Chapter 63: Phinks and the Examiner
Haze didn't really harbor strong feelings toward the Phantom Troupe.
They were undeniably powerful Nen users with remarkable talent, yet he couldn't help but think their abilities were somewhat wasted on the path they had chosen.
Of course, he wasn't one to judge their backgrounds, upbringing, and circumstances had shaped them into who they were.
The Troupe had been spectacular in the early stages of the original story, but as the Chimera Ant and Dark Continent arcs unfolded, their importance faded.
In the end, within the world of Hunters…
They were just a band of thieves —
a formidable band of thieves.
Meteor City, the place they called home, was vast enough to rival a small nation. Yet even combined, their fighting power couldn't compare to that of an actual country.
They relied on no one but themselves and even then, they had some influence in the world.
To Haze, with Kuroro's intellect and the members' skills, the Troupe could've achieved something far more magnificent than mere robbery and murder.
But it's easy to speak from the outside, without feeling the pain.
He knew that if he'd grown up amid starvation, poverty, darkness, and the constant threat of death, "lofty ideals" would have seemed meaningless.
When survival is uncertain, dreams become a luxury money and material security are what matter most.
Haze understood that.
In a way, even their crimes were a form of repayment to Meteor City their homeland of outcasts.
The arrival of Phinks and Feitan was nothing more than a minor stir. Their aura alone set them apart from the other candidates.
Haze slid his phone into his pocket and waited silently as chatter spread through the hall.
Time was up yet the examiner still hadn't appeared.
"What's going on? Where's the examiner?"
"Tch! Don't tell me they'll keep us waiting all day!" someone shouted.
Haze looked up and spotted a shadow leaning against the railing of the second floor.
A muscular man in a short-sleeved black shirt stood there.
He was a Hunter and the examiner for this test.
He'd actually been there for over ten minutes, though most candidates hadn't noticed.
Then, a sharp sound of clapping echoed.
The crowd fell silent.
The examiner stepped out of the dim light, hands resting lazily on the railing, a cigarette dangling from his lips. His rugged features twisted into a faint, cold smirk as he looked down on the crowd of nervous hopefuls.
But his gaze lingered briefly on Haze, Phinks, and Feitan before he spoke.
"Trash… Congratulations on surviving the preliminaries and making it here. Allow me to introduce myself I'm Aldama, your examiner. You still have a few hurdles left to clear… and I'll be the first one you face."
Being called "trash" stung, but no one dared to talk back.
Veterans like Tonpa, however, barely reacted they'd seen worse.
"From now on, you'll stay here quietly. Don't leave this place.
If you can remain for 24 hours, you'll pass and move on to the next phase," Aldama said flatly.
That… simple?
The crowd buzzed in confusion.
"What kind of test is that?"
"As long as we don't leave, we pass?" one candidate asked, incredulous.
"Correct," Aldama replied without emotion.
He hung a ticking pocket watch on the railing, turned his back, and started to leave.
"Wait a second."
Phinks standing beside Haze raised his hand with a mocking grin.
Aldama turned his head slightly, glancing at the loudmouthed blond below.
"If I kill everyone else here," Phinks said, his tone casual yet laced with threat, "does that mean I'm the only one left, and I automatically pass?"
The air froze.
The temperature seemed to drop.
Even the nearby candidates paled.
Aldama inhaled deeply from his cigarette, exhaled a plume of smoke, and replied coldly:
"Listen, kid… This is the Hunter Association's examination hall, not some back-alley brawl. You want to cause trouble? Then get out."
Blood pulsed at Phinks' temples.
"Oh? Since you make the rules…" his eyes narrowed —
"If I kill you, the examiner, would that mean I pass?"
"Phinks…" Feitan sighed beside him.
The crowd gasped shocked that he dared to challenge the examiner outright.
Haze twirled his sunglasses between his fingers, smiling playfully.
He loved when things got entertaining —
and if a fight broke out, all the better.
Aldama's expression hardened.
"I'm the examiner. According to the rules, I decide who passes and who fails.
In other words, I hold your lives in my hands.
Try to kill me if you want no matter the outcome, you'll still fail this exam."
Then his voice thundered suddenly, echoing through the hall:
"Do you understand?!
While you're here, you follow my orders!
If you don't like it get out!"
The roar shattered several windows.
Many clutched their ears in agony.
No one had expected the first examiner to be this violent and intimidating.
Only five people in the entire hall remained unaffected by the blast —
Haze among them, calm behind his dark glasses, faintly smiling.
He noticed two others as well unmistakably Nen users.
Some participants were just formalizing their qualifications; others were true fighters.
Though the number of candidates this year was low a "bad year," as they called it there were still plenty of strong ones.
Veins bulged at Phinks' temples again as his eyes flicked toward the examiner.
Feitan tugged his sleeve quietly.
The members of the Spider were criminals —
but even criminals could recognize when to hold back.
Haze was slightly disappointed.
He'd hoped for a brawl to liven things up.
But Phinks, after a tense pause, suddenly grinned.
"All right then, Examiner Aldama whatever you say."
He cracked his neck; the joints popped loudly.
He might've calmed down, but the killing intent radiating from him was undeniable.
Even Haze could feel it.
He'd settle the score later.
Aldama, sensing the hostility, gave a cold snort, pushed open the door on the second floor, and disappeared from sight.
The nearby candidates immediately backed away from Phinks and Feitan —
because Phinks' expression was enough to terrify anyone.
"Ahh…"
Haze yawned, stretched lazily, and leaned against the wall to rest.
Phinks glanced at him sideways.
"Hey, don't get worked up. Get your Hunter License first," Feitan muttered softly.
"Heh… I'll find him later. I hope he's as tough then as he pretends to be now," Phinks sneered, folding his arms and closing his eyes.
(End of Chapter)
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