The early morning in Kalulu City carried the characteristic humid scent of a coastal city.
The morning breeze brushed against his face, mixed with the briny smell of the distant harbor and the aroma of food wafting from breakfast stalls.
Leo arrived at the Hunter Exam location a day early by airship. He planned to wander around first while waiting for tomorrow's exam to begin.
There weren't many pedestrians on the streets, but some hurried figures were already visible—carrying various types of equipment, their eyes wary, and their steps swift.
Hunter Exam Examinees.
Leo bought a local specialty seafood pancake from a stall and strolled along Liyoupi Street while eating.
Tall buildings lined both sides of the street, their glass curtain walls reflecting the morning light. Modern architecture was occasionally interspersed with a few old-fashioned brick and stone houses, creating a unique style where the new and old blended together.
The Tonkotsu Ichiban Ramen Shop was sandwiched between two office buildings.
The storefront wasn't large; the wooden sign had faded somewhat, and the door curtain was washed to a pale white.
It wasn't business hours yet, and the rolling shutter door was half-closed.
Leo took a look from the street corner opposite, noted the location, and turned to walk toward the harbor.
Kalulu City is an important port on the eastern coast of the Urubian Continent, with the docks filled with cargo ships and fishing boats.
Leo spent the entire morning wandering the market, tasting grilled conch, fried fish cakes, and shell soup stewed with local spices.
The food tasted good, but he was mostly observing—observing the city and those who might also be Examinees.
A burly man over two meters tall, with muscles bulging like rocks, swallowed a bowl of noodles along with the soup in one gulp.
A young girl dressed in ethnic clothing with small pouches hanging from her waist; the food her fingers touched would slightly change color.
There was also a youth wearing headphones whose toes barely touched the ground as he walked, moving without a sound.
At dusk, he returned to the inn.
The room was simple and clean. From the window, he could see the night view of Kalulu City—the harbor lighthouse flashed regularly, and neon lights lit up one by one.
Leo sat cross-legged on the bed, performing his daily Nen Ability cultivation.
The night passed in silence.
The next day, 9:00 AM.
The Tonkotsu Ichiban Ramen Shop was already open for business, with a few scattered customers sitting inside.
Leo pushed open the glass door, and the wind chime made a crisp sound.
The interior decoration was simple, with wooden tables and chairs and yellowed menus posted on the walls.
"Welcome."
The receptionist behind the counter was a middle-aged man around forty years old, wearing a white apron and a standard smile.
"What would you like to order?"
"One special tonkotsu ramen," Leo said.
Leo said.
"Are there any special requirements?"
"I don't eat beef, and add extra green onions."
A flash of almost imperceptible understanding crossed the receptionist's eyes.
He nodded and stepped out from behind the counter.
"Alright, please follow me."
He led Leo through a narrow passage and pushed open the door to the back kitchen.
Steam billowed in the kitchen, and two chefs were busy, ignoring the people who entered.
At the very back, there was an inconspicuous metal door that looked like a storage room.
The receptionist pressed a button on the wall, and the metal door slid open to one side, revealing the space inside—an old-fashioned elevator with mottled steel plates on the cabin walls.
"Don't move around once you're inside," the receptionist instructed.
the receptionist instructed.
Leo stepped into the elevator. The door slowly closed; there were no floor buttons, only an upward arrow indicator light that turned on.
The elevator began to rise at a slow pace, and the creaking sound of the cables and pulleys rubbing together could be heard.
About twenty seconds later, with a "ding," the elevator stopped.
The doors slid open to both sides. A cacophony of noise flooded into the cabin like a physical substance.
Before him was a massive indoor space, appearing as if an entire floor of an office building had been gutted and renovated.
The ceiling was over ten meters high, and the area was as large as two basketball courts.
At this moment, quite a few people had already gathered here—men and women, old and young, dressed in various outfits. Some stood alone in corners, while others gathered in small groups, talking in low voices.
The moment Leo stepped out of the elevator, dozens of people near the entrance turned their heads in unison to look over.
The noise paused eerily for a beat, and hundreds of gazes focused on him—scrutinizing, curious, wary, and some carrying hostility.
Leo remained expressionless and walked straight toward an empty wall on the left, stopping at a corner. He leaned against the wall with his hands in his pockets.
This position offered a wide field of vision, allowing him to see the entire hall clearly, and with a solid wall behind him, he had no worries about his back.
The Examinees watched him for a few seconds, and finding he was just a seemingly ordinary young man, they lost interest and returned to their respective conversations and preparations.
The hall became noisy once again.
Leo's gaze swept across the room.
The number of Examinees in this session was quite large.
He saw several "acquaintances" in the crowd.
The muscular man was sitting on the floor in the center of the hall, doing one-handed push-ups, each movement making the ground vibrate slightly.
The girl in ethnic clothing was squatting in a corner, fiddling with the small pouches at her waist.
The youth with headphones leaned against the wall on the other side, his eyes closed as if listening to music.
