However, you have to go whether you want to or not!
As a spy planted within the Association by Lord Beyond, if you do not even have the resolve to be a dog, then what use are you?!
Pariston looked at Saiyu with a smile. "Testing one's character is different from testing one's strength, Saiyu. When it comes to deeply understanding a person, no one's Nen ability is more suitable than yours among those present."
Money and such does not matter. It would be best to dig out more information about that Sean Zoldyck. It was rare to encounter such an interesting 'toy'. This exciting feeling traced back to over ten years ago when he first met that man—Ging Freecss.
'Damn it, I knew it would be me again!' Saiyu cursed Pariston half to death in his heart. But he had to admit, what he said was right.
His Nen ability, Three Monkeys of Sight, Hearing, and Speech, could deprive the opponent of their vision, hearing, and speech. This prevented the opponent from activating or maintaining their abilities, allowing him to invade their inner mind, predict their movements, and complete a comprehensive targeting and understanding of their entire personality. Aside from being powerful in combat, it was also extremely convenient and fast for 'inspecting' an opponent's character.
Helpless, since Pariston had spoken, the monkey scratched the fur on his face in irritation, glared back at Pariston, and said, "Got it."
His shoehorn face was pulled long and taut.
Stifled and angry, he didn't even say goodbye. He left the conference room and headed straight for the third stage of the Hunter Exam—Trick Tower.
"I just remembered, there are still a few prisoners I haven't interrogated, so I'll withdraw first as well." Saccho Kobayakawa pushed back his chair and stood up. He glanced at Pariston, nodded slightly to him, and took his leave.
Immediately following him were Cheadle and Pyon.
In the blink of an eye, only Pariston was left in the huge conference room.
The Zodiac Rat sat in his seat with a smile. He unhurriedly pulled a silk handkerchief from his jacket pocket to wipe the bloodstain from the corner of his mouth. He raised his eyes to look at the end of Sean's recording on the screen, where the young man with Drew his hand with flowing ease. He was not that easy to deal with.
"This is fine too. The harder to deal with, the more interesting. Ging... I seem to have found a great toy comparable to you."
"Hehehe." A gloomy laugh echoed. Outside the window, a flock of crows flew past, seemingly frightened. They cawed a few times, flapped their wings, and dropped a few black feathers.
Meanwhile, at Trick Tower.
The buzzing sound of the propellers chopping the air faded away after a long time.
Under Satotz's gaze, Netero, who had rushed off for the meeting, had already ascended into the sky with Menchi and Buhara, turning into a small black dot on the horizon.
Number Two, Gon, Kurapika, Leorio, alongside the 'couple' Hisoka and Illumi, as well as Hanzo, Pokkle, Bourbon, Ponzu, Cherry, and the other examinees, all stood before the door of the third stage—the top of Trick Tower!
"Ahem." Satotz, who had been designated to explain the rules of this stage, obeyed Netero's orders and took his place. He gave a dry cough to attract everyone's attention.
"Pay attention, everyone." Satotz cleared his throat. His gaze swept over the examinees one by one, lingering on Number Two for a moment, before he spoke in a muffled voice.
"This is the top of what is known as Trick Tower, and it is also the starting point of the third test."
"What you have to do is reach the bottom of the tower from the top within 72 hours."
"Remember, you are not permitted to climb down directly along the outer wall of the tower. Otherwise, your results will be voided, and you will be treated as eliminated."
The group of examinees fell silent.
Subconsciously, they looked at Number Two. When it came to flying, only he, Sean, could do it.
It could only be said that he was worthy of being Teacher Ben An, a man who successfully made the examiners modify the exam rules.
Number Two remained expressionless, turning a blind eye to them. He did not take the examinees' gazes seriously at all. With both hands in his pockets, he shared his vision with Sean.
At that moment, on the vast ocean leading to Whale Island—
The young man swigged a mouthful of wine he had swiped from the Kiriko. He sat cross-legged on the deck of The Sunny, fishing and unlocking the [Water] attribute while tasting the fine wine. Occasionally, he glanced at the images shared by Number Two, feeling indescribably comfortable.
Of course, it would be even better if that fly surnamed Freecss wasn't making noise in his ear.
"Hey, the Hunter Association is in an uproar because of you, yet you're perfectly fine, just slipping away directly. Sean, it seems you really don't take the Hunter Association seriously."
Ging leaned against the gunwale, blowing in the sea breeze. His eyes rolled as he took in the entirety of The Sunny. This ship, and the cartoon lion on the prow, looked a bit familiar.
