After less than two seconds of parting, the group found themselves reunited~
It was probably the shortest separation ever.
Everyone exchanged glances, with slight smiles tugging at their faces. Even Kurapika and Killua seemed more relaxed than usual.
After all, traveling with companions who know your every move is much more comforting than walking the road alone.
But how well do we really know each other?
Ronnel adjusted his clothes on his right shoulder, an inexplicable smile playing on his lips. He turned his gaze to the devices in the center of the room—wristband-like objects—and the hunting-themed text etched on the wall.
"On this road, the five of you must obey the rule of the majority and face several checkpoints from here to the end."
Lippo's voice echoed through the room, explaining the conditions for clearing this "minority rule" path.
Each of them wore a wristband resembling an electronic watch with symbols for circles and crosses. After each option appeared, they'd have to make a decision together, with the minority forced to comply with the majority's choice.
The rules were simple and straightforward.
Yet, for some reason, Ronnel felt there was a hint of surprise in Lippo's tone.
"Click."
The wall on the left began to rise slowly, revealing a stone door. But when the wall was fully raised, it became clear that it wasn't a plain doorway—it was a door with a combination lock, requiring them to make decisions to proceed.
This marked the moment when all five of them had to make choices together.
"Easy~ easy! It's definitely the circle option!" Leorio exclaimed with confidence, his spirits high.
His face lit up even more when he saw the five circles displayed on the screen.
"This minority rule path must be designed for candidates to team up with strangers, testing their cooperation and coordination in unfamiliar environments."
"But the examiner couldn't have predicted that the five of us already know each other and are companions! With our teamwork, this test will be a breeze!!" Leorio added, looking more smug by the second.
Kurapika and Gon said nothing, but their smiles and relaxed expressions spoke volumes.
Indeed, having companions on this journey was a blessing, and it greatly increased their chances of success.
Companions?
Killua glanced down, lost in thought, while Ronnel simply smiled, not confirming nor denying anything.
However, Leorio's grin quickly faded.
"Why did you pick the right? Shouldn't you have gone left?! I feel like I should've picked left—this feels so wrong!" Leorio grumbled.
As he continued his indecisive rant, Kurapika silently walked up behind him and pushed him through the door on the right. This kept them moving and avoided any unnecessary delays.
This kind of situation—indecisive choices and conflicting opinions—was designed to stir frustration and cause rifts among the group, testing their unity and breaking their harmony.
Ronnel could already picture Lippo sitting behind a monitor, munching on snacks with a grin, enjoying the show.
"Even if the five of them know each other, so what? People are different, and their choices will reflect that."
"In fact, knowing each other might just make the conflict more explosive when it hits, hohoho!!"
Lippo, after years of watching TV dramas and movies, relished the thought of companions turning on each other, weapons drawn and voices raised. This kind of scene was always the most satisfying for him.
The twisted pleasure he derived from this was comparable to that of the trickster girl from Greed Island, who tried to break Gon and Killua apart.
"Prison warden Lippo, some candidates have entered. Help me release the lock on my wrist," a voice from the radio interrupted his thoughts.
Lippo shifted the camera to focus on Ronnel's group and saw five prisoners in blue uniforms on the screen, each wearing handcuffs.
One prisoner, standing at the front, pointed to the surveillance camera and raised his wrist.
"No problem. By the way, if you can reduce their time to 50—no, 40 hours, I can knock off more time for you."
Lippo continued to operate the computer, an evil grin spreading across his face.
"Remember, 40 hours!"
As a fan of drama and thrillers, Lippo knew the importance of tension. If the group's time was reduced to under 40 hours, a surprise awaited them at the final checkpoint!
Lippo's eyes gleamed with excitement as he imagined the scene that would unfold. This test would even feature the Battle Olympia champion as the "main actor." The drama was sure to be intense!
"Click."
The first prisoner in the scene unlocked his handcuffs.
After a quick stretch, he looked across the cliff at Ronnel and his group, a predatory smile forming on his lips.
"So this is where it begins...." Leorio muttered, looking around.
The bright torches lit the surroundings in a deep red hue, making it easy to see the platform ahead. The gap between the cliffs stretched tens of meters, but the space in between was vast and open.
"Look." Killua nodded toward the center.
A massive man with a muscular upper body, cleaner than Hanzo's bald head, stepped forward.
"We are your test officials, appointed by the Hunter Association. If you want to pass, you'll need to fight us five-on-five."
The man, who looked like a younger Dwayne Johnson, flexed his muscles and proudly explained the conditions for advancing.
"The matches are one-on-one. Each of you can fight only once, and the order will be decided among yourselves. Since you follow the rule of majority vote, you only need to win three of the matches to pass."
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