Leorio looked at Tonpa in utter disbelief, his exhaustion threatening to overwhelm him.
"Hey! Is this true?" he demanded. If the exam was truly continuing without a pause, he could collapse at any moment.
"Yeah, that makes sense." Kurapika appeared thoughtful, though in reality, he didn't believe Tonpa's words for an instant. Kurapika had been suspicious of the man long before the first exam. His reason for playing along was simple: to keep the unpredictable Tonpa under control and gauge his intentions.
"It seems we need to be more cautious." Ryusei spoke seriously, playing his part. When it came to acting, he believed he wouldn't lose to Kurapika.
Seeing that the three seemed genuinely convinced by his warning, Tonpa swelled with pride. He pressed his point further. "The exam was already over when I went to sleep last time." He fabricated, referencing the abrupt start of the First Phase. "Something like this isn't impossible. It's best not to let your guard down, even on an airship." Tonpa looked at Ryusei and the other two, reminding them with a solemn expression, sincerely hoping they would waste their energy worrying.
"Are you messing with us?" Leorio sounded dissatisfied, but the exhaustion kept his temper in check. He looked at Tonpa and, still believing in his false sincerity, added, "Thanks for the warning, though." Leorio had no idea about Tonpa's malicious true nature.
"I'll seriously consider it." Kurapika said with a serious expression, his tone subtly perfunctory.
"Let's check out the airship later," Ryusei suggested, maintaining a serious demeanor. "Maybe we'll discover something interesting." Ryusei meant this sincerely; since he wasn't tired, he was genuinely curious about the giant vessel, as it was his first time aboard one.
Seeing that Ryusei and the others had truly taken his words to heart, Tonpa immediately plastered a kind smile back on his face. "Good luck to you three!" Tonpa waved and turned to leave.
But once his back was turned, the kind smile twisted into a sinister snarl. 'I lied to you.' Tonpa relished the thought. 'I'll wait until you're exhausted both physically and mentally, too weak to fight back.' He was very much looking forward to seeing Ryusei, Kurapika, and Leorio—his prime targets—perform poorly tomorrow.
Once Tonpa left, Ryusei and the other two headed toward the cafeteria. After speaking briefly with the staff, they received permission to use the kitchen, and Ryusei got busy preparing food.
At that moment, in a small, private restaurant within the airship's cafeteria, Satotz, Menchi, and Buhara were having dinner.
"How many candidates do you think will remain this year?" Menchi asked Buhara, putting down her knife and fork.
"You mean the ones who will qualify?" Buhara looked confused. In past years, typically only one or two people passed the exam, or sometimes none at all. Menchi's phrasing—asking how many would "remain"—felt strangely optimistic.
"Yes, there are a lot of strong candidates this year," Menchi confirmed, nodding. "Though there have been times when everyone was eliminated, I have a feeling this year will be different."
Buhara, now sure Menchi was referring to the final qualified Hunters, answered casually. "That depends on the content of the next exam."
"That's true," Menchi conceded. "But didn't you notice anything during your part of the exam? Weren't there a few people with strong auras?" She reminded him, referring to candidates who likely already possessed some level of hidden ability or immense potential, giving them a high chance of passing any non-limiting test.
"Satotz, what do you think?" Menchi turned to the first examiner for his opinion.
"Yes, I agree," Satotz answered seriously. "This year's newcomers have been very impressive. Although two of them seem a bit naïve, they still show great potential."
Menchi was satisfied with his response. "Ah, so you think so too! I think Number 123 is pretty good." Menchi had taken note of Ryusei. His cooking skill at his age indicated significant, focused effort. She believed that if Ryusei secured a Hunter's License, he had a high chance of becoming a successful Gourmet Hunter.
"I think Number 99 stands out," Satotz offered a different perspective, referring to Killua. He sensed something special and dangerous about the boy.
"That guy must be extremely self-willed and arrogant," Menchi said, with a dismissive tone. She had not taken kindly to Killua's nonchalant attitude when she initially gave him a failing grade. His lack of care had irritated her.
"What about you, Buhara?" Menchi turned to the massive examiner.
"Me? Well, even though this person isn't a newcomer…" Buhara's expression became serious. "I still think Number 44…"
He leaned forward slightly. "Menchi, you noticed it too, right? When Number 123 (Ryusei) attacked Number 255 (the ape/impostor) back in the wetlands… Number 44 was radiating killing intent." Buhara spoke with a palpable sense of fear. He had felt a powerful and dangerous threat from Hisoka.
Menchi's expression immediately mirrored his seriousness. She leaned back against the couch. "Of course, I noticed," she said sharply. "He exudes an uncontrollable murderous aura."
She looked straight at Buhara. "But Buhara, do you know what's even more concerning? He's been like this since the very beginning. From the moment we first appeared," Menchi's tone carried a hint of hostility. She felt personally targeted.
"Really?" Buhara looked at her in surprise, having missed that detail amidst his own fear.
"Yes, and that's what keeps me on edge," Menchi sighed in frustration. "That guy is constantly trying to pick a fight with me." She was certain that Hisoka's disruptive malice was the primary reason her screening process had been so strict, ultimately forcing Netero's intervention.
Satotz nodded in agreement with a deep sigh. "He does the same to me. I'm afraid he's someone who needs special attention." Satotz paused, then continued with a philosophical edge. "Though I don't want to admit it… he is still human, just like us. The only difference is that he prefers to hide in the shadows."
"We Hunters instinctively seek out rivals," Satotz mused, summarizing Hisoka's drive. "We look for opponents who recognize and challenge us. For him, the Hunter Exam is just such a platform. Among these candidates, he stands out as the type who would step on the gas when the rest of us are hitting the brakes. You could say… he's an anomaly."
The three examiners fell silent, the tension of their discussion momentarily eclipsing the pleasure of their meal, all focused on the volatile threat that was Hisoka.