[Item: The Sunny: Straw Hat Pirates' Ship]
[Exchange Cost: 2000 Reader Feedback Points.]
[Includes Franky's ship handling experience]
Anyone who had read One Piece would find it strange not to recognize it.
Sean curled his lips expressionlessly. "None of my business. Besides... are you blind? Can't you see I'm still at Trick Tower?"
The image shared by Number Two with Sean appeared as a screen of light, extending in front of both Sean and Ging.
Ging rolled his eyes at Sean. Just a clone, and he really took a Double-Star Ruin Hunter for a fool. His gaze then shifted and settled on Gon. The spiky-haired boy was standing next to Number Two, reaching out to tug at Number Two's sleeve.
Number Two calmly glanced at the floor.
In a room full of monitors, a man with a cockscomb hairstyle who was eating a daifuku cake was suddenly started and almost choked on the crumbs!
"Damn it, did he see me?"
Number Two's indifferent eyes filled the entire monitor.
Lippo suddenly sat up straight.
"This is the bottom of the tower. Even if that guy has sharp eyes, he shouldn't be able to see this far!"
Or perhaps, 'Did he awaken En?'
But... an En with a coverage range that could wrap around the entire Trick Tower... that would be a bit too exaggerated!
"Cough, cough...Water!" The cockscomb-headed man thumped his chest with his fist. He frantically gulped down water handed to him by the two prison guard subordinates behind him, finally catching his breath.
Damn, that was too creepy. Not only was Lippo started, but the two prison guard subordinates were also frightened. Fortunately, they did not have Lippo's privileges and were not eating morning tea while watching the surveillance, so they didn't choke. That could be considered a blessing in disguise!
"Who is this young man?"
"Number 405. Boss, do you want us to check his file?"
Trick Tower was actually a prison. The staff, including Lippo and his two subordinates, were all prison guards.
Being guards, their professional habits kicked in, and they wanted to check Sean's information, but Lippo waved his hand to stop them.
"No need to check. With such keen perception, it can't be anyone else but that man."
"Which man?" The two prison guard subordinates looked at each other in dismay. having followed Lippo for so long, this was the first time they had heard him use such a serious, even somewhat heavy tone.
Indeed, it was more than just heavy. Lippo felt immense pressure now. He didn't know what the Chairman was thinking, throwing a monster over here. Wasn't this just a hot potato?
Crack. Lippo fiercely bit off a piece of the daifuku cake and said grumpily, "Who else could it be? Sean Zoldyck, of course!"
"The man who fought the Chairman to a draw."
The two prison guard subordinates, standing like door gods on either side behind Lippo, stiffened instantly.
A fifty-fifty split with the Chairman? Or even suppressing the Chairman a bit! WTF. "Boss, I suggest giving him the green light and letting him pass directly."
"With such a terrifying guy, if we upset him, won't he tear down our Trick Tower?"
As the saying goes... some people just have jinxed mouths. As soon as the two prison guard subordinates finished speaking, they saw—
Number Two in the surveillance footage extended a finger and pointed it towards them. The tip of his finger was instantly dyed with a 'Red-Gold' color, emanating a trace of an overwhelmingly dominant aura!
"Holy crap! Here it comes again!"
"Teacher Ben An, we are all on the same side!"
"Please retract your divine power, don't accidentally hurt friendly forces!"
Conqueror's Coating! The examiners, who had just experienced being knocked unconscious by Sean's blast of Conqueror's Haki, smelled this familiar scent and instantly panicked.
A certain uncle, seeing this, his abandoned briefcase and directly grabbed Kurapika, hiding behind him.
'So I've become your shield, is that it?' Kurapika's face darkened as he looked back and glared at Leorio. "What are you doing?"
Leorio gave a sheepish smile. "The sun is a bit toxic. I'll cool off in your shadow for a while."
Kurapika fell silent. 'Cool off my ass.' Didn't he look at what time it was? The sun had just risen.
The blond teenager was speechless and sneered coldly, "Believe it or not, I'll lie down right in front of you."
However, before these words could land... Thump~ Thump~ Seeing that the situation was bad, the group of examiners simply decided to lie down first. It saved them from hitting their heads when they fainted later.
A strange spectacle appeared on the top of the huge Trick Tower—aside from a few scattered individuals still standing, all the candidates collectively 'fainted'.
This scene, reflected in Ging's pupils through the shared vision of Number Two, made the Boar Zodiac's mouth twitch. He was dumbfounded on the spot!
F*ck, can you play it like that?