"How many days has he been gone?"
People really get forgetful once they get old.
A few caws came from the crows outside. The moon was high in the sky, but Maha Zoldyck couldn't sleep for the life of him.
He sat up and looked at the latest issue of "Pirate King" published by Bones Studio. The large words "On Hiatus This Week" made him feel stifled.
"Instead of drawing his manga properly, he ran off to participate in some bullshit Hunter Exam? Neglecting his real work."
"Ahem. I can't pretend I didn't hear that." The door opened, and Zeno, his white hair conspicuous, strolled in holding a mobile phone.
The voice was coming from the phone.
"Ahem. Grandpa, it's Netero." The brat cautiously handed the phone over.
"Not taking it." Maha Zoldyck's eyes widened, and he gave him a big slap across the face. "You brat, is the Zoldyck family failing or something? Taking calls from just anyone now."
The corner of Zeno's eye twitched violently. He'd been scolded by the old man quite a bit these past few days. He had no idea if the old man had rubbed some vitality oil recently, but he had endless energy, grabbing him and chewing him out every day.
At first, Zeno thought the old man was just finding fault with him like usual. But after observing for several days, Zeno gradually realized—
It had nothing to do with him! It was purely because that stinking brat Sean wasn't around, and the old man was depressed!
'Damn that Netero! So, I, his grandson, am not the grandson, but Sean, that grandson, is the real grandson?'
'How can he have such a double standard?'
"Ohohoho. It's only been a few years, and your temper is still as big as ever, old master." Netero, having been mocked to his face by Maha Zoldyck, wasn't the least bit angry. Instead, he chuckled and said, "There aren't many of us old-timers left. If you have the chance, old master, we should meet up."
'Meet up? Meet up to play that bullshit "steal the ball" game with you?'
Maha Zoldyck snorted irritably. "Spit out what you have to say, kid. There's no need to play the sentiment card."
"We Zoldycks are assassins. We don't have emotions."
"So scary." Netero scratched his head. "It's nothing much, really. Just that my subordinates are a bit nervous."
"I heard that three of your family's boys came for the Hunter Exam this time. It really shocked those incompetent subordinates of mine."
"So, they sent this old man to ask about it."
"The children are grown. They can go wherever they want. I'm just an old man; I can't control them." Maha Zoldyck yawned. "You're not young anymore either. You should delegate authority when it's time. You've been Chairman for decades. Be careful you don't die before I do."
'Isn't it normal to die before you? You old fossil, you ate the "Longevity Rice"...'
Netero ignored that barb and smiled meaningfully. "The ten-year period is almost up, old master. Do you want this old man to help you gauge Sean's depth in advance?"
"Are you worried no one can handle him?" Maha Zoldyck sneered contemptuously. "Just those few weaklings in your Hunter Association? They really aren't enough for my grandson to swat. Even..."
"Even if you, Netero, went personally, you wouldn't necessarily get the upper hand against that stinking brat Sean."
"Hohoho," Netero laughed loudly. "Just talking. This old man is just talking."
"To really go up against him, it would still have to be you, old master. How about it? Are you confident?"
Confident? "I definitely will not lose!" 'Does he really think I've eaten rice for over three hundred years for nothing?' Maha Zoldyck narrowed his eyes. "This old man will make his words clear right here. If Sean dares to even think about going to the Dark Continent, I'll break his legs!"
"Whoosh." A Nen bullet flicked from his finger pierced the phone. Zeno just felt his hand lighten. Great, he'd been caught in the crossfire again.
The corner of his mouth twitched speechlessly. He glanced at Maha Zoldyck and said, "Grandpa, I don't think Netero would call for no reason."
"Since he notified you, he'll probably end up going himself."
"Oh? The brat finally used his brain for once." Maha Zoldyck sent Zeno flying with a kick. "Since you know, what are you waiting for? Go book a ticket!"
"Do I have to spell it out for you?"
