Candidate No. 22 was named Barbara.
As a Beast Hunter whose main work involved studying registered creatures, achieving significant accomplishments inevitably required venturing deep into various restricted areas.
However, restricted areas were not places one could enter casually.
Without a Hunter License, one would have to face lengthy application processes and cumbersome approval procedures like most amateur Beast Hunters.
Moreover, since the number of Beast Hunters was quite large, having a Hunter License made it easier to gain favor with clients.
This was why Barbara had come to take the Hunter Exam.
In fact, she had also come last year.
But due to Hisoka's influence, she had failed the exam.
So this year, she was determined to succeed.
In truth, if not for Morrow's butterfly effect, Barbara and some of the candidates currently taking the second phase of the exam would have died at Hisoka's hands last year.
The butterfly effect allowed Barbara to escape that fate, and during this year's second phase of the exam, she witnessed Gon's talent.
She believed Gon was a natural-born Beast Hunter, so to pique his interest, she did not hesitate to use her Conjuration ability right in front of everyone.
"Ecological Guide"
With a red and white color scheme, its appearance was somewhere between a retro handheld gaming device and a scientific research terminal, giving it a distinctly technological feel.
The screen embedded in the device was tilted at a 30-degree angle. To the left of the screen was a red glass hemisphere, inside which two miniature mechanical arms floated. To the right was a card slot covered with biological circuit-like patterns.
Below the screen, a keyboard extended, occupying one-third of the device's body.
However, the keycaps were marked with characters resembling hieroglyphs.
Seeing that Gon did not respond but instead stared curiously at the Ecological Guide, Barbara decided to demonstrate her ability on the spot.
Her left hand steadily held the Ecological Guide, while her right hand rapidly typed on the hieroglyphic keyboard.
With a series of crisp keystrokes, Barbara quickly input the observation data of the Great Stamp into the system.
Appearance and form: body length approximately 3.2 meters, skin hardening level between D and E, estimated weight of around 1.4 tons...
Engagement style: linear charge, maximum speed up to about 100 km/h, biological advantage lies in the keratinized nose, capable of easily withstanding conventional weapons.
"The weakness is in the head."
Finally, Barbara murmured to herself, pressing down firmly on the last key.
Once the information collection was complete, the two floating miniature mechanical arms inside the red hemisphere beside the screen suddenly began operating at high speed.
Due to the high completeness of the data, the mechanical arms took less than two seconds to draw a semi-transparent data card.
Barbara then reached into the glass sphere, her fingertips passing through the rippling red waves, and pulled out the newly formed card, immediately inserting it into the card slot on the other side.
"Beep..."
As the card was inserted into the slot, a mechanical female voice sounded: "Biological information file generated. Please select mode: 1, Ecological cage; 2, Execution protocol. Currently restricted mode: Symbiosis simulation."
At this moment, the three-dimensional model of the Great Stamp was slowly rotating on the illustrated book's display screen, with a prominent red weakness marker highlighting its head region.
"Execution protocol."
Barbara made her selection.
The Ecological Guide responded accordingly. The card above the slot instantly transformed into a red-and-white beam, shooting toward a distant Great Stamp.
That beam was no longer within the realm of ordinary aura energy. Even Gon and the others, who hadn't yet learned Nen, could see it with their naked eyes.
Yet the targeted Great Stamp in the distance showed no reaction whatsoever.
As if it couldn't see the beam at all.
The next moment,
The DNA-like spiral beam struck the Great Stamp's head.
However, the expected impact scene didn't occur.
The beam directly penetrated into the Great Stamp's head. When the last trace of light completely disappeared, the Great Stamp's body convulsed violently before collapsing heavily to the ground, already devoid of life signs.
Witnessing this scene, both Leorio and Gon were stunned speechless. Even Killua momentarily widened his eyes in shock.
Only Kalluto's reaction remained relatively calm, merely frowning slightly as he watched Barbara display her ability without restraint.
"Beep..."
"Execution protocol completed. Please wait patiently for the hunting ban period to end."
The mechanical female voice sounded again. After announcing the final word, the technologically advanced Ecological Guide dissolved into particles of aura, vanishing into thin air.
But in Gon and the others' eyes, all they could see was the Ecological Guide disappearing into nothingness.
"So amazing!"
Gon exclaimed in astonishment.
Leorio rubbed his eyes in disbelief. If not for Gon's reaction as reference, he might have wondered if Hisoka had injured his brain.
