Hunter Association President's Office
"Those who know will say you're just bragging. Those who don't will say you're showing off your grandson."
Netero squinted at the television, watching Roy stroll calmly with sword in hand. "After that first phase, I admit — the boy's impressive. A Specialization Nen type with a refined En… no wonder he stands out."
"But…" Netero's tone sank. "To reach our level — to transcend entirely and 'become a god'? That's far harder than you make it sound."
Maha leaned back, lips curling. "What if I told you that brat already broke his first limit?"
Netero froze. "…what?"
"Zeno swore to me he saw it," Maha said mildly. "The old man hasn't even witnessed it himself, but Zeno wouldn't dare lie about something like this."
Netero tugged at his beard in disbelief. Breaking human limits as a teenager? Impossible.
The world has rules: a child babbles and grows, a youth opens their aura nodes, an adult trains to peak strength, and only then — perhaps — touches true limit-breaking. Even Netero himself didn't achieve it until twenty‑seven.
"Unless I see it with my own eyes," Netero said gravely, "your family won't touch Jaeger's notebook."
"Suit yourself." Maha's smile was thin, cold. "But remember my words — that notebook will return to us. If I can't claim it, Roy will. And when that day comes, old man, you'd better let my grandson teach you some manners."
Both elders snorted and turned away, pretending not to look at each other — while both kept watching the television.
Wetland Test — Swamp of Fraudsters
Roy stood casually, sword resting against his shoulder, as the green‑shirted candidate dragged out a man‑faced ape wearing Satotz's face.
On Roy's internal panel, data flickered:
[Species: Human‑faced Ape]
Physique: 10–15
Strength: 15–20
Agility: 15–25
Aura: 0–5
Threat Level: E
"Not much muscle… but deception's their specialty," Roy murmured. His blind eyes turned toward the misty underbrush. Sure enough, more apes were sliding into the crowd unnoticed — disguised as Bob the Snake, Bourbon the beekeeper, Hanzo, even Todd and Baque.
Then Roy froze.
Another version of… me?
Blind eyes, gourd on the hip, sword cane in hand, smiling gently as he walked toward the group.
"Huh?!" Gon rubbed his eyes. "Uncle… why are there two of you?!"
Leorio nearly popped a vein. "Idiot, obviously one's fake!"
"Who are you calling idiot?!" Gon shot back — then stopped cold. There were two Leorios now.
Both carried identical briefcases. Both shouted at once:
"Gon, don't listen to him, I'm the real one!"
"No, he's lying — I'm Leorio!"
"Quit pretending to be me, you faker!" One Leorio lunged with a kick.
"You dare hit me?!" The other swung back.
In seconds, the two Leorios were wrestling in the mud, trading punches and insults.
Gon's brain locked up completely. Smoke might as well have poured from his ears. Which one's real? Which one's fake?!
He turned desperately toward Kurapika — only to find two Kurapikas, both coolly analyzing each other in perfect silence.
"…I… can't…" Gon whimpered, clutching his head. "Which one's real?!"
Then — a sigh. A gentle hand patted Gon's shoulder.
Gon turned, wide‑eyed — to see another Gon, smiling kindly.
"I understand how you feel," the second Gon said, winking. "But could you please stop pretending to be me?"