It had been some time since they last met, and Kurapika had grown even more composed and capable.
This year's examiners, including Chairman Netero himself, had witnessed Kurapika's exceptional talent firsthand.
Their evaluation of this young junior was exceedingly high.
Yet they might not fully understand the price paid for such maturity and strength beyond his years.
When Morrow saw Kurapika during the test, he keenly sensed certain changes.
It went without saying.
Since parting ways at the ruins, Kurapika had likely recovered many of his clansmen's eyes.
Throughout this process, the complex darkness of human nature he encountered and touched would inevitably affect him continuously, like countless invisible dark hands attempting to drag the young man into the abyss.
Morrow gazed at Kurapika's stern profile, noticing that the slightly youthful softness in his features had completely vanished.
The transformation in his aura was so pronounced, as if he had been honed into something sharper.
"When I saw you during the fourth phase of the test, I almost didn't recognize you."
Morrow closed the medical room door behind him and walked toward Kurapika with a smile.
Kurapika initially looked up at Morrow, but upon hearing "didn't recognize you," his gaze momentarily wavered and avoided contact.
In the end, he slightly averted his eyes from Morrow's gaze and calmly stated:
"I've recovered eight pairs of my clansmen's eyes. As long as funding allows, by the Yorknew Auction at the latest in September, I should be able to retrieve the remaining eyes based on current intelligence."
"I see..."
Morrow approached Kurapika, noticing how his gaze unconsciously drifted toward the ground, and remarked with feeling: "It seems that with intelligence support, funding has instead become the biggest challenge."
"Yes."
Kurapika lowered his eyelids and said: "Some eye holders demand exorbitant prices. To avoid complications, I usually agree to their asking prices directly. If I can reclaim my clansmen's eyes, I don't care how much it costs..."
"When people are clearly price gouging, if you're unwilling to use underhanded methods, you should at least try to bargain."
Hearing that Kurapika didn't even attempt to negotiate, Morrow couldn't help but sigh lightly: "You're not one of the Ten Dons who prints money like it's nothing. With your approach, no amount of earnings would be enough."
"My sources of funding are all legal and compliant."
Kurapika explained softly, as if afraid Morrow might misunderstand or wanting to move past the topic.
Hearing this, Morrow smiled wryly, understanding that everyone has their own perspectives and methods. At least regarding this matter, he wouldn't insist on influencing Kurapika's approach.
"Kurapika."
"Yes?"
"It's been so long since we last met. How about treating me to a good meal?"
"..."
Kurapika was taken aback, then looked up at the smile on Morrow's face and nodded.
Morrow laughed: "Then let's go. Menchi happened to prepare a huge feast. You know how she never holds back on ingredient costs; the expenses must be terrifyingly high. We'll have her bill you later, consider it your treat." With that, he strode toward the corridor ahead, his tone teasing as he remarked, "You wouldn't be stingy about money, would you?"
"I'm not that petty!"
Kurapika quickly caught up, lifting his gaze to Morrow's retreating back. His stern expression softened like spring snow thawing, revealing a touch of warmth.
He had deliberately waited for Morrow here partly because the exam was over, making it unnecessary to worry about appearances, and partly because he wanted to ask Morrow about the plans for dealing with that scum from Kakin.
But recalling Morrow's earlier emphasis on the timing not being right, he ultimately couldn't bring himself to broach the subject.
Even if he did voice it, he'd likely only receive the same advice: "Don't rush."
Kurapika knew well that reclaiming his clansmen's eyes from the last of those monsters hinged on first recovering the others.
This was something that absolutely couldn't be hurried.
And he trusted Morrow's arrangements without reservation.
—--
Night fell.
Menchi had meticulously prepared a feast.
Following the exam's schedule, she had planned ahead and sourced a batch of premium ingredients from elsewhere.
To ensure the ingredients arrived at the perfect time, she had gone to great lengths.
All this careful coordination was for one purpose: to treat Morrow to an exquisite gourmet meal tonight, after the exam concluded.
"Knock, knock."
A sound came from the door.
Menchi had just lit the last candle. She hastily set down the lighter, nervously straightened her appearance, then hurried to the door and opened it.
