Hunter x Hunter: Unleashed

Auren, his expression serious, continues to explain his slightly tweaked version of the fourth phase.

“Not only have we hidden a few tags, similar to the ones you’re wearing and trying to hunt from your competitors, all around the island, but we’ll also regularly drop tags down from the airship. These ‘blank’ tags are worth one point. It’s a perfectly viable strategy to avoid any conflict or even team up with others. I’m also giving you a hint. There are thirty tags hidden around the island, and we’ll drop another thirty at irregular intervals,” Auren explains. “Do the math and always look at the airship... just be aware, you might not be the only one chasing after it. We might also drop a bunch of other things for you, so it might be worth taking that risk.”

“You’ll each be given a small scanner. If you are in the close vicinity of a tag, the scanner will react and display the general direction of the tag,” Auren continues, while the Hunters hand out the scanners. “Finally... the scanners won’t work all the time. There will be a symbol indicating when they’re not working. I’m leaving it up to you to notice when they work and when not... and take advantage of that time... or not. Now... this implies a lot of strategic possibilities, which I’ll also leave for you to figure out.”

Smiling widely, Auren sees widespread realization and concern in the eyes of the examinees, many deep in thought.

“Huh, what do you mean?” Gon asks, confused.

I guess there are those people as well.

Auren sighs. “It means that if you are dumb enough to think that your points are safe as long as you hide your tags, you’ll most likely be disappointed, as the scanner allows others to find them and leave you with nothing.... They will get stolen like that, I promise you. You might also want to consider that these scanners are not only able to locate the ones we’ve hidden in the forest and will drop from the air, but also the ones you’re already carrying. Do you get it? It also means... as long as they’re working, you’re not safe at all, even when you’ve already gathered ten points.”

“Oh... thank you for telling me,” Gon replies, grinning, as some other examinees shake their heads. “You are unexpectedly kind. But that was a little much. Can you make it easier to understand? So what should I do?”

“Oy, is this brat serious?! That’s unfair! Stop giving advice!” A black man, carrying a large blowgun, yells.

“He is a kid... are you so desperate that I can’t give some advice to a 12-year-old?” Auren asks, genuinely shocked by the pettiness. “However, I get your point; no more advice.”

Now... since I’ve gone all this way... I’ll turn my own belief into profit. Like a certain rat would.

“Finally... there are a few special rules,” Auren states, his expression serious. “Though I’ve been limited by that nasty old man you met earlier. I’m expressly forbidding senseless killing and intentionally crippling your opponents. While accidents can... and do happen. If you purposely kill your competitors, you’ll be disqualified. Not only is the airship equipped with high-tech cameras and people with special equipment, but we also have multiple other ways to learn about your progress. Simply knock your opponent out, grab their tags, and then mark them with this; that way, they’ll be gone for a while.”

On command, the Hunters pull out a bunch of red tags, distributing them to everyone, along with a few small pouches they can use to store the tags and the scanners. “Anyone who gets defeated can be marked with such a tag. Removing it when you’ve lost a battle is forbidden. Trust me... we will know. Afterwards, you’ll be escorted by a few special wardens back to this place, where you’ll be forced to rest for at least 24 hours. We’ll set up a few tents, so you don’t have to sleep in the rain. No food, though; don’t think you can check out of the task for a relaxing day off. Also, if you think you can just endure the exam like that, forget it. If you’re intentionally getting caught and defeated, the hunters will track down your hidden tags and randomly hide them elsewhere.”

“One last warning...” Auren says, drawing Eternity, activating Ren and Limitless Waters, gathering all of it onto his blade, and finally slicing forward, emitting a considerable amount of Nen that shoots towards the forest in the distance. “If you kill others under the pretense of an accident, or outright ignore my order... I might have an accident as well while arresting you. It’s best we make sure these accidents don’t happen in the first place; surely you all agree?”

Then, a few seconds later, multiple trees fall in the distance, creating loud thuds, as the forest shrinks before their eyes.

As Auren holds the now half-white Eternity in his hand, still performing Ren, everyone’s gaze is drawn to it. A few people are shaking, sweat pouring down their faces in fear.

