After the test ended, the joyful shouts of the passing Examinees echoed at the foot of the World Tree.
Leo looked up at the giant tree that towered into the clouds, his gaze sweeping over the figures still struggling to climb the trunk—several Examinees had clearly exhausted their strength and were hanging on branches, caught in a dilemma.
A few others seemed injured, their movements noticeably sluggish.
He let out a sigh.
"Honestly..."
Before his voice could fade, his figure had already vanished from the spot.
In the next instant, he appeared on a branch a hundred meters high, lifting a pale-faced Examinee with his left hand while supporting another teetering young man with his right.
With a light tap of his feet, he leapt again, running up the vertical trunk as if on flat ground, rescuing two more Examinees in just a few bounds.
Five minutes later.
All Examinees who failed to return in time had been safely brought to the ground by him.
Some sat slumped on the ground, gasping for breath; some lowered their heads, shoulders trembling slightly; others stared fixedly at the twenty-seven who passed, their eyes filled with resentment and envy.
Leo stood in front of the crowd, looking at the dejected faces, his tone calm.
"Those who didn't pass, don't be too discouraged. The Hunter Exam is held every year. Go back and prepare well; you can try again next year."
Someone looked up, a glimmer of hope flashing in their eyes.
Others kept their heads down, remaining silent.
Leo said no more and turned toward the slowly descending airship.
The third test had officially concluded.
The airship sailed smoothly above the clouds.
Through the portholes, one could see the continuous mountain ranges and winding rivers below.
Sunlight streamed through the glass into the cabin, casting warm spots of light on the floor.
Inside a restaurant booth, four figures sat around a circular table.
Menchi held a steaming bowl of ramen, her chopsticks deftly picking up noodles and slurping them into her mouth.
With a satisfied expression on her face, she chewed a few times before looking up at Leo across from her.
"Leo, long time no see."
Her voice was clear and bright.
"Congratulations on wiping out the Genei Ryodan and being promoted to a Two-Star Hunter!"
Leo smiled slightly.
"It's what I should have done."
He paused, a mischievous glint flashing in his eyes.
"Sister Menchi, I heard you almost wiped out all the Examinees during the second test?"
Menchi's noodles got stuck in her mouth.
She swallowed, sighed, and put down her chopsticks.
"Yeah, that's right. It was indeed unfair of me."
Her gaze became somewhat complicated, and her tone lowered a bit.
"But a large part of the reason was caused by Number 44, Hisoka."
"Hisoka?"
Buhara, who was buried in a plate of golden-roasted beast meat, looked up at the mention of the name, grease still staining the corners of his mouth.
He wiped his mouth, a serious expression appearing on his round face.
"I felt it too. When you announced the end of the test, the one emitting the greatest Battle Intent was that Number 44."
Menchi nodded, her brow furrowing slightly.
"Buhara, do you know? From the moment we saw him, that guy has been in that state. He's emitting a dangerous aura every single second!"
She paused, her tone carrying a hint of irritation.
"The reason I was so 'hypersensitive' during the test just now was largely because I was provoked by his faint, mocking gaze!"
For the first time, a look of clear astonishment appeared on Buhara's chubby face.
He put down the meat in his hand and listened intently.
Leo picked up the teacup in front of him, took a light sip, and spoke indifferently.
"Number 44 Hisoka—I know him too. He is indeed an abnormal, psychopathic mass murderer."
Menchi and Buhara exchanged a glance, both looking at Leo.
"As long as you ignore his provocations."
Leo set down his teacup.
"He naturally won't continue his madness."
Menchi nodded thoughtfully.
A brief silence fell over the booth.
There was only the low hum of the engines outside and the occasional sound of airflow from afar.
Just then—
"Ho ho, so you're all here."
An old and gentle voice came from behind, as if appearing out of thin air.
"What are you talking about so seriously? Could you let this old man join in?"
The four of them turned their heads simultaneously.
In the next second, everyone's pupils constricted slightly.
An old man wearing a loose white martial arts uniform, with hair and beard completely white, appeared silently from the side of their vision like a ghost.
He wore a signature warm smile, hands tucked into his sleeves, looking as if he had just returned from a casual stroll.
Isaac Netero.
Chairman of the Hunter Association, a being standing at the Peak of human martial power.
'So fast!'
Leo's pupils constricted violently, his heart skipping a beat in that instant.