'Who the hell did I offend?!' Zeno turned into a shooting star and disappeared into the horizon, vanishing into the sunset.
At the same time—
On the sea, en route to Dolle Island, the "Poseidon" exam ship sailed smoothly, no longer rocking.
The storm had been swept away. Aokiji opened his mouth and yawned, glancing at Sean. "Tired. Sleeping."
He took a step, and the next second, he had already drilled into Sean's consciousness space and disappeared.
"Take care, won't see you out." "Whoosh." The sea breeze became much gentler, lifting the young man's bangs and making them sway slightly. A faint arc formed on Sean's lips as he watched Aokiji leave.
The quiet deck subsequently regained some "vitality."
With the storm gone, the candidates participating in the "Hunter Exam" gradually came out.
Due to Sean's previous display of power, no one, including Sean's manga fans, dared to approach him right away. Except, that is, for a certain hedgehog-headed kid who was as pure as a blank sheet of paper.
"Mister, you're so cool!" Gon excitedly rushed up to Sean, braking sharply, his head almost slamming into Sean's stomach.
He tilted his head up to look at Sean and said in surprise, "Huh? Why do I feel like you've gotten taller again, Mister?"
Sean gave him an expressionless look. 'He really has the nose of a Freecss dog.' His "gaze" flew right over the top of his head and fixed on the blond-haired young man walking toward him.
"Can I talk to you alone?" Kurapika was the second person to muster the courage to walk up to Sean.
The blond-haired young man's pupils reflected Sean's seemingly even taller and sturdier physique, his eyes clearly filled with apprehension and nervousness.
"Sorry, no," Sean refused him directly.
"Why?"
"Because I don't have time." Sean didn't even look at Kurapika. He turned, sat down cross-legged, and continued to temper his [Water] characteristic.
Kurapika, having been given the cold shoulder, quietly clenched his fists. "Don't you want to know what I'm going to say?"
"No."
Kurapika: "..."
He opened his mouth, wanting to say more. A large hand suddenly rested on his shoulder.
"That's enough, kid. You can't force things." The Red-nosed Captain pushed open the cabin door and walked out. He passed Kurapika and bowed to Sean. "Thank you, Your Excellency, for saving the 'Poseidon'."
"I announce that you have earned the qualification to land on Dolle Island."
"No need to answer the question?" Sean lifted his hand, and another flying fish was hooked. With his back to the Red-nosed Captain, he said flatly, "You're not going to ask me why I want to be a hunter?"
"Uh..." The Red-nosed Captain was slightly stunned, not expecting Sean to pinpoint the exam's content. He gave a bitter smile. "What difference would it make if I asked?"
"With your strength, Your Excellency, if you want to land on the island, I don't think I could stop you even if I tried."
"That's true." Sean turned his head to look at the Red-nosed Captain. "But... I think you'd better ask. Otherwise, I'll report you to the Hunter Association for cheating, showing favoritism to a candidate, and violating the exam's principles of fairness, impartiality, and transparency!"
???!!! The Red-nosed Captain, Gon, and Kurapika: "..."
They were all a bit dumbfounded. 'He already passed, and he still wants to report him? What the... Is he nuts?'
The Red-nosed Captain's face darkened. He felt like the farmer who saved a snake only to be bitten by it—a total sucker!
He asked Sean speechlessly, "Then why do you want to be a hunter?"
Sean replied at lightning speed, "You'll have to ask Netero. He's the one who insisted I come."
'Netero? Who's that?' A question mark popped up over Gon's head, but unfortunately, no one answered him. Upon hearing Sean's answer...
Everyone on the ship, including the Red-nosed Captain, Kurapika, and Leorio, was completely dumbfounded!
After a long pause, a cry of astonishment was heard from the crowd—
"Amazing, my Teacher Ben An!"
"As expected of the man who can draw 'Pot Shadow Ninja' and 'Pirate King'!"
