Fanfics Hub
patreon
117 HxH: Tombbound Power
🕑 Added 2024-10-11 20:28:22 +0000 UTC"Stop beating around the bush and get to the point already. What's the last phase?" Hanzo had been listening for a while and finally couldn't hold back, cutting in.
"Heh, you still don't get it? There's one last phase, something they haven't tried before in all the previous phases," Bodoro replied, his voice serious.
"And what's that?" Leorio asked, starting to get a bit anxious.
"Yeah, what kind of phase is it that hasn't been covered yet?" Hanzo straightened up, clearly on edge.
"It's the fundamental knowledge every Hunter must have," Bodoro said, suddenly standing up and raising his voice, "The last phase... is a written exam."
The crowd's faces shifted into a collective expression of horror, and the pyramid of cards Hisoka had been quietly building came crashing down. Even Hisoka, usually unfazed, was taken aback. Meanwhile, Illumi, on the other side, remained as calm as ever, though his rhythm of tapping his nails seemed to pause briefly.
A murmur of restlessness spread through the candidates as the notion of a written test set in. It was Ron who had first suggested that each stage of the Hunter Exam carried a deeper meaning, and Bodoro's deduction had everyone convinced. Knowledge—a written test—seemed in line with the unpredictable nature of the Hunter Exam.
The panic was palpable.
Just as silence fell over the group, Hanzo was about to suggest hitting the library when...
"Um..."
Gon hesitantly raised his hand. "I wanted to ask... what kind of books has everyone read?"
Gon awkwardly admitted, "When I was a kid, my aunt gave me some world encyclopedias and basic textbooks, but other than that... not much."
"I've read quite a few books myself," Hanzo interjected with a smirk, but then he added, "Though most of them were ninja training manuals. Basic ninja knowledge, self-discipline... nothing too deep."
Killua, standing beside Gon, nodded in agreement. "Same here. Most of what I've read were family records about assassination techniques and training methods."
Leorio chimed in, a bit embarrassed, "I've only skimmed through some basic medical books... and a couple of get-rich-quick guides."
"I haven't touched a book in ages," Ponzu confessed. "The last thing I read was a guide on mythical beasts and some Hunter exam tips, but those cheat guides turned out to be useless."
Since passing the Hunter Exam came with immense benefits, including a lifetime of financial security, it attracted millions of applicants each year. Naturally, a market had sprung up to cater to these hopefuls. Failed examinees were often hired to create study guides, which were then "enhanced" with creative liberties. One such guide, called Teaching You How to Pass the Hunter Exam, had been circulating lately—eerily similar to the cram books Ronnel had seen back in his previous life.
"If none of us has really studied, they wouldn't put questions like that in the Hunter Exam, right?" Gon laughed nervously.
"Isn't that right, Ronnel?"
Everyone looked at Ronnel, who was suppressing a mischievous grin.
"Ahem, normally, no. You wouldn't see that kind of written phase in the Hunter Exam," Ronnel said.
Everyone let out a sigh of relief, and Gon started to smile.
"But..." Ronnel continued, "Bodoro does have a point. It wouldn't be unreasonable for them to throw a written phase in there."
"What?! You just said it wouldn't happen, and now you're saying it's reasonable?" Hanzo protested.
"What I mean is, they might give us a written phase, but the content wouldn't be anything too complicated."
"...Oh?"
Everyone, even Gittarackur, seemed intrigued now. Hisoka casually tossed aside his remaining cards, focusing entirely on Ron.
"Hunters do need knowledge, but that's more relevant after you've become one. When you first take the exam, you've probably already decided what kind of Hunter you want to be, right?"
"Well, I want to be a Magical Beast Hunter," Ponzu said, raising her hand. "To discover rare and undiscovered creatures."
"Exactly. So if I asked you a question about archaeology, would you be able to answer it?"
"Uh... who knows?" Ponzu said, looking flustered.
"See? That's why I think if there's a written test, it won't be about deep or specialized knowledge. It'll be something more general, things every Hunter should know."
"But if it's just basic common sense, what's the point of testing us on it?" Hanzo and Leorio asked, clearly confused.
"No! There is a type of knowledge that every Hunter must know!" Kurapika suddenly spoke up, a spark of realization in his eyes.
"What... Hunter knowledge?"
The group stared at him, dumbfounded.
"Yes," Kurapika continued, "It's the professional knowledge of what it means to be a Hunter."
Ron snapped his fingers. "Exactly! Just like how a teacher needs to pass certification and learn the necessary skills, a Hunter has to master certain knowledge and abilities."
