After I leave, the organization should avoid making unnecessary moves. Stability is the priority.
"The stand-in I asked you to arrange earlier—did you find one?"
In the CEO's office, Kai Vexley stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, sipping his coffee with a calm air.
Aruba had proven himself to be both ambitious and capable. Originally a low-level manager in a criminal group, he had adapted seamlessly after taking over the Lixiao Group. Whether dealing with small disputes between employees or high-stakes conflicts between interest groups, he could find an effective solution quickly.
In Kai's view, people are valued only when they prove their worth.
"Boss, everything is ready," Aruba reported. "Two ordinary stand-ins and one Conjurer-type Nen user. Apart from you, no one will know your exact location."
"Good," Kai replied. "Still, prepare several escape routes. If anything feels wrong, relocate immediately. Don't underestimate certain special Nen abilities—some of their methods are… unconventional."
Aruba nodded repeatedly. Ever since he had witnessed Kai's Hundred Styles of Shura, he had regarded him with near-reverence.
After a moment's hesitation, Aruba asked, "Boss, are you going far?"
"Not really," Kai said. "Just to get a Hunter's License. The duration's uncertain, but it shouldn't be too long. Contact me if anything comes up."
Lately, the range of rare creatures the group could acquire had grown repetitive. With Machi gone, Kai's urge to move and explore had only grown stronger.
"Before heading to the Dark Continent, I might as well take a closer look at this world."
---
The Hunter Exam—organized by the Hunter Association—is the official process for issuing a Hunter License. Online registration opens every year on January 7.
Within this world, the Hunter License is the ultimate credential. Those who hold it gain extraordinary privileges:
1. Entry to 90% of normally restricted countries and 75% of prohibited zones.
2. Free use of 95% of public facilities, including unrestricted access to certain databases and networks.
3. Financial security: the license can generate enough income to support descendants for seven generations, secure top-tier financing, and serve as collateral for large loans.
4. Limited immunity in homicide cases, depending on circumstances.
The benefits are immense, but so is the difficulty.
Since the exam's inception in 1713, it has been held more than 200 times, yet only 661 people have successfully earned the license—many of whom later died. The success rate is vanishingly small.
For someone with the resources of Kai's organization, locating the actual venue of the exam was trivial. The Association cares only about results, not methods or personal character. Even notorious figures are eligible to participate.
The only real requirement is to follow the Ten Hunter Rules, which include:
A Hunter must have a target to pursue.
A Hunter must possess at least basic combat and Nen skills.
A license, once issued, is never revoked or reissued.
Hunters may not target fellow Hunters as prey, except in cases of severe criminal conduct.
Special recognition and "stars" are awarded for significant achievements in specific fields.
---
By Kai's estimation, the current year placed him two years before the events involving the well-known future candidates. He was entering the 285th Hunter Exam.
When he arrived at the underground venue, hundreds of participants were already there. Dim lighting revealed rocky walls with water seeping from the ceiling. The atmosphere was harsh—worse, Kai thought, than some of the elite training facilities he'd seen.
"Hello, you seem new here. First time?" came a voice.
Kai turned to see a stocky man with a square nose, round face, and thick eyebrows—Tonpa, a veteran infamous for sabotaging newcomers.
Tonpa launched into a familiar spiel about the difficulty of the exam, clearly proud of his long history of participation. Kai, uninterested in small talk, asked if Tonpa had ever taken the exam alongside a man named Ging Freecss. Tonpa hesitated, wary of anyone who would seek to cooperate with Ging.
When Kai casually took and drank one of Tonpa's spiked beverages without harm, Tonpa realized just how dangerous this newcomer was. Under the weight of Kai's quiet pressure, he reluctantly described Ging as powerful but highly unpredictable.
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the examiner—a small figure with blond twin ponytails, wearing a formal dress. The crowd erupted in disbelief at the sight of what appeared to be a child leading such a serious test.
Kai, however, recognized her instantly. He had been planning to seek her out for some time but had never found the right opportunity. Fate, it seemed, had arranged this meeting for him.