In the Dentora region of the Batocia Republic, there is an extinct volcano surrounded by a sea of trees called Kukuroo Mountain.
Kukuroo Mountain is a famous attraction in this country, not only because of its beautiful geographical environment, but also because it is home to a world-renowned assassin family.
The Zoldyck family.
On Kukuroo Mountain, this extinct volcano, there is a massive Testing Gate.
This towering Testing Gate consists of seven interlocking doors, arranged from smallest to largest, each with a number indicated at the top. Each of the first doors weighs two tons on each side, and the weight of each subsequent door doubles. For example, the smallest first door weighs only 4 tons in total, the second door weighs 8 tons, and by the seventh door, it weighs a full 256 tons.
The Testing Gate does not require a key; anyone who can push it open can pass through.
And behind this massive Testing Gate is the assassin family—the Zoldyck family.
"This is… the Testing Gate."
At 8 PM on September 1, 1980, four black sedans arrived at Kukuroo Mountain. In the back seat of the third car, a teenager who looked only fifteen or sixteen years old was gazing intently through the window at the towering gate ahead.
The teenager wore a dark blue short-sleeved T-shirt, and beneath his black bangs were a pair of sky-blue eyes. At this moment, in those eyes, besides surprise, there was also a hint of helplessness.
It wasn't a dream; he had really come to the world of Hunter x Hunter.
Lin Nuo didn't know how many times he had sighed in his heart. Ever since he woke up an hour ago and suddenly found himself in another world, Lin Nuo had been sighing continuously.
He had originally wondered if he was hallucinating, but after seeing his youthful body in the car's rearview mirror and the Testing Gate before him, Lin Nuo finally stopped doubting.
The Testing Gate, the Zoldyck family.
Even a normie like Lin Nuo had seen the famous anime series Hunter x Hunter. Upon hearing these two iconic terms, he quickly concluded that he was indeed in the world of Hunter x Hunter.
As for his current identity...
Noah, fifteen years old, from Meteor City, currently on his way to take the Zoldyck apprentice butler examination.
These were the memories that remained in his mind.
Apprentice butler, huh?
Perhaps he had forgotten, but Lin Nuo, or rather, Noah, as he should be called now, had no impression of a character like himself appearing in the original work.
Or maybe he had died long ago.
Recalling the cruel rules within the assassin family, Noah came to a conclusion.
The four sedans stopped steadily in front of the Testing Gate. Noah followed the others out of the car.
Standing before this gate, which weighed a total of 256 tons, Noah felt an oppressive force wash over him, making it seem as if even breathing was difficult.
Including Noah, there were a total of 8 people taking the Zoldyck family's apprentice butler examination, all of whom were from Meteor City.
After these 8 people got out of the cars, the drivers of the four sedans immediately turned around and drove away without hesitation.
"Oh, you must be the ones here for the butler exam. Please come over."
At this moment, an old man in a guard uniform, with a receding hairline and a prominent black mole on the side of his nose, poked his head out of the guardhouse next to the Testing Gate and waved, signaling for everyone to approach.
Oh, it's him.
Noah had a slight impression of this old man; he was one of the guards who helped the protagonist enter the Testing Gate.
His name was something like Zebulo, right?
If he remembered correctly.
Thinking this, Noah continued walking, following the others to the front of the guardhouse.
"Hmm."
Zebulo stepped out of the guardhouse and surveyed the eight people one by one from left to right, then offered a kindly smile.
"Welcome, everyone. Now, please enter through the main gate." Zebulo extended his hand and pointed to the Testing Gate beside them, then held up two fingers.
"Pushing open the second door will be your first test."
Really?
Noah instinctively looked towards the Testing Gate.
Are you kidding me?
The second door? That's 8 tons!
Just as Noah was still complaining in his mind, one of the eight, without a word, was the first to walk towards the Testing Gate. The others, after glancing at the gate, followed suit.
Snap.
The first person reached the door, extended both hands, and placed them on the two door panels.
Noah felt his eyelid twitching; he watched the scene intently.
"Hmph!"
The tall, thin man, who looked much like an ordinary office worker before Noah's transmigration, let out a low grunt. Noah immediately saw several thick veins bulge on the man's arms, clearly indicating he was using all his strength.
Rumble...
Two seconds later, a low sound reached everyone present.
The Testing Gate marked 'II', weighing a full 8 tons, slowly opened to both sides under the man's push. The man stepped forward, pushing open the second Testing Gate little by little, then walked in without looking back.
Rumble...
A few seconds later, the gap, just wide enough for one person, slowly closed again.
He really pushed it open.
Noah's pupils contracted, and he let out a sigh of wonder. He looked at the others and noticed that, apart from himself, the remaining six people all had expressionless faces, seemingly unfazed by the pressure.
Although Noah knew that people in the Hunter x Hunter world generally possessed extremely high physical abilities, and pushing open a Testing Gate was not impossible.
However, as a normal person who had just transmigrated less than an hour ago, when confronted with a 'superhuman' who could push open an 8-ton gate with bare hands, he couldn't help but feel a strong sense of shock.
Can I do it too?
He looked down at his hands, feeling the strength coursing through his body, and Noah felt a little excited.
With the first person's demonstration, the others also eagerly stepped forward.
"Hmph!!"
"Ha!!"
"Oh oh oh oh oh!"
Rumble...
...The second Testing Gate opened and closed, closed and opened before Noah's eyes. Finally, all seven people, except Noah, had gone behind the Testing Gate. In the vast open space, only Noah and Zebulo, who had been watching the commotion, remained.
Alright, let's go!
"Good luck, young man."
Just as Noah took a deep breath and stepped forward, Zebulo's encouraging voice came from the side.
Noah turned his head and gave Zebulo a slightly bitter smile.
His hands pressed against the steel door panels. Because the seven people before him had pushed the door, the panels were not as cold as Noah had imagined; instead, they were somewhat warm.
"Hoo."
Taking a deep breath, Noah's gaze became resolute. He concentrated all his strength in his arms and pushed forward with all his might!
Rumble rumble!
The anticipated difficulty did not appear; the Testing Gate before him was easily pushed completely open by Noah!
He withdrew his hands, looked at the Testing Gates on both sides, then at his own hands, his face full of disbelief.
Pushed it open? That easily? Does this door really weigh eight tons?
This body of mine doesn't seem weak at all… "Hurry up and go in, young man."
From behind, Zebulo's voice came.
Noah snapped back to reality. He turned his head, gave Zebulo a smile, then turned and stepped into the darkness ahead.
It seems this apprentice butler examination is quite something to look forward to… Rumble rumble.
Watching the Testing Gate close once more, Zebulo smiled and turned to walk back into the guardhouse.