Just as Killua felt a flash of insight—on the verge of realizing something—he was abruptly interrupted by an extremely indecent sound.
Chairman Netero was truly going all out to attract Lu Ou and the others' attention.
"So itchy… my butt is so itchy…"
With his back turned to them, Netero scratched himself and groaned dramatically.
"Hm. I wonder if the Chairman would sound good singing 'Itchy,'" Lu Ou's mind wandered absurdly for a second.
Once he noticed that everyone's attention had shifted to him, Netero instantly changed expressions. In the blink of an eye, his lecherous grin transformed into a dignified, authoritative face.
Then again, if he couldn't change faces that quickly, how could he be Chairman?
"I've already heard from Anita about you. You're from the Zoldyck family—the family of assassins," Netero said.
"So what?" Killua clenched his fists, the muscles in his face tightening. The calm he had just regained began to unravel again.
"Don't get tense. Let's hear what the Chairman has to say," Lu Ou said, patting Killua's arm to calm him.
"Exactly. Don't wind yourself up so tight," Netero added, glancing briefly at Lu Ou before continuing.
"She was the one who came looking for trouble first," Killua said. Even if he was supposed to stay calm, he felt that needed to be made clear.
"By the way, what will happen to Anita?" Gon suddenly asked, remembering to inquire about her punishment.
"That matter doesn't concern you," Netero replied calmly.
He completely ignored the questioning stares directed at him, looking perfectly at ease.
"Don't say that. Please tell us," Gon insisted. After all, whether directly or indirectly, Anita had acted because of Killua. They still wanted to know what would happen to her.
Killua scuffed the floor with his foot, pretending not to care. But his ears were perked up high—obviously listening closely.
"Still a kid," Lu Ou thought with a faint smile. No matter how much training he'd undergone, at heart, Killua was still just a child.
"What's certain is that she must receive the harshest punishment. Based on her situation, she may never be allowed to participate in the Hunter Exam again," Netero said.
Now it wasn't just Gon who grew anxious. Killua dropped his act of indifference. Even Kurapika felt the weight of it—wasn't that punishment too severe?
"Hey, Chairman, isn't that a bit too harsh?" Leorio blurted out, unable to hold back.
"Are you that concerned?" Netero asked in return.
"Isn't there any room for negotiation?" Gon pressed.
"Pleading on her behalf won't help…" Netero sighed.
But seeing the intensity in their gazes—and Leorio looking ready to argue before being held back—he suddenly changed his mind.
"However, there is one way. You must accept my wager—and win against me."
At last, Netero revealed his true objective.
In truth, he simply wanted to test the potential of Lu Ou and the others. He had taken quite the roundabout route to get there.
"A wager?" Gon echoed in confusion, instinctively turning to Lu Ou for clarification.
"Since the Chairman is interested, it would be impolite not to accompany him," Lu Ou said evenly, deciding to accept.
The others exchanged glances. In the end, their trust in Lu Ou won out. They followed Netero into a large, spacious room—likely a training hall. It was open and unobstructed, ideal for movement.
They had already felt Netero's overwhelming aura before, but being able to personally test the gap between them was something Lu Ou genuinely welcomed.
In the original scenario, it had been a ball-stealing game. With one extra person present now, would it change? Lu Ou was curious.
Netero removed his outer robe, revealing a sleeveless shirt suitable for movement. He slipped off his wooden sandals and, seemingly out of nowhere, produced a ball.
Lu Ou's expression flickered slightly—but nothing had changed.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The ball—about the size of a soccer ball—bounced lazily against the floor as Netero dribbled it casually.
"Lu Ou, what kind of wager do you think it is?" Leorio whispered.
He personally wasn't interested in gambling. He would've preferred resting and conserving energy for the next phase of the exam.
Kurapika looked thoughtful, clearly analyzing the situation.
"Based on what we've seen so far, it shouldn't be complicated," Lu Ou said.
"You're quite logical. Correct—it's a very simple game," Netero said. "During the time it takes to reach our next destination, if you can take this ball from me, you win. And I'll show leniency—I won't pursue punishment for that girl."
He spun the ball in his hand and gestured toward Anita, who had been brought to the doorway at some point.
"No. Why should I help someone who came to kill me get off the hook?" Killua refused immediately.
Concern was one thing—but sacrificing his own position for her? Impossible.
Even Gon remained silent. First, this was between Killua and Anita. Second, he didn't think Netero's offer sounded particularly appealing.
When effort and reward aren't proportional, no one agrees so easily. Throughout the entire story, Gon rarely accepted a losing deal.
"I don't want that either! I won't accept charity from someone from an assassin family!" Anita snapped, rejecting the idea outright and ignoring the Chairman's apparent goodwill.
Seeing their lack of enthusiasm, Netero resorted to another tactic.
"Oh my, oh my… it's just a game. Relax. Or is it that you don't have the confidence to beat me?" he said teasingly, tossing the ball into the air.
"What?" Killua reacted.
Although Netero's provocation had some effect, none of them were particularly stirred. As things stood, the fact that they couldn't beat the Chairman was as solid as iron.
"Very well. I'll add another condition. If you win, I'll give each of you a Hunter License."
"Huh?!" they exclaimed in unison, stunned for a moment before processing his words.
"Chairman… are you serious?" Leorio asked, wearing a rather shameless grin.
The way Gon's eyes lit up showed that he didn't care much about shortcuts or notions of fairness. As long as he could reach his goal, the method didn't matter much to him.
"Don't forget—I am the Chairman of the Hunter Association. If I say it, I can make it happen," Netero said confidently.
"The Hunter Exam is that casual…?" the four of them muttered simultaneously, exchanging looks.
That was a heavy blow. They needed a moment.
A brief, silent one-second moment of mourning—for all the examinees who had already been eliminated.