Chapter 6: The Bonus Trial
The 43 candidates who had passed the first two tests were now in the airship which had taken them back after their test on the Split Mountain. They were facing the old man who apparently had an important place in the Hunters' society, next to the old man was the little green guy who had given them their badges at the start of the exam.
"Good, still sorry for the inconvenience during the second test." The old man said humbly, scratching his cheek. "I wasn't supposed to run until the last race, but my name is Netero and I'm the chairman of the Hunters. "
"As for me, I am his secretary Bean, delighted." The little green fellow said.
The candidates were rather surprised that the old man in front of them was so important, no wonder Menchi looked sheepish before him.
"I let you rest, we will drop you off at the site of the third test tomorrow morning around 8 am. " Netero said calmly
As the candidates dispersed, Gon and Killua pulled a little on the Gohan dogi bracelet.
"Oï, we can train a little bit now, right?" Killua asked who was starting to be more than eager to learn to fly.
"I'm a little tired, if you don't mind, I'm going to eat something and go to bed. The training will be tomorrow morning before the start of the third round." The half-saiyan replied, rubbing his eyes a little.
His two friends and students were a little disappointed but did not protest, they only had to get up early for more training. While Leolio and Kurapika were going to find a place to sleep, the three pre-teens were looking for a place to eat.
Meanwhile in another piece of the airship, the three judges of the first two tests, Satotsu, Menchi and Buhahra ate and discussed the candidates.
"This year's selection is really exceptional, it amazes me," Satotsu said in a rather complimentary tone. "The rookies are particularly gifted this year. Among these rookies is there one that particularly impressed you? "
"I find the number 294 particularly balanced and what is more, he is quite a handsome kid." Menchi replied in a tone that was not entirely impartial.
"Personally, it's number 99 that I find really talented for his age." Satotsu replied.
"He has an arrogant air which annoys me a little, but it is true that he is doing quite well." Menchi replied with an air of approval and irony "And you Buhahra, what rookie do you find amazing? "
"Well, you have not talked about it, but I think it is obvious, right? The number 406 stands out clearly." The huge judge replied.
"Yes indeed, and he is far from having revealed all his abilities, I wonder what his real level is." Satotsu replied thoughtfully.
(A little later, Always on board the airship)
Gohan, Gon and Killua had stood by a window to look at the horizon while eating the legs they had mown in the kitchen.
"You're lucky, your families don't seem particularly bizarre." Killua said after a while.
This sentence surprised Gon and Gohan, who both had quite special family histories.
"I'll tell you cash, all of my family members are murderers." Killua said in a slightly depressed tone "And as it is a tradition, they all put me under mad pressure to take over the family business."
'If he is telling the truth, and that is what I think, it is true that it is special as a family situation.' Gohan thought, looking at the boy with the silver hair.
"She's not really commonplace, your family, Killua." Gon said directly.
"Uh, do you believe me?" Killua asked looking at his two friends with big eyes before Gon and Gohan nodded yes. "You're the first to take me seriously right away, usually you don't know when I'm lying or when I'm telling the truth and I thought it was my charm."
"Well, I think Gon and I both have a special family situation. "Gohan replied with a sympathetic tone" But, I admit that a murderer's family, I never saw that. "
"It is true, but I do not want that kind of legacy. When I said to them "It is my life, it's me who decides. "I thought my mother was having a hysteria attack because she was screaming and panicking. Well done parents, I almost went wrong." Killua said in a more jaded tone than anything. "That evening I was so pissed off that I stabbed my mother and one of my brothers before I ran away. They do not have to be in shock yet. "
"Okay, if you want to keep chatting, I'll leave you two, I'm going to bed, I'm pretty tired." Gohan said, yawning and then walking away from his two friends.
"See you tomorrow Gohan!" Gon shouted at him before Gohan waved without even turning around as he was tired.
A few minutes later, the two young candidates were surprised by President Nétéro who arrived from their right side when at the base he seemed to be on their left side.
"From what I've been told, you two are doing pretty well." The old man said in front of the two young boys who wondered if they had really seen Nétéro moving at an extremely high speed. "From what I know, this is your first Hunter exam right? Are the tests to your liking? "
"Yes, I expected written tests or intelligence stuff. But now the tests amuse me a lot although they are a little easy." Gon replied who no longer distrusted the old man at all.
"I agree with Gon on this point, the tests are far too simple, I was hoping for more trying tests. " Killua added in his usual jaded tone" Can we have a little fun in the next events? "
" Who knows?" Netero replied absently with a slightly detached air. "Anyway, I was looking for playmates, do you like it?" "
"What interest would we have in playing with you, old man?" Killua asked slightly irritated.
"Well, if you win, I give you the title of Hunter, does that sound fair to you?" Retorted the chairman of the Hunters.
The two pre-teens pondered for a moment about the implications of what they had just heard, they had nothing to lose in this bonus test. And without other words they followed Nétéro.
(A few minutes later)
Gon and Killua had followed Nétéro to a round room which could be reminiscent of a training room. The President was now in Marcel so that he could move more easily.
"Well, the goal of the game for you two is simple. You just must catch that ball." Netero said, pointing to the ball he had in hand. "For my part, I will not reply. You have until the airship lands, so you have about nine hours in front of you."
"Should we just catch the ball?" Killua asked who was surprised by the simplicity of the test.
" Yes that's it." The old man replied in a very jovial tone.
"In this case, I start." The young assassin concludes.
And with these words Killua began to walk slowly along the wall of the room. Gon who was watching him seemed rather surprised to start seeing several Killua appear and form a circle in the center of which was Nétéro.
