"How about mere humans?"
Kurama glared at the Kiriko son through the Tailed Beast cloak.
Crack. The raging Nen turned into a wild gale, sweeping out. The sound of exploding beans rang incessantly in everyone's ears. The small wooden hut, unable to bear the burden, tottered on the verge of collapse. Several shocking wounds tore open on the wooden walls.
"W-what is this?!" The Kiriko son's eyes widened. The pressure from a superior bloodline pinned him by the shoulders. The child lost his previous arrogance, his knees went soft, and with a thud, he knelt before Sean.
"Ancestor Fox." The Kiriko mother glanced at the Kiriko father, suddenly understanding the meaning behind the word "Ancestor" he had used.
A bloodline so pure it contained not a speck of filth. For such a fox clan member, being called "Ancestor" was not excessive in the least.
Whoosh. A night breeze poured in, and the world fell silent.
Sean was invited to the seat of honor. Flanked by a confused Gon and Leorio, along with Kurapika—the silent gourd who hadn't spoken a word from start to finish—he enjoyed a "curry" feast. Under the eager guidance of the Kiriko father, they then set off for the true venue of the Hunter Exam: Zaban City.
"Next time, don't call me out for nothing. What kind of trash dares to call itself a fox?"
The Kiriko family led the way in front, while Sean stepped on the Yatagarasu, following at a leisurely pace. He shot Kurama a look and smiled coldly. "The trash you perceive isn't actually trash. Don't underestimate them. As Magical Beasts, if one traces their origins, their ancestors likely came from the Dark Continent."
"That extremely dangerous continent you mentioned?" Kurama grinned. "Isn't that perfect? When you get there, call me out again!"
"I, your great uncle, will flatten all troubles for you!"
"Just you?" Sean shook his head noncommittally and waved his hand to signal "Sage," dragging Kurama back down.
"Hey, Sean, are you looking down on me? I don't want to go down, I want to settle this with you!"
Whoosh.
The white light collapsed, the consciousness space dissipated, and the noise in his ears vanished, replaced by tranquility. Sean stood with his hands behind his back, his black hair dancing in the wind. Overlooking the magnificent mountains and rivers below, after a long night of trekking, he faintly saw the outline of a city.
The venue for the 287th Hunter Exam, Zaban City, had arrived.
"Ancestor, we have arrived."
The Kiriko father stuck close to the ground and transformed into his human form. He tugged at the turban on his head to cover his shiny forehead, smiling broadly as he made a gesture of invitation to Sean.
Sean gave a hum of acknowledgment, leading Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio to follow in the Kiriko father's footsteps.
The Kiriko father fished out an address from his pocket and muttered, "Zaban City, Number 2-5-10."
He led the group to a stop in front of a magnificent, majestic, and spectacular castle.
He smiled and said, "This is the venue for the Hunter Exam."
"Wow. Amazing. It's so high." A flock of white doves flew past.
Gon raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sunlight as he looked up at the sky. The castle was so tall his vision couldn't even cover it all.
"As expected of the official test venue!"
Leorio added a comment, speaking what was on his mind. "Just the entrance alone is so luxurious."
Indeed. "After all, this is the gathering place for experts from all over the world who want to become pro Hunters!"
Kurapika nodded in deep agreement. The silence he had maintained along the way was finally broken. His eyes flickered, unable to hide his shock.
Subconsciously, he glanced at Sean. The young man didn't even look at the glorious castle. He walked straight past them, arrived at the door of a shabby-looking restaurant next to it, pushed the door open, and walked in.
"Hey, Teacher Ben An, you're going the wrong way. The entrance isn't over there," Leorio hurriedly reminded him upon seeing this.
Unexpectedly...
"He didn't go the wrong way," the Kiriko father said, pointing at the restaurant while turning to look at the trio. "This is the test entrance."
"Eh?!"
Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio fell silent.
Their three faces were blank. The excitement and thrill of seeing the castle were instantly doused by a bucket of cold water.
Visibly, the group slumped.
The dignified Hunter Association doesn't even do a bit of superficial work?
Is being this shabby really worthy of their massive reputation?
The group couldn't help but complain internally. Reluctantly bidding farewell to the castle, they followed Sean and the Kiriko father into the restaurant.
"Boss, steak combo," the Kiriko father shouted to the owner busy behind the counter as soon as he entered.
Seeing an acquaintance, the owner gave a meaningful smile. "How would you like it grilled?"
"Slow-roasted over low heat."
"And a large portion, right?"
"Yes, two large portions."
The owner paused.
He looked suspiciously at the Kiriko father. 'Why isn't this kid following the code?'
"Don't you usually order one combo?"
The Kiriko assumed a solemn expression and pointed at Sean. "My Ancestor is here. Give both portions to him. I won't eat."
The owner was speechless.
'That's enough out of you!' He gave Sean a weird look, twitched the corner of his mouth, and ducked into the back kitchen.
"Remember to call me Sir, not Ancestor." 'Your ancestor is already gone.' Sean had no intention of staying here to eat. He walked straight past the Kiriko father and headed toward the private room deep inside the restaurant.
