Chapter 3: The Hunter Exam Begins – And So Does the Pranking
The morning of the Hunter Exam was a symphony of nervous energy and barely concealed aggression. Adam, fueled by a questionable breakfast of mystery meat and slightly burnt toast, walked towards the familiar, oversized exam gate with a spring in his step. Today was the day he'd finally meet the infamous trio. And then, he'd annoy them. Lovingly.
" Alright, Adam, game face on. Or, you know, 'annoying sarcastic teenager' face on. Same difference. Remember, the goal here isn't just to pass, it's to gather skills and set up some quality pranks. Multi-tasking is key when you're literally dying for a living. "
He arrived at the gate, a giant, imposing structure that somehow managed to look both ancient and brand new. Inside, a sea of aspiring Hunters milled about, a motley crew of the hopeful, the deluded, and the outright dangerous. He scanned the crowd, and there they were. Leorio, already complaining loudly about something, Kurapika, looking far too serious for this early in the morning, and the bright, undeniable aura of Gon Freecss, radiating pure, unadulterated enthusiasm. Killua wasn't there yet, of course. He'd show up later, probably after ditching his family for the millionth time.
Adam walked straight up to Leorio, a wide, innocent smile plastered on his face. "Excuse me, sir," he began, his voice dripping with faux politeness. "Are you, by any chance, a doctor? Because I seem to have a sudden, inexplicable urge to discuss the finer points of medical ethics versus making exorbitant amounts of money."
Leorio, mid-rant about something irrelevant, whipped his head around, his eyes narrowing. "What?! Who are you, kid?! And what's it to ya?"
"Oh, just a humble admirer of… well, of financially savvy medical practitioners," Adam said, extending a hand. "Adam. Adam Richter. And I must say, your aura of 'desperate for cash but secretly a good guy' is truly palpable."
Kurapika, who had been silently observing, raised an eyebrow. "Are you attempting to provoke him, or genuinely trying to make conversation?" he asked, his tone flat.
"A bit of both, my dear Kurapika!" Adam chirped, turning to him. "It's a nuanced art form, really. Like a perfectly executed feint in a duel. You think you're going one way, but then BAM! You're talking about the ethics of healthcare with a random stranger. Keeps life interesting." He then leaned in conspiratorially towards Leorio. "Between you and me, I heard a rumor that the Hunter Association offers a bonus for applicants who can accurately diagnose obscure tropical diseases. Just sayin'."
Leorio's eyes widened, then he instantly scoffed. "You think I'm that gullible, kid? Tropical diseases? Pfft!" But Adam could see the wheels turning in his head. The seed was planted.
Just then, a sleek, shadowy blur appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Killua Zoldyck, hands in pockets, an air of utter nonchalance surrounding him. He glanced at the group, his piercing blue eyes landing on Adam, then Gon, who was still taking everything in with wide-eyed wonder.
"Yo," Killua said, his voice bored.
Adam's smile widened. "Ah, Killua! Just in time! We were just discussing the merits of proper dental hygiene. Did you know that leaving your chocolate consumption unchecked can lead to… well, let's just say a very painful visit to a certain kind of doctor." He waggled his eyebrows meaningfully at Leorio.
Killua blinked. "Who are you?"
"Adam Richter," Adam replied, bowing slightly. "Future partner-in-crime, purveyor of fine sarcastic remarks, and your new best friend. You're welcome."
Killua stared at him for a moment, then a small, almost imperceptible smirk touched his lips. "You're weird."
"Thank you! I strive for uniqueness. It's truly a compliment coming from a professional assassin whose favorite hobby is probably electrocuting people." Adam winked.
Gon, bless his pure heart, finally noticed Adam properly. "Hi! I'm Gon! Are you taking the exam too?"
"Indeed, Gon! Adam Richter, at your service!" Adam exclaimed, practically bouncing on his toes. "And yes, I am. Though my primary goal is to find out if they offer a discount for applicants who bring their own snacks. Because frankly, I'm already starving."
Hisoka Morow, the terrifying clown, entered the main hall, his aura practically radiating "I want to murder you all." Adam tensed, but kept his expression outwardly nonchalant. Not yet. Definitely not yet. He wasn't suicidal enough to try for a skill from Hisoka right off the bat. Maybe in Arc 9, if he was feeling particularly spicy.
Netero's voice boomed over the speakers, signaling the start of the exam. Satotz, the examiner for the first phase, began his explanation. The endless run. Adam grinned. This was where the fun began.
"Alright, people!" Adam announced to his newly acquired group, though mostly to Leorio. "Let's make a pact! If anyone collapses, we draw silly mustaches on their face! Standard procedure, obviously."
Leorio sputtered, "What?! No!"
"Relax, I'm just kidding," Adam said with a wave of his hand. "Unless you want to. No judgment here. Though, if you do, I've got a killer marker. Waterproof, too."
The run began. Thousands of applicants surged forward into the dark tunnel. Adam kept pace with Gon, Killua, Leorio, and Kurapika, his meta-knowledge already kicking in. He knew the path, the traps, the upcoming bottlenecks. He used his "Basic Sailing Knowledge" to intuitively understand the subtle shifts in air current, making his breathing more efficient. And his "Basic Knife Proficiency"? Useless for running, unless he planned on threatening someone with a butter knife.
