Anita's attitude was something Killua had long since grown used to. It didn't stir any particular emotion in him. Of course, what needed to be said still had to be said—otherwise, what was the point of only one person knowing the truth?
"That's a refined crystal of Rasha Mountain ore, isn't it?" Killua said.
"Rasha Mountain ore?" Gon asked, puzzled.
"It's something that can make people addicted with just a tiny amount—leave them wishing they were dead," Lu said. "This refined form is especially dangerous."
"You're lying!" Anita's expression twisted. She refused to believe it.
"This processed Rasha Mountain ore is addictive," Killua said calmly. "Once someone tastes it even once, it eventually drives them to ruin."
Kurapika clearly knew about it as well. "I've heard of many people who went bankrupt just to buy it."
Leorio, having spent time in the streets, also knew of its reputation.
"You're all lying! You're lying to me!" Anita shouted, unwilling to accept the truth.
"It's a fact," Chairman Netero said, shattering the last of her hope.
"You really didn't know?" Killua asked.
"My father was a kind and gentle man… The people around him were always smiling," Anita said. Then she realized what that meant, and tears began to stream down her face.
"In truth, your happiness was built on the misfortune of others," Killua said bluntly. "That's how you were able to live the way you did."
Even so… to her, he was still her irreplaceable father.
"Even so… to me, he was still my irreplaceable dad." Anita could not abandon her hatred so easily.
"Anita, come back next year and take the Hunter Exam again," Gon suggested earnestly. "And I sincerely hope you really become a Blacklist Hunter."
Sobbing, Anita was finally led away by Chairman Netero.
"Killua, you didn't kill her father, did you?" Gon asked quietly. "It wasn't you."
"Either one of my brothers or my mom did," Killua replied evenly. "Whoever it was, it was the Zoldyck family's business. It doesn't matter who carried it out."
"But that's still different…" Gon muttered.
"That's our family trade. I've long since gotten used to people holding grudges against me," Killua said with a casual wave of his hand. "Am I supposed to explain myself to every single one of them? Better to just do what I need to do."
"Killua's right," Lu said. "Some things only become problems if you care about them. If you don't, they're nothing."
"And people's hearts are biased," he continued. "From an outsider's perspective, Anita's father deserved to die. From her perspective, he was a good father. Different viewpoints. There's no need to overthink it."
The fact that Killua could say such things showed that he had already begun to untangle some of the knots in his heart.
"Yeah… Lu's right. Just let things take their course," Leorio added. It was rare for him to say something so composed, but in this case, it suited Killua well.
Even the peanut-shaped secretary, who had been quietly observing Lu ever since Chairman Netero showed unusual interest in him, couldn't help but glance over. To see so clearly at such a young age—impressive.
"But right now, we should probably focus on the upcoming test," Kurapika said, nodding toward the short peanut-headed secretary standing at the front, as if he had something to announce.
"Thank you for your hard work," the secretary said solemnly. "This is the top of Trick Tower, the venue for the third phase of the exam. The rules are simple: all candidates must reach the ground alive. The time limit is seventy-two hours."
His usual comical demeanor was gone. He looked dignified and authoritative.
"The test begins now."
With that, he stepped onto the already-activated airship and departed immediately—decisive and efficient.
The airship roared away, leaving the examinees confused. For a moment, no one stepped forward.
Most gathered into small groups with familiar faces, discussing cautiously.
"Seventy-two hours…" Gon said gravely.
"It takes three days just to get down this tower. There must be all kinds of traps inside," Leorio said cautiously.
"This is definitely harder than the second phase. We can't let our guard down," Kurapika added, sensing something unusual in the time constraint.
"It's fine. I'm sure we'll manage," Lu said encouragingly.
"At least it sounds fun," Killua said, clearly looking forward to encountering traps and hidden mechanisms.
What the examinees didn't know was that their actions atop Trick Tower were being faithfully monitored by the examiners.
Lu knew they were being watched, but with his current abilities, he couldn't detect where the examiners were hiding or how they were observing them.
"Beep, beep, beep."
"The test has begun."
The chicken-haired examiner bit into a cookie while rapidly pressing buttons. Screens flickered on one by one, each displaying different candidates.
"So what do we do?" Gon looked around. From the surface, this appeared to be nothing more than the flat rooftop of a very tall tower—too empty, in fact. There was nothing there.
"There aren't any windows along the tower walls," Kurapika observed.
"Yeah, just solid walls. Jumping from here would be suicide," Leorio said, peering over the edge. From top to bottom, the tower's outer wall was smooth and seamless, offering no footholds whatsoever.
The tower was cylindrical and soared into the clouds. Instead of a pointed top, it had a wide, flat surface like an enormous plaza. Built from massive stone blocks, the exterior offered no way to descend.
"There's no way the answer is that simple," Lu said. "That wouldn't fit the pattern of the Hunter Exam."
Where there were people, there was conflict. Plenty disliked Lu and his group, and some weren't shy about showing it.
"Tch. For ordinary people, sure, that would be suicide," said a muscular man in blue shorts and a tank top as he approached them.
He looked at Lu's group with disdain. "But for a first-rate climbing expert, as long as there are cracks in the wall, clearing this stage wouldn't be hard at all."
And just like that, he activated climbing mode without hesitation—perfectly in character for the situation.