"Uh, Ancestor... pfft, Sir. You forgot your candidate number." The Kiriko father chased after him, pulling a number tag from his chest and handing it to Sean with great reverence.
"Do we get one too?"
"Idiot! Of course!"
Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika quickly followed.
The door to the private room opened, revealing a spacious elevator inside.
The four were inside, and the Kiriko father was outside alone. Before the elevator doors closed, he smiled at them. "Every year, there are millions, if not tens of millions, of candidates participating in the Hunter Exam."
"And only one in ten thousand can reach this point."
"As rookies... you have done well enough. But... next year, aside from the Ancestor, I believe we will meet again!"
Furthermore, the Kiriko father bowed to Sean. "Ancestor, don't forget us. My number is XXXXXXXXXX. Please, absolutely, positively, definitely contact us after the exam ends. I will have important intelligence to report to you then!"
'Oh?' Sean glanced at the Kiriko father. "Dark Continent?"
The Kiriko father took a deep breath and nodded solemnly. "Yes."
"Heh heh heh, now this is getting interesting." Snap. The elevator doors closed.
The corner of Sean's mouth curved into a shallow arc. He held the number tag and pinned it to his chest.
"Hey, Uncle, our numbers are consecutive! I'm 405, you're 406. What a coincidence."
'Gon, you idiot...' "We came together, so of course the numbers are consecutive!"
Leorio was 403, Kurapika was 404.
It wasn't just a pair; it was four consecutive numbers.
"But speaking of which, that guy was really rude."
Leorio was indignant.
"What did he mean by 'see you next year'?!"
"Is he convinced we will definitely fail this year?"
'No, that group doesn't include Ben An.' Kurapika glanced at Sean and said seriously, "One every three years. That is the passing rate for rookies."
"Most rookies cannot endure the harsh tests and give up halfway."
"Moreover, many people sustain injuries during the test that prevent them from taking it again, or even..."
"Die directly during the test!"
"Huh?" Gon scratched his head, puzzled. "Since it's so difficult... why does everyone still want to become a Hunter?"
'Damn it, is this guy for real? Coming to take the Hunter Exam knowing nothing? Is he serious?'
Leorio and Kurapika widened their eyes in unison, staring at Gon as if they had discovered a new continent. Gon felt creeped out by their stares, cold sweat appearing on his forehead.
"Idiot. Listen well. A Hunter is the highest-paying (noblest), most profitable (greatest) profession in this world!"
Hmm?
Leorio and Kurapika froze at the same time. Coming back to their senses, they looked at each other, both revealing looks of extreme disdain!
Leorio: 'Why pretend to be noble?'
Kurapika: 'Why are you worshipping money?'
Gon was sandwiched between the two, not knowing where to put his hands.
Visible smoke rose from his spiky head; clearly, his CPU was too outdated to process such a complex problem. He could only turn his head and look pleadingly at Sean, his big eyes blinking pitifully, writing a single sentence:
'Uncle, save me.'
Unfortunately, Sean ignored him completely, remaining unmoved.
He leaned against the wall as the room-elevator descended. His "gaze" swept over Leorio and Kurapika, and he felt a bit sentimental.
As the saying goes, rope breaks at the thinnest point, and misfortune finds the wretched. Fate is most skilled at teasing people.
A man who was all about money ended up becoming a noble doctor who treated the poor for free without taking a cent.
A man who harbored justice in his heart ended up becoming the boss of a mafia family, his hands stained with the blood of countless people.
Both eventually turned their backs on their original intentions and aspirations. It really was quite ironic.
But to break free from the manipulation of fate...
Perhaps there is only one way.
That is to grab fate by the throat before it finds you! And kill it!
Only then can one seek true freedom and great ease!
And... the prerequisite for all of this is—strength!
Beep.
After more than a minute, the elevator finally stopped. Gon finally escaped the fate of being pincer-attacked by Leorio and Kurapika.
He swallowed nervously, his face serious as he followed Sean out.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Shoe soles struck the ground, making crisp sounds.
The elevator doors opened.
The moment Sean appeared with Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio, the quiet exam venue suddenly erupted with a surprised exclamation!
"Huh? Big Brother!" A certain stinky white-haired brat slipped out from sticking to a wall corner, eyes wide as he looked at Sean. He was completely dumbfounded.
"Eh? Uncle, there's someone over there who keeps staring at you." Gon's dog nose went online. He noticed Killua and quietly tugged at Sean's sleeve. "Could he be your fan?"
Hearing Gon say this, Kurapika and Leorio followed his gaze and also noticed Killua.
Among a crowd of very "nuclear" kindness, this white-haired kid's eyes were the sharpest!
What a pity. "Fan?"
Sean smiled playfully. "No. He is my younger brother..."
"Also, let me remind you, it's not just one person."
The young man glanced at a certain corner as if unintentionally.
Hisoka's mouth grinned open into a deep V shape. Meeting Sean's gaze head-on, he giggled to Illumi, "Heh, heh, heh... Your 'good big brother' seems to have discovered us."