Nobody sure of when the last exam would come to an end and when the final exam would begin.
Everybody had to wait till the Night when the passage closed and there were no more lights to fight the darkness, with a dozen participants remaining.
It was pitch black, when the examiner spoke. "This is the final exam. You all must stand on the surrounding railing, if you fall off your disqualified. If you're not on the railing by the end of my count you're disqualified."
"3…2…1. Good." The examiner spoke, seeing everything perfectly clear.
Nobody knew if there was a time limit, or if a certain amount of people needed to drop before the test ended. So everybody waited.
But the silence and sensory deprivation was unnerving. Balancing was easy but it was draining, especially knowing that one side of the railing was the edge of the building. Falling meaning certain death.
Hours passed without any disturbance, until the sun began rising. Allowing everybody to see each other again.
The non Nen users were drenched in sweat, their legs shaking.
One Nen user, neither of the youths was dissatisfied. Looking to his left and right, on his right was another man, who could be a Nen user.
And in fact was to Menchi's knowledge.
To his left though was Menchi herself.
The man seemed to want to test one of the possibilities, the only testable one to end the test faster.
If participants failing the exam would end the exam.
Walking toward her, the first person to move. Catching Menchi's attention, as well as everyone else's.
He thought Menchi was easy pickings, he didn't not hear her conversation with the boy earlier. He didn't know she knew Nen.
Upon reaching her he stuck out his hand, intending to push her onto the floor.
But Menchi took a step back, though the man's hand followed a step, so Menchi blocked with her own hand.
Turning the situation into an awkward armwrestle of strength, which made the man widen his eyes. Menchi wasn't weak.
Because of this he retreated a step, deciding not to pursue her and while Menchi frowned, she did not act in revenge.
Eight more hours and miraculously everybody was still standing.
But the non Nen user were at their absolute limit. One, a transmigrator youth decided to change position.
The examiner told everybody to stand on the railing so everybody did and didn't even sit.
So nobody knew it siting was allowed, but this youth was either gonna drop or gamble on sitting so he did.
Though the moment he did the examiner spoke. "Number 87 is eliminated."
Causing the youth to sigh in defeat, but the exam continued much to everybody's annoyance.
Until yet another non Nen user dropped, but not willingly he passed out.
"Number 14 is eliminated." The examiner spoke before pausing. "Congratulations for everyone else passing the final exam and becoming a hunter."
Everybody sighed.
It was two weeks and Menchi finally strode through the restaurant's front door bouncing up and down with energy.
Seeing Roman on the staircase she sped up hugging him, showing her license and telling him all about the exam.
"Haha, you should go see uncle Lewy, you made him worry." Roman spoke to late.
"MENCHI!? You're alive! Thank God!" Lewy shouted, disturbing the entire restaurant.
While Lewy was going crazy, far away in another continent. A girl the same age as Roman looking strikeningly similar to the hunter associations chairman, Isaac Netero.
Could be seen sifting through some information. Information that was all about the recent hunter exam. Noting a few figures for further reference and investigation.
Meanwhile Roman and Menchi were eventually able to escape Lewy's craze, standing just outside a public library.
One of the few locations in the city with public computers to make use of the hunter license.
Computers were invented in the 70s and became widely accessible to the public in the 80s. Though it wasn't yet mainstream and in homes, they were in all cities.
With all the transmigrators born in 1975, twelve years before the birth of the main cast. 24 years before the main story and 26 years before the chimera ant arc. With it now being 1987, the birth year of the main cast.
Roman and Menchi entered the library and found an abandoned computer, connecting their card to the computer.
The hunters page showed up and upon clicking the page, they were both dragged into the digital information market of the hunter association. Or rather their mind was dragged in, but both of them didn't feel threatened or vulnerable.
They both felt the ability to resist and quiet easily, even now they realized they could exit at a moments notice.
The digital market, taking the form of a bar, was complex and interesting. It was weak, most likely designed so.
Approaching the bartender, Menchi let Roman do all the talking. Following behind him, and once they reached close enough proximity the bartender reacted.
"Humble Guests, how can I help you?" The bartender spoke politely, as Roman and Menchi took a seat.
"Is there any information that is free?" Roman asked, poor as could be.
"Haha, not much. Only descriptions of jobs you can take and basic details about being a hunter." The bartender smirked like a knowing merchant.
"Any details about being a hunter that isn't very known?" Roman asked, already knowing the gist, but open to the idea of unknowns.
"Well, not many initially know they get a hunter appointed teacher just to learn Nen. Also all Nen techniques and principles are posted on the wall to your right." The Bartender didn't have to contemplate, already knowing all archived data of the hunter association.
While Menchi turned to see to compare her own knowledge.
Roman continued. "Then tell me about the jobs, start with the highest risk and reward."
"Mmh, those would be the 14 Marches and five shadows." The bartender paused.
"The 14 marches are ancient sites across the world that have never been fully explored. Vast realms full of riches and risks." The bartender explained.
"The five shadows meanwhile are just as challenging, they refer to five enigmatic figures that you need to find, capture or kill." The bartender continued, explaining that some were hunters and other criminals. But all were powerful and elusive.
As Roman sifted through all the information he requested to see the listings for jobs a notch easier. Just to get his toes in the water and try things out.
But the list was dozens of times longer, with the majority of listings requesting reliable information on other hunters, or rare and magical treasures.
This gave Roman an amazing way to get rich fast. But there was one issue, there was no way to contact the buyer or poster.
Roman had information on a few of these people from the anime. Like the Zolydic family, so he planned to milk it.
Looking back at the bartender Roman asked. "How can I complete these jobs when I have the required information?"
The bartender in the middle of mixing a drink looked up. "Oh, I can put you in contact, just give me at least three dates, at least two weeks in advance and
you can pass the information over." The bartender responded.
Nodding Roman pointed to five listings before speaking. "Friday for the next three weeks after the two week buffer."
It was currently Friday , and Roman felt he needed to be as fast as possible. He wasn't the only one with this information afterall. So he chose the earliest day, as well as spacing the other meeting opportunities a week apart in case the buyer missed the first meeting.
He easily understood the purpose, people were busy and couldn't be notified of the hunter market happenings.
Everybody could only check the hunter bar when they had a chance, so meetings and communications had to be planned in advance.
But Roman wasn't finished; he eyed a sixth post, this one was for a rare treasure that wasn't far from his home town, and Roman didn't just wish to get rich quick.
Roman wanted a challenge. So he quietly memorized it, planning to take it on. He didn't need to inform the bartender the missions he was taking, only that he obtained the results.
With that Menchi and him exited the hunter bar, and went home.
Now all he had to do was wait to get rich.
Though Roman instantly set out to prepare for his mission he wished to partake in.
Roman had his own weekly allowance that he always saved, though stealing wouldn't be any harder for him.
Roman decided to buy everything himself, a mini adventure for Menchi.
Who he employed to stock him up with food. Because for this journey he would go alone.
The only thing left was cover. What would he tell Lewy?
After all, he could be gone for a few days. It was a three hour drive to the location of interest.
Taking six hours to get there and back. Roman didn't know how long it would take to find and obtain what he was looking for.
Thankfully it would be the weekend and school was off tomorrow.
So he just told Lewy there was a weekend long camp for all the boys in class.
And took off then and there. Finding a cab quickly and placing his soul mark upon the driver.
Roman still paid the driver, but used the mark to plant a suggestion into his mind. So the driver wouldn't care about how far the drive was, nor that he was driving a little kid.
After all such a scenario would raise eye brows. And while his soul mark wasn't very strong, and could only subtly affect somebody or else the subject would be injured. Because of how flawed and unrefined the mark was.