Chapter 28 – Pulling Off Something Big (Part One)
That remark left Osren speechless. Being just a hair shorter than Gon was practically a lifelong curse—an unhealable wound to his pride. For a fleeting moment, he even entertained the idea of somehow forcing his body to grow taller.
Of course, that was easier said than done. Getting his own body to "cooperate" like that would probably require the kind of ultra-luxury meals only billionaires or gods could afford.
So after a brief moment of reflection, Osren concluded that meeting Killua as soon as possible was probably a much more practical way to boost his morale.
"I'm not going to stoop to the level of a coward who's afraid of heights," Osren said flatly, his expression practically inviting Leorio to retaliate. Come on then—hurt each other, see who wins.
In the original story, Leorio had spent an entire night screaming midair because of his fear of heights—and because the Kiriko had flown far too high.
This time, his retort caught in his throat. What Osren said was… well, true. And no matter how thick Leorio's skin was, there was no talking his way out of it.
"I think," Kurapika interjected calmly, at the perfect moment, "we should get going."
"Right. Let's move." Osren turned toward the Kiriko family and gave a small nod.
"Swish, swish, swish."
All four Kirikoes unfurled their massive wings in unison. Following Osren's earlier instructions, each one grabbed their assigned passenger before slowly ascending into the night sky, their silhouettes gliding toward Zaban City.
The real Hunter Exam was about to begin.
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After an exhausting night of flight, the group finally arrived at the outskirts of Zaban City just as dawn began to break.
The sun crept above the horizon, spilling golden-red light across the skyline. Compared to Whale Island, Zaban City was massive—towering skyscrapers intermingled with ornate, smaller buildings, radiating wealth and grandeur.
Once they touched down, the male Kiriko transformed into a young man in his twenties, wearing a yellow headscarf—his look carried a distinctly Middle Eastern flair.
Waving to the others to head back, he stayed behind to guide the candidates into the city and find the exam venue.
"The official test begins tomorrow morning," he explained as they walked through the bustling streets. "You can rest and wait for the exam to start."
"This place is amazing! Look how tall the buildings are, Osren! Way taller than the houses back on Whale Island!" Gon's voice bubbled with excitement. He couldn't help it—every step forward felt like one step closer to finding his father.
"It's definitely a big city," Leorio muttered, eyes practically glowing with greed. "Just imagine how much money it took to build all this…" The gleam in his gaze made it look like he was staring at pure gold instead of steel and glass.
The only ones who stayed composed were Kurapika—focused entirely on his goal of becoming a Hunter and avenging his clan—and Osren, who had already seen his fair share of cities in his previous life.
"Zaban City, 2-5-10…" the Kiriko muttered, glancing at a slip of paper. "Where is that again…?"
He led them through several busy intersections before stopping abruptly. "Ah, here it is! This building right here is the testing venue!"
They all looked up—and their jaws dropped.
The skyscraper soared into the clouds, its polished surface gleaming like it was made of diamond under the rising sun. The architecture had a castle-like design, radiating a mix of wealth and old-world power.
"So tall!" Gon exclaimed. Growing up among the small houses of Whale Island, the sheer height of the structure filled him with awe.
"Wow… even the entrance looks luxurious. No doubt this is the official exam site." Leorio's eyes widened.
"Incredible," Gon breathed, excitement bubbling up again.
"This is where candidates from all over the world…" Leorio began.
"…come to compete for the title of Hunter," Kurapika finished for him, his tone almost reverent.
"My dad must've felt the same way when he came here," Gon said, gripping his fishing rod tightly. "Osren, don't you feel it too? That excitement?"
Osren scratched his cheek, struggling not to laugh. "Excited? Maybe not exactly. But I do think what you're about to feel… is disappointment."
"Eh?" All three turned toward him in confusion.
Osren simply pointed forward. "Because I'm pretty sure that"—he gestured toward a small, rather shabby-looking steakhouse a few meters away—"is where we're actually supposed to go."
They blinked. Then turned to follow his finger.
Sure enough, the Kiriko had already walked several steps toward the steakhouse.
"What are you standing there for?" the Kiriko called back irritably. "This is the place! Come on already!"
Whether he'd done it on purpose, or whether he'd heard their earlier awe, no one could tell—but the slight curl of amusement at the corner of his mouth was impossible to miss.
Osren, meanwhile, fought to keep a straight face. Not good… not good at all… he told himself, though the grin tugging at his lips wouldn't go away. He might have looked calm, but inside he was gleefully entertained.
"How… how is it this place?" the three cried in unison, staring at the humble little restaurant before them.
Just seconds ago, their hearts had been soaring with anticipation. Now, that excitement collapsed faster than a popped balloon.
"Welcome!" came a cheerful double greeting—the owner and the waitress in perfect sync.
The waitress, a sweet-looking young woman, spoke in a voice just as sugary and bright as her smile. The portly owner behind the counter, on the other hand, radiated a kind of content, well-fed happiness.
"Stop joking around," Leorio said quickly, hurrying after the guide as he entered the restaurant. "There's no way the exam venue is here. You must just be hungry, right?"
The Kiriko—now in human form—ignored him entirely and leaned casually against the bar counter.
"Boss, one steak set meal," he said coolly.
The owner squinted at him, a strange little grin curling his lips. "And how would you like it cooked?"
"Slow flame," the guide replied, raising a single finger. His eyes narrowed to slits, mirroring the owner's expression.
"Ah, I see. Come in, then. You're early this year," the owner said, gesturing lazily toward a private room.
"Ran into a few… unexpected situations," the guide replied easily, following him in. "But everything's been arranged."
"Right this way, please. Your complimentary steak set will be out in just a moment," the cheerful waitress said, her big eyes sparkling as she guided them down the hall.
With a soft click, she opened the door to a private room. Inside was a simple round table surrounded by a few chairs. The room was spacious but plain—bare walls, no decorations, nothing that even hinted at being an exam hall.
Osren stepped inside first, scanning the room carefully. He even checked the walls and floor for traps or hidden mechanisms, but found nothing. With a faint sigh, he gave up.
Leorio, Kurapika, and Gon followed him in, exchanging helpless looks. It seemed they really would have to accept that this run-down steakhouse was the start of the Hunter Exam.
"Well, at least the food's free," Leorio said, rubbing his hands together as he sat down. "Better eat as much as we can—gotta stock up on energy."
"Food sounds good," Gon agreed, his stomach growling in response. Even though they hadn't been flying under their own power, traveling all night had still drained their strength.
The four of them quickly found their seats around the table, ready to dig in. None of them noticed the faint vibration beneath their feet—or the way the floor panels began to shift ever so slightly.