Hunter x Hunter: Unleashed

One by one, the examinees return, even many of those who have obviously failed.

“Present your badges,” Auren says, taking out a special scanner capable of verifying the authenticity of the collected badges.

Finally, the examinees begin approaching Auren one by one.

Hisoka is the first one, and he holds exactly 8 badges in his one remaining hand.

“Examinee No. 44... Hisoka passes,” Auren says.

“Examinee No. 301... Gittarackur passes,” Auren continues, his face twisting a little as he pronounces the name. “Your name is really badly chosen. Try harder next time.”

Instead of replying, Illumi, still in his disguise, just clicks, his head rattling awkwardly.

“Examinee No. 99, Killua, No. 403, Leorio, No. 404, Kurapika, No. 405, Gon... pass as well,” Auren says, briefly checking the tags of the group.

“Examinee No. 294, Hanzo passes, Examinee No. 191, Bodoro passes, Examinee No. 53, Pokkle... passes.” Auren recounts, ready to end the exam, only for Ponzu to appear, standing right next to Pokkle.

“Hm?” Auren wonders. “Examinee No. 246, Ponzu, right?”

“Yes!” the girl replies, Auren sensing hundreds upon hundreds of small Auras inside her hat.

The bees in her hat are something new. Don’t tell me she passed?

“The bloodthirsty one,” Auren adds with a grin. “The only examinee who still dared to slaughter her way through this exam, despite my warning. Still, I’ll let it slide... barely. Only because I’m scared of you, of course.”

Upon hearing Auren’s words, everyone stares at Ponzu in shock and confusion, the girl blushing and slightly pulling down her hat. “It’s... not like that. It was an accident... both times! You are mean....”

How did she even pass? In any way... her eventual Hatsu could be interesting. Perhaps... that changes more things later down the road?

Finally, as the hour is nearly over, a jubilant Tonpa arrives, holding a bunch of tags in his hands.

“Examinee No. 16... don’t tell me,” Auren says, staring at him.

One by one, Auren checks the tags he is holding, but can only shrug. “You pass as well. It looks like my rules were too lenient. Did you gamble with the other examinees just outside the landing site?”

“Uhm... it’s not against the rules, right?” Tonpa asks, looking embarrassed.

“No... it’s not. Not when done outside the landing zone. While I disqualified you two years ago, this time I have no choice. I guess my rules of allowing examinees to return to action even after being defeated and forced to spend 24 hours at the camp were too lenient. I didn’t expect so many people to pass. No. 16, you pass.”

Tonpa’s eyes begin to shine, and his face twists into a devious smile as he looks at Leorio and Kurapika, the former unable to hold back his hatred and disgust.

“The fourth phase is hereby finished... eleven people pass!”

Two casualties... I guess that much couldn’t be helped. Not that I care... these were honest kills, performed by someone much weaker than their victims.

With Auren’s exam over, he says his goodbyes to Jolt and Marsha, but asks them to follow the Association airship.

As it lands, he, together with the examinees, Neffi, Vanessa, and Leroute, enters it, ready for the last phase of the exam.

Only the examinees who passed are allowed entry, making the airship feel surprisingly empty compared to before. The others must wait for the boat to pick them up and transport them elsewhere.

The examinees immediately head for the bathrooms and various facilities on board, washing up and enjoying a real meal, along with the comfortable sofas and benches available.

Right after entering, Auren’s group heads onto the upper floors reserved for the examiners.

Inside a familiar room, Netero is sitting with the other examiners, Menchi, Buhara, Satotz, Lippo, and Beans.

“There he is!” Netero yells, pointing at Auren. “Soft. You are too soft! Way too soft! What’s your excuse, huh? Eleven people? Eleven?!”

Auren shrugs. “The examinees are more skilled and determined than I thought. I expected far fewer people to pass.”

“Satotz said the same thing,” Menchi says. “You might be right.”

“Anyway, sit down; food will be ready soon. Let’s share a meal together,” Netero says. “I’m in a good mood. So many rookies. That’s really a rarity. It’s almost unheard of.”

“Your definition of rookie is quite stupid,” Auren points out, causing Netero to glare at him.

“Uh... this is the chairman of the Hunter Association, right? Why is Auren speaking so casually to him?” Leroute asks quietly.

“Just ignore it,” Neffi says. “They’re both addicted to combat and training. Auren is sort of his student.”

Of course, noticing, Netero looks at Leroute. “Auren... you are more perverted than I thought. Couldn’t get enough and picked up one more hottie for your little group? I wonder what you’re doing when you’re not preaching about exams. I thought it was something noteworthy... I’m quite disappointed.”

“Don’t judge others by your own actions,” Auren clarifies. “What comes to your mind might be dirty, but it hasn’t crossed mine. Also, she’s Vanessa’s student.”

“Then I’ll be in touch with you, Miss Chester,” Beans says, with a smile. “There are quite a few things to consider, and not every prisoner turns out brilliantly like our little Neffi here.”

If he knew... guess Lippo didn’t snitch on her... yet.

Vanessa sighs. “Okay... fine.”

“Quite reasonable,” Beans praises her. “You show a lot of promise.”

