Chapter 17: A Man Like Him Would Never Be Beaten by Mere Storms
Given the sheer number of people taking the Hunter Exam each year, the Hunter Association didn't publicly announce the exam location.
Instead, candidates had to rely on scant clues to find the venue—a test in itself.
To further reduce the number of applicants, the Hunter Association set up various traps along the way. Moreover, the venue changed locations annually and was deliberately placed in hard-to-find areas. Without the help of guides, it was nearly impossible for candidates to reach the site. They first had to find these guides, who would assess their abilities before leading them to the venue.
Naturally, none of this posed a problem for Mord.
As an avid fan of Hunter × Hunter, compounded by Togashi's infamous 1,000-plus-day hiatus (though the series had recently resumed, much to everyone's delight), Mord had rewatched the series multiple times—from the original version to the remake, then the manga.
As a result, he remembered many details with perfect clarity.
While most people only knew that this year's Hunter Exam was being held in the Kukan'yu Kingdom, Mord could pinpoint the exact city: Zaban.
The Hunter Exam application form had already been submitted online back when Mord was in Meteor City.
Thud!
Lost in thought, Mord stepped onto a large ship docked at Reaif Port.
The moment his foot touched the deck, he immediately sensed several hostile gazes directed his way.
"Hey, another one's arrived," someone called out from a corner of the deck.
According to the instructions on the Hunter website, all examinees were to head to Dolle Harbor in the Kukan'yu Kingdom—precisely where this ship was bound.
It stood to reason that aside from the captain and crew, everyone else aboard this vessel were Hunter Exam candidates.
As the saying goes, colleagues are natural rivals.
Mord easily understood the reason behind these unfriendly stares.
Just then, two blades suddenly appeared—one on each side—blocking Mord's path.
"Kid, this ship's full."
Mord looked up to see two fierce-looking bald men glaring at him.
The examinees on the deck all turned their gazes this way, each wearing amused smiles.
"The Dragon and Tiger brothers are at it again. How many times is it today? Shattering the dreams of these hopeful Hunter aspirants."
"There are dozens of people on this ship alone who dream of becoming Hunters, and every year, hundreds of thousands more take the test across the country. Yet only a handful are chosen. If they can't even get past the Dragon and Tiger brothers, it's better for their ridiculous dreams to be crushed early."
...
Whispers spread across the deck.
Then, at that moment—splash!splash!—two loud sounds of bodies hitting the water abruptly silenced the murmurs.
Everyone stared at Mord's direction, their faces filled with disbelief.
The strength of the Dragon and Tiger brothers was among the top on this deck.
Yet now, in just one encounter, they had been thrown overboard by this unknown youth—so fast that no one had even seen his movements.
"Those two idiots earlier did say one thing right."
Mord flicked his wrist and strode to the center of the deck, casually tossing his luggage aside. He scanned the crowd and spoke.
"This ship really is a bit too crowded."
In the ship's cockpit, an old man in a captain's hat watched the commotion on deck. He took a swig from a bottle of whiskey.
"Wow—seems like an interesting rookie this year."
...
Gentle moonlight spilled over the now-empty deck.
Mord lay on his back, gazing at the starry sky, breathing in the salty sea breeze, listening to the distant cries of seabirds.
A strange sense of relaxation washed over him.
The annoying troublemakers had long been tossed overboard by Mord.
"The sea is wonderful, isn't it?"
A hearty laugh came from behind. Mord didn't get up—he knew it was Old John, the captain of the ship.
Mord nodded.
"Young man, your name?"
"Mord."
"Mind telling me why you want to become a Hunter?" Old John sat down beside Mord and asked.
With countless people vying for Hunter qualifications, the Hunter Association was short on examiners and lacked the time for thorough vetting. So they hired external proctors like Old John to conduct preliminary screenings.
Mord understood—this was a qualification check.
Instead of answering directly, Mord said:
"Every time I see the sea, I feel the urge to talk to someone. And when I feel the urge to talk, I always want to see the sea again."
"Can you understand that feeling, Captain John?"
Tch—
What an unpredictable guy.
Old John covered his face with a hand, thinking to himself.
"You asked why I want to be a Hunter. I want to see this world properly."
"Is that answer satisfactory, Captain John—or should I say, Examiner?"
Everything Mord had said came from the heart. As someone not originally from this world, he sometimes felt a sense of detachment.
That was why he needed to understand this world even more.
A young man's journey should be toward the stars and the sea, not the dust and noise of mortal life.
"Hahahaha!"
"You brat, I really like you. From the moment you boarded and threw those two noisy idiots overboard, I knew we were the same kind of people."
"I'll take you to the port closest to the examination venue."
Old John stood up, laughing heartily as he headed toward the cabin.
Inside the ship's cabin.
A sailor glanced at Mord lying on the deck and said worriedly to Old John, "Captain, there might be a storm tonight. Is it really alright for him to stay out on the deck like this?"
Old John let out a drunken hiccup and waved his hand dismissively.
"Don't worry. A man like him won't be brought down by a mere storm."
...
"Achoo!"
Early the next morning, Mord couldn't help but sneeze—his attempt at looking cool had backfired. After being exposed to wind and rain all night, catching a cold was inevitable.
"Good morning, Mr. Mord."
"Morning."
"..."
The young sailor gave Mord a strange look, then turned to glance at Captain Old John behind him. Just as he was about to say something, a sudden coughing fit interrupted him.
"Ahem! Ahem!"
Old John coughed loudly, trying to mask the awkwardness.
"Dolle Harbor is just ahead. Get ready, everyone."
"Yes, sir!"
The young sailors hurried off to follow orders.
Sure enough, it wasn't long before Mord, standing on the deck, caught sight of Dolle Harbor's outline.
The ship docked at the harbor.
Aside from their vessel, over a dozen other ships were moored at the port. Clearly, like Old John's ship, they had all been hired by the Hunter Association to assist with qualification examinations.