Still staring intensely at Vanessa, Netero finally stops and steps back.
Looking embarrassed, yet also amused, Netero immediately defends himself. "I am just joking! Give this old man a break."
Beans shakes his head in disappointment and leaves the room, seemingly unable to look at the chairman any longer.
Ignoring the banter, Auren cuts straight to the point. "I've heard this year's exam is shaping up to be quite interesting. I'm a little late, but I hope the exam isn't quite finalized yet."
"Usually I'd give you all the freedom you want... but I fear you will be disappointed as the exam has been largely finalized. The first task will be handled by Satotz, a reliable but rather stiff, Ruins Hunter," Netero explains. "The exam will be conducted on this continent, so it will take place on territory I know quite well. Some of the chosen exam sites we use once every five or six years. Anyway, starting at Zaban City, Satotz will test the candidates' physical and mental abilities and lead them towards the second exam site, through the Milsy Wetlands until the Biska Forest Park."
"Afterwards, when the candidates have made it through the wetlands and reached the Park, I have decided to give young Menchi and her colleague Buhara a chance. Both are highly accomplished Gourmet Hunters. Until a few days ago, when your cutie pie's promotion was announced, Menchi was the newest Single-Star Hunter... just like you were a few years ago, Auren. These promotions are not as common as you might think. These two will test their hunting abilities and attention to detail."
I have the vague feeling that isn't it at all... but I can't quite pinpoint what's wrong with his statement. It appears to make sense... hunting animals... hunting people. I guess a Hunter should be capable of doing just that.
"Afterwards, the examinees have to conquer the Trick Tower," Netero continues, causing Neffi to tense up as he looks at her. "I believe... you are familiar with it."
"Ugh... I don't want to remember," Neffi suddenly mutters, causing Netero to show a hint of concern.
Auren gently places his hand on her shoulder. "I think you've moved past that time... physically and mentally."
"Yes," Neffi says confidently.
Good.
Vanessa also can't help but gently lean against her from behind, hugging her softly.
"That's embarrassing... it's fine... let go!" Neffi says, looking quite embarrassed, but not forcing her to stop.
"I'm taking on the fifth exam... though I won't reveal what I have planned just yet, and I may still decide some details later," Netero mentions, stroking his beard. "It will be interesting, that much I can say."
"So I get the fourth exam?" Auren concludes.
"Indeed, we are short one examiner... but the exam has already been decided. It's a survival and hunting phase... candidates have to hunt others and steal their tags, while keeping their own safe. It will be quite rough... and deadly," Netero explains. "It will take place on Zevil Island."
"You know my position about that kind of exam," Auren states. "I've also heard some criticism from a certain source. Last year's exam was a complete disaster, wasn't it?"
Netero rubs his neck. "Pariston, huh? Who else would complain so openly? I really have to wonder why you keep involving yourself with the Rat... maybe you and I are really quite similar. He doesn't seem to have much in common with you, either."
"Give and take," Auren simply states, before continuing. "I'll accept, but I demand to go over the rules and tweak them according to my liking," Auren replies. "Also... shouldn't we make sure the casualties are kept in check? I don't know the details about the wetlands you mentioned...."
"A Hunter needs to risk his life!" Netero states with authority. "We can't have weak, soft, and frankly undeserving Hunters around. This year's exam will be a success, and we'll end up with the most talented bunch of Hunters ever—that's my goal! I declare it!"
Sure...
"If you intend to let multiple people pass... that's already some improvement," Auren replies. "Though I still don't get why you aim to kill the candidates instead of simply failing them."
"It has to be done this way. If the license were easy to obtain and there was no risk involved, it would lose its entire purpose," Netero says, completely convinced. "However... do as you wish... with your task, that is."
Is that really all? Is it because he truly believes this... or does the V5 influence him?
"I'll accept then," Auren states.
Now... for my goal. This one is important.
"I have one condition, though," Auren continues. "I want to experience and... examine the entire exam myself. At least the early phases. I'll head there myself, together with Vanessa and Neffi. We'll be disguising ourselves, of course."
"... I can't have you intervene in someone else's exams!" Netero argues, clearly annoyed. "The examiners have absolute authority. Even I can't simply intervene, except in rare circumstances. The last time that had to be done was decades ago."
"As I said... we'll just be anonymous candidates," Auren assures him. "No intervention needed."
"Auren..." Netero says, staring him directly in the eyes. "Were you hired... by a certain rat to accomplish something specific during the exam?"
"Yes, but I've already more or less rejected that task," Auren says, meeting his gaze head-on. "I've simply been asked to hunt down and get rid of a psychotic mass murderer who likes to dress up as a jester. As I said... I have not accepted the task, but I still think I need to intervene."
"Why?" Netero simply asks.
"I believe just having one examiner with the candidates and the other Hunters merely spectating from a safe distance away could lead to the examiner getting killed... along with all of the candidates. Or is this Satotz guy capable of dealing with a madman like him?"
"..." Netero grows silent. A few seconds pass... his silence showing no sign of stopping. Finally, after almost half a minute, he speaks up. "No assassination of candidates... even though I see the risks, he hasn't done anything against the rules. After the exam... you can do as you please, as long as you don't involve anyone from the Association. However, yes, even I can understand your point."
Looking quite serious now, he continues, now appearing slightly worried himself. "To answer your question from earlier, no, none of the examiners, apart from you, can deal with him, not even if they join up and fight him together. Fine, I am allowing you and your beautiful friends to participate anonymously... just as a precaution! You might as well take a good look at the candidates and evaluate them on the way. I need more information for my task. However... I don't want you to interfere blatantly. You are there to stop more examiners from getting killed and the exam ending in failure. Nothing else!"
