Menchi narrowed her eyes slightly, her fingers tightening around the handle of her knife.
She was the explosive type—like a stick of dynamite ready to ignite at the slightest spark. Stubborn and temperamental, she could be unpredictable. This much was evident in her approach to the Hunter Exam.
Despite it being a rigorous test meant for candidates from all walks of life, Menchi had chosen to evaluate them through cooking.
Gourmet Hunters were a legitimate branch of the profession, but they were hardly the core of what being a Hunter was about. Most Hunters pursued strength, wealth, or adventure. If Menchi had wanted a fair test, she could have required candidates to gather rare ingredients. If she thought the Pig was too simple, she could have substituted it with a more elusive or dangerous delicacy.
Instead, her assessment was akin to making all applicants for a prestigious university take an entrance exam focused solely on painting. While a few candidates might excel, the majority would struggle, making the test seem fair in structure but ultimately biased.
Naturally, the candidates were frustrated.
But Menchi didn't care.
She had been wary earlier—Hisoka and Kaizen were strong, their presence enough to make her reconsider. But now? The examinee who had spoken up was nothing in her eyes. The way he confronted her so boldly… there was no way Menchi would tolerate it.
However, before she could act—
Boom!
Buhara moved first.
His palm struck the defiant examinee square in the chest, unleashing a force so powerful that the candidate was sent hurtling backward. He crashed into a distant wall, the impact shaking the entire room. A deep dent formed where he struck, and his body slid down slowly before collapsing in a heap on the floor.
Motionless.
No one could tell if he was unconscious or just too ashamed to move.
Buhara calmly returned to his spot, folding his arms across his chest.
The rest of the examinees exchanged glances before looking back at Menchi and Buhara. The message was clear: step out of line, and you'd be dealt with just as swiftly.
"The exam continues!" Menchi declared.
Some candidates hesitated.
Others resumed their cooking, focusing with renewed determination.
A few, after a long moment of silence, accepted their failure, packed their things, and left. These were the ones who saw no chance of passing. Staying any longer wouldn't change the outcome.
They had two choices: prepare for next year's Hunter Exam or give up entirely.
Outside the exam hall, murmurs of discontent spread.
"We got unlucky this year."
"These examiners are ridiculous!"
"This isn't a test of Hunter skills—this is just cooking!"
"It's completely unreasonable!"
"To hell with them!"
Frustrated candidates muttered curses under their breath. If words alone could kill, Menchi and Buhara would have been dead a hundred times over.
...
"Pass!"
"Unqualified!"
The verdicts continued, one after another.
Still, no one had earned a passing score. The tension in the room grew thick.
Strangely enough, Menchi and Buhara were feeling the pressure just as much as the examinees.
Hisoka's turn was approaching.
They knew little about Illumi, and he had kept a low profile. Kaizen, despite his strength, didn't seem like the type to cause a scene over a failing grade. But Hisoka?
He was unpredictable.
Hisoka had attacked Satotz during the first phase of the exam. Last year, he had put an examiner in critical condition. If they failed him, would he lash out?
For the first time, Menchi regretted the exam she had designed.
Why hasn't anyone from the association arrived yet?
She glanced up at the sky, as if willing reinforcements to appear.
Time crawled forward.
The air was thick with unease.
And then, the moment arrived.
Hisoka had finished cooking.
With a smirk, he placed his dish on the judging table.
Buhara swallowed hard.
Menchi stared at the plate before her, picking up a fork with a measured slowness. She speared a piece of food and brought it to her mouth.
The presentation was decent, but the taste...
Menchi's expression twisted in conflict.
If she passed Hisoka, she'd compromise her integrity as a Gourmet Hunter.
If she failed him, she risked provoking his wrath.
Can I stop him if he attacks?
Her grip on the fork tightened.
Hisoka's smile widened, his fingers flicking a playing card between them, shifting its position almost playfully. But Menchi knew better—Hisoka's games were never without purpose. The card could be launched at any moment, and she had no doubt he could kill her before she had the chance to react.
Tension mounted.
And then—
A sudden gust of wind swept through the area, followed by the unmistakable hum of machinery.
Menchi's head snapped upward.
An airship loomed above, its hull bearing the emblem of the Hunter Association.
A loudspeaker crackled to life.
"Menchi, Buhara. We acknowledge your passion for food, cooking, and the role of Gourmet Hunters. However, this exam's standards have been set unfairly for the other candidates."
All heads turned to the sky.
"That's the Hunter Association?"
"A review committee?"
"Are they saying this test was too strict?"
"Finally! Someone's stepping in!"
"Good, these examiners were out of control."
"They've been abusing their authority."
Excitement rippled through the remaining candidates.
Menchi clenched her jaw. She already knew what was coming next.
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