'Oh I see, he uses the Obscure Steps.' Thought Netero, looking at the circle that surrounded 'him playing with the rhythm of their steps, some assassins manage to create residual images of themselves. It is impressive that such a young boy has mastered this technique. '
After a short while, Killua, who thought he had detected an opening, ran to Netero, who skillfully dodged every attempt by the young assassin to catch the ball.
"Damn it, he's clever, he's not his age." Killua thought, looking at the old man in front of him before loading Nero again. "In that case, let's start by immobilizing him."
And with these thoughts, Killua kicked Netero's right leg ankle, which he leaned on before jumping in pain holding the leg he had attacked with.
'He put a lot of force into this kick, and an ordinary person would have broken his foot on my leg.'
"Killua, it is my turn to replace you." Gon said to his friend.
"Ok," Killua limped back to where Gon was.
'Well, what is going to get me that one?' Netero wondered, watching the boy in green. 'I seem to be rather direct as a boy.'
Gon immediately charged Netero head on, rushing at full speed.
'That's what I was thinking, but it's naïve to think that he can have me head on.' The old man thought before Gon jumped up when he wasn't expecting it.
He didn't really have to worry, however, because Gon banged his head on the ceiling and fell back behind Netero, holding his head in pain.
"Idiot, we understood that you knew how to jump but dose your strength!" Killua shouted to his friend from a corner of the room "Besides, the old man had lowered his guard."
'I'm not making you say it,' Netero replied in thought, realizing that he could have lost this little game if Gon hadn't blundered.
Gon, meanwhile, got up and walked along the wall waiting for an opening.
'No matter how bad he is, he thinks a lot about what he's doing.' Netero thought looking at the young boy. 'I feel like I'm not going to be bored by tomorrow morning.'
(3 and a half hours later)
Gon and Killua had been taking turns every five minutes for several hours now, and neither of them was able to get Netero into trouble.
"What if you both tried to do it at the same time?" Netero asked with a sadistic air after avoiding yet another Killua attempt.
"Dirty old man!" Killua cried who was getting more and more frustrated.
"All right, let's go." Gon said, joining his friend.
But even as a couple, Netero had no trouble defeating each action of the two boys.
'It's crazy, Netero-san isn't even out of breath.' Gon thought, attacking Netero head on.
"You start to repeat yourself little." Netero Said.
But Gon, this time, threw his shoe towards Netero who, surprised, could not dodge this attack which was followed by a violent kick in the back on the part of Killua.
" I got it!" Killua shouted as he got ready to grab the ball.
"Ah well, do you think?" Nétéro retorted by doing a front somersault to straighten up while sending the ball a little further.
But as Netero was about to retrieve the ball, Gon threw his second shoe on the ball to send it in another direction.
"Bands of dirty kids!" Netero Shouted annoyed.
"That's it, we have it!" The two young candidates shouted before Netero sprinted and caught the ball again before the bewildered eyes of Gon and Killua.
"Well, it didn't go far this time." Netero said, sighing slightly and getting back into position.
"Wow ... that's amazing, Mister Netero!" Gon said impressed by the performance of the old man while Killua looked at the mark in the ground that Nétéro had left while taking support for his sprint.
"It's good, I quit, I don't play anymore, I lost!" Killua said flatly.
'Here? Does he stop?' Wondered Netero, looking at the young boy.
"Why are you stopping now Killua? We almost caught him there." Asked Gon, who didn't understand his friend.
"Didn't you notice Gon? This old man almost never uses his right hand or his left leg, he retains himself thoroughly." Answered Killua who had arrived at the door of the room.
"Huh? Really?" Asked Gon surprised by the revelation.
"Oh, am I unmasked?" Realized Nero.
"I hadn't noticed anything." Said Gon as he turned to the chairman of the Hunters.
"More soulful than this old man, there is not in my opinion." Said Killua, walking away "Are you coming Gon? "
"No, I'm going to stay a little longer. Gon replied candidly.
"Huh? Do you know that you have no chance of catching the ball?!" Said Killua, who was torn between astonishment and annoyance.
"I know but I want to try to force him to use his right hand." Replied Gon.
" Is that so? In this case do as you wish." Said Killua, walking away as Gon and Netero resumed play.
(A few hours later)
When Gohan woke up he looked at the clock in the room where he slept with Kurapika and Leolio, it was around 5:30 in the morning, so he had more than 2 hours of free time in front of him.
He decided to explore the ship until he realized that there were Gon and Netero's ki in the same room and that Gon's ki was rather weak.
As he entered the room, he saw Gon sleeping in a corner and old Hunter who had just hung up his phone.
"Well good morning boy." Declared the president courteously.
"Good morning Netero-san, what happened here?" Asked the half-saiyan.
"Oh, well, your friend and I had just finished a little game that I won." Said the president in a very candid voice "Besides, would you be interested in a game too? "
"Oh uh, it depends on the game." Gohan replied, scratching the back of his head like his father would do when he was embarrassed.
"Well, I think the game that I put Gon on may be a little too easy for you. Therefore, I offer you a martial art duel, are you okay? And if you win, I'll award you the title of Hunter." Continued Netero.
Gohan weighed the pros and cons of the case before answering briefly, "Okay. "
How could I have struggled so much on this chapter when I saw the corresponding episode during its writing, twice?! Well it's over, that's the main thing, and I hope the next chapter will give me less worry. Constructive reviews and opinions are always welcome.
SkylerHollow: I'm the first to appreciate that a chapter on the method how our heroes will pass the trick on tricks, we are not there yet, you will see when the time is right (I still not want to spoil my own story anyway: 'D).