Vanessa can’t help but listen to the little bean. An unexpected combination.

“Looks like you’ve taken a liking to her, Beans,” Netero says, looking disgusted. “Maybe you are the worst out of all of us.”

More than skeptical, everyone in the room looks at Netero with pity, obviously disagreeing with that statement.

Enjoying the food, the discussion returns to the various rookies.

Finally, grinning widely, Netero makes a sudden announcement. “I’ll interview the examinees one by one. All for the last exam.”

Eating and not bothering to react much, Auren just looks at him.

“Ho, not reacting this time? No criticism?” Netero asks, looking back.

“If you don’t do something worthy of being criticized, I obviously won’t do it,” Auren says. “I wanted a better look at the examinees myself, so I can understand your way of thinking. Do you want to be praised for doing the bare minimum or what?”

“Come to think of it...” Netero remembers, ignoring Auren’s jab. “You’ve seen them for the entire exam. I’m soon receiving the detailed reports on the examinees from your phase... but you know what? You join me as well! I’d like to hear your opinion about the examinees.”

“I can tell it to you right now,” Auren states. “I have a few things to say, but there is no need for me to steal your spotlight... chairman.”

“No, just join me,” Netero says. “That way I can blame you if things go wrong.”

This petty old man....

“Chairman!” Beans yells.

“I know what I am doing!” Netero says. “Set it up now, Beans. Auren, you follow me.”

Why is he dragging me into it?

Joining Netero in a private room, outfitted with cushions, a small table, and a large board with a Kanji symbolizing heart, mind, spirit, and soul, Netero sits down on a cushion, while Auren just sits next to him, though a little farther away from the empty cushion across from them.

“Huh, so you do have some respect for me?” Netero says. “What a surprise.”

Just a little.

“...”

Finally, Hisoka, after being called through the ship’s communication system, enters. Immediately, he glares at Auren before looking at Netero.

“Ah, yes, have a seat,” Netero says.

“Don’t tell me... this is the final test? ♠️” Hisoka wonders, before calmly sitting down.

“No, not the test. I just want to ask a couple of questions and have Auren here tell me a little about each of you. Tell me... why do you want to be a Hunter?”

“I don’t... but the license does have its uses. ❤️ Though in the end... I believe the prize didn’t warrant the cost. ♦️” Hisoka replies, briefly glancing at his missing hand.

Netero then asks a bunch of simple questions. “Who interests you most among the remaining examinees?”

“Number 99 ❤️, though 405 also caught my eye. ♣️”

“Who do you want to fight the least right now?” Netero asks.

Hisoka thinks for a second before replying honestly. “I would say 405... I feel the same for 99 ♣️, but the time to fight 405 simply hasn’t come yet. ♦️ As for whom I’d like to fight the most right now...”

He then glares at Auren, looking straight at him.

“Wait until after the exam if you want me to finish what I started,” Auren says, not bothered in the least.

“Didn’t you already have enough? Though I’d like to apologize for the actions of my student. Strictly speaking, what he did was against the exam,” Netero says, bowing his head.

“We didn’t fight. ♦️ What were his words? A cold, cruel lynching... I have to say, I’ve never felt or experienced something like this before... I think once is enough. That opened my eyes. ♠️”

“Well, well, as long as things didn’t get out of hand,” Netero says, scratching his head.

Staring at Hisoka’s crippled left arm, which is missing its hand and only reaches to his elbow, Auren is truly impressed by the chairman’s savageness.

Out of... hand?

Glaring at him, Hisoka looks visibly annoyed.

“So finally, Auren, now it’s your part,” Netero says, looking at Auren.

“What do you want me to say?” Auren asks, not understanding. “His physical and mental strength, his suitability as a Hunter? Do you want me to rank his skills or what?” he jokes, with a grin.

“Fine, go for it then. Those three things,” Netero says, smirking at Auren.

“Are you serious?” Auren asks.

“Quite!” Netero insists.

“He’s quite strong... so his physical strength is at the top of what you can expect from a Hunter candidate. Anything less than 10 makes no sense. Mental strength... he has his mental issues, but he’s still quite competent. Maybe an 8. His suitability as a Hunter? Probably a 9.5, certainly higher than you and maybe even me, old man.”

“Hm?” Hisoka wonders, genuinely shocked by Auren’s words. “What makes you say that? ❤️”

“I’d like to know as well!” Netero says, not quite happy with Auren’s words.

“You seek martial strength and worthy opponents,” Auren explains. “I seek a lot of things... meanwhile, Examinee No. 44 is a pervert who, a little like you, seeks out exciting life-and-death battles. But unlike you, he’s actively looking for what he desires and not just sitting in his cozy tower in Swardani City. He chooses his opponents, and if I’m right, even lets them grow or even helps them... only for him to attempt to kill them once he deems them worthy. He’s certainly someone whose entire life is all about his hunt for his desires, regardless of how twisted and disgusting they may be. Strictly speaking, in reality, he’s already a Hunter, just not in name. I quite dislike Transmuters like that, though.”

“I see... okay, that will be all,” Netero says, taking a few notes on a small writing pad.

A stumped and shocked Hisoka leaves the room, visibly confused, but appearing quite content.

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