In addition to the two problem teenagers, gon answered honestly: "I want to be a Hunter because my dad does this job, so I want to know what kind of work it is."
"Don't interrupt randomly. Didn't you see we're talking to this uncle?" Leorio said irritably.
The captain's question tugged at his nerves, reminding him of painful memories from the past.
"What's the problem? It's just saying a reason," gon muttered.
"What I don't want to say, I will never say. Even in a duel, I won't say what I don't want to say!" Leorio roared.
The tragic death of his old friend Piado and his obsession with becoming a doctor flashed through his mind.
"Leorio, I agree with you. And my reason for becoming a Hunter is very personal. Why should I tell a stranger I met for the first time?" Kurapika said seriously. "I have the right not to say it."
The question reminded him of his clan's blood feud, and he momentarily lost his calm.
At this moment, Leorio and Kurapika reached an unspoken agreement.
"Really, you still don't get it?" Roy spoke lazily. "The Hunter exam already started the moment we boarded this ship. The uncle in front of us is a member of the Hunter Association."
"The captain called the five of us into his room and asked personal questions that shouldn't concern him—and could easily make candidates angry. For a captain seasoned in storms and waves to do something like this, it's obvious he's also part of the Hunter Association."
Captain Red Nose felt very pleased at being called a "captain full of life wisdom," but the next sentence instantly choked him.
"Of course, it's also possible that the captain uncle's brain suddenly twitched. Biologically speaking, elderly people often—"
"Ahem." The captain coughed sharply, stopping Roy before he finished the sentence.
"Roy is right," the captain admitted. "You must answer the question, Kurapika, Leorio. Otherwise, you'll have to disembark. The Hunter exam begins the moment you get on the ship."
He pulled out a card representing the Hunter Association from his coat and continued, "Many people apply for the Hunter Exam every year. If the Association screened everyone one by one, the manpower and resources would be enormous. So they have us help with the early filtering. I've already reported the unqualified ones to the committee."
"As for whether you get to take the Hunter Exam or not… that depends on my mood," he added bluntly.
Though the captain's expression didn't change, his reddening nose showed he was definitely irritated by Leorio and Kurapika.
"Tch… fine. Then I'll tell you," Leorio grumbled.
"I want to be a Hunter for money. Once you're a Hunter, you can make tons of money. With money, you can buy anything—big houses, fancy cars, good wine, even wom—"
Leorio said this with a dreamy expression, looking utterly ridiculous.
"Leorio, money cannot buy humanity," Kurapika said coldly.
"Kid, how old are you? Call me Mr. Leorio!" Leorio barked.
"Oh, I agree with Mr. Leorio," No. 18 suddenly said. She brushed her blonde hair aside and smiled. "I want to be a Hunter for money too."
She had clearly found a like-minded partner.
"Right?! I told you—money is great! You can buy everything—"
"But not everything," No. 18 said calmly, cutting him down in an instant. "You can't buy women or love."
She glanced at Roy as she said it.
Leorio froze. Then he realized he had said something stupid in front of a woman and lightly coughed to cover his embarrassment.
"Yes, Leorio, No. 18," Kurapika said calmly. "You might love money, but in my view, money is not omnipotent. There are many things money cannot buy."
A trace of anger rose in his turquoise eyes as old memories surfaced. Even though Leorio was glaring at him, Kurapika didn't budge—he was completely immersed in the past.
"I am a survivor of the Kurta tribe. I want to become a Hunter—a bounty Hunter—who brings criminals to justice," Kurapika said firmly.
"Why?" the captain asked.
"Four years ago, all of my people were massacred. The criminals were the Phantom Brigade. I want to catch them as a Hunter," Kurapika said.
"The Phantom troupe are A-class bounty criminals. Even senior Hunters don't take them lightly. You'll just be throwing your life away," the captain said calmly, blowing a smoke ring.
"I'm not afraid of death. I'm only afraid of forgetting this hatred," Kurapika said word by word.
"What a stubborn guy… If you want revenge, you don't have to be a Hunter," Leorio said dismissively.
If you'd like me to apply the earl