"Morrow, you're–"
As the door swung open, Menchi's face blossomed into a radiant smile, but the words died on her lips when she spotted Kurapika and Kalluto beside Morrow.
"Menchi."
Morrow smiled. "Kurapika offered to treat us, so I suggested he cover tonight's meal. And since it's been a while since we all gathered, I invited Kalluto along too."
"..."
Menchi fell silent for a moment, her smile straining. With an inward sigh, she said, "Come on in."
No sooner had she spoken than a familiar voice chimed in, "I can smell the aroma from here; truly worthy of Menchi!"
It was Buhara's voice.
Menchi's eye twitched. Without ceremony, she nudged Kurapika aside toward Morrow and leaned out to look into the hallway.
There she saw a drooling Buhara, the poised Satotz, and a beaming Chairman Netero.
She swallowed the sharp retort on the tip of her tongue.
She could grudgingly accept Kurapika and Kalluto's presence; it had, after all, been a long time since they'd shared a meal.
But having Buhara there was more than she could bear.
She had been ready to bluntly shoo him away, only to find Satotz and Chairman Netero were with him.
Resigned, Menchi sighed weakly. "Everyone, come in."
"Wonderful!"
Buhara drooled. "I get to taste Menchi's cooking again."
"Pardon the intrusion."
Satotz elegantly held a bottle of red wine, every bit the gentleman.
"When you get to my age, you can't help but want to join in the youngsters' fun."
Netero, dressed casually and without any airs of a chairman, stepped inside. His eyes immediately landed on the carefully arranged candlelit dinner Menchi had prepared, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Is this what the young folks call a romantic candlelit–"
Snap.
Menchi slapped the light switch beside her with slightly more force than necessary, instantly illuminating every corner of the room and cutting off Netero's words.
"Hoh hoh."
Netero tactfully ended the conversation and walked straight into the room.
Menchi rubbed her temples wearily and was about to close the door when she noticed two kids still standing outside.
It was Gon, sniffing like a puppy, and Killua, looking completely indifferent.
Since Morrow had asked Kalluto to stay for dinner, Gon and Killua had to stay as well.
As for Leorio and Barbara, they had already embarked on their respective journeys.
"Smells amazing, it must be really delicious."
Gon kept sniffing, having never encountered such rich cooking aromas before.
"It's alright."
Killua clasped his hands behind his head and pursed his lips: "The spices smell too strong. I prefer lighter flavors that highlight the ingredients themselves..."
Before he could finish, Menchi's fist accurately connected with his head.
In that moment of attack, she even employed Zetsu technique, making it impossible for Killua to react in time.
Thump!
The dull sound of fist meeting skull perfectly synchronized with the door slamming shut.
Menchi completed both actions almost simultaneously, thinking to herself: I don't care about your preferences, kid! These dishes weren't prepared for a presumptuous brat like you anyway!
Withdrawing her fist, Menchi walked toward the table without looking back, while Killua's sharp intake of breath echoed behind her.
"Tch, that woman..."
Killua rubbed his head, glaring at Menchi's retreating back.
Gon watched as a visible bump swelled on Killua's head and felt a shiver of apprehension.
Thus, the meal directly transformed from a candlelit dinner into a gathering of Pro Hunters.
Interestingly... because it was already late after dinner, Gon and the others had to stay overnight and depart for the port the next morning.
Then Gon and Killua, with their boundless energy to burn, coincidentally encountered Netero during their nighttime exploration.
Afterward, Netero used "digestion" as an excuse to play volleyball with Gon and Killua.
Morrow only went to check when he heard the commotion, and witnessed this scene that should have only appeared in the original story.
Whether it was accidental or coincidental was hard to say.
After all, one couldn't rule out the possibility that old man Netero had specifically sought out Gon and Killua.
Morrow watched from the shadows for a while. Even with Netero playing casually, Gon and Killua stood no chance at their current level.
However, unlike the original story, the Killua Morrow now observed, while equally competitive, didn't become negative due to Netero going easy on them. Instead, he seemed to genuinely enjoy cooperating with Gon.
This energy-draining volleyball game clearly wouldn't end anytime soon.
—--
The next day.
