Chapter 31
While Tonpa was still wavering between suspicion and uncertainty, Haruto suddenly looked up at him with an unreadable smile.
"Tonpa-san, aren’t you going to drink yours?"
Tonpa swallowed hard.
With a dry laugh, he forced himself to pull open the tab and gulp down several mouthfuls to hide his unease.
The cold drink slid down his throat, but did nothing to calm the panic building inside him.
"Uh... I still need to go introduce myself to some of the other applicants. We can talk again another time."
Tonpa made up an excuse and prepared to slip away.
He still could not tell whether Haruto had detected the laxative, but retreating now seemed like the safest choice.
"Of course. We’ll talk again when we have the chance."
Haruto smiled and waved goodbye, amusement flashing through his eyes.
He made no attempt to stop him.
After watching Tonpa leave, Haruto tossed the empty can into a nearby trash bin, took out another piece of dried meat, and began chewing at a leisurely pace.
His gaze returned to the applicants as he quietly memorized their faces and badge numbers.
Number 99 was Killua Zoldyck, a silver-haired boy with an indifferent expression who was casually drinking one of Tonpa’s beverages.
Haruto glanced at him but paid him little further attention.
A while later, a figure covered in needles entered the hall. The badge pinned to his chest bore the number 301.
Gittarackur—or rather, Illumi.
Haruto allowed his gaze to rest on Illumi for only an instant before calmly looking away.
Illumi was every bit as troublesome as Hisoka.
Fortunately, as long as Haruto did not approach him first, Illumi was far less likely than Hisoka to cause trouble without reason.
...
Time passed slowly.
The elevator doors opened again, and Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio walked out together.
With their arrival, all the applicants were finally present.
Haruto gave the three of them a brief glance before continuing to chew his jerky.
He had no intention of getting too close to Gon and the others.
For one thing, doing so would make it much easier to attract the attention of Hisoka, that deranged "fruit farmer."
Hisoka was particularly interested in Gon, his precious little "unripe fruit."
More importantly, Haruto simply wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble. He also doubted their personalities would suit one another.
Gon was a textbook Enhancer.
He might be straightforward and sincere, but his stubborn tendency to fixate on what he believed was right could be exhausting.
Kurapika carried the burden of his clan’s massacre, and his Nen abilities had been designed specifically to destroy the Phantom Troupe.
Yet when he finally confronted them, his hesitation caused him to miss crucial opportunities.
Although he ultimately killed Uvogin, he was left tormented by what he had done. Haruto could not agree with that kind of indecisiveness.
He had no intention of becoming particularly close to Killua or Leorio either.
Killua certainly cared deeply for those he accepted, but in Haruto’s view, Gon was probably the only person Killua truly considered a friend. Kurapika and Leorio were closer to trusted companions.
Besides, getting too friendly with Killua was an excellent way to attract the attention of his obsessively controlling older brother, Illumi.
Leorio’s personality was actually fairly likable.
He was loyal, sensible, and far more perceptive than he first appeared.
He merely looked much older than he really was.
Still, since Haruto had already decided to keep his distance from Gon’s group, there was no reason to involve himself with Leorio either.
Haruto was perfectly content to remain alone.
Tonpa, however, could no longer restrain himself.
The moment he spotted three obvious newcomers, the Rookie Crusher’s eyes lit up.
His smile became even friendlier as he hurried over and began chatting with them as though they were old acquaintances.
...
Tonpa was enthusiastically "educating" Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio about the Hunter Exam when a piercing scream suddenly tore through the hall.
Everyone turned toward the sound.
One of the applicants had fallen to his knees in agony.
Before their eyes, both of his hands transformed into vibrant flower petals that scattered through the air in a bizarre, almost dreamlike display.
The surrounding applicants hurriedly backed away, terrified that they might be next.
Soon, only the screaming man and Hisoka remained in that part of the hall.
Haruto narrowed his eyes as he studied the drifting petals.
They looked real, but they were merely an illusion created through Hisoka’s Texture Surprise.
Hisoka watched the suffering applicant and slowly licked the corner of his lips.
His usual smile spread across his face, edged with madness as he spoke in an exaggeratedly innocent tone.
"My, how strange. His hands turned into flower petals and disappeared."
He spread his hands innocently.
"I didn’t do anything."
Despite his words, none of the nearby applicants believed him. Every gaze directed at Hisoka was filled with fear and caution.
Hisoka seemed to enjoy the attention.
He bent down and looked at the man writhing on the floor, then offered him a kindly reminder.
"You should be more careful. When you bump into someone, it’s only polite to apologize."
That confirmed everyone’s suspicions.
Hisoka had definitely been responsible.
Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio stared in shock, the pressure of the exam suddenly weighing much more heavily upon them.
Seeing their reactions, Tonpa immediately leaned closer and began whispering about Hisoka’s infamous deeds and the many dangers of the Hunter Exam, hoping to use the information to gain their trust.
...
After talking for a little longer, Tonpa repeated his old trick.
He pulled several cans of juice from his backpack and eagerly handed them to Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio.
Then he opened one for himself and drank several mouthfuls in front of them.
Gon and Leorio lowered their guard completely and pulled open their cans, ready to drink.
Kurapika hesitated at first, but after seeing Tonpa drink so casually, he relaxed and opened his as well.
Tonpa watched with secret delight.
Then Gon took one sip and suddenly frowned.
A moment later, he spat the drink out.
"Tonpa-san, has this gone bad? It tastes really strange!"
Hearing that, Leorio hurriedly spat out the mouthful he had just taken and patted his chest in alarm.
"Seriously? That was close! I almost swallowed it!"
Kurapika stopped before taking his first sip. He looked thoughtfully at Tonpa, suspicion entering his eyes.
Tonpa’s smile froze.
He scratched his head awkwardly, though inwardly he was completely baffled.
’How did someone notice it again?!’
"Huh? Really? Maybe I kept them for too long without realizing it..."
Tonpa suddenly dropped to his knees and apologized with an earnest expression.
"I’m terribly sorry! I honestly didn’t realize they had expired!"
"It’s okay! You don’t have to apologize like that."
Gon hurriedly waved his hands, then looked at Tonpa with genuine concern.
"But you drank quite a lot, Tonpa-san. Is your stomach all right?"
"Huh? Of course! I’m perfectly fine!"
Tonpa waved dismissively.
At that exact moment, a sharp pain twisted through his stomach.
His expression went blank.
"..."
Before Tonpa could say anything else, the pain intensified!
"...Sorry. I need to excuse myself."
Clenching himself desperately, Tonpa hurried away toward the restroom in an awkward, miserable shuffle.
"?"
Kurapika watched his retreating back in confusion.
Had he misunderstood Tonpa?
Perhaps the man truly had not tampered with the drinks after all.
Not far away, Haruto watched the scene with a smile curling across his lips.
It seemed Tonpa’s powerful laxative worked extremely well.