Chapter 52
While Haruto busied himself in the kitchen, the atmosphere elsewhere inside Trick Tower could not have been more different.
The applicants who arrived one after another initially tried to ignore him, but the aromas drifting from the kitchen kept forcing their way into their noses.
Wave after wave of delicious fragrance swept through the room, making every remaining minute feel unbearably long.
Time continued to pass until Gon, Killua, Kurapika, Leorio, and Tonpa finally arrived during the last minute.
With their arrival, the time limit for the Third Phase officially expired.
Lippo’s voice came through the speakers.
"The Third Phase of the Hunter Exam has concluded with twenty-six successful applicants and one fatality."
"Therefore, twenty-five applicants will advance to the Fourth Phase..."
At that moment, Haruto leisurely walked out of the kitchen carrying a freshly prepared bowl of bird-meat porridge.
They would soon be leaving Trick Tower, so he could hardly remain in the kitchen any longer.
The moment he emerged, however, Haruto noticed many of the applicants staring at him.
Most of those gazes contained undisguised resentment.
He paused and scratched his head in confusion.
All he had done was cook a little food and experiment with a few new dishes.
He had not offended anyone, had he?
He must have been imagining it.
Shaking his head, Haruto quickly finished the porridge and followed everyone out of Trick Tower.
Warm sunlight fell across his body, while a gentle breeze carried the faint scent of grass toward him.
Haruto stretched his arms high above his head, and his joints released a series of satisfying cracks.
After spending two and a half days occupied inside the tower, he could finally breathe fresh air again.
...
He had only relaxed for a moment when Lippo walked to the front of the group.
"Everyone, congratulations on successfully escaping Trick Tower."
"Only the Fourth Phase and the Final Phase of the Hunter Exam now remain."
Lippo raised a hand and pointed toward an island that appeared relatively close to the tower.
Dense jungle covered the island, while its winding coastline glittered beneath the sunlight.
"The Fourth Phase will take place there—Zevil Island."
Lippo then snapped his fingers.
A staff member approached while pushing a small cart. A mysterious black box rested on top of it, immediately drawing every applicant’s attention.
"Before we begin, each of you will need to draw a card," Lippo continued.
The applicants looked at one another curiously.
"Draw a card?"
"What are we drawing for? Does it decide the next challenge?"
"What are they planning now...?"
Lippo raised a hand and waited for the crowd to quiet down before explaining at his usual unhurried pace.
"The card you draw will determine your role in the Fourth Phase—both as hunter and prey."
"There are twenty-five numbered cards inside this box. Each bears the applicant number of someone standing here."
A small commotion passed through the group.
The quicker applicants quietly removed the badges pinned to their chests and began observing everyone else’s numbers.
Haruto stared at the box, wondering about something that had always made him curious.
What would happen if someone were lucky enough to draw their own number?
Would they immediately gain six points and qualify for the Final Phase?
It did not seem impossible.
Luck was also part of a person’s ability, after all.
The chances were extremely low, of course.
...
"You will draw in the order that you escaped Trick Tower."
"Will the first applicant please step forward?"
Hisoka calmly approached the box, drew a card, and moved aside.
Haruto followed next.
One by one, the remaining applicants took their turns until Tonpa drew the final card.
"It appears everyone has made their selection," Lippo said.
"You may now remove the stickers covering the numbers."
The applicants immediately began peeling them away.
Haruto did the same and found the number 53 beneath his sticker.
He raised an eyebrow.
Unfortunately, it was not his own number, 103.
As for Number 53...
Haruto had paid close attention to everyone’s badges, so he quickly identified his target as Pokkle.
Whether Pokkle was fortunate or tragically unlucky was difficult to say.
He would eventually become a Hunter, only to be captured by the Chimera Ants.
Neferpitou would open his skull to extract his knowledge of Nen, while the rest of his body would be processed into meatballs and fed to the Queen as nourishment for the King.
Haruto rubbed his chin, amusement flickering through his eyes.
Pokkle’s fate would probably be rewritten this time.
After all, Haruto was about to eliminate him from the exam.
"The number on your card belongs to your designated target," Lippo announced.
Many applicants instinctively covered the badges on their chests while scanning the people around them warily.
Others showed no concern at all, including Hisoka and Gittarackur.
Lippo ignored their reactions and continued explaining.
"Every number drawn has already been recorded in the box’s internal memory, so you may dispose of your cards however you wish."
"What you must obtain is the badge worn by your designated prey."
"There are no restrictions on how you take it."
The Hunter Exam was hardly a peaceful competition.
...
The tension among the applicants rose sharply upon hearing that rule, and they instinctively put more distance between one another.
Lippo remained unconcerned as he moved on to the scoring system.
"Listen carefully. Your designated target’s badge is worth three points."
"Your own badge is also worth three points."
"Any badge belonging to someone else is worth only one point."
"To advance to the Final Phase, you must possess badges worth a total of six points."
"That is the sole condition for passing the Fourth Phase."
With the explanation complete, Lippo turned and left.
Several members of staff escorted the applicants toward the shore, where a yacht was already waiting.
Everyone boarded, and the vessel pulled away from the coast before setting course for Zevil Island.
During the journey, their guide, Kara, explained the upcoming schedule and informed them that anyone eliminated would receive a free pass allowing them to enter next year’s Hunter Exam site directly.
Haruto paid little attention.
He had no intention of taking this exam twice.
After glancing at the tense applicants aboard the yacht, Haruto picked up the fishing rod he had prepared in advance and walked toward the stern.
There ought to be some excellent ingredients living in Lake Mobius.
Perhaps he could catch some delicious seafood and add it to his next meal.
Haruto cast the hook into the water, then sat on the railing at the stern and enjoyed the sea breeze.
For once, the moment felt pleasantly peaceful.
The sound of waves striking the hull filled the air as time slipped quietly by.
Two hours passed in the blink of an eye.
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