"Acceptable," Auren states.
Though in the end... I'll do what I think is right... and what furthers my own goals. If my behavior has caused some sort of change, I need to be there myself to make sure the exam turns out the way I want.
"Good," Netero states. "Let's spar... after the exam. Let's make it a serious one... with stakes."
Auren shrugs. "I don't like hearing about stakes, but sure... I'll gladly beat some sense into you, old man... if I have time to waste that is."
"Hoho, you seem confident... sadly, I can't tell at all if you have improved or not. At least, judging from your two lovely companions, you seem to have grown a lot. I'll get to see how much in person soon, so I'll leave it at that."
"Hm?" Neffi wonders, looking at Auren. "Why can't he see through you?"
"He's pretending to be a non-Nen user," Netero states. "Simply put, he's controlling his Aura Nodes, closing them almost fully, leaving just enough Aura to leak out, so it doesn't count as Zetsu. However, the way he's doing it is quite different from that of Amateur Nen users. He's carefully controlling his leaked Aura, so people can't guess anything about his capabilities. Even I can't see through him like that. He looks like a normal arrogant brat... not like a Nen user."
"Another new high-level Nen technique," Neffi mutters. "Awesome."
"It's nothing like that," Auren states. "Anyone can do this. I'll teach you on the way to the exam; you'll need it to appear like an average candidate."
"Another new technique? What about the other one?" Netero asks, raising an eyebrow.
Auren just shrugs and turns around, but Netero grabs his shoulder. "On second thought... I don't think you should join anonymously."
"..."
Damn old man.
Auren briefly demonstrates Enken, creating a relatively small Aura sphere around himself and the others.
"I call it Enken," he says calmly, before adding, "It doesn't take a genius to figure out why."
Looking deeply impressed, Netero sits on the floor and meditates inside Auren's Aura, sensing the type of Aura he is creating. He then opens his eyes and uses Gyo, carefully studying Auren, his eyes visibly widening as he stares at Vanessa and Neffi.
Standing up, he tries to replicate it, but only ends up with a standard En, which gets cut off when it connects with Auren's Enken, Auren's Enken acting like a mysterious force and pushing it back, shocking him even more.
"I see... now that is impressive... a technique to block En... not only that, the Aura is dense and powerful enough that I can't sense or see through these two lovely ladies, despite their strong Ten I saw just moments ago. It acts like a force field, completely obscuring anyone inside it from view. It effectively blocks and counters both En and Gyo...." Netero reasons slowly, completely focused.
Finally, after a few more minutes, and Auren pointing out a couple of mistakes and misconceptions Netero manages to succeed, his En looking similar to Auren's Enken. However, it still loses against Auren's technique, his Aura sphere unable to penetrate Auren's and getting pushed back.
"I need some practice, it seems, but I more or less figured out the concept. An ingenious technique, I must say," Netero admits.
"Say... would you let me share that with a few of my chosen students and acquaintances? I vouch for every last one of them, and I'll make them take an oath not to spread it without permission," Netero asks. "I sincerely plead that you allow me to. You will keep the entire credit. This must become a legacy of the Shingen-Ryu. As the master and head, I am asking you sincerely to share your wisdom."
He then surprises Auren and the girls by genuinely lowering his head in front of Auren.
What is he doing?!
"... Fine, it's not like this is something secret," Auren says, unable to decline such a sincere request.
"You are the second youngster... who has been able to come up with a genuine new Advanced Nen Technique... to qualify, a technique can't be a Hatsu, nor a simple application of Nen, and it must be unquestionably useful. Your technique... Enken certainly qualifies."
"Are you... talking about Ging?" Auren wonders.
"No, though who knows? He probably succeeded as well, but he would never share or announce that fact. I am talking about... someone else. I guess I have failed him..." Netero mutters, his face looking solemn. "I am actively working for the people who have destroyed and utterly crushed his dream... and even in the future, I'll continue to destroy his hopes.... It doesn't matter!"
Is he... talking about... Beyond?
He then looks at Vanessa and smiles. "Since your student here became a Single-Star Hunter, how can you not qualify as well?"
"Huh?" Auren wonders.
"I'll meet you during the later parts of the exam... the next time we meet, I'll hand you your new license... Double-Star Hunter Auren," Netero says, genuinely smiling.
"Is... that such a big deal?" Auren wonders. "This technique seems logical... sure, it's hard and tricky to figure out, but it relies on two Advanced Techniques and simply combines them. This is something almost anyone can come up with."
"No. Combining two Advanced Techniques is incredible, almost impossible! Without your showcase and tips, I couldn't have done it this easily myself." Netero says, appearing almost completely out of character. "Trust me, Auren, this technique will make you famous... for a long time. There is a good reason that we only have a small number of Advanced Techniques and Nen training methods. It's very difficult to come up with genuinely useful ones. This one qualifies. It's not even close. I acknowledge it! Congratulations on your promotion. Nobody will doubt you once I announce it. In fact, if anyone else complains and wants that promotion too, they just have to fulfill the criteria and come up with a similar technique, and I'll immediately promote them. You'll see... it will never happen."
"I see," Auren states.
"You can go," Netero says, waving him away. "I need to actually schedule a meeting with the Zodiacs... this is a big surprise, Auren. Perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps you are also a genuine Nen Prodigy, not just a maniac like me... this is a little worrying... I wonder..."
Deep in thought, Netero turns around and keeps mumbling to himself.
What is he worried about?!
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