Conrad stepped fully into the airship; the insignia of the Hunter Association was dispyed boldly along the inner walls and embroidered into the uniforms of the staff.

  The remaining one hundred applicants were guided into a wide conference room.

  The atmosphere was different now.

  Everyone here had survived three brutal phases.

  Elina stood near the front, arms folded.

  A small figure soon stepped forward beside her, short, round-faced, and wearing a formal suit and tie.

  "Beans."

  Not much time ter, beans started speaking.

  "Due to the applicant number dropping to one hundred, I show myself early and expin some of the things."

  His voice was calm and slightly nasal but carried clearly across the room.

  "Most of you already have enough experience to know that there are only one or two exams left."

  A subtle tension passed through the group.

  Conrad stood quietly near the back.

  Internally, he agreed with the assessment.

  The structure of escation suggested one major filtering phase and then a final decisive round.

  He also noticed something absent.

  Tonpa.

  The so-called "Rookie Crusher."

  Conrad's eyes moved across the room again.

  No sign of him.

  "It seems like he decided it was enough for him to continue the exam."

  It seemed Tonpa had withdrawn somewhere during the previous phase, likely deciding that survival odds were no longer in his favor.

  Not that Conrad cared.

  Tonpa had been a minor variable at best.

  Beans continued.

  "The next exam will take pce in a historical underground area known as the Moonlight Cave System."

  A few applicants exchanged gnces.

  "Here," Beans continued, "there will be two groups. Fifty in one group. Fifty in the other."

  "It will be a team match."

  "More details will be expined ter by your examiner of the fourth exam when the time arrives."

  "We will reach the designated location in fifteen hours. You are free to roam the airship, eat, and do as you wish in the meantime."

  With that, Beans stepped back.

  Elina gave one final gnce across the room before both of them exited.

  The meeting dissolved into murmurs.

  Some applicants immediately began potential alliances if it were their chance that they would be selected to be in the same group.

  Others sized each other up.

  Conrad left the general area without hesitation.

  The airship interior was spacious, with multiple decks, dining areas, observation windows, and quiet lounges.

  Conrad walked without a destination, hands loosely in his pockets.

  He wasn't searching for allies.

  As he turned into a quieter hallway lined with rge windows showing the open sky, he felt something.

  He looked ahead casually.

  And there he was.

  Perhaps the most recognizable figure in the Hunter world.

  "Chairman Netero."

  This was the legendary chairman of the Hunter Association.

  Isaac Netero.

  Conrad allowed only the smallest flicker of recognition to pass across his face.

  It would not be strange to know such a person like Netero.

  After all, Netero was publicly known.

  But knowing too much and reacting too specifically would be dangerous.

  For an individual who wants to be a hunter, President Netero is the leader of their dream organization.

  So, hearing one or two things about him is only to be expected.

  He did not know everything about Netero, but he knew that he liked to py with people to spend some time.

  When one becomes strong as him and cannot find an orthodox opponent to fight against, it is easy to get bored all the time.

  "It is weird to think like this, but Netero and Hisoka are simir to each other. It is just that Hisoka is far more leaning towards the darkness, while Netero is just a selfish guy who has no problem with pying people for fun."

  He continued walking as though merely passing by.

  Netero, however, turned his head slightly.

  Netero's lips curled upward.

  "Well now," he said cheerfully, "you seem calm for someone who just survived three exams."

  Conrad stopped politely, offering a small bow.

  "Chairman. Thank you. I simply did what was necessary to survive."

  Netero studied him openly.

  "Mm~. Did what was necessary, hm?"

  His eyes narrowed slightly, not suspiciously, but evaluating.

  Conrad kept his Ten suppressed.

  Netero tilted his head.

  "Young people these days are quite interesting."

  He tapped his chin lightly.

  "Tell me, do you enjoy the exam?"

  It was an odd question.

  Conrad answered carefully.

  "I find it… educational."

  Netero burst into ughter.

  "Educational! Hohoho! That's a good one! Something I have not heard for a long time..."

  His ughter echoed lightly through the hallway.

  Netero wasn't just chatting.

  He was weighing him.

  "So he's observing personally."

  Of course he would be.

  This was the Hunter Exam.

  And if something or someone caught his interest…

  That could become dangerous.

  Conrad exhaled slowly.

  "It seems like he still wants to speak to me a little bit more." Conrad thought as he looked at the eyes of Netero.

  -

  Note

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