For the ferocious fox, this was the first time it had encountered such a terrifying opponent.
Lan Fei, a boy who looked no older than twelve or thirteen, had demonstrated an ability far beyond normal human limits. His movements had the speed of light, his attacks were both swift and devastating, and his previous kick had inflicted serious injuries upon the beast.
"This is insane…"
"This examiner is on another level."
The ferocious fox gritted its teeth, its red eyes dimming from both pain and shock as it stared at Lan Fei.
Meanwhile, Gon carefully landed, holding the girl who had fallen from the fox's grasp. He turned to Kurapika, concern written on his face.
"Are you okay?"
The girl nodded, catching her breath.
"I'm fine… thank you." She glanced at the ferocious fox out of the corner of her eye before clenching her fists. "Please… take me to my husband."
Kurapika's sharp gaze immediately caught something unusual—on the girl's wrist, a faint tattoo was visible under the moonlight. The intricate design struck him as odd.
"You are…" Kurapika's expression shifted as he processed the clue.
But before he could continue, a familiar voice interrupted.
"Kurapika… Gon… Are you guys okay?"
Leorio came running from the direction of the wooden house, waving at them.
Kurapika tensed. "Leorio?"
Gon blinked in surprise. "Leorio, what are you doing here? What about the injured man in the cabin?"
Leorio caught up to them and spread his hands. "Oh, he's fine. His injuries were much lighter than I thought."
Kurapika narrowed his eyes. Then, without warning, he swung his nunchaku straight at Leorio's head.
BAM!
Gon yelped in shock. "Kurapika! Why are you attacking Leorio?!"
Kurapika didn't lower his weapon. "Gon, don't be fooled. That's not Leorio."
A sinister chuckle filled the air.
"Jie jie jie~~~"
Leorio's form began to distort. His body swelled unnaturally, his clothes tore apart, and his eyes gleamed red as his true identity was revealed—another ferocious fox.
"How did you figure it out?" the fox growled, its voice deeper now.
Kurapika smirked coldly. "Simple. The real Leorio wouldn't leave an injured person alone when there was a risk of another attack. And there's no way he would have found us this quickly."
At that moment, the first ferocious fox—still injured from Lan Fei's attack—made a desperate leap into the air, trying to escape.
SHWOOOSH!
Before it could get far, a golden beam of light refracted in the night, blocking its path.
"If you don't want to die, stay right where you are."
A figure materialized from the golden glow—Lan Fei. His expression was calm but firm. "Examiner or not, I won't hesitate next time."
The fox froze midair, its red pupils constricting. It had no doubt that Lan Fei meant what he said. With reflexes beyond comprehension, a person who could move at the speed of light was a terrifying opponent.
Meanwhile, Gon, still processing Kurapika's accusation, turned toward the girl.
"Then… what about her? Is she another transformed fox?"
The girl chuckled lightly, brushing dust from her clothes. "You got me."
She stood up, her expression unbothered. "I'm not his wife. I'm actually their daughter."
As soon as she finished speaking, the injured ferocious fox flickered, appearing beside her.
Lan Fei smirked. He had already suspected something was off, but without knowing their true test parameters, he hadn't attacked. If these foxes were truly part of the exam, then killing them outright would have been a mistake.
"Congratulations."
The wounded ferocious fox grinned, its crimson gaze lingering on Lan Fei. "You've all passed the test."
Just then, another voice called out from the distance.
"Lan Fei! Gon! Kurapika!"
The real Leorio was running toward them, waving frantically. Behind him was the injured man from the cabin.
"Passed?" Gon repeated, blinking in confusion.
Kurapika, on the other hand, was unfazed. "What exactly was your evaluation method?"
The ferocious fox chuckled. "Jie jie jie~~~ All four of you have cleared the test."
It straightened up, brushing off its wounds. "Allow me to reintroduce ourselves. We are the Navigators, and our entire family works together to support the Hunter Exam."
The girl smirked. "Hi! I'm their daughter."
The injured man gave a small wave. "And I'm their son."
The other ferocious fox nodded. "And I'm their wife."
Leorio groaned. "Seriously?! You had us completely fooled."
The eldest ferocious fox continued. "The Hunter Exam location changes every year, and it's nearly impossible to find without guidance. That's where we come in. We help qualified candidates reach the venue… but only if they pass our test."
The foxes then explained how each of them had earned their pass.
"Kurapika, your keen observation skills allowed you to pick up on subtle clues and deduce that my 'brother' and 'sister' weren't actually married. Your judgment skills are excellent. You pass."
"Leorio, while you failed to recognize my disguise, your first-aid knowledge was impeccable. You also knew how to keep a patient's morale up—an essential skill for a Hunter. You pass."
"Gon, your raw speed was comparable to mine, proving your physical capabilities are exceptional. You pass."
The fox turned toward Lan Fei, its injured form trembling slightly. "And Lan Fei… your abilities defy logic. In all my years as a Navigator, you are the first person to ever injure me this badly. Your power is beyond belief. You pass."
Leorio scoffed. "Yeah, no kidding."
Kurapika nodded, satisfied with the explanation.
Gon beamed, full of excitement. "So this means… we're moving on to the real Hunter Exam?!"
The ferocious fox grinned. "That's right. Now, get ready. We'll be taking you to the exam venue."