Ryker followed the voice.
Among the crowd of fierce-looking fighters, a trembling girl stepped forward. She looked like she was about to cry.
Ponzu.
The "carried" girl from the previous round.
She held up her card with shaking hands.
Her luck was truly cursed.
In the previous round, she was thrown into the "Group of Death." Now, she had drawn Ryker's number.
She wanted to throw the card away the moment she saw it.
The image of Ryker mincing the prisoner into meat cubes flashed in her mind.
Too cruel!
Will he chop me up too?
"Ryker-sama... I... I..."
Ponzu's eyes filled with tears. She held out the card.
"Here is your number... You saved me before... I... I choose to forfeit..."
Card #406.
"Ryker-bro..."
Gon and the others looked at Ryker. Even the kids felt pity for her. She was surrendering before the game even started.
She knew she couldn't win. To pass, she needed 3 points. Ryker was impossible to steal from. And finding three other targets weaker than her in this crowd was hopeless.
"Idiot! Giving up the ticket right here? I'll take it!"
A burly man from the crowd lunged forward, eyes locked on the card in Ponzu's hand.
This was exactly what he needed. If he grabbed Ryker's number, he'd have his 3 points. Even if it was risky, snatching it from a weak girl was easier than fighting Ryker.
He's fast!
He reached Ponzu in a split second.
Got it!
He grinned. Grab the card, run into the jungle, hide until the exam ends!
But just as his fingers brushed the card—
Flash.
A silver blur.
Killua appeared, his hands sharp as claws.
Slash.
Blood sprayed.
The burly man's eyes went blank, and he collapsed with a heavy thud. The card rolled out of his hand.
Killua picked it up, glanced at it, and tossed it to Ryker.
"Ryker-bro. Not my target."
.
Ryker checked it. A 1-point trash card. No one on their team needed it.
"M-My... My card..." Ponzu trembled, holding out #406 again.
Giving up here was painful. She had come so far. But the glares from the other candidates told her she was already marked as prey. The weak would be culled first.
"We've come this far. Giving up now seems like a waste, doesn't it?" Ryker said calmly, glancing at her.
Green hair, big hat, bees.
Ponzu.
Her ability was controlling bees.
Name: Ponzu
Traits: [Bee Control] (Blue), [Analysis] (Blue), [Melee] (Green), [Cowardice] (White)...
Weak.
But useful.
In the jungle, without En (Nen sensing), her bees were the best radar available. In the canon, she used them to track Bourbon the Snake Charmer and avoid traps. She was a living UAV.
"Are you interested in joining our team?" Ryker asked.
"Huh?!" Ponzu blinked, thinking she misheard.
"R-Ryker-sama... you mean... me? But I'm so weak..."
"Everyone has different strengths. Your ability is exactly what I need. If you join us, I can help you pass this exam."
"I accept! I accept!! Ryker-sama!!"
Ponzu nodded furiously.
"Give me the card."
"Eh?" Ponzu froze.
He's taking it? But without a target card, I can't pass...
Still, she handed it over, trusting him instinctively (or out of fear).
Ryker took card #406.
Then, he unpinned his own badge—#406—and tossed it to her.
"There. Now you have my badge. That's worth 3 points for you. Keep it safe. I doubt anyone is stupid enough to try and steal my badge from you while I'm around."
Ryker smirked, pocketing the draw card. "Let's go."
"Whoa! Welcome to the team! I'm Gon!"
"Leorio. Please call me Mr. Leorio."
"Kurapika."
Ponzu stood there, stunned.
She clutched Ryker's badge to her chest. Tears welled up in her eyes again, but this time, she smiled.
Ryker-sama... he isn't as scary as I thought!
He's actually so gentle!
In the tower... he must have killed that prisoner so brutally just to scare the others into surrendering! He did it to protect me!
Blushing slightly, Ponzu ran to catch up with the group.
The other candidates watched with strange expressions.
"Hahahaha! That Ryker is an interesting guy!" Hanzo laughed, scratching his bald head.
"Attention everyone! Please board the ship for the Fourth Phase! We will arrive in two hours!" the guide announced cheerfully. "Also, anyone who fails this year is welcome to try again next year—the trip back is free!"
The candidates boarded the boat.
The whistle blew, and the ship set sail for Zevil Island.
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