'From the moment the voice appeared until he showed up... I actually didn't sense him at all!'
Menchi, Buhara, and Satz stood up almost at the same time.
Expressions of respect and caution appeared on all three of their faces.
But Leo did not move.
He remained seated, his gaze firmly locked onto the elderly figure.
That sense of pressure, that presence that clearly stood there yet seemed to merge with the surrounding environment.
That sense of Perfection that made it impossible to capture any aura or any flaw— 'Too strong.'
In Leo's pupils, instead of fear, a blazing flame of excitement ignited.
The corners of his mouth slowly curled up, wider and wider, until it became an almost wild grin, his eyes flashing with a scorching light.
Netero's gaze swept over the three standing people and finally landed on Leo.
Seeing the smile blooming on the young man's face, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
No fear.
No awe.
No shrinking back.
It was—excitement.
This young man, in that instant, understood the meaning represented by the massive gap between them, and... felt excited because of it.
The corners of Netero's mouth also curled up in an almost imperceptible arc.
"Chairman Netero!"
Menchi spoke respectfully, her voice carrying a hint of tension.
"It's nothing, we were just chatting."
Netero waved his hand, signaling them not to be nervous.
He walked slowly to the table, his gaze falling on Leo once more.
Leo finally stood up.
His movements were calm and unhurried as he looked directly into Netero's eyes.
In those eyes burned an undisguised, scorching light.
"Hello, Chairman Netero."
His voice was steady and powerful, without a hint of trembling.
"I often hear Master Biscuit mention you, saying your strength is incredibly great and that we should learn from you."
Netero chuckled, a sly light flashing in his eyes.
"Is that so? I don't recall that little girl Biscuit saying such things."
Leo was slightly taken aback.
Then he laughed—the smile contained a hint of embarrassment at being seen through, but more so, it was frank.
'I've been found out.'
Without changing his expression, he continued.
"These are my heartfelt words. Your strength is incredibly great; in my mind, you are the world's number one Nen User."
Menchi, Satz, and Buhara stood to the side, not daring to breathe loudly.
The three of them quietly watched the conversation between Leo and Netero, complex emotions churning in their hearts.
Netero waved his hand, his face carrying a hint of reminiscence and indifference.
"Hmm—world's number one? That was all half a century ago."
He looked up slightly and said with emotion.
"As for this old man now, if I have half the strength of my Peak period, that would be quite good."
Menchi and the others secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
But Leo's gaze became even more scorching.
"In my mind."
He grinned wildly, his eyes flashing with undisguised light.
"You are the well-deserved world's number one! Your strength is beyond doubt!"
It didn't matter who the current world's number one was, but the former world's number one was standing right in front of him.
Chairman Netero undoubtedly possessed immense personal charisma; the Zodiacs all respected him immensely, willing to change their own appearances to fit the animal titles they represented for his sake.
Even someone as sinister, crafty, and treacherous as Pariston respected Chairman Netero deep in his heart.
Pariston himself had said: once he sees something cute, he wants to hurt it for no reason, and only when he is hated does he feel happy.
Even a guy with such a purely chaotic personality admired Netero, showing that the Chairman's charm was unparalleled.
He took a deep breath and stepped forward half a pace.
"Chairman Netero, I have a bold request."
The air in the booth seemed to freeze.
The hearts of Menchi, Satz, and Buhara all skipped a beat.
Leo's voice, carrying immense desire and determination, rang out clearly in the silence.
"I want to fight you."
"I want to see with my own eyes... just how far the distance is between me and the world's number one Nen User!"
As his words fell, the booth plunged into a deathly silence.
Menchi's eyes widened into circles, her mouth slightly agape, her face full of disbelief.
"Leo... have you lost your mind?!"
She cried out.
"You actually want to challenge Chairman Netero?!"
A flash of shock passed through Satz's eyes.
Buhara's chubby face was filled with consternation.
But Leo did not answer Menchi.
He just looked at Netero and nodded seriously and firmly.
In that gaze, there was no arrogance, no provocation.
Only a pure desire for power.
Only a true Martial Artist, when facing the Peak, would produce such—Battle Intent.
Netero looked at the young man before him, at those eyes burning with fire.
He was silent for a few seconds.
Then, he smiled.
In that smile was a hint of appreciation, a hint of nostalgia, and a hint of... unfathomable meaning.
"Interesting."
He said softly.