"Not only President Netero, but also the other members of the Zodiacs are constantly keeping an eye on the situation here."
"Is that so? It's truly an honor for me."
Morin chuckled.
"Um, Mr. Morin..."
Mr. Beans hesitated, "This is just an ordinary Hunter Exam."
"I know."
Morin replied with a cheerful smile, understanding what Mr. Beans meant.
"I'll make sure to keep things in check."
"That's for the best."
Mr. Beans forced a laugh and continued distributing number plates to the other participants. He remained skeptical about Morin's assurance.
At that moment, Morin heard Tonpa's loud shout.
"Yo, long time no see, Rookie Crusher Tonpa."
Morin greeted him warmly, feeling a rare sense of familiarity upon seeing an acquaintance.
"Rookie Crusher?!"
The title immediately made Leorio and Kurapika realize that the guy greeting them so enthusiastically was definitely up to no good.
"Uh..."
Morin's greeting made Tonpa shiver slightly. He lost his balance and fell off the pipe, but with a quick move, he landed steadily on the ground.
After giving Morin and the wary Leorio and Kurapika a couple of awkward laughs, he bolted away like a rabbit.
"Such agile movements..."
Leorio and Kurapika observed Tonpa's landing, which was surprisingly nimble and swift for his build. Clearly, he was someone with decent physical prowess.
Yet, even such a person displayed a look of horror upon seeing Morin, like a little rabbit encountering a big bad wolf.
"But to act like that after seeing Morin..."
Once again, their perception of Morin rose a notch.
"Rookie Crusher, huh? Morin, do you know him?"
Gon glanced at the hastily retreating Tonpa and curiously looked at Morin.
"Yes, Rookie Crusher Tonpa. He takes pleasure in tormenting newcomers during the exam and has participated in the Hunter Exam 35 times without passing."
Morin watched Tonpa's departing figure.
"The last time we met was twelve years ago. I didn't expect him to still be fighting in the Hunter Exam."
"So he's an old, old, old, old-timer who's failed 35 times?"
Leorio was a bit taken aback. He had become completely desensitized to the age and time references Morin mentioned.
"The Hunter Exam really attracts all sorts of people!"
Leorio glanced at the rapidly disappearing Tonpa and then at the bizarre characters around him.
Number 103, wearing an Arabian hat, had an Indian chieftain vibe, and seemed to be playing with a snake using a pipe.
Number 225, devouring a boxed meal, wore a purple tracksuit, had a ponytail, and was quite plump.
But from the muscles bulging under his clothes and the occasional glint in his small eyes, it was clear he had considerable strength and intelligence, not just a simple brute.
Number 34, with dark skin, wore distinctive hunting attire, and wielded a long stick-like straw.
Number 53, a short person carrying a bow and arrow, seemed quite agile.
Number 246, with blue hair and eyes, wore a large yellow hat, which seemed to house various bees and insects.
Numbers 197, 19, and 199 were three brothers who looked almost identical, each wearing a different style of hat.
"Still, none of their hats look as good as mine."
Gon, focusing on an odd detail, surveyed the area and then contentedly patted his own hat.
These people appeared to be seasoned veterans with extraordinary skills. Kurapika assessed them and noticed a few individuals who made him wary.
Number 294, a bald man claiming to be a ninja, seeking a mythical scroll by becoming a Hunter.
Number 301, with a face full of nails and vacant eyes, had a dazed look that made Kurapika reluctant to approach.
In short, this Hunter Exam was truly a gathering of hidden talents.
While Kurapika was secretly observing the surroundings and discovering other formidable candidates, the other examinees were also sizing them up.
Though Tonpa wasn't considered a threat in their eyes, he had survived 35 Hunter Exams as a Rookie Crusher, which was enough to prove his prowess. Yet, even so, the fact that such a seasoned veteran feared these newcomers...
The candidates quietly added Gon and his group to their watchlist.
At that moment...
"Ah!!!"
A piercing scream drew everyone's attention.
They looked over to see a man kneeling on the ground, screaming after losing his arm.
