As Alita spoke, her eyes were slightly red-rimmed.
"I'm not looking for your gratitude," Kaizen said. "Just live your life well."
Alita stepped forward, eyes shining with conviction.
"How can I not repay the person who saved my life? My life belongs to you, Kaizen-sama. Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it."
"Anything?"
"Anything."
"Then what if I told you to die right now?"
Alita froze.
Then, without hesitation, a look of grim resolve appeared in her eyes. She pulled out a dagger and aimed straight for her chest.
Pfft!
The blade pierced through her clothes, and blood started to bloom.
But before it could go any deeper, a hand stopped her—gripping her wrist tightly.
It wasn't Kaizen.
It was Chitong.
"That's enough,"
Kaizen spoke up. "If you really want to repay me, then I've got something else in mind."
Alita's face lit up. "Yes!"
"You mentioned you're working for the Mafia Community?"
"Yes," Alita nodded. "After I escaped, I lived on my own for a while. But eventually, the Mafia Community found me again… only this time, their attitude had changed. They didn't try to kill me. Instead, they gave me an offer—work for them and live."
"My ability is… well, it's useful. So I joined their intelligence division. Now I'm a senior officer. A lot of us—people like me—end up there. We've got valuable abilities, so the discrimination is a lot less inside the organization. We can live somewhat normal lives."
"There are quite a few like us among the Shadow Beasts."
"I came to take the Hunter Exam on an intelligence-gathering mission. I didn't expect to run into you here. It feels… like fate."
Kaizen was quiet for a moment.
"Then keep working with the Mafia Community. I don't have a specific mission for you yet. Just keep your ears open. Collect anything that seems useful or important."
He handed her a small slip of paper with an email address on it.
"Send any intel to this."
Alita took it with both hands and bowed deeply.
"Yes, Kaizen-sama."
"And one more thing—during the exam, act like we don't know each other. Not a word. Understood?"
"Yes!"
Kaizen turned and walked back toward Ponzu.
...
"Beep!"
"Beep!"
A whistle rang out.
Then came the amplified voice of the Hunter Examiner over the loudspeaker:
"One hour remaining until the end of the exam. All examinees, head toward the port!"
Kaizen and Ponzu began their descent down the mountain trail.
...
A lone figure was slumped against a boulder, resting—Bourbon.
His face was twisted in frustration.
He felt like the whole exam had gone against him.
He'd finally found Ponzu… only to realize she was traveling with Kaizen and Gittarackur.
He'd tried to set a trap, planning to take Ponzu out and capture Kaizen and Gittarackur in one go.
But Gittarackur vanished in a blink—his snakes couldn't even touch the man's shadow, let alone slow him down.
Kaizen was just as quick.
In his hesitation, Ponzu struck.
Bourbon was instantly put at a disadvantage. He had no choice but to retreat.
Luckily, Ponzu didn't chase him. He still had a chance to recover.
Or so he thought.
But out of nowhere, someone hit him with a flying kick—sending him airborne.
He lost consciousness on impact.
By the time he woke up, his number badge was gone.
"Who was that coward who ambushed me!?" Bourbon gritted his teeth.
That surprise attack had cost him everything.
Even if he managed to defeat Ponzu and take her badge, it wouldn't matter anymore—he didn't have his own.
The port whistle blew again.
Bourbon knew it was over.
No matter what he did, he wouldn't make it in time.
He let out a long breath and slumped down.
"Whoever that guy was, he'd better pray I never find out… or I'll make sure he regrets ever being born."
"And… just how strong are Kaizen and Gittarackur?"
At that moment, Kaizen and Ponzu came down the slope.
Their eyes met Bourbon's.
He raised his head.
"I know I've lost. I've got no shot at passing anymore, so I'm not going to try anything. But…"
He looked directly at Kaizen.
"Can you satisfy my curiosity?"
"How strong are you?"
"If I hadn't hesitated back there… could I have won instead?"
"Will you give me that answer?"
Kaizen stared at him. "What can you offer me in return?"
Bourbon blinked. Then pulled two small vials from his pocket.
"These are detox serums I made myself. They can neutralize most snake venom—useful stuff."
He tossed them over.
Kaizen caught one and handed it to Ponzu, then reached back to draw the handle of his battered, half-rotten blade.
"Then bring out your snakes."
"All of them?"
"All of them."
"…Fine. But don't blame me if you can't handle it."
Bourbon sent the signal.
In an instant, hundreds of snakes slithered forward—deadly and fast, fangs bared.
The swarm was much fiercer than when he'd fought Ponzu earlier.
Before, he'd been pacing himself—planning a long game, trying to catch Ponzu.
But this time, he held nothing back.
It was like a Nen user pouring all their aura into a single, decisive blow.
No defense. No backup plan.
Just one shot.
The snakes surged forward, dense and violent—an overwhelming tide of venom and muscle.
Even the sight of it was terrifying.
Kaizen gripped the handle of his sword.
Then, he moved.
A single slash.
Time seemed to freeze.
Bourbon heard the sound—clear and sharp.
He saw a flash of light.
And then…
The entire mass of snakes stopped mid-lunge, frozen in place.
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