Speckled light spots manifested, coalescing into the form of a short-sleeved garment, hanging anew on the south wall.
The still-awake Tomioka Giyu and Urokodaki Sakonji got up, lit the oil lamp, and examined carefully... The latter rubbed the garment and said, "It's definitely Eiichiro's short-sleeved garment."
Everyone exchanged glances: "..."
They looked at each other, remaining speechless... A sword that could "travel" truly exuded the same absurdity as Eiichiro!
After a moment, Sabito said, "We should ask Eiichiro in the morning."
He was firm in his belief that this matter was definitely related to the boy.
Yet the boy was sound asleep, leaving the adults who were worried sick about his sword unsure of what to say.
"Everyone should sleep." Anyway, it's only a few hours, the old man can wait.
Tomioka Giyu nodded and willingly blew out the oil lamp.
The wooden house was filled with a rustling noise for a while before settling into silence.
....
Hunter World.
In Q&A Town.
Roy put away the Shallow Strike, and took hold of the Staff Blade that was inserted into the ground once again.
Smiling, he said to Nakamura Sachiko, "I won't disturb the granny proctoring anymore."
His ears twitched, faintly hearing footsteps coming from the alleyway, likely following closely behind him, a group of exam candidates.
Nakamura Sachiko smiled and nodded, using the "children" to share the view, seeing two youths on the left and right emerge from the woods, standing at the town gate.
The one on the left had a face full of nails, an expression like a daze, while the one on the right had a Samurai Sword hanging from his waist, wearing a blue cap, with sharp eyes... looking suspicious.
Nakamura Sachiko quietly sighed internally, thinking that this batch of candidates was truly troublesome. She turned around and instructed the "children" to open the door to the next stage of the exam, squeezing out a smile and telling Roy, "On the mountain, there's a cedar tree, the guide lives there."
As for whether the "guide" would take this group of kids flying... Nakamura Sachiko couldn't guarantee, for after all... the counterpart's identity was special, and she didn't have their phone number.
"Boom~" The heavy stone door opened, revealing a deep passage.
Roy nodded slightly to Nakamura Sachiko and, under the gaze of Illumi and Cotter arriving right after, stepped in first... Wutong and Kurajing followed him on the left and right.
The stone door closed.
Leaving only Illumi and Kate facing Nakamura Sachiko, seemingly thoughtful.
"Master... someone has been watching us all along." Running through the deep passage, Wutong faintly heard a slight "turning sound"... Always sensitive to cameras, he keenly became aware of several placed angles.
"Quite normal." Kurajing followed his gaze, several red glows flashed briefly, struggling to keep up with Roy's pace, she gasped, "The exam began the moment we boarded the ship."
"Formal or informal, it's merely the Hunter Association's official statement that can change at any time."
Kurajing subtly shifted closer to Roy, a woman's intuition told her those cameras seemed to be focused on her, and she suspiciously glanced upward at... the airship.
Netero noticed the young girl's gaze and chuckled, saying, "That girl's sharp, her outfit doesn't look ordinary."
"She's from the Kurta Race." The Mamen Beans were knowledgeable, instantly recognizing Kurajing's identity, carefully glancing at Zeno, choosing his words, "These ancient survivors face uncertain survival prospects, that girl participating in the test, likely harbors the intention of becoming a Hunter to support her tribe."
The Mamen Bean spoke tactfully, implicitly warning Zeno that the girl's motives were impure.
Zeno stood with his hands behind his back, expressionless, indifferent.
No matter the tribe... as long as she's worthy, able to bear children, if needed... the Zoldyck Family will settle it for her.
Conversely, what interests him more as the grandfather is... Roy!
Netero's previous statement was not wrong, the child visualizing the "sun," his heart cannot be said to be small... wanting to easily manifest a "Nen Beast" might not be that simple.
Just like the "Nen Dragon" for Zeno, the "Hundred Forms of Guanyin" for Netero... The stronger visualization arising from the "Ask the Heart," the greater the difficulty in manifesting a "Nen Beast" or developing "Nenryoku"...
He frowned silently...
At a certain moment, his ear twitched, hearing Netero seeming to see through his thoughts, faintly saying, "The combination of 'sun' and 'beast,' old me can't imagine, what would it correspond to..."
"'Dragon' or 'Guanyin,' both can find real-world corresponding points, for example the former, existing in reality, the Zoldyck Family raises one, the latter transformed from Buddhist saints, can find likenesses in the homes of some believers."
But a "sun" and "beast," separate they are easy to find, one rises every day, one is ubiquitous, combined, it's hard to find a symbolic point...
"People get old, poor imagination is understandable." Zeno's comment didn't clarify whether he was mocking Netero or speaking about himself, or both, his gaze kept locked on Roy in the scene, the boy walked while contemplating, evidently thinking about the same issue.
Kurajing and Wutong both noticed his oddness, sensibly refraining from speaking further.
About an hour later, seeing light ahead in the passage...
They quickened their pace, leaving the passage, and immediately saw a shimmering small lake.
Docked beside the lake was a small boat, Wutong and Kurajing naturally took on rowing duties, grabbing the oars.
Turning to look at Roy, amid his contemplation, the youth leaped, soared onto the bow, floating across, headed to the opposite shore, continually processing Nakamura Sachiko's words... "Because of the deepest yearning inside, unconsciously a doll was manifested"...