"Alright, then I hereby declare the second phase of the Hunter Exam…begin!"
Buhara slapped his huge belly with a resounding *bang*, louder than before, like a massive drum being struck.
At that signal, the candidates rushed into the forest in a flurry.
Ron held back slightly. He already knew how this test would play out—
The pork dish challenge would ultimately end in failure, not because of the participant's shortcomings, but rather Menchi's. She would fail everyone out of dissatisfaction.
Some said it was because certain examinees had mocked Gourmet Hunters, angering Menchi enough to be overly strict.
Menchi herself maintained that the candidate's cooking simply didn't meet her standard, but either way, it showed she wasn't a good fit as an examiner—an abuse of her authority.
Buhara's little omission—telling them "any pig in Biscayne Forest" without clarifying there was only one species of pig—was trivial in comparison.
Judging by their aura, neither Menchi nor Buhara seemed all that powerful, roughly on par with Satotz.
Still, if they're connected to the Gourmet Paradise organization, Ron planned to visit that place eventually, so befriending them could be useful.
By the time Ron reached the forest, the other examinees were already struggling with the pigs.
These weren't ordinary pigs, but giant, pink, half-feral beasts—like minor magical creatures. Large, ornery, and carnivorous (or at least omnivorous).
Ron took a quick look.
"They're not very strong, but they appear easy to keep and breed. Sumas could use animals like that as a reliable meat source."
So far, the magical beasts Ron had stored in Sumas's forest weren't really suitable for normal consumption. Most weren't standard ingredients. The ones originally inside Sumas were even less so. For three-plus years, Sheila had barely survived in that forest region; without the experiences she gained growing up in Meteor City, she'd have starved.
As for the A-level Nen user locked in the pyramid, he survived solely on whatever food Ron periodically tossed in.
These "Great Stamp Hogs" were no big deal for Ron, but ordinary candidates were having a tough time:
- One candidate tried smashing the hog with a giant stone, only for the hog to shatter it with a single swing of its snout.
- Even Hanzo's throwing blades couldn't cut through the hog's nose.
- Outside of Nen users, Hanzo was among the strongest here—stronger than Gon, Leorio, or Kurapika. Even Killua admitted Hanzo was likely beyond him for now.
Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika were all being chased around.
Killua was at least unscathed, but he couldn't finish the beasts off immediately, either—still, he stayed calm, outrunning them with ease.
Ron moved to an out-of-the-way area and quietly lured a few Great Stamp Hogs over.
They charged at him, but with one gesture of aura, Ron enveloped them. In a blink, they vanished—transferred into Sumas's forest region.
At that very moment, Sheila—who'd been waiting and growing despondent—was startled to see more arrivals.
She sprang to attention.
"I mean no harm! Can we talk? I can help you!" she called to the empty air, desperately hoping her words would be heard.
But Ron had already ended the transfer, so he didn't hear a thing.
Sumas did, however, and relayed Sheila's plea to Ron. Ron had no interest in engaging.
Sheila stared upward, waiting for any sign.
Nothing.
Her expression darkened.
"Could it be I was too late to speak, so they didn't hear me? Or maybe they heard but don't want to respond—are they wary of me?"
Ron frowned slightly.
"It sounds like Sheila thinks the owner of Sumas is a surviving Kurta, so she's trying to offer her services. If she ever learns I'm not a Kurta, her resentment would be monumental. She'd realize we were both captives once, but I gained control of Sumas and left her imprisoned for years. She'll blame me—human nature is predictable."
So Ron decided it was best Sheila never find out he was the one.
He had a simple plan for her: indefinite free labor.
He had no intention of letting her out or even revealing himself. To Ron, she was a B-level Nen user put to work without pay—handy for managing the magical beasts in the forest region. Sheila would handle them for her own survival.
It might seem unfair, but Ron figured she should be grateful he'd spared her life. Without him, she'd be long dead. Essentially, he'd "own" her life.
Ron's thoughts drifted to the A-level Nen user sealed in the pyramid. He used that man as a test subject for new techniques, a sparring partner.
Previously, Ron had joined TST at Heaven's Arena for strong partners, but they no longer suited him—too weak, and they couldn't travel with him.
Meanwhile, this captive A-level user inside Sumas could and he could be used whenever as well.
It was the perfect system for him.
Suddenly, someone approached Ron.
"Hisoka?"
Ron stayed on alert. Even though he doubted Hisoka would attack him now—Illumi's presence was a deterrent—Hisoka was unpredictable.
"Care for a fight?" Hisoka asked.
"Against you?"
"Yes."
"No interest."
"What if we only go until first blood?" Hisoka suggested.
Ron raised an eyebrow. A *light* spar wasn't typically Hisoka's style—he wanted true exhilaration. A 'point-stop' clash wouldn't satisfy him.
Yet Hisoka was clearly extending a compromise.