Chapter 23: The Conflict Between Hisoka and the Examiner
After hammering for another ten minutes, the man finally opened his eyes, casually tossed aside the iron bar and the tripod at his feet, and rested his strong hands on his waist, scrutinizing everyone around him.
Everyone who met his gaze instinctively straightened their backs, which greatly pleased him until his eyes landed on Germain and Hisoka.
Hisoka was lazily pressing a frog into the grass with his toes neither killing it nor letting it go as if he wanted to toy with it forever.
Germain, meanwhile, was calmly eating a sandwich he had brought from the restaurant, chewing on meat and fried egg while quietly observing the long-haired blue-haired man.
These two are exactly as troublesome as Izenabi and Ian said… But it doesn't matter. Let's see how I break your arrogance down.
The man with long blue hair coughed twice and began to speak.
"I'm Togari, the examiner for the third test. I declare that the fifty-two remaining candidates may now proceed to the next stage under my supervision."
Nearly half of the candidates from the previous round had been lost no doubt due to the trap-filled mansion and the internal skirmishes between participants.
If this exam allowed "red names," as in certain games, Hisoka's would have glowed so brightly that no one would have dared look at him.
Togari was about to continue when someone cut him off. It was Hisoka.
"Examiner," Hisoka called lazily, having already forgotten the man's name. Bored of the frog, he crushed it underfoot and suddenly asked, "How many rounds are left in this year's Hunter Exam?"
Togari already disliked Hisoka, and being interrupted so soon only worsened his mood. His tone grew impatient.
"Each year's Hunter Exam consists of five to six rounds, with occasional exceptions "
"Really? What a relief," Hisoka interrupted again, spreading his hands. "I was worried this dull exam would drag on forever."
The chilly mountain air was already cold, but Hisoka's words sent an even icier wind through the crowd, lowering the temperature even further.
"Dull?" Togari frowned, a vein bulging on his forehead after being interrupted twice.
Hisoka nodded casually. "The first test was a card hunt. The second was spending the night in a trick-filled mansion. So what's the third?"
He drew a deck of cards and began to shuffle. The cards twirled through the air in a dazzling display blooming, fading, and blooming again like flowers.
"Is your test less entertaining than my magic tricks?"
Togari narrowed his eyes. "The rules of the third exam are mine to decide. If you're dissatisfied, you can simply withdraw from the exam."
"Ah, that old trick again," Hisoka replied with a playful sigh. "I get it. If the examiner isn't pleased, no one passes."
Seeing Hisoka step back, Togari thought he had intimidated him. Smirking proudly, he addressed the crowd.
"I woke you up at four in the morning to test your roots! A true hunter cannot afford laziness those who are lazy are unworthy!"
"The third exam will test this directly! The fog rising from this mountain fills the graveyard at its base. I need you to find the cave where that fog originates "
Before Togari could finish, he caught a glimpse of Hisoka stretching exaggeratedly, and with his sharp hearing, he picked up a lazy yawn from the back of the crowd.
Tsk.
Togari, already on the edge of exploding, finally lost control. He took their indifference as a deliberate provocation, his fury igniting.
He drew two gleaming knives from his chest, his tone dark and cold. "You two step forward."
The sudden tension shocked the candidates. Their eyes darted toward the two culprits: Hisoka and Germain.
Hisoka pointed at himself, feigning surprise. "You mean me?"
"Step forward," Togari said icily.
"Nothing I can do, then…" Hisoka smiled, stepping out from the crowd.
The others parted like Moses parting the sea, leaving a clear path for Germain.
Uncertain how he had provoked Togari, Germain tossed his now-empty snack bag onto the grass and stepped forward as well.
The three stood in a triangular formation. Out of sight of the other candidates, subtle telekinetic energy flickered between them.
"Forgive your own disrespect," Togari growled, twirling his knives like serpents. "As candidates who claim to want to be Hunters you're unqualified."
Germain blinked slowly, his dark eyes calm, while Hisoka lifted one corner of his lips. Neither moved.
Togari's face darkened, blending with the fading night.
"So it's true… Two troublemakers among the candidates. I won't let either of you pass. But first you'll learn the consequences of defiance."
"He said it," Hisoka smirked, turning toward Germain as a card spun effortlessly between his fingers. "So, what do you think we should do?"
Remaining consistent with his earlier stance, Germain pretended not to know Hisoka in front of the others, though many suspected they were acquainted.
"I haven't done anything worth apologizing for," Germain said flatly. "If you mean that yawn earlier, it's because you woke us at four in the morning. Technically, that's your fault."
Seeing Germain's refusal to engage, Hisoka tilted his head toward Togari. "You say we fail? What if the examiner's 'knowledge' and 'skill' are so lacking that his judgment is flawed?"
Those words poured oil onto the fire. Togari's fury reached its peak.
He leaned forward, shouting, "Then I'll show you my knowledge and skill!"
With a swift step, he closed the distance. His right hand thrust forward his knife aimed straight at Hisoka's throat but at the last instant, he angled it toward Hisoka's arm.
It was his final breath of restraint as an examiner, deciding only to "teach them a lesson."
Hidden by the shadows of dawn, Togari's blade flashed.
Then, twisting low, he slashed his left-hand knife toward Germain's thigh.
As he rose, he expected both men to recoil in pain proof of his superiority and a warning to the others.
The watching candidates would surely respect him even more after this.
But in that assumption, he made his first mistake.
(End of Chapter)