After Conrad kept his silence, he could understand and feel it deep in his soul that Netero still wanted to talk to him.

  He was not sure what he wanted to talk about, but he kept standing still without saying anything to understand what could be said by this man.

  He was an important guy, and due to this importance, he knew that he could not shake him away easily.

  He did not even try to outmaneuver him in terms of intelligence or experience.

  It would be dumb to think that he can do such a thing, the man that is most likely the most experienced nen user and martial artist in the whole series.

  "So, you are a novice exam taker, huh?" Netero said lightly.

  Conrad stopped at a respectful distance.

  "Yes, I am."

  His tone was calm. Neither humble nor arrogant.

  Netero nodded slowly, rocking slightly on his heels.

  "It is pretty rare for people like you to enter the Hunter Exam. I can see that you are a NEN user."

  Conrad allowed himself a small smirk and gave a short nod.

  "It seems I cannot hide it from you."

  Internally, however, he analyzed the situation.

  It was not surprising.

  This was Isaac Netero.

  Even suppressing Ten to the bare minimum would not be enough to deceive someone whose mastery of Nen stood at the summit of the world.

  Netero's eyes gleamed faintly with amusement.

  "So," he continued, "what do you think of the exam? Other than that part you said about it being "educational." Netero added as he smirked.

  It seems like his word "educational" exam made him really interested and funny to think.

  Conrad paused for a brief moment, touching his chin thoughtfully.

  "Brutal," he answered honestly. "And skewed toward combat capability."

  Netero widened his eyes theatrically.

  "Oh?"

  "You say so?"

  "What makes you think it is more of a test of combat capability?"

  Conrad met his gaze steadily.

  "Most phases emphasize survival under physical stress, combat adaptability, and direct confrontation."

  "The first stages required endurance and reaction speed. The second demanded raw survival against lethal traps and mental fortitude. The third option was either direct battle with dangerous creatures or strategic theft from other applicants."

  He paused briefly.

  "At least from what I observed."

  Netero hummed softly.

  "Go on."

  Conrad continued.

  "Whoever designed the exam must hold a certain belief about Hunters."

  Netero's smile sharpened.

  "And what belief is that?"

  Conrad answered without hesitation.

  "A Hunter must be strong."

  "And a true hunter seeks evolution through battle and pursuit hunting in the literal sense."

  Netero nodded slowly.

  "Yes, yes… I see."

  "And what do you think a Hunter is?"

  Conrad's lips curved slightly.

  "It is simple."

  "A hunter is someone who has a goal and pursues it relentlessly."

  "That goal might involve martial arts, combat, archaeology, cuisine, medicine, exploration… it does not matter."

  "What matters is the pursuit."

  He held Netero's gaze calmly.

  "And that is where I think there is a fw."

  Netero's brows lifted slightly.

  "Hmmm?"

  "By heavily favoring combat-oriented individuals, you risk filtering out people who possess exceptional intelligence, creativity, or specialized talent that does not manifest through violence."

  "Some of the world's greatest discoveries would never survive this format."

  "What if a talented individual whose sole goal is to perfect the logistics of the human world?"

  "With his or her idea, humanity may have a change in logistics, but she or he cannot reach the goal because they do not have the combat ability or physical capability to do so."

  Silence settled between them.

  Netero's expression softened.

  "You are not wrong," he said.

  He turned his eyes toward the window, watching clouds drift beneath the airship.

  "But strength," he added, "is the foundation."

  "Without strength, one cannot protect one's goal."

  He gnced back at Conrad.

  "Even schors must survive in this world."

  Conrad inclined his head slightly.

  "That is true."

  "But strength takes many forms."

  For a brief moment, something passed through Netero's eyes: interest.

  Not in Conrad's power.

  But from his perspective.

  Then, just as quickly, the chairman cpped his hands together lightly.

  "Well then!"

  "Young people with opinions are always refreshing."

  He waved his hand dismissively.

  "Go on. Do your thing."

  "I am sure you will pass in the end."

  There was no mockery in his voice.

  Conrad bowed slightly.

  "Thank you for your confidence."

  As he turned and walked away, he felt it again.

  That gaze.

  It followed him not aggressively, not probing with force but measuring.

  Testing.

  Conrad did not look back.

  Internally, his thoughts moved rapidly.

  "He is not just observing strength."

  The Chairman of the Hunter Association was not merely evaluating who could fight.

  He was evaluating who would shape the future and reach the highest level of combat to give him the fun that he was searching for.

  And that made him far more dangerous than any combatant in the exam.

  As Conrad disappeared around the corner, Netero's smile faded slightly.

  "Interesting," the old man murmured to himself.

  "Very interesting."

  Then he chuckled softly.

  Netero was curious to see which path this young Nen user would ultimately choose.

  -

  Note

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