak~" The passage door closed heavily. Kurapika and Leorio disappeared into Quiz Town, chasing after Gon and Sean.
With a small "pop," the old woman abruptly came to her senses. Staring at the empty street before her, she slammed her staff down. "Where are they?"
The children looked at each other in confusion, asking the old woman, "Grandma, didn't you let them go?"
"Me?" The old woman opened her mouth, about to say, "Impossible!"
"Ding-a-ling-ling~" A bell rang, interrupting her just in time.
"Grandma~ It's Grandpa Bert from the [Sea God]!"
"Bert?"
"What's that kid causing trouble for at this time?"
The old woman took the phone. Sure enough... the Red-nosed Captain's rough voice came from the other end.
"Old woman, not dead yet?"
The old woman's eye twitched. "Thank you for your 'concern,' but this old lady is tough~"
"I didn't die. I'm really sorry to have disappointed you~"
"Haha..." The Red-nosed Captain heard the sarcasm but laughed, unbothered. "It really is..."
"I thought that kid wouldn't be patient enough and would give you a hard time. Looks like I was worrying for nothing."
Having finally sent Sean off, Bert couldn't help but feel emotional again just thinking about him.
That massive ice dragon... he would never forget it for the rest of his life.
"Yohoho~ This old lady may be old, but I'm not as weak as you think."
"At the very least, I can still teach you a lesson with one hand." The old woman's cloudy eyes gleamed. "But if the 'kid' you're talking about is that ridiculously tall guy..."
"Then I have to say, he really did give this old lady a hard time."
The footsteps behind the stone door faded into the distance. The old woman squinted. Her children wouldn't lie. Since she was the one who let them go, someone must have done something to her at that time!
"Haha, is that so?" The Red-nosed Captain wasn't surprised at all. He sighed, "A man who can casually defeat a storm... it seems nothing can stop him. Never mind you, even the Foxy family would probably have a tough time."
Wait. "What do you mean, 'defeated a storm'?"
This old lady may be old, but her eyes aren't blind and her ears aren't deaf. Please explain!
'Can't you understand the literal meaning?' The Red-nosed Captain said lightly, "It was that ridiculously tall guy you mentioned. He shattered a storm comparable to the 'Sea God' in one blow."
Bert clicked his tongue. "You didn't see the scene. I've been sailing for so many years and I've never seen someone so outrageous..."
"That's why I came to tell you about it."
The Red-nosed Captain recounted the events of that day in detail.
The other end of the phone went silent. Only the sound of progressively heavier breathing and a rapidly accelerating heartbeat could be heard...
"Thump... thump... thump... thump..." it pounded wildly.
The old woman was stunned. It was confirmed! He must have done something to her!
He could shatter a storm with a single casual blow? With that kind of strength, it wasn't difficult for him to "give her a hard time."
"Did you get his identity?" The old woman took a deep breath, collected herself, and didn't forget to remind him, "Bert, it's best to report such an outstanding talent to the higher-ups."
The Red-nosed Captain, puffing on a new pipe, took a deep drag and blew out a smoke ring. "Already reported. But guess what?"
"The higher-ups just said, 'Got it.'"
The old woman frowned, finding it a bit surprising. "That reaction is a bit... flat."
"Heh~ Flat?"
The Red-nosed Captain sneered, "The one who said that was the Chairman! Who do you think it was?"
!!!
The old woman: "..."
She opened her mouth but was speechless.
The weight of words depends on who says them.
In the "Professional Hunter" business, the old woman had never seen anyone whose words carried more weight than Netero!
"If this old lady's memory serves... I remember even the Chairman's son—that Lord Beyond—didn't receive this kind of treatment back in the day."
Beyond Netero, Potclean Gigant, and Bisky Krueger were all proud pillars of the Hunter Association. Although Ging had received this kind of treatment from Netero, he was so lazy, he was either skipping work or on his way to skip work 360 days a year... It was truly... shameful.
"Well, he has it now," Bert muttered, blowing a smoke ring.
The phone fell into an eerie silence.
No one spoke.
After a long while, having digested this shocking news, the old woman couldn't help but sigh, "Since the Chairman has stepped in, it means that kid's identity is not simple."
"What's his name?"
She was already old, with one foot in the grave, but she could still feel curiosity. That wasn't easy.
"Sean Zoldyck! He's also the author of those popular manga 'Pot Shadow Ninja' and 'Pirate King'—Ben An..."
???!!
What "Pirate King," what "Ben An"... the old woman didn't hear any of it. She only noticed one word—Zoldyck!
'As expected, a reputation is never unearned.' "If he's a genius from the Zoldyck family, then being able to do something like this... seems understandable."
It is understandable.
The Red-nosed Captain knocked his pipe against the ship's railing. "I heard three from the Zoldyck family came this time."
"And they don't get along with each other. This is going to be a good show."
"Three?" The old woman raised an eyebrow. "That white-haired little boy named Killua, this old lady just saw him yesterday."
"Who else is there?"
"The Zoldyck family's second son." The Red-nosed Captain narrowed his eyes. "The Chairman said... he seems to be using the alias—what's it called... Gittarackur. He came with that magician who killed an examiner last year..."
"No wonder..." The old woman's dim, murky eyes flashed, and she chuckled, "Gohoho..."
"Zoldycks... and a magician..."
"Bert... this old lady has a feeling... this year's Hunter Exam might just have some major trouble!"
'I had that feeling a long time ago.' The Red-nosed Captain gazed out at the sea.
It was evening, and waves suddenly rose on the boundless ocean~ kicking up fierce winds and giant waves.
Clearly, a storm was coming again!