"Congratulations on passing the second phase of the Hunter Exam."
There were no more than three candidates who could appear behind him without making a sound. Satotz had already expected this and didn't show much surprise. Instead, he turned around politely and gave a formal nod to Ronnel, who had silently materialized behind him.
"Indeed, using taste as the sole criterion seems a bit unreasonable. If the final outcome isn't satisfactory, the Hunter Association will have to arbitrate it."
"At that point, Chairman Netero might have to step in?" Ronnel said with a smile. "Funny thing, I've never actually met him."
"Chairman Netero? Oh, I almost forgot—Mr. Ronnel is also a disciple of the Shingen-ryu, same as Chairman Netero. I didn't miss a single match during the Battle Olympia."
The two continued chatting in a relaxed manner when they noticed Hisoka nearby, holding a plate of Western-style dishes, looking somewhat defeated and solitary.
Meanwhile Menchi was making her judgment, causing a tense and uncomfortable atmosphere to spread.
Outside, the friendly conversation between Ronnel and Satotz stood in stark contrast to the tension within.
"Wait, the phase is being judged on taste alone?" Leorio's voice rang out.
"And what's the problem with that?" Menchi snapped.
"Ronnel mentioned each phase assesses a specific skill. Is taste really what this round is about?" Leorio pressed.
"No, it's more about observation and understanding," Killua said,
"Look at the way she's sitting—it's a clue."
"We all made sushi, so why weren't we qualified?"
"Exactly! Even though that bald guy gave us a tiny hint, we still followed the examiner's instructions. So, why did we fail?" Gon chimed in.
"That's right!"
Menchi crossed her arms, scowling. "You failed because I said so! This phase is all about taste! If you can't accept that, tough luck—I'm not changing the results!"
The complaints from Leorio, Gon, Killua, and the other candidates could be faintly heard from where Ronnel and Satotz were standing. They exchanged a helpless smile.
In the end, Menchi disqualified everyone except Ronnel, leaving the rest of the candidates frustrated.
Satotz, who had anticipated this outcome, simply shook his head. As one of the candidates—a wrestler in purple with pigtails—was sent flying by Buhara, Satotz pulled out his phone.
The Hunter exam retest had to be conducted, and Ronnel and Satotz watched the scene unfold like a drama.
Within the hour, Menchi had hunted the horned bear, prepared a dish with its scales, yet the candidates remained unimpressed.
Just as tensions were rising and Hisoka was about to shuffle his playing cards, the Hunter Association's airship arrived, cutting through the atmosphere.
Netero himself descended from the air, casually playing with a deck of cards, instantly calming the restless crowd.
He cast a sharp glance at Menchi's rather revealing outfit but kept a straight face.
"Menchi," he said sternly, and she immediately straightened up, like a scolded schoolgirl.
After a brief reprimand, Netero managed to convince Menchi to give the candidates another chance—a mix of kindness and authority. It wasn't long before a retest was announced: to gather spider eggs from deep canyon in Split Mountain.
The group, including Ronnel, arrived at the foot of the mountain aboard the Hunter Association's airship. A narrow canyon split the terrain, and the roar of a river echoed from below, hinting at the challenge ahead.
"The eggs of the spider..." Ronnel mused as he crouched near the canyon's edge, observing the clusters of eggs below. He then glanced at Gon, who was warming up for the jump.
"Hey, Gon, mind if I borrow your fishing rod?"
"Sure, go ahead," Gon replied.
Since Ronnel had already qualified, he didn't need to take the supplementary exam. He borrowed Gon's rod, tested the length of the line, and skillfully hooked a cluster of spider eggs with a flick of the wrist.
The fishing rod wound around the eggs, and with a gentle tug, Ronnel pulled them up effortlessly. Menchi and Buhara, standing nearby, exchanged surprised glances.
"Well, this is way more fun than actual fishing," Ronnel remarked with a grin.
"These eggs taste good. Maybe I'll save some for Shizuku... and send a few to Bisky and Wing, too."
By the end of the test, 42 candidates successfully passed, bringing the total to 43, including Ronnel. Among the group were several familiar faces.
"Hey, this is our first meeting," Netero said, stroking his beard as he approached Ronnel, "How's your master?"
"Who knows? I haven't seen her in over half a year. I just hope she hasn't changed too much," Ronnel replied with a chuckle.
Meanwhile, in a city not far away, a petite woman sneezed in the middle of a shopping mall.
"Weird... who's talking about me behind my back?"
Netero laughed, enjoying Ronnel's carefree attitude.
"A saying, huh? Where'd that come from—Meteor City?"
"Who knows?" Ronnel shrugged, a glint in his eye.
"But on the Streets of Meteor City, we have our own way of looking at things. We don't deny our past, but we don't let anyone take it from us either."
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