“What?!”

“How?!”

“That blade is scary... it makes my body shake.”

“Scary... but why does it look like that?”

“Any questions before we start? Since we have children here, I’m inclined to answer them,” Auren states, crossing his arms.

“Why are we not allowed to kill?” Killua asks, raising his hand.

Annoying brat.

“Personal preference. If you want a justification... Hunters usually complete many kinds of jobs. They have to hunt people, beasts, various objects, or simply whatever they desire. You just visited Trick Tower. Why do you think prisons exist? Because criminals are apprehended, arrested, convicted, and then imprisoned, not simply killed.”

“Only rarely do you just go out and kill people. Even Blacklist Hunters are often required to bring in their targets alive. Defeating someone without resorting to killing or crippling them is simply an important skill you must have. Also... I view every one of you as a highly skilled expert who has already proven his or her immense potential. Don’t think life is so cheap that you can kill for sport. Nobody gains anything by creating a slaughter. My opinion may differ from the other examiners, and I accept that death could happen at any place. I just don’t want to encourage it, simple as that.”

“I want to work together with you... as Hunters. I am not interested in having mass murderers as my future coworkers. Don’t think that even with a license, you can go crazy. If you do, I’ll hunt you down personally,” Auren finally concludes.

“But you’ve killed countless people... even in front of cameras,” one of the three brothers, Examinee No. 197, Amori, asks, standing together with No. 198 and No. 199.

“For very good reasons,” Auren says. “Firstly, I was a Hunter and had a lot of information the public didn’t know about. With my license, those kills were justified, and I promise you my victims earned their punishment. Do you have a deadly grudge against one of these people? If yes, and if both of you agree, I might give you special permission to kill each other. I’m not a saint; I just want the Association to prosper, but if you insist on killing each other, who am I to babysit you? So who do you want to kill?”

“I... no, I don’t want to... not really...” Amori replies. “I guess... forget it.”

Quite a few examinees look a little dissatisfied.

Better speak up. I’m trying to build an image here... it’s best I make sure I’m not misunderstood. I’ll need broad support for the eventual... election!

“As for you...” Auren says, looking directly at Examinee No. 80 Siper, a woman wearing sunglasses and carrying a rifle with a scope. “As I said... true accidents happen. Don’t aim for the head of a victim who can’t dodge, but feel free to fire at your own discretion. I expect many of you to die... if you can’t accept that, quit now. I am merely saying that I’ll not accept intentional murders perpetrated by clearly superior fighters... that’s all. The rest that happens... happens. It’s part of the exam. I just don’t want a needless death that serves no purpose at all. You’ll be tested to your very limits... just don’t throw away your dignity and humanity in the process; that’s all I’m trying to ensure.”

Everyone nods, seemingly understanding and partially agreeing with Auren’s point, of course, multiple people do not react at all, such as Illumi, still disguised, and Hisoka, showing no reaction either.

“Then... the fourth exam starts now!” Auren yells. “You’ll leave in the same order in which you cleared Trick Tower, but I’m banning you from attacking anyone until I give you a sign. Go out and get your ten points, protect them until the end... and then return!”

One by one, the examinees leave. Finally, the familiar group of five departs as well, everyone looking determined.

Snapping his fingers, a number of black-suited men and women appear in front of Auren.

“It’s nice to see you... again,” Auren says, smiling at them. “And for those I haven’t met yet, it’s nice to meet you. I’m hoping Pariston followed my advice and compensated you properly for your services.”

“Of course,” one of them replies with a grin. “The pay went up a lot.”

“What’s that? Pay?” Vanessa wonders. “I thought examiners aren’t paid and do this out of their own goodwill and ambition, you know.”

“Of course,” Auren replies. “But do you think the many people helping out are the same? Why would these people follow the examinees for a week through this damn deserted forest? It’s a simple, yet arduous task... that should be compensated properly. Only the main examiners responsible for the tasks, like Satotz, Menchi, Buhara, and Lippo, are doing it for free.”