And... a short, ordinary-looking middle-aged man.
With an overly enthusiastic smile on his face, he was weaving through several Examinees who looked like rookies, handing out drinks and saying something.
Tonpa. The Rookie Crusher.
Leo withdrew his gaze and paid no more attention.
A few minutes later, a short figure wearing a suit and a bean-shaped head mask squeezed through the crowd and walked toward Leo.
"Please take this."
Satotz handed over a number plate—a white card with black numbers.
"Number 321, this is your number plate."
"Thank you."
Leo took it and pinned it to his chest.
Satotz nodded and, without further words, turned to walk toward the next newly arrived Examinee.
Time passed.
The elevator brought up a new batch of Examinees every few minutes, and the hall became increasingly crowded.
The atmosphere gradually grew tense, and an invisible pressure permeated the air.
Some Examinees began to warm up their bodies, some checked their equipment, and others deliberately displayed their abilities—for example, that muscular man had already lifted a heavy metal trash can nearby.
"Hello."
A voice sounded beside Leo.
Tonpa had approached at some point, wearing that signature, overly friendly smile on his face.
"My name is Tonpa. You must be a rookie, right? I'm an old-timer who's taken the Hunter Exam 33 times! If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask me."
He held out his hand, holding a can of juice.
"Here, have a drink, don't be nervous."
Leo didn't even look at him, his gaze still fixed straight ahead.
Tonpa's smile stiffened for a moment but quickly recovered.
"I mean no harm, I just want to make a friend. The Hunter Exam is very dangerous; it's always good to have someone to watch your back..."
"Beat it."
Leo spat out a single word, his voice not loud but extremely cold.
The smile on Tonpa's face completely vanished.
He stared at Leo for two seconds, fine cold sweat breaking out on his forehead—a biological instinctual response to danger.
Although Leo hadn't released any Nen pressure, the aura settled from countless life-and-death battles made a character like Tonpa, who specialized in bullying rookies, feel a physical threat.
"Fine..."
Tonpa stepped back two paces and forced a strained smile.
"I wish you success in passing the Hunter Exam."
He turned and quickly disappeared into the crowd.
Leo glanced at his back and paid him no more mind.
Exactly twelve o'clock noon.
"Ding—"
A crisp bell rang from the front of the hall. The sound wasn't loud, yet it strangely suppressed all the noise and reached everyone's ears clearly.
The crowd automatically parted to form a path.
A man wearing a white trench coat and a white wide-brimmed hat stepped out slowly.
He wasn't tall, about 1.7 meters, but his steps were steady. The hem of his trench coat swayed with his movements, revealing the dark combat suit underneath.
He stopped at the very front of the hall and turned to face all the Examinees.
"The registration period has ended."
His voice was loud and full of vigor.
"The Hunter Exam officially begins! There are a total of 754 participants!"
The man took off his hat, revealing neatly styled hair and a face with sharp features. His gaze was as sharp as an eagle's.
"I am the examiner for the first phase—Bucidola!"
Leo's eyebrows twitched slightly.
Bucidola.
He had an impression of this name—he appeared in the Election Arc of the original work as a member of the Hunter Association's Disciplinary Committee, shouting about restoring the glory of the 'Seirin Group' before being easily dealt with by Hisoka. His role was pitifully small.
"The content of the first phase is as follows."
Bucidola's voice echoed in the hall, every word clearly audible.
"Please knock down the people beside you and take the number plates from their bodies."
He raised his hand and pointed to the number plates on the Examinees' chests.
"Your own number plate is worth one point, and each of the other people's number plates is also worth one point. Successfully collect three number plates—that is, obtain three points—and you will advance."
Bucidola pointed to the ceiling.
"I will be waiting for you on the rooftop. The time limit is two hours."
His gaze swept over the entire venue, his eyes cold and hard.
"Please note—the exam officially begins once I step into the elevator and the doors close. Now, the countdown begins."
The hall fell into a dead silence.
The whispers, conversations, and sounds of movement that had existed just moments ago all vanished.
The 754 Examinees all tensed their nerves in an instant.
Gazes began to shift, locking onto targets, calculating distances, and assessing threats.
Leo remained leaning against the wall.
Bucidola walked toward the elevator at a leisurely pace.
He pressed the button, and the elevator doors slid open.
He stepped inside, turned around, and faced the hall.
The doors slowly closed. In the final instant before the gap completely shut— "Begin."
Bucidola's voice squeezed out from the gap in the doors.
Then, the elevator's upward indicator light turned on.
The hall was instantly filled with roars, bellows, impacts, and screams—all sounds erupted in an instant, mixing into a deafening clamor!
The people closest to the elevator were the first to rush at those beside them!
Fists, kicks, weapons—various attacks exploded within the crowd!
One Examinee was slammed heavily against the wall and fell unconscious.
The attacker quickly tore off his number plate and turned to pounce on the next target.