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[Start of the chapter]
Gon and Leorio looked toward Menchi, who was holding a knife behind them, with utterly horrified expressions.
They truly could not understand those lunatics who ate people.
"Of course, Gourmet Hunters are officially recognized, so naturally they're not like those psychos hiding in the shadows," Roy explained.
Even so, it was hard to erase the shock they had just felt. Menchi naturally noticed the strange looks Gon and the others were giving her.
Menchi: "???"
What was wrong with this group? Why were they suddenly looking at her so strangely?
At that moment, inside the testing grounds—
Bang!
In the next second, the Braided Man was sent flying by Buhara and embedded straight into the wall.
The noisy examinees instantly came to their senses.
That examinee who had passed earlier, the one who seemed to know a lot, had said that Gourmet Hunters were very strong.
For a moment, everyone fell silent, but that silent resistance was only growing more intense.
Seeing the scene finally quiet down, Menchi calmed herself as well.
Then, just like in the original story, Menchi told the examinees to wait for one hour. She headed to the Milsy Wetlands, saying she would bring back a final parting gift for the examinees before they left.
"The way things are changing is getting harder and harder to predict. Yes, I absolutely have to keep watching this show."
As a professional spectator, Satotz had completely thrown caution to the wind after making a phone call to report the situation. He slipped off to the side, widened his eyes, even pulled out a small pair of binoculars, and watched everything with utmost concentration.
And as she departed, Menchi displayed astonishing speed, giving the examinees yet another warning.
"Her body is agile, and that speed is seriously impressive." Killua carefully examined the footprint left on the ground. At his current level, he still could not pull off something like that. Even if he used his stealth footwork, he probably still would not be able to catch up.
"So Gourmet Hunter Examiners really are amazing. Her power is incredible too." Gon also saw the footprint. After learning Nen, he could judge certain things much more easily.
"Yeah, she's definitely incredible." Leorio let out a long breath. Good thing he had not forced his way forward earlier. He had also realized that even though he had learned Nen, he was still only half-baked and nowhere near strong enough to fight an Examiner.
The examinees did not relax their guard just because Menchi had temporarily left. After all, there was still that huge guy standing here.
Faced with the wary looks from the examinees, Buhara felt completely innocent.
Menchi had caused all of this, so why was he the one taking the blame?
While the examinees' side had fallen quiet during Menchi's absence, far away at the Hunter Association—
On Netero's side—
"How do you plan to handle this? It looks like they've turned off their phones over there." The short Beans held the phone with a worried expression.
Earlier, when Menchi had reported the final result to the Hunter Association, she had stubbornly insisted on her own judgment and then turned her phone off.
"That girl has always been extremely competitive. Unless there's a reason that truly convinces her, she won't change her mind so easily."
Chairman Netero, dressed in white clothes with blue stripes, stood on one leg while holding up a glass of juice with the other foot and drinking from it, his attitude as relaxed as ever.
"But the reason she gave is far too subjective. The purpose of the exam is to test the examinees' powers of observation and attention through cooking. Judging by taste alone really won't convince anyone."
Secretary Beans, on the other hand, was dressed in a neat, well-fitted little suit. On his plump green face was a trace of concern.
"There's no point saying that now. Hohoho. Hunters are full of eccentric people. If people like that are the ones serving as Examiners and grading others, then of course they won't hand out points easily. In fact, our Committee usually respects the Examiners' decisions. Wasn't there even a year before when not a single examinee passed the whole exam? But this time, the problem seems to be with Menchi."
Chairman Netero used his foot to set the glass on the table, then slowly walked toward the rooftop where the airship was docked. Since the problem did not lie with the examinees, the Hunter Association naturally could not just ignore it.
Beans followed behind Netero and took out his phone to begin making arrangements.
Not long afterward, a steam airship rose from above the Hunter Association Headquarters and headed toward the site of the Second Phase of the Hunter Exam: Biska Forest Park.
…
One hour later, Menchi returned right on time.
She had brought back a kind of dark brown scale.
"Roy, do you know what kind of scale that is? I feel like it's something unusual." Gon's curiosity was still as strong as ever.
Roy casually explained:
"A Big Horn Bear, a creature that lives in the deepest part of the Milsy Wetlands. It's violent by nature and bloodthirsty, and its defining feature is the dark brown horn on its head."
"The prey a Big Horn Bear hunts sends most of its nutrients into that horn. So the longer the horn, the darker its color, and the sharper its tip, the stronger it is."
"Because most of the nutrients are concentrated in the horn, the scales on the horn are extremely valuable. Whether for gourmet cuisine or medicine, they're exceptionally rare materials."
As Roy explained things to Gon and the others, the other examinees were also listening closely with perked ears. Beside him, a gleam gradually appeared in Android 18's beautiful eyes, but after she glanced at Menchi, it quickly faded away again.
(End of Chapter)
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