The curiosity in Gon's eyes was almost overflowing.
Phenomena and existences beyond common sense created an indescribable cognitive impact for the young man who had just begun exploring the world.
As for Killua, who was under "compulsory protection" nearby, besides his surprise, he immediately recalled Hisoka's previous ability to pull his body back through the air.
Barbara gazed into Gon's sparkling eyes, a gentle curve forming at the corner of her mouth as she softly said:
"If you're willing to walk the path of a Beast Hunter, I believe you could achieve this too, and even create an ability more powerful than the 'Ecological Guide.'"
Having noticed Gon's innate affinity for ecology and his exceptionally keen observational skills, Barbara was certain of this.
However, the path of a Beast Hunter wasn't among Gon's choices.
From the moment he left Whale Island, his only goal had been to find Ging.
"Do you know Kite?"
Instead of responding to Barbara's repeated career invitations, Gon thought of Kite, who was also a Beast Hunter.
Hearing Kite's name, a subtle change appeared in Barbara's eyes, and she realized Gon wasn't particularly concerned about future career planning.
Her enthusiasm cooled slightly.
"I've heard of him. He's a very professional Beast Hunter."
Barbara said calmly.
Meanwhile,
Morrow casually hunted a Great Stamp. After minimal processing, he found a spot and immediately set it up for roasting.
He knew that Buhara had very low standards for the quality of roasted whole pigs; flavor didn't matter as long as it was cooked through.
However, to avoid the possibility of Buhara being unable to eat it, it was best to finish roasting it quickly.
While waiting for the whole pig to cook, Morrow played with a Nen sphere game, controlling the aura output in his hand to steadily generate small Nen spheres at a balanced pace, spinning them endlessly between his fingers.
This was a little game he had learned from Ging.
According to Ging, even if one could skillfully control many Nen spheres between their fingers, even making them flow in different directions, it was essentially meaningless.
Yet, in Morrow's view, it was meaningful, it honed the precision of his aura control.
As for why Ging said it was meaningless...
Perhaps in the eyes of a monstrous talent like him, there was no need to spend as much time and effort as most people to master such a skill.
That's probably why he thought it was pointless.
Morrow played the Nen sphere game for a while, then suddenly paused and turned to look at the nearby forest.
There, Hisoka emerged from the trees, carrying a massive Great Stamp on his shoulder, walking with light, brisk steps.
"Mind if I borrow some fire?"
Hisoka strode directly up to Morrow.
Morrow glanced at the pile of dry firewood nearby and replied calmly, "Sure, but don't use my wood."
"Stingy~"
Hisoka casually tossed the Great Stamp corpse to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust, then turned and disappeared back into the forest.
Not long after, rustling sounds came from the woods.
Morrow followed the noise and saw Hisoka using Bungee Gum to haul back a large bundle of dry wood.
Under Morrow's watchful gaze, Hisoka unapologetically cleared a space by the campfire and began setting up his own roasting rack.
"Could you move farther away from my fire?"
Morrow's eyelids drooped lazily.
"Don't be so cold," Hisoka said indifferently, tossing more dry wood into the fire. "A bigger fire makes it easier to cook through."
"Or easier to burn, you mean?"
Morrow glanced at the fire, now blazing fiercely from the added wood.
Hisoka declared confidently, "No way. Roasting a whole pig isn't hard at all."
A long time later.
The air was filled with the smell of something burnt.
Hisoka stared at the heavily charred roasted pig before him, resting his chin on his hand as he pondered what to do.
"You were right, a bigger fire does make it easier to cook through."
Morrow glanced at the contemplative Hisoka and moved his own fully cooked pig away from the campfire.
Ever since Hisoka had piled on the wood, Morrow had been closely monitoring the state of his roast.
It was already half-cooked, and under the intense heat, it had barely managed to cook through.
Of course, it looked rather plain, but at least it wasn't burnt.
"..."
Hisoka silently eyed Morrow's roasted pig, thinking it was too late to start over, so he simply used his Texture Surprise ability to cover up the burnt areas.
Watching Hisoka's actions, Morrow remarked in surprise, "Is it really necessary to go that far?"
"Absolutely necessary."
Hisoka concealed the last burnt spot, narrowing his eyes slightly. "I don't want to get eliminated here."
"Is that so? I didn't realize you were so fixated on the Hunter License."
Morrow gave Hisoka a sidelong glance, somewhat surprised.
Hisoka wagged his index finger and said, "It's because I'm afraid you'll run off again."
