"Lan Fei, did you hear that? The examiner is praising you."
Gon grinned, winking at Lan Fei.
"By the way, Lan Fei, that golden light from earlier… Is it some kind of special ability? Or can you actually move at the speed of light?"
Kurapika, who had been silent until now, gave Lan Fei a sharp glance.
"Actually, I'm curious too. As a Beast-type creature, my family—the Kiriko—are naturally faster than most humans, and our fur provides impressive defense. But despite that, you still managed to seriously injure me. Even among Hunters, such a feat is almost unheard of."
The severely injured Kiriko examiner couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
"This is just my personal ability. At my fastest, I can move at a speed comparable to light."
Lan Fei deliberately kept his answer vague, unwilling to reveal the full power of his Glint-Glint Fruit.
"Personal ability? Comparable to the speed of light?"
"A Nen ability, perhaps?"
"But… this kid is only thirteen years old! If he's really awakened Nen at his age, then he's a complete monster."
The Kiriko examiner was secretly shaken. The ability to use Nen before even taking the Hunter Exam was already rare—let alone an ability that mimicked the speed of light.
Kurapika furrowed his brows slightly but refrained from pressing further.
("I still have a long way to go… If I want to defeat the Phantom Troupe, I must grow stronger.")
"Alright, now we'll take you to the Hunter Exam venue."
"There are four of us and four of you—just the right number for a full transport."
At this moment, the other Kiriko—a female—spoke. She was the wife of the injured examiner.
Whoosh!
As soon as she finished speaking, the daughter and son of the Kiriko—who had disguised themselves in human form earlier—reverted to their original forms, unfurling their wings and stirring up powerful gusts of wind.
"Grab onto our legs, and we'll take you there."
The injured Kiriko examiner instructed.
Boom!!!
Without hesitation, the four Kiriko flapped their wings, soaring high into the sky. Lan Fei and the others gripped their legs tightly as they glided through the night, swiftly heading toward the exam site under the moon's glow.
"Awesome! We're finally heading to the venue."
"All four of us passed the preliminary test."
Gon's excited voice echoed through the wind.
"Gon, don't get too excited. We've only earned the right to take the exam. That's just the beginning."
Lan Fei reminded him.
"It's fine! At least we've taken the first step!"
Leorio chimed in, adjusting his glasses as he enjoyed the ride.
The Next Morning - Saba City
By the time the group arrived, the sun was already rising.
The exact distance to the Hunter Exam venue remained a mystery, but after an entire night of travel, they finally landed in Saba City—the true location of the exam.
On the bustling streets of Saba City…
"Our primary job as navigators is to screen promising Hunter candidates and guide them to the venue."
"And you four have met the requirements."
Walking through the crowd, the son of the injured Kiriko led the way, guiding Lan Fei's group toward their destination.
"Hunter candidate?"
Lan Fei muttered, observing the city's lively and crowded streets.
"If pilots like you didn't exist, wouldn't finding the exam venue be nearly impossible?"
Kurapika questioned.
"Well… yeah, it's incredibly difficult."
The Kiriko's son nodded.
"Whoa, this place is amazing!"
"Lan Fei, I want to try that!"
Gon suddenly sprinted toward a nearby food stall selling panda-frog skewers.
"Gon, stop running around."
Lan Fei sighed, rubbing his forehead. Gon's playful nature had resurfaced again.
"It seems Saba City isn't as ordinary as it looks."
Leorio adjusted his glasses, carefully observing his surroundings.
"The larger the town, the more opportunities there are… but there are also more dangers lurking in the shadows."
Kurapika said, his sharp gaze scanning the crowd.
Arriving at the Hunter Exam Venue
After thirty minutes of walking, the group arrived at a massive square in the heart of Saba City.
"We're here."
The Kiriko's son stopped and pointed at a towering skyscraper that reached the sky.
"Whoa!!!"
Gon's eyes widened as he looked up.
"This building is huge!"
Leorio also raised his head, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
("After everything we went through, we finally made it.")
"This is the exam venue?"
Lan Fei murmured, gazing at the imposing skyscraper.
("Candidates from all over the world are gathering here… The first step in becoming a Hunter begins now.")
Kurapika clenched his fists. He had one goal—to become a Hunter and eliminate the Phantom Troupe. He had already sacrificed too much to turn back now.
"Hahaha! I was just joking."
Just as the four of them prepared to enter the tower, the Kiriko's son pointed at a small restaurant beside it.
"Wait, what?"
"That can't be right! Are you saying this tiny place is where all the world's Hunter candidates gather?!"
Leorio was dumbfounded, instantly skeptical.
"A restaurant?"
Lan Fei was equally surprised.
("Could this be another test?")
"That's right."
"No one would expect that this small restaurant serves as the secret entrance to the Hunter Exam venue."
The Kiriko's son smirked.
"This is ridiculous."
Gon pouted.
"Well, we're already here. Might as well go inside."
Kurapika shook his head with a wry smile, then stepped forward into the restaurant.
Inside the Secret Entrance
As soon as they entered, they were greeted by a chef in a white apron.
"Welcome!"
The chef greeted them politely while grilling steaks behind the counter.
"Is the private room in the back available?"
The Kiriko's son asked casually.
"What do you want?"
The chef asked without missing a beat.
"Four steaks."
The Kiriko's son raised four fingers.
"Four?"
"How do you want them cooked?"
The chef's demeanor changed subtly.
"Cooked slowly over low heat until they're fully done."
The Kiriko's son answered calmly.
"…Understood. Please proceed to the private room."
The chef nodded, stepping aside.
The group was led into a small, enclosed room.
"You four stay here and wait."
The Kiriko's son instructed.
"Wait? Wait for what?"
Leorio frowned.
"That was a secret code, wasn't it?"
Lan Fei asked.
"Exactly."
The Kiriko's son nodded, then smirked.
"Your steaks won't be coming. Good luck. Hopefully, I won't have to escort you next year."
Boom!
The door slammed shut behind him.
Rumble!
Suddenly, the entire room shook violently.
"What's going on?!"
Gon exclaimed.
They felt an intense gravitational pull—as if they were rapidly ascending.
The Hunter Exam had officially begun.