I know you already know this but then again, Hunter X Hunter is not mine. This wonderful anime story is owned by Yoshihiro Togashi

CHAPTER 4: THE SITE

Well, Zaban City is a busy city. Every street is bustling with tourists, customers, or maybe scammers waiting for their poor victims. Stands almost filled up every corner of the streets and things they sell line up ranging from antiques, and pieces of jewelry to food.

Gon, Leorio, Kurapika, and Sam just arrived in the city aided by the Kiriko Navigator. Together they walked the crowdy street, with the Kiriko in front.

The boy was in high spirits as he looked around every stall he finds, dragging Sam along too. He would tell her what those products are, what it looks like, etc, which she finds a bit nice. Because of Gon, Sam was able to relate and enjoy their stall hopping, until Leorio called them over.

"I believe..." The Kiriko stopped. "that is the building." He pointed to a building in front, never leaving his eyes on a piece of paper.

Three pairs of eyes looked forward, each bearing different feelings as they witnessed the building.

"Wow!" Gon said with amazement. "It's so tall! They have a nice building!" His smile grew wider as he traced his eyes up at the tall building.

Leorio made a few steps before taking a good view of it. "So, this is the exam site..."

"This is what draws Hunter applicants from across the world." Kurapika followed.

But it all disappeared as the Kiriko points to the small building next to him, notifying it was the wrong building they were gawking at. They paused for a few seconds before three boys spoke in unison. "We only see a normal restaurant."

"This isn't funny. You can't possibly mean that the Hunter Applicants around the world are assembled here?" Leorio asked, staring incredulously at the navigator.

Sam gave a dismissive wave of her hand. "I don't know what's so disappointing over a normal restaurant but there must be reason behind this." Honestly, these boys, she didn't even complain that all she sees is pitch black. What's wrong with making a boring restaurant the exam site?

"You're right. No one would ever expect the Hunter Exam, with its millions of candidates to be located here, right?" Kiriko clarified.

All four of them gave a quick nod. What he said is reasonable enough. It would be so easy to locate it if that was the case, not to mention people will surely do anything to watch them kick each other's butt. That would be so uncool.

The smell of food welcomed them as they entered the place. The aroma was so good and welcoming that Sam can't help her stomach grumble.

When was the last time she had good food? That was maybe before leaving her country, and she ate nothing but apples, apples, and APPLES.

The chef greeted them while roasting something at the cooking station. Kiriko asked for an available room at the back.

The chef got what he meant and let them proceed to the backroom before going back to his work. Their guide started to walk again, followed by the group. As they reached the said room, Kiriko opened the door, and lead them inside, revealing a room with a circular table at the center.

His instruction was to wait there.

Leorio was the first to look around. "Where could be the others?"

"I can't wait for the steak combo," Gon said expectantly, as he made himself at home and sat down at one of the chairs.

"No, Gon. This is just a secret place reserved for examiners" Kurapika pointed out.

"What we don't get to eat?"

Sam sighed. "All that smell made me crave so bad." She patted her belly, "Sorry stomach. Mommy's going to feed you later." She cooed.

They looked at her oddly and the girl just shrugged and found a chair to sit down, muttering about her mind's not working well when hungry.

Navigator finally cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "One in every ten thousand..." He started. "The number of applicants who make it this far. You've done extremely well for first-timers. I would be very happy to serve you as your Navigators next year as well."

Sam scowled at this. If ever she will fail this year's exam, she would never EVER want the Kirikos to be her navigators again.

"Well, good luck." He said.

Gon didn't let the chance slip and thanked him. He held out his hand, his face beaming a bright smile. The man acknowledges it by shaking his hand in return. After that he closed the door, leaving four applicants.

As soon as he left, the entire room shook, and felt it was going down.

It was an elevator.

"How rude..." Leorio muttered angrily, his hands crossed as he sat down. "It's like he expects us to fail this year."

"Do you really think that a rookie would pass that easily? The chances of first-timers are very thin. Maybe some can, but you got to be very skilled or lucky." Sam said.

"Really? What makes you say that?" Gon asked.

She hummed first, "Well, there aren't many Licensed Hunters in my country, though many want to be one. Some of them entered but only passed after many tries or never at all." She then sticks out two fingers. "According to rumors, there are only three who passed as rookies from the place I came from."

"Is the exam that difficult?" Gon asked again.

"Once every three years. That's the probability that a rookie will pass." Kurapika answered. "Some cannot endure the exam's physical and mental strain. It's also not unusual for veterans to break the rookies, who consequently never take the test."

"Is that why candidates are willing to risk everything to become Hunters?"

This cued Leorio to slam the desk so hard that it startled the blind girl. "But of course, my friend!" The man stood up with that greedy expression back on his face. "Hunters make the most money in this world!"

The girl only rolled her eyes. "Well, Gon it's-"

"No!" Kurapika happens to interject. "Hunters are the noblest in this world!" He argued.

From a confused look, Samara's face converted into a bored one.

Leorio and Kurapika gave insults to one another, Kurapika as the glory hog and Leorio the money grubber.

Gon sweat dropped as he looked left and right at his new friends with a 'not so sure' look. Sam on the other hand gave a neutral expression.

