Roman and Menchi glanced at each other, both wanting to know if each other noticed the situation. Seeing so, Menchi let the situation go knowing Roman would secretly listen to their conversation.
And he did, but he didn't move. Subtly activating a soul mark long ago placed on Lewy for experimental purposes.
The odd man and Lewys conversation entered his soul to hear. Not alerted either men.
But what he heard surprised him greatly, these two didn't actually know each other.
Rather the odd man was a hunter from the hunter organization. A representative to strike a deal with the restaurant owner.
The hunter organization wanted to use the restaurant as the entrance to their yearly exam.
Identical to the hunter exam for the main cast of the future.
All Lewy had to do was direct anybody and everybody who knew a certain phrase to enter a back room.
From there the hunter organization would handle everything.
Lewy seemed a little unsure at first, but after the man revealed a suitcase filled with money he didn't second guess anything.
Quickly agreeing the odd man left the shop to never return again.
All of this made Roman think.
This wasn't the original restaurant where the main cast went to take the exam. This wasn't Zaban city, nor was it on the same continent.
This year Roman and Menchi were twelve, the age the main cast took the exam.
Meaning he would have peers from earth that join this world with him, probably come knocking on his door.
Thinking further though, it was too obvious for others to join the hunter exam at this time.
Roman expected only the over confident or fools to do so.
This revelation slightly eased his nerves, but he'd have to be on guard.
From the odd man's conversation people would be arriving in one month in a single 24 hour interval.
Until then Roman could only wait.
Far away in multiple locations though a few youths his age could be seen preparing for an adventure.
Fortunately among these youths only two seemed to fluctuate with Nen, albeit weakly.
These were the transmigrators who either knew this was a supernatural world or suspected it.
Each finding the Hunter organization the most interesting faction in the world. Basically screaming supernatural, thus the focus of their attention.
But they all either hadn't been awakened to the supernatural world, or struggled within it.
So four youths at such a young age were making this journey, two unawakened who lived nearby the exam site.
Certainly more such people like them existed, but at such a young age and without awakening, distance was too much to overcome.
The others no doubt on the other edge of the continent or on a completely different continent.
But the other two had awakened and were from far away places. Both struggling with Nen and sought a teacher and hunter license to ease their burdens.
As for the others who awakened Nen upon rebirth or soon after and didn't struggle? They were all too preoccupied.
One stuck in assassin training, afraid their family would make life much more difficult than a hunter license could aid.
Not to mention the family's requirements were high. If the youth only needed to worry about assassination techniques there wouldn't be a problem to take a challenging hunter vacation.
But adding Nen into the mix, the requirements were raised and the family was more strict with the youth for his high potential.
Somewhere else, in what was once a desolate desert. Now filled with hills and mountains of trash.
A figure couldn't be bothered with the exam. Even though his location was far harder to escape and assimilate into the real world.
This figure could be seen gathered with a dozen other youths, not transmigrators but unfortunate youths with immense potential.
This was the formation of the Phantom Troop. Irreplaceable ally's, this figure valued much greater than a piece of plastic.
As for youth in a particular red-eyed tribe, he awakened his Nen relatively late and was struggling. But had very knowledgeable elders guiding his ways there was no need to find new teachers.
Not to mention he was also a bit isolated from the real world. Making the journey to the exam site a chore.
Meanwhile there were three youths who already held a hunter license.
One from killing a hunter, another from buying one at an underground auction and the last was the grandson of the association's chairman.
But none of this affected Roman as he sat on the top of a flight of stairs overlooking the restaurant. Studying its customers, specifically all the ones who came and went quickly, lightly muttering the same phrases.
Around two hundred such people, with less than half a dozen Nen users and of course four kids his age that he secretly gave a soul mark.
Non suspecting Roman of his true identity because at the end of the day he never appeared at the underground hunter exam site.
That no doubt existed because of some Nen ability.
Though as the day came to a close, and the exam was about to start Roman gave Menchi a nod.
A month ago when the strange man appeared, Roman told Menchi everything.
And as expected she became very excited and wanted to join the exam. But Roman was able to convince her to wait until all the participants arrived so he could screen them secretly.
Making sure there were no anomalies or threats. Thankfully there weren't, making them confident of passing the exam without any issues.
But while Roman did want a Hunter license, he didn't want to be registered in the hunter database.
Following his nod, Roman passed a sheet of paper to Menchi to hold on to.
Describing the threat level of each Nen user in accordance with Menchi's current power level.
She took it, there wasn't enough time for him to explain everything because the hunter exam was about to begin.
So Menchi quickly walked over to the back room and promptly disappeared.
Roman wasn't following her. One license between them was enough. Not to mention Menchi was supposed to become a Hunter in the original plot.
So it could alert his peers if Menchi didn't one day become a Hunter.
This was most likely when that happened afterall. She was way too curious of a person to not check what was happening with this mysterious back room.
The only issue was Lewy, he would notice Menchi's absence and when he learned of where she went. Lewy would cause a problem.
But it would probably amount to nothing, the police couldn't do anything, and even if Lewy could contact the hunter exam people they probably wouldn't do anything.
So the night passed and the next day came, with Roman going to school alone and the school contacting Lewy about Menchi's absence.
Allowing Roman to avoid Lewy when the news broke.
But when Roman got home Lewy didn't mention anything, not able to look him in the eyes.
Something Roman found funny.
For two weeks Roman watched Lewy not know what to do. Except for contacting the police a few days after Menchi was missing, nothing changed.
As for what Menchi was going through. The back room took her into a large tunnel as expected, and she was given a number patch to wear.
When the examiner arrived the first exam began and a silent march began through the tunnel. Unlike in the original story, the tunnel was turny, as if they were just going in circles. At first Menchi acted reserved, unsure of everything.
But the first exam was long and boring, so people began chatting.
And Menchi noticed a few of the youths her age were glancing at her from time to time. Something that greatly puzzled her.
With one falling behind with dozens of others, not able to keep up with the examiner. Essentially failing the exam.
Another youth though approached her, this one knew Nen and was mentioned on Roman's list, but was not a threat.
But Menchi kept her guard up, something Roman told her to always do. Constant vigilance.
"Are you also twelve?" The boy asked, already knowing the answer. Attempting to figure out Menchi, the rest of the youths expected her as well as the rest of them to be transmigrators.
Though Menchi didn't know this and smiled. "Yup are you too?"
Earning a nod.
"The rest of us obviously are as well." The boy spoke with meaning, that Menchi didn't fully understand.
"Why are you taking the hunter exam?" Menchi asked, trying to keep her cool, but a shine in her eye betrayed her excitement.
After all, she had never met another person who knew Nen, except for Roman. Everything about this little rebellious adventure excited her.
"To be a hunter and learn Nen of course." The boy responded.
But this puzzled Menchi.
"But you already know Nen." Menchi said, a little confused.
Startling the boy, because he didn't feel any Nen from Menchi. So she shouldn't know he had Nen. 'A lucky guess?' He thought.
"I do, but I don't have a formal teacher. Anyway, why do you want to become a Hunter?" The boy continued the conversation.
"I want to be a gourmet hunter and make the most delicious food!" Menchi's eyes beamed.