"To be personally begged by the Chairman of the Hunter Association to participate in the exam... I've lived for over thirty years and taken the Hunter Exam more than a dozen times, and this is the first time I've ever seen this!"
"Yeah. So incredible! Teacher Ben An, can you tell us in detail how the Chairman begged you?"
"I really want to know..."
One. Two. Three. Sean's fans were incredibly excited, seemingly even more so than he was, and surrounded him once again. It was a familiar scene. Watching it, Kurapika felt a pit in his stomach.
"So, this is what you call a gap."
The Red-nosed Captain noticed Kurapika's unusual expression and patted the blond young man's shoulder. "Don't blame others for not talking to you. It's just that right now, you aren't yet strong enough to be qualified to speak to others as an equal."
As for who this "other" was? The Red-nosed Captain didn't need to point him out; Kurapika knew very well.
The blond young man silently watched Sean, who was once again encircled by his fans, and took a deep breath. "I understand, but..."
"I still have to try."
"Because I have a reason why I must!"
That night... the blood of his clansmen, their screams, their pleas for help... it was all vivid in his mind. Kurapika didn't dare forget it for a single day!
He found a time when Sean was fishing alone again. He braced himself and approached once more.
"Teacher Ben An, I need power." The young man leaned against the ship's railing, gazing out at the sea.
"Name your price. Whatever you want... even my life, you can take it! As long as you're willing to teach me!"
"Sigh." 'It's rare to get a moment of peace.' Sean turned his head and glared at Kurapika. 'This blond-haired kid, just like that certain expressionless, stinking little brother, is so damn stubborn!'
"You need to know your own limits, kid." Sean turned his head back, "gazing" at the endless sea, and said leisurely, "First, your life, and everything else, are worthless in my eyes."
"Second—"
"What makes you think I should teach you?"
His gaze shifted, landing on Kurapika's beautiful eyes. Sean said flatly, "Or is it just because of these Scarlet Eyes, one of the Seven Great Beauties of the world."
"You know about the Scarlet Eyes?" Kurapika was startled, his head snapping up. He stared at Sean. "What is your relationship with the Phantom Troupe?!"
'Just because I know about the Scarlet Eyes, I'm either a member of the Troupe or must have a connection to them, right?' Sean smiled coldly. "That's why I said, kid, you need to broaden your horizons."
"Don't disgust me by mentioning those rats in the gutter. I'm not interested in them."
"I just happened to break three of their legs."
???!!!
"The incident at the Republic of Batozia's capital library... that was you?"
Kurapika bristled.
In this world, no one paid more attention to the Phantom Troupe than he did!
The news that the famous mangaka Teacher Ben An's autograph session had been attacked by criminals had long since spread far and wide.
If the "Hunter Exam" hadn't been imminent, Kurapika would have already set off for the capital of the Batozia Republic to investigate the scene himself.
He just hadn't expected to meet the "man himself" here.
"No wonder no one was killed or injured in the library incident. It turns out you were there!"
The young man suddenly understood. His voice was hoarse as he said, "Sorry, I was being presumptuous."
He gave Sean's back a complicated look, then turned and walked away.
"Tap, tap." The footsteps grew fainter. Suddenly, he heard Sean say, "You're too weak. Wait until you've passed the Hunter Exam and gotten your license."
Kurapika's steps faltered. He silently clenched his fists!
'I will! I will!'
"Woooo—"
The ship's horn sounded at just the right moment.
A few days later.
After a bumpy journey, the "Poseidon" finally arrived at Dolle Island.
The anchor was dropped, the ship secured, and the gangplank lowered. The qualified candidates began to disembark.
Leorio, Gon, and Kurapika were among them.
At the very front was Sean.
Perhaps out of awe, or perhaps out of respect for him as Teacher Ben An, as long as Sean didn't move, no one dared to get off the ship before him.
