The effects of the "Trampoline Spray" had just reached their time limit.
"The first half of the test is now concluded. The number of people who passed... two hundred and ninety-eight. Hmm, not a bad number," Morin commented.
Upon receiving the news of passing from Morin, the remaining candidates all let out a sigh of relief.
Even though less than twenty minutes had passed, it felt as if every second dragged on, making it seem like an eternity. The physical strain was secondary; it was the mental exhaustion that was overwhelming.
A group of people looked at Killua with faces full of fear and wariness. Everyone kept their distance, not daring to approach him in the slightest.
"Thank heavens, we finally made it through," Somi, Ponzu, and Pokkle also let out a genuine sigh of relief. They were inwardly grateful for their earlier decision to steer clear of Killua, knowing full well his prowess.
Having witnessed Killua's capabilities firsthand, the Amori Brothers couldn't help but feel a mix of mockery and schadenfreude at his failure to pass the test. Despite their taunts, they genuinely acknowledged Killua's strength.
When they saw Killua enter his rampage mode, they wisely kept their distance. Of course, there were those who were either skeptical or overly confident in their abilities and chose to confront Killua head-on. The outcome of such actions was predictable—there was no other path but to end up on the ground.
Despite sacrificing their test qualifications, these individuals served a purpose. At the very least, they demonstrated Killua's might to more people, prompting them to abandon the idea of facing him directly and choose to avoid him instead.
However, after a moment of relaxation, a sense of unease settled in. If the first half of the test was this challenging, who knew what the second half would be like? If that silver-haired kid took the opportunity to shine again... they might not even make it to the second round!
A group of people couldn't help but look at Morin with heavy hearts, hoping that the next test wouldn't involve combat. Morin noticed the many complex expressions directed at him and merely smiled.
After watching Killua's performance, Morin nodded and softly commented, "Both his aura and advanced Nen techniques have significantly improved, clearly thanks to Biscuit Krueger's diligent guidance.
"Coupled with his innate talent, solid foundation, and efforts worthy of such guidance, today's results are achieved. Although there are still flaws, in terms of strength, he can truly be called a hunter now, Killua..."
Morin had observed all of Killua's actions. With his current strength, he was more than qualified to become a floor master at the Heavens Arena. After all, if Zushi could become a floor master, Killua was certainly more than capable.
Morin stroked his chin, looking at the candidates who were either staring at him or glancing at Killua with a complex expression, and he revealed a smile of indiscernible meaning.
"Rest assured, the second half of the test has nothing to do with fighting," Morin said cheerfully, as he took out stacks of white paper and pens.
"The content of the second half of the test is very simple..." Morin smiled and slowly uttered two words: "Written exam."
A written exam?! The candidates were taken aback upon hearing this. Killua's scalp tingled at these words.
"Isn't this the test content we thought of before the final round of the exam started?!" Killua's face twitched. He looked at Morin with a gaze that seemed to say, "I may not be human, but you're truly a dog," his emotions in turmoil, unsure of what to say.
"A written exam?!" Not only the candidates but even Netero behind the iron door paused at hearing the test content. His eyes were full of surprise; he hadn't expected Morin to come up with such a topic.
"That's right, a written exam!!" Morin snapped his fingers. "As a hunter, besides having basic physical qualifications, you must also possess a broad knowledge base."
"A typical exam is divided into practical and theoretical sections, isn't it?"
"As a hunter, if you don't even have the most basic knowledge, what 'profession' is there to talk about?"
"A professional hunter relies not just on physical prowess, but also on brains, both of which are indispensable."
"In fact, if someone is physically qualified but lacks intelligence, once they become a hunter, they might cause even greater trouble, leading to more significant negative impacts and destruction!" Morin stated directly. "So, I think it's necessary to have a test. Only when you pass these basic knowledge requirements can you proceed!"
Wow!!
After Morin's explanation, all the candidates understood. They couldn't help but engage in intense discussions.
"Just when we barely passed the first half of the test, now we have to take a written exam?!" The Amori Brothers were in disbelief.
---
"Indeed, it's true. Aspiring hunters must be well-versed in basic knowledge; without a wealth of learning, completing some tasks would be impossible," Ponzu remarked, being one of the few who had some education among them.