“Hehe, you got it, boss,” another says. “It’s just fair compensation, after all, hehe. So... we just follow them, note down their behavior, and intervene... during the special situations?”

These people. They are paid around a million Jenny per day, and minus the fees Pariston sucks out of them, that’s still not much. That’s nothing, to be perfectly honest. The fact that these people are excited about such a small sum does not speak well of the talents of those temp Hunters at all.

“Yes... if it’s related to numbers 44 and 301, call me, and I’ll intervene myself,” Auren warns them. “Don’t do it on your own... anyway, if you need a break, we have some more people on standby. Don’t overdo it. Grab enough food for a few days, and you can always load up on more at the points we’ve selected. Prioritize your own safety above all else... even above the examinees.”

“Hehe, you are too kind to us, boss,” a middle-aged woman says, smiling at Auren.

“I’m not your boss... just your coworker,” Auren clarifies, a little taken aback by the woman.

“Vice-Chairman Pariston says otherwise,” she immediately clarifies. “Don’t worry, we won’t annoy you with personal requests.”

“Fine,” Auren relents. “Get to work; the examinees already left. Report anything you deem important.”

“It’s fine... we got their tag locations,” another says, revealing a scanner, slightly different from the ones used by the examinees themselves. “See you later, boss!”

In good spirits, the temp Hunters leave. Auren, Vanessa, Neffi, and Leroute board Auren’s airship, immediately seeing Jolt and Marsha on the front deck.

“Having fun with the exam?” Jolt asks, smiling at them.

“I fear not,” Auren replies. “In any case, we have a lot of work to do. Let’s lift off.”

As Auren’s airship ascends into the skies, Jolt skillfully maneuvers it over the island at the slowest speed possible, following a set course.

Sitting inside their familiar home, Leroute looks around, quite impressed by the ship.

Grabbing a small chest filled with yellow tags, Auren takes one and explains, “We need to drop these off. Make sure not to throw them into the damn water. Just drop them at random times.”

“Easy enough,” Neffi says, removing her helmet. “I’m so glad we’re back... I might sound similar to Vanessa, but I’m hungry as well... finally we get to eat again.”

“What do you mean, sound like me?” Vanessa says, glaring at Neffi, who smiles innocently.

“Already at it,” they hear Marsha yell from the kitchen.

Relaxing for just a second, Auren pulls the egg out of his well-protected back pocket and gently polishes it with a cloth. “Slowly getting there,” he mutters as he feels a faint but continuous amount of movement inside it.

“What’s that?” Leroute asks curiously.

“An egg... it should be obvious,” Auren replies with a grin. “The better question would be... what’s inside.”

Which is what I’d like to know as well.

Finally, Auren walks outside onto the deck, still holding the tag in his hand, and throws it toward the center of the island.

Now... this task needs to proceed smoothly. I need my reputation amongst the Association to soar... In time... I just know Pariston will drop his game of playing around in the association. Soon he’ll grow bored with it, I just know it. Meaning... I can take over his entire faction. With them behind me... should I somehow be able to become the chairman... anything is possible.

Rakshala has an immense amount of hatred towards the V5 in her heart. She wants war... she’s just waiting for any sort of escalation. That’s the wrong path.

If I control the association... I’m working directly for the V5.

With the position of chairman... and hundreds... no thousands of Nen users... I do not just work for the V5. I’ll just pretend to do that. I’ll simply control them and make them my puppets. With the figureheads secretly under my control... it’s game over before it even starts, with nobody being the wiser. Illumi might be the key... or Shalnark. The Troupe stands in my way... I need them to break up and then consolidate key personnel under me alone.

Should I really go ahead with it? Hisoka... might be a convenient tool I can use. So many options... in any case, I’ll go ahead carefully.

It may sound easy... but with the Zodiacs and especially Netero around, these goals are simply unrealistic... but situations change. Instead of war, which Rakshala prepares for... it’s much easier to just manipulate the V5.

This is the first step to make that goal happen, with many different ones to follow. It’s a long, arduous path... but it’s not impossible. Even if I fail on the way, I am sure this is not for naught, and I can at least achieve some of my goals.

Let the games begin, I suppose....

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!