"..."
Morrow's lips twitched slightly. He wanted to retort but ended up saying nothing.
With his current strength, even without tactical arrangements, he wouldn't be at a disadvantage against Hisoka in a direct confrontation.
Unless, like Illumi, Hisoka had also improved his abilities over the past year or so.
But even if Hisoka had expanded the effects of his ability, it likely wouldn't deviate from the Bungee Gum system.
If his overall strength hadn't changed, then it wouldn't be interesting.
After all, he had already defeated Hisoka once back in the Kukan'yu Kingdom.
Thinking of this, Morrow suddenly asked, "Hisoka, have you made any progress over the past year or so?"
"Hmm?"
Hisoka stared at Morrow with a slightly strange look and said, "You're underestimating me again. If you want to know the answer, why not start right here?"
"Forget it, I need to submit my 'exam paper.'"
Morrow shook his head as he stood up, lifting the slightly cooled roast whole pig with one hand, and said:
"I told you I wouldn't make you wait too long. If there's a suitable venue for us to fight in the subsequent test stages, you might get your wish in just a few days. But... I hope you've made some progress."
As he spoke,
Morrow turned and left, calmly leaving behind a remark: "Otherwise, it would probably be quite boring."
"Heh."
The corners of Hisoka's eyes curved into a startling arc as he looked at Morrow's retreating back, unable to suppress his excitement.
He didn't mind Morrow's dismissive attitude at all.
Because his greatest pleasure was to completely subdue his opponents in a direct fight and then look down on them as they wore expressions of "This shouldn't be happening."
Have I made any progress...?
Was that even a question?
If the two sides weren't equal in strength, how could they "dance together"?
I have to hold back...
Hisoka stuck out his tongue and lightly licked his lips.
—--
By the time Morrow returned to the warehouse, over twenty examinees had already brought their roast whole pigs to Buhara.
And these roast pigs, faced with Buhara's astonishing eating speed, turned into bones in no time.
Probably an Enhancement Ability.
Morrow glanced at Buhara, who remained unsatisfied even after eating over twenty roast whole pigs, and then looked at the examinees around him who had passed the first half of the test. Most of them looked somewhat familiar or had memorable traits.
Such as Hanzo, Geretta, Pokkle, and Ponzu.
Morrow withdrew his gaze and brought his roast whole pig to Buhara.
Buhara devoured the entire roast pig in a few bites, then chuckled and said, "Delicious, delicious."
Morrow wasn't surprised and retreated to a corner, slightly lowering his head to avoid Menchi's eager gaze from across the room.
Soon after,
Hisoka also arrived, carrying a roast whole pig on his shoulder.
As soon as he appeared, the examinees who had already passed the first half of the test tensed up nervously.
They could clearly sense the dangerous aura emanating from Hisoka once again.
Even though they knew it wasn't directed at them, they couldn't help but feel a sense of crisis, as if Hisoka might suddenly lose control and attack them at any moment.
This guy is at it again...
Someone thought to themselves, feeling uneasy.
Earlier, when Menchi was explaining the content of the second test, they had noticed Hisoka restraining himself. They hadn't expected him to revert to his old self so quickly.
Menchi frowned as she looked at Hisoka, easily detecting the smell of burning, though the roast whole pig itself appeared perfectly normal.
Hisoka paid no mind to Menchi's scrutinizing gaze as he presented the roasted whole pig to Buhara.
Buhara also caught the scent of burntness, yet he accepted it without refusal, devouring the roasted whole pig in just a few bites.
"Delicious."
Unsurprisingly, Hisoka passed.
Hisoka turned around and flashed Morrow a "everything's under control" smile.
"..."
Morrow was speechless.
Menchi, who had noticed the issue, cast a helpless glance at Buhara and remarked, "As a Gourmet Hunter, you're far too lenient with flavors."
"It's fine, it's not like we're testing for taste," Buhara replied, his eyes narrowing into slits as he revealed a simple, honest smile.
Menchi sighed but didn't interfere with Buhara's evaluation standards.
Soon, the first half of the test concluded.
A total of 101 participants passed.
Menchi then announced the second half of the second phase's challenge.
"The dish I want to eat is... Sashimi."
Upon hearing this, the vast majority of examinees were once again bewildered, reacting exactly as they had when they first learned the challenge involved cooking.
Sashimi, huh...
Morrow was slightly surprised.
Menchi's chosen dish had changed, but overall, it wasn't much different, still carrying an extremely high elimination rate.