"Still alive~"
Killua let out a small sigh of relief.
He sensed the breath of life from Leorio, who had been casually tossed under a tree by Hisoka.
Although his face was swollen with a bump, at least his life was spared.
"So where's Gon?"
Killua looked around.
Leorio was with Gon, and since Leorio was unharmed, Gon and the others must have escaped Hisoka's clutches as well.
Sure enough?
After a moment, the figures of Gon and Kurapika slowly appeared.
Upon arriving, the first thing they saw was Hisoka, then they found Leorio.
After checking and finding him unharmed, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.
At this moment, finally, as the clock above reached a certain position, Satotz clapped his hands.
"Alright, let me congratulate all of you once again. Everyone standing here has passed the first round of tests. I hope you all bravely pass the second round as well. I wish you all good luck in advance."
Satotz congratulated the candidates in a calm tone for passing the first test.
After announcing the results, he didn't linger for even a moment, turning decisively and disappearing into the forest.
Upon hearing this, the candidates who had gathered there finally showed a hint of a smile on their previously tense faces.
They had finally overcome the first hurdle.
"About one hundred and fifty people left... Originally, it was estimated that after the first test, the number would drop to a few dozen. The quality of this year's candidates is quite impressive!"
In the jungle, Satotz glanced back at the massive factory building:
"It's a pity..."
"The examiners for the second test are Menchi and Buhara."
"With that, perhaps ten will be reduced to fifty... no, it depends on the [exam questions], maybe fewer than ten will pass!"
"Moreover, with those two peculiar candidates..."
"How interesting... I think I'll stay and watch for a while."
With that, he paused his steps.
In a flash, he disappeared into the jungle.
Meanwhile, inside the factory.
"It's almost time~"
Menchi, a genius gourmet hunter who had already achieved a one-star hunter status, said with a smile.
Her eyes held a hint of anticipation.
"Indeed!!"
Buhara nodded repeatedly.
Gurgle?
Another sound of stomach growling came from his belly.
He couldn't wait to have a feast!!
"By the way, Buhara?"
Menchi suddenly stuck out her fragrant tongue, licking the corner of her mouth.
"What do you think the candidates that Chairman Netero and the Twelve Zodiacs are so concerned about will be like?"
Her eyes sparkled, "What kind of taste will the dishes they make have?"
"It's really something to look forward to!!"
On the plain in front of the factory, as the clock above continued to turn and reached a critical point?
"Click, click, click."
The heavy door with a clock hanging above it began to make sounds, announcing the arrival of the second test.
The candidates, who had relaxed a bit after passing the first round, all tensed up again upon hearing the sound, becoming nervous.
The massive, heavy door slowly opened, gradually revealing the scene inside.
The first thing that caught the candidates' eyes was a beautiful girl sitting on a sofa, dressed rather revealingly, with a peculiar pink hairstyle.
Petite and exquisite, yet with a great figure, Menchi.
Then, there was another examiner sitting there, with legs spread wide, a burly and robust figure like a giant.
Gurgle~
That strange sound was coming from his stomach.
"Everyone, thank you for waiting."
Menchi greeted the candidates politely.
"Welcome to the second round of the Hunter Exam."
Her eyes were exceptionally bright.
At the same time, her large eyes scanned the candidates, seemingly searching for something.
Netero not only informed Satotz, the first-round hunter examiner, about Morin's matters of concern.
Of course, he didn't leave out Menchi and Buhara, the examiners for the second round.
On the contrary, Netero, well aware of Menchi's peculiar personality, specifically advised and reminded the two of them.
Unfortunately, Netero's well-intentioned efforts seemed to have not only failed but also backfired, leading Menchi to harbor some unusual fantasies about this Hunter Exam.
Gurgle gurgle???
"Are you starving, Buhara?" Menchi, hearing the noise, stopped her search and looked up with a smile at Buhara. Sitting cross-legged on the sofa, her backward lean accentuated her front, causing some candidates to audibly swallow.
"You heard it too, didn't you, Menchi? My stomach's growling," Buhara said, patting his exposed belly with some impatience. He was eager to fill his stomach with the dishes prepared by the candidates.
"Alright, if that's the case, then the second round of testing is about to begin!" Menchi smiled at him and then turned her face away. In that instant, her demeanor shifted from friendly to serious, her previous amiability vanished into thin air.
"You all heard the sound of my fellow examiner's stomach growling, right?" Menchi said, crossing her legs and twisting her waist seductively. "So, the topic for the second test is... cooking!!"
"Prepare a dish that will satisfy us, the Gourmet Hunters!!" Gourmet Hunters explore the world for various cuisines and ingredients, aiming to create new delicacies. Typically, hunters are exceptional chefs themselves.
"Cooking?!!" The candidates' eyes showed surprise.
Buhara rubbed his large belly, "First, you need to make the dish I specify..."
"Only those who pass can make the dish I specify!" Menchi continued. "In short, only if we both say 'delicious' will it mean you've passed the second test!!"
"The deadline for the test is when we're full!!" Hearing Menchi's serious tone, the candidates' expressions changed. A group of rough-and-tumble types here for the Hunter License now had to cook, which felt odd.
Some candidates who weren't skilled in cooking looked grim, their words tinged with resentment. Others speculated about Menchi and Buhara's appetites.
"Never mind the man, but the woman shouldn't be able to eat too much, right?"
"In that case, the number of people who pass will be greatly limited!!"
"I never expected the test to be cooking! Damn, I've never cooked before!!"
"Such a test! What kind of dish does he want us to make?!"
For a moment, the scene was full of chatter. Cooking is subjective, relying entirely on personal taste, and doesn't really test skill! If someone were eliminated due to poor taste, no one present would accept it!
However, it seemed unlikely that the examiners sent by the Hunter Association would judge solely based on taste, right? Surely... not?
Amidst the candidates' discussions, Buhara slowly raised his thick index finger to the sky. "I want to eat...??..."
The candidates' eyes instantly became tense.
"Roast whole pig!!" Buhara drooled, "It's my favorite!!" Little stars appeared in his eyes. "You can choose from any of the pigs residing in the forest park..."
"The second test... begins!!"
Whoosh!!
Upon hearing Buhara's words, all the candidates rushed out in a frenzy! In the first half of the second test, Buhara's dish, "Roast Whole Pig," had 148 participants.
"Luckily, it's just a simple barbecue, not too difficult, a straightforward dish!!"
"Just catch a pig and roast it!!"
"But we have to catch it quickly! Although he's large, his appetite is ultimately limited... we must hurry!!" The candidates noisily dispersed.
Suddenly, the once-bustling factory became empty.
"Hehe?" Menchi turned around with a giggle, "Did you say they can choose any type of pig?"