"Ah!!! My hand, my hand!!!"
His wails echoed throughout the area, his hands severed cleanly, yet bizarrely, no blood flowed.
"Oh my, how strange. How did your hands disappear into thin air? There's no trickery or mechanism involved."
The sound of shuffling cards and a light chuckle rang out.
This familiar voice and speaking style made some candidates who had experienced the previous Hunter Exam shiver and tremble.
"Next time, be careful. Remember to apologize when you bump into someone."
In front of the man whose arms vanished before everyone's eyes stood Hisoka, smiling insincerely.
"Whoosh."
Before Hisoka could finish speaking, everyone around him stepped back, maintaining a considerable distance.
The snake charmer Bourbon, the strong wrestler Toto, the dark-skinned, sharp-nosed Greta, the poison arrow user Bokur, the bee-controlling hat girl Ponzu, and the inseparable Amori brothers...
These seasoned candidates, who had witnessed or heard of Hisoka's terrifying deeds in the previous exam, looked even more grim upon seeing him in person.
"This lunatic is back again."
Especially those who had witnessed Hisoka's treatment of that annoying examiner, their expressions grew heavier as they slowly dispersed.
Even the formidable newcomers to this Hunter Exam moved back a bit.
"Indeed, the elders were right. There are many experts in the outside world. I must be cautious."
The bald ninja Hanzo watched Hisoka with wary eyes.
"Tsk tsk, starting the fun right from the beginning? Maybe this Hunter Exam won't be as boring as I thought."
A silver-haired kid with number 99 pinned to his chest whistled. Finding it interesting, he still tried to distance himself from the gradually intensifying killing intent around Hisoka.
"Hoho."
Hisoka paid no mind to the seasoned candidates around him, who had already turned into rotten apples.
He tilted his head, looking at the person he had longed to meet but never had the chance to.
"Before participating in this Hunter Exam, even until now, I never thought I'd meet you here!"
Hisoka's eyes curved, his mouth forming a deep, eerie smile.
"Morin... Deputy Leader!"
The last three words, "Deputy Leader," were mouthed silently by Hisoka. Though excited, he retained a shred of rationality.
Leorio and Kurapika, initially on high alert when Hisoka looked over, felt their hair stand on end at Hisoka's shout to Morin.
They sensed the bone-chilling cold, mixed with a mad desire and... killing intent!
"What kind of person is this?!"
Their pupils contracted sharply, their brains sounding alarms, and cold sweat dripped from their foreheads.
They had never encountered anyone like Hisoka.
"Yes, I heard from Shalnark that you participated in the Hunter Exam last year. I thought you had already passed and obtained your license."
Facing Hisoka's obsession, Morin stepped forward, responding calmly.
"Hoho, this is the best arrangement from above, meeting in this setting, in this exam..."
Hisoka licked his lips, his battle and killing intent becoming more solid.
The surrounding people, once again horrified, retreated further.
"Put away your killing intent."
Morin glanced at him indifferently, speaking calmly:
"I have no intention of making a move right now."
"If you want a spar or something else, you can wait until the exam starts or ends."
Seeing Hisoka's unabashed gaze, Morin continued:
"Of course, if you want to fight me now, I can fulfill your wish."
"However..."
Morin's eyes narrowed slightly, "I might not hold back."
Hisoka was undoubtedly troublesome, but in the face of absolute strength, if he dared to pester Morin, Morin wouldn't mind ending him.
Better to deal with him than have him buzzing around like an annoying fly.
"Not holding back, huh..."
Hisoka's smile widened, "It seems you also have killing intent towards me."
"According to the rules, it seems we can't kill each other at will, right?"
He referred to the rules of the Phantom Troupe.
"When you say that, first retract the killing intent you're exuding."
Morin glanced at him, "If it's your own desire to have a life-and-death battle with me, then I don't mind fulfilling it."
"We can determine the victor, or decide life and death!"
"It's up to you to choose."
After Morin finished speaking, the room fell into silence.
Bonus Next =D