Gon and Killua slept deeply.
Their planned morning departure had to be postponed.
This also meant Morrow would be delayed for some time.
Kalluto felt apologetic about this, but Morrow didn't mind such trivial matters.
While Gon and Killua were sound asleep, an airship bearing the Hunter Association emblem slowly descended onto the open training field.
The Hunter Exam had concluded successfully, and Netero's group was preparing to depart.
Morrow came to the training field to see them off.
Before boarding the airship, Netero turned back to look at Morrow and suddenly said, "I heard an old friend mention you before. It's rare for him to share the same opinion as me; we both think you're quite remarkable."
"Huh?"
Morrow was somewhat puzzled.
Netero didn't elaborate further, only smiling meaningfully as he said, "The Association will ultimately rely on young people like you in the future."
After saying this, Netero paid no attention to Morrow's reaction and boarded the airship directly.
Morrow still had questions in his heart as he watched the airship ascend into the sky.
An old friend? Could it be Maha? He thought to himself.
—--
Meanwhile, aboard the airship, Netero walked slowly toward the cabin, recalling what Maha had mentioned to him earlier. A rare trace of nostalgia appeared in his eyes.
Quite similar, aren't they...
Images of Morrow and Kalluto flashed through his mind, and Netero smiled silently. Some old memories surfaced from the depths of his mind.
They really are somewhat alike.
At the very least, the act of fighting all the way to the Testing Gate just to let a friend decide their own path... he had done the same thing before.
And Morrow had done the same as him.
Netero shook his head slightly, suppressing these old memories.
Morrow and Kalluto, Killua and Gon... such companionship among young people not only made this old man nostalgic but also forced him to acknowledge that he had truly grown old.
The airship flew into the distance and soon disappeared from view.
—--
At noon, Gon and Killua finally woke up.
The intense volleyball game from the previous night had nearly drained all their energy.
But their youthful bodies, after sufficient rest, brimmed with vitality once more.
Morrow could only sigh in admiration at this.
After Gon and Killua finished lunch, he immediately summoned Chimera.
Originally, he intended to have Chimera take Gon and the others directly to Whale Island, but Gon politely declined the offer.
They ultimately decided to travel to Whale Island by boat.
Thus, Chimera only needed to take them to the nearest port.
At the moment of parting, Kalluto seemed to want to say something but held back, ultimately afraid of causing trouble for Morrow and keeping his thoughts to himself.
After a simple farewell to Morrow, Kalluto followed Gon and Killua, leaping onto Chimera's back.
Soon, Chimera flapped its wings and soared into the sky.
Morrow, Kurapika, and Menchi watched as Chimera flew away.
"I can't help but feel..." Menchi withdrew her gaze, sensing something profound. "Once people find their direction, it becomes hard to slow down, and they're even less willing to stop."
Morrow and Kurapika remained silent, but they shared the same sentiment.
Watching as Chimera became a tiny black dot in the distance, Morrow also withdrew his gaze and turned to Menchi and Kurapika beside him. "What about you two? Any plans after this?"
Buzz...
Just as he spoke, his phone vibrated in his pocket.
Morrow took out his phone; Ging's name was displayed on the screen.
Menchi and Kurapika looked at him.
"It's Ging."
Morrow said this briefly and answered the call.
Ging's casual voice came through the phone: "Hey, have you eaten yet?"
"Get to the point."
Morrow knew that when Ging called proactively, it was usually for important matters, so he skipped the small talk.
At the same time, the timing made him vaguely suspect it might be related to Gon.
"Haha, it's actually nothing important. I just realized it's been a while since we last talked."
Ging's laughter came through the phone, then he abruptly changed the subject: "Weren't you quite interested in 'Divine Script' before?"
"Yeah, but you also said learning Divine Script is troublesome and doesn't have much future prospects."
Morrow felt strange, always thinking Ging must be up to no good.
Ging said seriously: "It's not that bad. I have a family heirloom Divine Script Codex strategy guide. If you're interested, I can tell you where it is."
"Huh?"
Morrow was quite surprised, thinking to himself you think this is some game? Strategy guide? but still honestly asked: "Where?"
"Whale Island."
"..."