Netero[Seeking Flower Evaluation]
Gollum~~~
Before long, all the grape spider domes retrieved from the canyon walls were placed into the massive cauldron. The fire roared beneath, and soon, the water began to boil vigorously, the aroma slowly wafting into the air.
"I'm really looking forward to it. This is the kind of food you risk your life for," Gon muttered, staring wide-eyed at the cauldron's steaming surface.
"Yeah, it's one of the most difficult and precious ingredients on the Food Hunter registry," Killua added, now just as curious and excited.
After a careful thirty minutes of boiling, the domes were finally done. Each candidate who had succeeded in jumping down and retrieving one was assigned a dome. They gathered around, anticipation heavy in the air.
Naturally, those candidates who'd chickened out had no share in this rare delicacy.
"Wow, it's amazing!" a candidate exclaimed after taking the first bite.
"These boiled eggs from the grape spider… no comparison with anything I've ever had!"
A soft murmur of agreement passed through the crowd as they sampled the delicacy. Even the grumpiest of them wore expressions of bliss.
"It really deserves to be called the 'dream egg,'" Kurapika said, savoring each bite.
"Lan Fei, here," Gon said warmly, breaking his dome egg in half. "Have some."
"I'm not hungry," Lan Fei replied with arms crossed, putting on a stoic front.
"Heh, you were literally drooling just now," Gon teased. "Eat. Are you really gonna act shy with your own brother?"
Lan Fei scratched the back of his head in embarrassment and took the half-dome sheepishly, biting into it with closed eyes and a blissful expression.
"…It's amazing."
"If I'd known, I would've jumped down for a few more," he muttered, marveling at how even a simple cooking method could unlock such flavor. This was no ordinary cuisine; it was the essence of Food Hunter-class cooking ingredients.
Indeed, Lan Fei knew well that both Bounty Hunters and Food Hunters tread a thin line between life and death—especially the latter, who risk their lives to seek out rare ingredients from uncharted wilderness.
...
By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky was dyed in dark hues and the airship had lifted off, slowly ascending away from Tiger Mountain. The second phase of the Hunter Exam was over.
This round had brutally eliminated the weak. Only those brave enough to descend into the canyon had earned their place on this next flight.
"Only 42 candidates remain after two rounds," President Netero announced in the airship's common area, his tone both gentle and imposing. Bean, the frog-faced secretary, stood beside him in his usual composed posture.
"I'm sure you all know who I am," Netero continued. "As the Chairman of the Hunter Association, I'm also the highest overseer for this year's Hunter Exam. This gentleman here is my secretary, Beans."
His gaze swept across the 42 remaining candidates, pausing momentarily on a few notable ones.
"Out of over 400 applicants, to be whittled down to just 42… brutal indeed," Gon muttered, licking his lips.
"Especially since the only real challenge so far was the second round's egg collection," Killua added, unimpressed. "If that eliminated so many people, they were trash to begin with."
"I wonder what kind of challenge the third round will be," Leorio said, sighing with relief at having made it this far.
"You can rest for now," Beans said calmly. "We're scheduled to arrive at the third exam site at around 8 o'clock tomorrow."
"Great, time to relax!" Gon cheered.
"I finally get to rest these nerves," Leorio added, stretching his sore back.
"I wonder how many tests there are in total," Kurapika mused aloud.
"Usually five or six," Lan Fei replied, revealing insight that startled the others.
"Eh? How do you know that?" Gon asked, frowning with curiosity.
Lan Fei simply smirked. "I did my research before signing up. It's called being prepared."
"Lan Fei, Gon, let's check out the other side of the ship," Killua suggested, his silver hair shimmering in the dim corridor light. "The night sky looks amazing."
"Good idea! This airship's huge!" Gon's excitement reignited.
"Fine, let's go," Lan Fei agreed.
...
Meanwhile, inside the airship's VIP dining lounge.
Satotz, Menchi, and Buhara sat around a polished wooden table, discussing the candidates between mouthfuls of rich food.
"No. 44—Hisoka. He's the most dangerous one," Menchi said, cutting her steak. "His aura is oppressive, like he lives in a state of constant killing intent."
Satotz nodded. "He doesn't even bother to hide it. People like him are rare, even among us Hunters."
Buhara, ever the glutton, simply devoured his food. "I don't care about that freak. I'm more impressed with Lan Fei—Candidate No. 406. His cooking skill is elite-level."
Menchi paused. "You mean the kid who prepared that horned mad pig dish during Phase Two?"
"He's something else. With the right training, he might become one of the greatest Food Hunters," she said.
"I disagree," Satotz interjected. "His goal isn't Food Hunting. His potential far exceeds that. In the first phase, he used speed so fast it bordered on teleportation."
"Faster than we could see?" Menchi raised an eyebrow.
"Far beyond. I daresay not even Chairman Netero could match it without going all out," Satotz said solemnly.
Menchi's fork dropped from her hand. "What!?"
...
Elsewhere, in the ship's back kitchen.
"Hey! You three brats, this is the kitchen, not a playground!" a grumpy chef yelled. "If you're hungry, go to the dining hall!"
"So stingy…" Gon mumbled as they were shooed out.
"You glutton," Lan Fei scolded half-heartedly.
"Wow, the view from here is gorgeous," Killua said, walking toward a window in the hallway and gazing outside.
"Yeah! Look at all those stars!" Gon exclaimed, childlike wonder in his voice.
"Tch… what's so special about that?" Lan Fei sighed, but joined them anyway.
Whoosh!!!
Suddenly, something—no, someone—flashed past behind them. The corridor lights flickered for a brief second. None of them caught it with their eyes.
"Did you feel that?" Killua asked, narrowing his eyes.
All three turned back swiftly. The hallway was completely empty.
"You three… care to play a game with me?" a voice suddenly came from behind.
They spun around.
It was Chairman Netero.
His hands were behind his back, posture relaxed, but his presence radiated overwhelming power.
Lan Fei narrowed his eyes. "So fast… I couldn't see it at all."
Despite having felt speed like his own before, experiencing Netero's movement in person was on another level—this was no ordinary old man.
This was Isaac Netero, the man once called the strongest Nen user alive