He noticed Tonpa, the Rookie Crusher, making his rounds, offering his infamous laxative-laced juice. Adam's eyes lit up. This was it. Prank time.
"Oh, hello there, sir!" Adam called out to Tonpa, waving enthusiastically. "Are you the official hydration specialist for the exam? Because I am parched! Do you have any, perhaps, 'special' blends? Something with a real kick?"
Tonpa, a grin splitting his face, approached him. "Why, yes, kid! I've got just the thing! Freshly squeezed, all natural! It'll give you energy you never knew you had!" He held out a cup.
"Ooh, sounds delightful!" Adam took the cup, sniffing it dramatically. "Hmm, notes of… suspicious aftertaste, with a hint of 'I'm about to spend the rest of this exam in a very unpleasant way.' Is this, by any chance, your patented 'express cleanse' formula?"
Tonpa's grin faltered. "What are you talking about, kid?"
Adam leaned in. "Come on, buddy. We both know what this is. But tell you what, I'm willing to play along. On one condition." He looked around, lowering his voice. "Do you have any… 'extra special' ingredients? Something that would really make someone fly? Not just run, but, like, physically levitate from… discomfort?" He pointed vaguely downwards.
Tonpa looked utterly bewildered, then a flicker of annoyance crossed his face. "Just drink the juice, kid!"
"Alright, alright, party pooper." Adam shrugged, then, with a flourish, he poured the juice directly onto the ground, missing Tonpa's shoes by mere inches. "Oops. Butterfingers. My bad. You know, with my clumsy nature, I should probably avoid anything that makes me run faster. Imagine the chaos!" He winked. "Good luck, Tonpa. May your bowels remain ever-stable."
Tonpa gaped at him, then scowled, clearly frustrated that his usual trick hadn't worked. Adam just grinned, catching up to Gon and the others. Killua snickered.
"You're really weird," Killua repeated, a genuine smile now on his face.
"It's my charm," Adam deadpanned. "Don't fight it."
The endless run continued. Hours passed. Adam occasionally looked for opportunities to die, but the crowd was too dense, and no immediate, low-risk threats presented themselves. He wasn't going to just throw himself in front of a stampede. That was just bad planning.
As they entered the Numere Wetlands, the air grew thick with fog and the sounds of grotesque creatures. Adam's meta-knowledge once again gave him an edge. He stuck close to the main group, occasionally spouting random, unhelpful facts.
"Did you know," Adam announced, elbowing Leorio, "that the local folklore says this fog is actually edible? Tastes like chicken and regret. Highly nutritious, apparently."
Leorio spluttered, "Are you insane?! It's just fog!"
"That's what they want you to think!" Adam whispered dramatically. "It's a conspiracy, I tell you! The Hunter Association trying to keep us from our free, nutritious fog-snacks!"
Gon, bless his heart, actually looked like he was considering taking a bite. Kurapika just sighed. Killua, however, chuckled. Adam was making progress.
The trick with the fake Satotz came and went. Adam made sure to subtly point out the imposter's odd gait to Gon, but let the situation play out as it should. He was here to influence, not outright derail. After the real Satotz returned and the imposter was dealt with (courtesy of Hisoka, naturally), the group continued.
Adam saw an opportunity. A monstrous Great Stamp, a giant hippo-pig, lumbered into view. It was big, it was angry, and it looked like it could definitely kill him. And it wasn't a human, so no risk of a second death later if he got hit by one of its human companions.
" Okay, Adam, this is it. Target practice. A big, squishy target practice. What kind of skill does a giant pig-hippo have? 'Expert-level wallowing'? 'Master of mud baths'? Here's hoping for something a little more… useful. "
He purposely lagged behind the group, catching the attention of the Great Stamp. It snorted, its beady eyes fixing on him. "Hey there, big guy!" Adam yelled, waving. "You looking for a friend? Or maybe a sacrifice? Because I'm happy to be either, depending on my mood!"
The Great Stamp charged, its massive hooves thundering on the muddy ground. Adam stood his ground, a determined glint in his eye. He didn't try to dodge. He simply waited. He could see its enormous snout, its tusks, its frothing mouth. This was going to hurt. A lot. But it was for a good cause. His own advancement.
The creature slammed into him with the force of a small truck. Adam felt a crushing pressure, his ribs protesting violently before everything went dark.
[ ** SYSTEM MESSAGE: UNIQUE DEATH DETECTED. SKILL ACQUISITION INITIATED. ** ]
[ ** SYSTEM MESSAGE: ACQUIRED SKILL: [F-RANK SKILL] ENHANCED SENSE OF SMELL. ** ]
" Oh, for the love of all that is holy! Enhanced Sense of Smell?! Are you kidding me?! I just got turned into a pancake by a giant hippo-pig, and I can now smell a fly fart from a mile away?! This system is trolling me! "
He reappeared, back in the wetlands, a few feet from where he'd been flattened. The Great Stamp was still charging past, blissfully unaware that it had just given a kid a bizarre superpower. Adam took a deep, experimental sniff. The world exploded with scents. The damp earth, the decay of the swamp, the distant scent of fear from other applicants, and… was that Leorio's slightly questionable cologne?
" Fantastic. Now I can smell all the gross things in greater detail. What a truly magnificent gift. I'm going to track down Tonpa and smell his aura of pure villainy. Or maybe just a really bad case of indigestion. "
He shook his head, a wry smile on his face. This was going to be a long exam.