Menchi glanced at all the candidates who'd obtained a Phantom Egg.
"Now, please boil your Phantom Eggs and enjoy the fruits of your labor. That's the reward of gourmet cuisine.
As Gourmet Hunters, we're willing to risk everything—our very lives—to obtain ingredients. Because we have that resolve, we can become true Gourmet Hunters. Now, does anyone still think it's a joke?"
She fixed her gaze on those who'd previously scoffed at the idea of Gourmet Hunters. One by one, they lowered their heads.
Before long, the water came to a boil. A candidate peeled off the eggshell, and a faint aroma drifted across the mountaintop. Those who hadn't found the courage to leap from the cliff couldn't help swallowing as the enticing scent reached them.
Killua approached Ron.
"Ron, did you jump off the cliff just now? I didn't see you do it."
He mentally replayed events but was certain he'd never seen Ron leap. And yet Ron had a Phantom Egg in his hand.
"You'll find out later," Ron replied, not explaining much further.
Killua frowned slightly.
Meanwhile, the number of candidates had dropped dramatically again. There'd been over a hundred people who made it to the second stage, but now it looked like less than half remained.
Everyone boarded the airship once more. The candidates finally relaxed a bit. Netero formally reintroduced himself to everyone. Ron, having been assigned a private room, looked around, then headed to the airship's deck.
Killua trailed after him. "Ron, how exactly did you do that?"
Ron glanced at Killua, his brow quirking. "I told you—you'll learn in time. But if you insist on knowing right now, that's also possible." He extended a hand toward Killua. "As someone who's already in human society, you should understand that nothing comes for free. If you want help, you need to pay up."
Killua's expression grew serious. "What do you want?"
"No, no, it's not about what I want but what you can offer."
Killua was silent for a moment. "I can give you a million Jenny."
"Sorry, but no."
"Not enough?"
"It's not that it isn't enough. To be honest, the intel isn't super-valuable—but money means little to me. I have no need for it."
Ron was indeed speaking the truth. Thanks to Chii's connections, Ron had long since amassed a huge fortune—over a hundred billion Jenny across multiple accounts, nearly on par with Battera's wealth. Whatever he could buy with money, he already could; anything he really wanted couldn't be purchased with Jenny alone.
Killua knitted his brow. Just then, another figure approached.
"Killua, Ron!" Gon waved at them.
Killua's expression relaxed. "Gon."
Ron smiled. "Gon, good evening."
Ron's attitude toward the two boys was markedly different: while he kept a polite distance with Gon—partly because he didn't fully understand Gon's mindset, and partly because Gon was Ging Freecss's son—he treated Killua like true family. In Ron's eyes, Killua was a younger member of the Zoldyck clan, much like Zeno and Silva regarded Ron as one of their own.
"What were you two talking about?" Gon asked.
"Nothing much," Ron said, shaking his head. "We were just chatting. The view from this airship is pretty nice."
Gon nodded. "By the way, Leorio and Kurapika went to rest. I'm not tired yet, so I came out for a walk and saw you guys. Killua, want to explore the airship?"
Killua's eyes lit up. "Sure!"
"How about you, Ron?" Gon asked.
Ron waved them off. "I'll pass."
"Okay, see you later."
With that, Gon and Killua jogged off in search of adventure. Ron watched their silhouettes disappear, then turned his gaze away.
Footsteps sounded against the deck—wooden sandals clacking. A figure approached.
"Chairman."
"Good evening, Ron," Netero greeted him. "Care to play a game?"
"What sort of game?"
"Knock the old man down." Netero smiled. "Gel and Mizaistom both speak highly of you. This old geezer here is very curious—It's been ages since I saw a rookie with talent like yours. Even the Fiore royal family has a high opinion of you. And that brat Zeno was bragging about you last time, too."
Ron hesitated. "I doubt I'm any match for you, Chairman."
"You never know. Aren't you young folks stronger than us shriveled elders? I'm so old now, no comparison to you youngsters."
Ron felt a sense of déjà vu. He remembered how, in the Chimera Ant storyline, Netero had similarly played up his age to Morel and Knov—yet was still far beyond them. True, compared to his prime, Netero had weakened, but he remained on a whole other level.
"All right," Ron conceded. "Thank you for the lesson, Chairman."
Given Netero's strength, "lesson" was entirely appropriate.
"Come with me."
They headed toward the airship's training room, one in front of the other.
In a dim corridor corner stood another figure, quietly watching—Hisoka, eyes narrowed.
"Netero and Ron are going to fight? That sounds fascinating. Just imagining it is thrilling." Hisoka licked his lips. "Such a pity…"
He regretted not being able to watch up close or, better yet, join in. The very idea left him burning with jealousy.