Chapter 32: Hunter License x Hunter's Ten Commandments
Luo Lin wasn't surprised by Killua's departure.
Others might not know, but how could he not?
Illumi had planted a needle in Killua's mind.
Although, due to the Zoldyck family rules, that needle wasn't one used by Illumi as a Manipulator to control others.
But compared to forcibly controlling someone, this needle had been influencing Killua for years, instilling Illumi's thoughts and aiming to turn Killua into a replica of himself.
This was something Killua couldn't resist yet.
Even in the future, after learning Nen and going through countless experiences, Killua only managed to remove the needle after forming a deep bond with Gon, and in the face of Gon's life-threatening situation.
At this point, Killua's resolve was far from strong enough to overcome that needle.
So, the current situation was inevitable.
In the hotel conference room:
"According to the final test rules, since Killua killed Bodoro, Killua is disqualified, and all other candidates pass unconditionally."
"Congratulations to everyone here. You have successfully passed this year's Hunter test and become Hunters!"
On stage, Netero announced the decision of the Hunter Examination Committee.
However, no one in the room smiled despite becoming Hunters.
Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio had their reasons. Given what happened with Killua, they couldn't possibly be happy.
As for Illumi and Hisoka…
Illumi, although he successfully sent Killua home, couldn't smile at Killua's resistance.
And Hisoka… though he didn't know the exact method, he suspected that Illumi had done something to Killua.
Under the influence of whatever method Illumi used, Killua's worth in Hisoka's eyes dropped sharply.
If, before, Hisoka's ranking of the most promising "apples" went Luo Lin, Killua, Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio, now Killua had fallen to the bottom, almost on par with Leorio.
Though Killua was still decent, he no longer warranted much of Hisoka's attention or high expectations.
Luo Lin and Hanzo, on the other hand, were merely spectators.
Hanzo had no connection to Killua, so he wasn't affected by the situation, though he couldn't smile after seeing Killua's final actions as an assassin.
Luo Lin simply didn't care.
For someone like him, who had the foresight of spoilers, Killua's current predicament was just a minor issue, not worth much attention.
On stage:
Netero gazed at the gloomy faces of the Hunter candidates below and sighed.
In all his years of conducting the Hunter exam, while not all candidates celebrated, this was the first time he had seen such uniform silence from those who passed.
"Now, let me explain the rights and obligations of professional Hunters."
Bean stepped forward, smiling at the crowd.
"First, please open the boxes in front of you. Inside, you'll find your Hunter licenses."
Everyone did as instructed, opening the boxes to find a palm-sized card inside.
Bean also took out an identical Hunter license and began explaining:
"Though it may look ordinary, these Hunter licenses are made using advanced anti-counterfeiting technology, far superior to the security features on the banknotes of major nations."
"Only with this Hunter license can you enjoy all the privileges of being a professional Hunter, such as free access to 95% of public facilities worldwide and a credit limit equivalent to top-tier corporations."
"You can also use the license to enter about 90% of restricted countries and 75% of forbidden zones. If you don't wish to remain a professional Hunter, you can sell the license for enough money to last several lifetimes."
"In short, with this license, your future is secure, and you can focus entirely on pursuing whatever you desire."
At this point, even those still troubled by earlier events couldn't help but be astonished by the privileges the Hunter license granted.
This explained why millions of candidates risked their lives each year for this small card.
Bean didn't stop and continued:
"However, please note that once a Hunter license is issued, it will not be reissued. So, be careful to prevent it from being lost or stolen."
"According to our statistics, about one-fifth of qualified candidates lose their licenses within a year."
"So, your first challenge as a professional Hunter is to safeguard your license!"
"A challenge, huh?"
Luo Lin pondered.
Perhaps Bean's words weren't just a warning but a subtle hint that another test might be coming.
Given the one-year time limit, it wasn't impossible.
Luo Lin even suspected that the one-fifth of candidates who lost their licenses each year might have failed a final test, and the Hunter Association reclaimed their licenses.
Of course, none of this mattered.
To Luo Lin, the most important thing about the Hunter license was that it served as a legitimate ID.
As for the rest…
Luo Lin doubted whether Netero would arrange for someone to teach him Nen.
With Netero, nothing would surprise him.
The briefing didn't last long.
The Hunter Association didn't have many rules since being a Hunter was a free and often self-directed profession.
Common categories included Gourmet Hunters, Treasure Hunters, Bounty Hunters, and Mythical Beast Hunters, many of whom worked as private Hunters for hire.
In more niche areas, Hunters could even create their own hunting targets.
For example, the Association had a "Love and Beauty Hunter."
As long as a person held a Hunter license and pursued a goal, they were considered a qualified Hunter.
Aside from explaining the functions of the Hunter license, Bean summarized the Hunter's Ten Commandments, the true rules Hunters followed:
A Hunter must have a hunting target.A Hunter must possess at least a minimal understanding of combat.A Hunter's license, once issued, cannot be revoked or reissued for any reason.A Hunter must not consider fellow Hunters as prey, except those who commit heinous crimes.A Hunter who achieves significant accomplishments in a specific field will be awarded one star.A senior Hunter who fulfills the fifth commandment and mentors a junior Hunter who receives a star will be awarded two stars.A Hunter who achieves significant accomplishments in multiple fields will be awarded three stars.The highest leader of the Hunter Association must have the trust of at least half the members to assume the role. If the Chairman's seat becomes vacant, a new Chairman must be elected quickly. Until then, the Vice-Chairman will act as Chairman.The Chairman has the authority to determine the method for selecting new members. However, if the method is significantly altered, it must gain the trust of more than half the members.Any matters not covered by the above will be decided by the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and the advisory committee through meetings. The Chairman is responsible for selecting the Vice-Chairman and the committee.