After Leo finished speaking, he looked at Chairman Netero with eyes full of anticipation.
In those eyes burned a pure, undisguised Battle Intent.
Netero stroked his snow-white beard, an interested smile appearing on his face.
"Not bad, not bad."
He nodded.
"Having ambition is a good thing. How about this, give me a promise, and I'll give you a chance."
"No problem!"
Leo answered categorically, without even a second of hesitation.
"Any requirement is fine!"
A hint of cunning flashed in Netero's eyes.
"Oh? What if I want you to join the Zodiacs?"
"Sure!"
Leo's answer was still crisp and neat.
Menchi gasped on the side.
Joining the Zodiacs?
That was a glory countless Hunters dreamed of!
Leo actually agreed so readily?
But Netero waved his hand, the smile on his face becoming even more meaningful.
"Hmm—this old man will keep this request for now and come to you when I need it."
Leo nodded, a confident smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"No problem. However, I believe the Chairman will soon make use of this promise."
Netero narrowed his eyes, sizing Leo up with interest.
Interesting. Very interesting.
That girl Biscuit has finally taken on a good apprentice.
Not the kind of fool who only knows how to train blindly, but a clever person who truly knows how to think, judge, and seize opportunities.
"I happen to have nothing to do."
Netero stretched, his bones making a slight cracking sound.
"I'll play with you for a bit."
But Leo shook his head.
"Now is not the time."
He looked out the window; through the glass, he could see the distant rolling mountains and winding rivers.
"Once the Airship reaches the venue for the Fourth Test, we'll challenge you on the ground. The space here is too small; I can't go all out."
Netero's eyes lit up slightly.
This young man doesn't just have Battle Intent; he's also very rational.
Knowing he couldn't use his full strength on the cramped Airship, he'd rather wait a while longer.
"Good!"
Netero nodded, an expectant smile appearing on his face.
"This old man agrees!"
He turned and walked away with leisurely steps.
That back looked old and frail, yet it gave off an unfathomable feeling.
Once Netero was far away, Menchi, Satz, and Buhara finally breathed a long sigh of relief.
Menchi stepped forward and slapped Leo's shoulder hard, her face wearing a complex expression mixed with admiration and worry.
"Not bad, I didn't expect you to be so bold! This is the first time in my life I've seen someone dare to challenge the Chairman!"
Buhara stroked his round belly, his honest face full of admiration.
"I admire you! It seems this session of the Hunter Exam will be more exciting than ever!"
Satz's tone was steady but carried a hint of worry.
"Leo, although you are very strong, I don't think challenging the Chairman is a good thing. The Chairman's strength..."
He paused and did not continue.
Leo smiled, his gaze still bright and firm.
"Don't worry, the Chairman won't deal a killing blow. He's actually very much looking forward to someone challenging him."
Menchi sighed and shook her head.
"Forget it, just look out for yourself."
The three chatted for a while longer and then went their separate ways.
Leo returned to his room, lay on the bed with his hands behind his head, and stared at the ceiling.
Outside the window, the setting sun was slowly sinking, dyeing the sky orange-red.
Tomorrow. The venue for the Fourth Test—Trick Tower—and the sparring match with Chairman Netero.
He closed his eyes, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.
He had been looking forward to this battle for a long time.
Early the next morning.
Sunlight pierced through the clouds, spilling onto the massive Trick Tower.
This giant tower, suspended alone atop a massive rock pillar, glinted with a cold, hard luster in the morning light.
The wind howled high in the sky, freezing and bone-chilling.
The Airship landed smoothly on the platform at the top of the tower.
Twenty-seven Examinees walked out of the Airship one after another, standing on the empty tower top.
Some looked up at the sky, some looked down into the bottomless depths, some clenched their fists nervously, and some waited calmly.
Gon stood at the front of the crowd, his eyes shining as he looked at the giant tower.
"It's so high!"
Killua had his hands in his pockets and curled his lip disdainfully.
"It's alright."
Leorio's forehead was covered in cold sweat.
"If... if we fall from here..."
Kurapika carefully observed the surroundings.
At this moment, an Examinee looked at the bottomless cliff below the tower and the tower walls with no footholds, raising a question.
"There's nothing here? Where's the examiner?"
The Airship's broadcast rang out.
"Examinees, this is the top of what is known as 'Trick Tower,' and it is also the starting point for the Fourth Test."
"The examiner asked me to tell you: the content of this test is—reach the ground alive! The time limit is seventy-two hours!"
Meanwhile, inside a dim room within Trick Tower filled with surveillance screens.
"Hee hee, it's finally our turn!"
Lippo, an examiner with a mohawk and glasses, was letting out an excited laugh.
The Airship slowly ascended, and the broadcast rang out one last time.
"Well then, the Fourth Test begins now! Please do your best!"
On the tower top, the Examinees looked at each other.
Someone peered over the edge at the smooth, steep rock walls below.
"This... there isn't even a window! How are we supposed to get down? Jumping down is suicide."
"For you, perhaps."
Examinee No. 86, a lean man, walked out with a confident smile.
"But for a top-class climber like me, this is a piece of cake!"
"Goodbye, I will be the first one to pass!"
He loosened up his limbs and walked to the edge.
He climbed down the vertical tower wall, his movements swift and steady.
However, just then, a heart-palpitating 'quack-quack' screeching sound approached from the distance!
A group of hideous monsters with huge wingspans flew from the horizon, diving straight for the climbing Examinee!
"Ahhh—!!"
The shrill scream was instantly drowned out by the sound of tearing.
Before everyone's horrified eyes, the group of flying monsters took only a few seconds to tear that 'top-class climber' to shreds.
Seeing that the outer wall was not an option, the remaining Examinees scattered across the tower top to search.
Meanwhile, Nico and Kastro stood on the tower top, their gazes simultaneously turning toward the distance—the Airship was slowly landing on a flat grassland.
On the grassland.
The Airship landed steadily on the ground.
The hatch opened, and Leo and Netero stepped out one after the other onto the open grass.
Menchi, Buhara, and Satz followed off the Airship, standing on a piece of high ground a hundred meters away, watching quietly.
"It's so rare to see the Chairman take action!"
Menchi lowered her voice, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Buhara nodded, the fat on his face trembling slightly.
"That's right. After all, the Chairman is too strong; no one has dared to challenge him for so many years. Leo is the first."
He paused and scratched his head.
"I don't know if he's lucky or unlucky..."
Satz's gaze was deep, his tone carrying a hint of gravity.
"It's said that the Chairman hasn't taken action in thirty years. We are very lucky to see it with our own eyes."
The three stopped talking, simply watching the two figures in the distance in silence.