Chapter 56
With his victory secured, Haruto left the center of the arena with a light heart and moved to the sidelines to watch the remaining matches.
All he had to do now was wait for his Hunter License.
The next match after Haruto and Gon was Hisoka against Kurapika.
Hisoka exchanged several probing attacks with Kurapika to assess his abilities.
Once he had learned enough, he quietly informed Kurapika that the Phantom Troupe would appear at that year’s Yorknew City auction.
Then Hisoka surrendered.
After that came Gon’s match against Hanzo.
At first, Hanzo did not understand why Haruto had been so reluctant to fight Gon.
He chose to settle the match through combat and brought Gon down within only a few exchanges.
Yet even after Hanzo brutally broke his arm, sending unbearable pain through his body, Gon continued gritting his teeth and refused to surrender.
Hanzo grew increasingly furious, but there was little he could do.
If he killed Gon, he would be disqualified from the exam.
Only then did Hanzo understand why Haruto had chosen to settle their match with rock-paper-scissors.
He considered doing the same, but Gon refused.
Left with no other option, Hanzo reluctantly knocked Gon unconscious before surrendering with a face darkened by frustration.
The next match was Bodoro against Hisoka.
There was no suspense whatsoever.
Hisoka defeated Bodoro with ease and forced him to surrender through threats.
Hanzo then faced Killua.
The two exchanged dozens of attacks, their fists and feet colliding with sharp cracks as neither managed to gain a decisive advantage.
Just when everyone expected the battle to continue for much longer, Killua suddenly stopped fighting.
He could feel the urge to kill rising within him.
If the match continued, he could not guarantee that he would not murder Hanzo.
After Killua and Hanzo’s match came Pokkle against Bodoro.
Bodoro was normally the stronger fighter, but he had suffered significant injuries against Hisoka.
In the end, Pokkle managed to defeat him.
Then came Killua’s match against Gittarackur.
Killua walked casually into the center of the arena, clearly not taking Gittarackur seriously.
Just as he prepared to attack, however, his opponent suddenly spoke.
"It’s been a while, Killua."
The familiar voice made Killua’s entire body stiffen.
Under everyone’s watchful gazes, Gittarackur raised a hand and gripped one of the round-headed needles embedded in his face.
He pulled them out one after another.
Haruto watched the finger-length needles being removed and could not help shuddering.
’With skills like that, becoming an acupuncturist would’ve been a perfect career.’
Nearby, Netero calmly stroked his beard, his eyes narrowed. He had clearly known Gittarackur’s true identity all along.
When the final needle was removed, Gittarackur’s face began twisting and reshaping itself. Long black hair emerged from his scalp.
Within moments, his original appearance had returned.
The instant Killua recognized him, his face turned deathly pale. Unconcealed fear filled his eyes, and even his voice began trembling.
"B-Big Brother..."
"Mm."
Illumi responded flatly, his pitch-black eyes resting calmly on Killua.
Deep within them, however, lurked an almost obsessive desire for control.
What followed was the exact opposite of a touching reunion between brothers.
The match ultimately ended with Killua surrendering.
Under Illumi’s influence, Killua then lost control of his emotions and killed Bodoro before fleeing the examination site without looking back.
Because Killua had violated the rules, Leorio passed the exam without ever needing to fight.
...
After a night of rest, everyone followed the instructions they had been given and entered a room resembling a lecture hall.
Chairman Netero soon arrived with Beans and the examiners who had overseen the Hunter Exam.
Beans stepped forward and cleared his throat.
"The Hunter License orientation will now begin."
He held up a card bearing the emblem of the Hunter Association for everyone to see.
"The card previously given to each of you is your Hunter License."
"With this license, you may freely enter ninety percent of countries that normally restrict access to the public, as well as seventy-five percent of all prohibited areas."
"You will also receive free access to ninety-five percent of public facilities, and any bank will extend you credit comparable to that offered to a first-class corporation."
"Simply possessing this card is enough to ensure that you never need to worry about food or money for the rest of your life."
Beans’s expression became serious.
"That is why you must take great care not to lose it or allow it to be stolen. Hunter Licenses are never reissued."
"According to Association records, one in every five newly licensed Hunters loses their license within the first year."
"Your first test as Hunters is protecting your own card."
Once Beans finished his explanation, Netero addressed the group in a clear voice.
"The eight applicants present are hereby officially recognized as this year’s new Hunters!"
With that, the Hunter License orientation came to an end.
Netero, Beans, and the examiners turned and left the room.
Haruto examined his Hunter License, satisfaction flashing through his eyes.
After all the time and effort he had invested, it was finally his.
He did not linger for long.
Haruto told Gon what he knew about Ging, then said goodbye to Kurapika and Leorio, with whom he had become somewhat familiar.
Using the privileges of his new Hunter License, he boarded an airship free of charge.
...
Three days later, Haruto arrived at the perimeter of a restricted wilderness area.
After presenting his Hunter License to the guards for verification, he received permission to enter without difficulty.
This was one of the locations Menchi had told him about—a region with relatively lenient entry requirements and a good variety of ingredients.
After passing through nearly a kilometer of tightly guarded defenses, Haruto entered the restricted region known as Bernaba Forest.
Everywhere he looked, he saw rare plants and flowers almost impossible to find in the outside world. Strange beasts occasionally darted between the trees.
Haruto immediately grew excited and began hunting.
Only after collecting a vast quantity of excellent ingredients did he leave in satisfaction and hurry toward the next restricted region.
Time passed.
Following the end of the Hunter Exam, Haruto remained in the Hunter × Hunter world for another two full months, exploring several regions rich in natural resources.
During that time, he consumed an enormous amount of delicious food.
His Gourmet Cells became increasingly active, and his strength rose considerably along with them.
Meanwhile, the massive increase in his ingredient reserves caused Gourmet Restaurant to more than double in size.
It had even begun undergoing several new changes.
Despite that expansion, Gourmet Restaurant was already close to being filled.
Only then did Haruto finally leave the Hunter × Hunter world with his enormous haul and return to the Food Wars! world.