Since that was the case, Sean didn't dally. He flipped his hand, storing the fishing rod in the "Sage" space, and was the first to walk off the Poseidon.
"Wait, Mister, wait for me!" Gon bowed to the Red-nosed Captain and said, "Arigato."
He thanked him, mimicking Sean, then waved and chased after Sean's retreating figure down the gangplank.
Behind him, Leorio and Kurapika exchanged a look and followed closely. They glanced back at the "Poseidon," nodded to the Red-nosed Captain, and also strode forward.
Just as in the original story, after their "duel," the two had buried the hatchet, and their friendship had grown greatly.
They were currently in their "honeymoon phase." Their friendship made the Red-nosed Captain laugh in relief, and he called out a reminder:
"Hey, see that cedar tree on the mountaintop?"
"Just keep heading in that direction, and you'll reach the exam site!"
"Got it, arigato!"
In the distance, the Poseidon was left behind.
The group of four walked forward, stepping into the sunlight.
Sean's ears twitched. His gaze shifted to the distant mountain peak. The tall cedar tree was clearly visible, and he could faintly hear the sounds of some magical beasts.
"Hmm. It's the stink of foxes."
"What stink?" Gon, walking beside Sean, looked around, sniffed the air, and looked at Sean in confusion. "There are no foxes?"
Sean smiled and gave him a mischievous look. "Could it be that your nose is failing? I can smell them. Four of them, in fact."
"Huh?" Gon rubbed his nose hard. Seeing Sean walk off, he hurriedly followed, shouting, "Mister, there's nothing wrong with my nose! Are you sure you didn't smell wrong?"
"Heh. Maybe." Sean gave a noncommittal smile and walked straight past the public route map.
"Hey, Teacher Ben An, I think you're going the wrong way." Leorio hurried to catch up, briefcase in hand. "The direction to Zaban City is the other way!"
"We should be going to take the bus."
"Then you go take it." Sean continued toward the cedar tree without looking back.
"He's right." At that moment, a man carrying two clubs walked out from around the corner, blocking their path.
"The bus to Zaban City is about to leave. The express bus stop is over there."
"Who are you?" Leorio adjusted his glasses, looking the man up and down.
The man said enthusiastically, "My name is Matthew, and I'm a Hunter Exam candidate, just like you."
"Please to meet you."
With that, Matthew extended a "friendly" hand toward Sean.
However, Sean didn't even look at him. He completely ignored the outstretched hand and strolled right past him.
Matthew: "..."
A cross-shaped vein bulged on his forehead. He opened his mouth, about to curse, but Leorio slung an arm around his shoulder. "Don't be angry. I'll go take the bus with you."
"Gon, Kurapika, what about you?"
Leorio turned his head. Gon had already run off after Sean. He looked speechlessly at Kurapika.
Kurapika shot him a sideways glance. "And you call yourself a fan of Teacher Ben An."
He lifted his foot and followed Gon, catching up to Sean.
"Uh, alright." Leorio said helplessly to Matthew, "Let's go, we'll take the bus."
Matthew cursed inwardly, 'Idiot, who the hell wants to take the bus with you?' He shrugged off Leorio's arm and ran a few steps to catch up with Sean.
"Hey, I don't have any ill intent." Forcing down his anger, Matthew smiled at Sean. "The mountains are full of dangerous beasts. It's easy to run into danger. Why take the long way around? Why not just take the bus?"
'Dangerous beasts?' Sean stopped and glanced at Matthew. "You've reminded me of something."
"There's transportation available and I'm not taking it. That is indeed wrong."
"See?" Matthew, seeing Sean "take the bait," copied Leorio and patted Sean's shoulder affectionately. "Come on, let's go take the bus."
Sean shook his head. "I can't. I get carsick."
"It's better to fly."
"Om." A ripple pulsed in the depths of his eyes. The Rinnegan appeared.
Sean said flatly, "Come out, Yatagarasu!"
"SCREE!"