"I haven't studied in years," Pokkle said, scratching his head with a look of horror. This was more daunting to him than an actual battle.
"The last books I read were the 'Encyclopedia of Magical Beasts' and some so-called hunter exam guidebooks," Pokkle lamented, holding his head. "And all those so-called guides were fake."
"Same here," Somi said with a wry smile, the corners of his mouth twitching. "The books I've read the most are those guidebooks on how to pass the Hunter Exam, though they were of no use, just a comfort purchase."
The hunter license brought significant benefits, ensuring a life free from worries once obtained. It was far more useful than any certificate Morin had encountered in his previous life. As a result, millions, close to ten million people, took the exam each year.
Many liked to prepare beforehand, and where there's demand, there's a market. Many businesses saw the lucrative opportunity and had eliminated candidates from previous exams write content, which was then artistically enhanced. Thus, a textbook guide titled "How to Pass the Hunter Exam" was freshly published, strikingly similar to the prep courses and materials Morin had seen in his previous life.
The connection between hunters and ninjas is profound; when it comes to tests, few can compare to hunters. Gon was relatively lucky. If someone like him, who only wanted to become a hunter because his father was one, encountered such a test, they might as well give up early.
Even Leorio, who was entirely focused on making money and came from the slums, understood the value of a hunter license. Only someone as clueless as Gon would sign up without knowing anything.
This year, Killua was in a better position. If it were last year, when he ran away from home out of rebellion and knew nothing about the hunter profession, he might have been eliminated too.
But now—
"Thankfully, I've been with Gon for a while and learned about the uses of a hunter license in Yorknew City; otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to answer such questions..." Killua mused, scratching his head after completing a question related to the hunter license and moving on.
Essay Question: "Please write about the hunter profession you most want to pursue, explain your reasons, and list representative figures and events in that profession." Killua: "..."
After a brief moment of silence, he decisively wrote:
"The hunter profession I most want to pursue is [Gem Hunter]. Representative figure: Biscuit Krueger. Her representative deeds: taking on students, collecting gems, and venturing into highly dangerous and unknown games to collect gems..."
Yes, flattery never fails! Considering how much effort I'm putting into praising that old woman, Morin, as her student, you should at least let me pass, right?
While Killua was writing diligently, others were frowning and filling out their answer sheets.
Pokkle: "The hunter I want to become is a Magical Beast Hunter."
Ponzu: "If possible, I'd like to be a Music Hunter."
Tokuto: "Of course, a Bounty Hunter!!"
Somi: "Uh, actually, any hunter profession is fine for me... okay, I'll choose Animal Hunter."
Amori Brothers: "It has to be Contract Hunter, right? This profession suits us three brothers the best!!"
The group quickly answered the questions about the benefits of a hunter license and their chosen profession. They wrote swiftly, finding these questions not too difficult. It even relaxed them a bit.
If all the questions were like this, it would be almost like filling out a survey—no big deal!
After finishing, they confidently looked at the next question:
"Please write the hunter profession of the Hunter Association Chairman, Netero: ( ) Hunter."
Pokkle, Ponzu, Somi, Tokuto, Amori Brothers:
Netero's hunter profession? Was it a Ging Hunter or a Contract Hunter... who knows!!
The confident smiles on their faces instantly collapsed, turning into expressions of despair.
"Please state which term of Hunter Association Chairman Netero is serving? Who is the current Vice Chairman?"
Candidates: "Ugh..."
Originally, they thought scoring a hundred wouldn't be hard, but now it seemed... getting fifty would be quite an achievement!
Many candidates looked frustrated, and some muscular men were especially vexed. If it were a real fight, they wouldn't complain about losing. But if they couldn't even answer these questions... well, if they couldn't even manage such questions, they clearly hadn't understood the hunter profession well enough.
Even if they were eliminated and complained to the Hunter Exam Review Committee, there was little chance their complaints would be entertained. Moreover, they really had no face to complain.
Without even the basic respect for the association, how could they have the nerve to find fault with it? Inevitably, they glanced at the iron door behind Morin, but there was no sign of Netero coming out. Clearly, Netero, the only one who could stop this test, had no objections to Morin's test or its results.
New novel is out HxH Nen Abilities.