"Will you two just lis-"

But Leorio leaned forward to Gon. "Gon, Samara! Listen... Few Hunters are listed as the world's richest people yearly!"

Did Sam forget to mention that Kurapika didn't want to step back from an argument?

"Don't listen to that nonsense! True Hunters work to protect people and the natural order!" He argued.

Leorio slammed the wood once again and leaned over to both younger teens. "Don't listen to him. Thinking like him won't make your lives easier. Being a Hunter means a free pass and no charge to use public facilities. That would be convenient!"

Sam's brow made a twitch and rolled inwards. "But that's just-"

"Hunters have many difficult and important responsibilities, such as preserving cultural artifacts and endangered species as well as capturing wanted criminals and unscrupulous Hunters!"

Leorio fought his idea about fame and money, the sole reason why people wish to become Hunters. Kurapika debated his idea about profound knowledge, a healthy mind and body, and unyielding conviction being the supposed qualities on which Hunters pride themselves with.

At the end of their long argument, they faced and growled at one another before snapping their heads so close to their only audience and yelled, " Samara, Gon, what type of Hunters would you prefer?!"

Gon held up his hands, gesturing for them to calm down. "I don't know what to choose." His voice faltered at his last word. He glanced at Sam, expecting help but her face was completely masked with annoyance.

"Oh, Shut it!" She snapped, immediately stopping the two. "Maybe, I'll just hunt you two down instead?!" The girl huffed.

The room rattled, stopping the heated argument they had seconds ago. The floor stopped descending, followed by a 'ding'.

A door slid open, revealing an underground tunnel with hundreds of candidates flocking the area. And...

'Wow, what a change in atmosphere.' Sam could feel the tension in the air. It was so thick she could just smash it with her fist.

All heads turned around to see and analyze the newcomers. It was a different feeling. These applicants were different from those in the ship and the village. After all, they managed to reach the site, meaning they must be good. Each of them is a master of their field.

Gon stepped forward to greet these people, but they just stared at him or rather them and looked away like they were nothing.

They can't exactly blame them though. Maybe Gon's the only person who's gullible and friendly there.

Sam advised him to ignore them.

A small green creature reached up to them, giving their identification number.

Leorio- #403

Kurapika- #404

Gon- #405

Samara- #406

They gladly accepted it and pinned their number to their chest just like the rest of the applicants.

"Haven't seen you guys around before." A voice echoed through the tunnel, tilting their heads towards a fat, plump guy with a number 16 on his chest. "Yo!"His greetings as he approached the four.

"You can tell we're new?" Gon asked.

He chuckled. "Well, it's my thirty-fifth attempt this year."

Sam's mouth partially opened, clearly astounded by this. That's a lot of determination he piled up. She got to admit, that deserves applause.

"Well, you could say I'm a veteran."

Normally, people decide to give up if that was the case.

Either he badly wants to be a Hunter or he had another modus. Why would a guy like him want to repeat this exam thirty-five times?

And to top of that, why does he seem so approachable? Not that she had problems with approachable people but this guy's friendly aura seems odd, like it feels toxic.

Like honey. Sweet and sticky that it's disgusting.

"That isn't something to brag about, "Leorio said with a hollow look in which Kurapika whispered in agreement.

"Maybe he wants to become a Hunter... badly." Sam pointed out.

The fat guy sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "I've got that a lot." He said.

Just then a scream was heard.

It was from a man frantically sitting on the ground as he looked up at his cut arms slowly becoming flower petals.

Near him was a man with red hair, a red star on his right cheek, and a tear shape on his left. His outfit reminds them of a clown or a joker. The man crossed his arms, a sinister smile etched on his face. "Oh, how peculiar, his arms seem to have become flower petals."

The other man was screaming in pain, calling out for his arms. The red-haired clown spread out his hands wide and seems to enjoy his joke. "Do take care. When you bump into someone, you really should apologize."

Sam asked what was going on.

As Kurapika told, he's someone they shouldn't mess with and it was more than enough to remind her that he could kill anyone in his way. There are only a few things that feared her the most but this guy was clearly on the list.

"The psychopath is back again," Tonpa said nervously. "Number 44, Hisoka the magician. Last year, he had the skill to pass the test until he killed an examiner he didn't like."

"A-and they're still allowing him to retake the exam this year?" Leorio asked in alarm.

"Of course, they're troubled! But every year, the examiners and test content change, and the examiners are the ones who choose the new content." Tonpa explained.

They paled. Sam bit her lower lip and didn't like where their conversation is going. "Is there anyone dangerous as him?"

The fat guy thought for a second before answering, "There are some but not as dangerous as number 44. It's best for you to just focus on staying away from that Hisoka." He advised. "Oh right..." The guy suddenly rummaged something from his sling bag and fished out four cans of juice.

This earned him another raise of an eyebrow from Sam. Why would this guy bring so many cans here? Something's stinky, and it's coming from that guy Tonpa. Was he genuine or there's something else?

"Here take this." Tonpa offered her.

She listened around, finding the boys already accepting their share. The girl reluctantly accepted but still reached for the can.

Why does she have the feeling that this juice is not what it seems?

Tonpa hoped for the best before giving cheers to each and one of them. The boys started to open their cans but Sam still held it dreadfully like a bomb.

SPAT!

Until Gon suddenly spits everything he drank. Her suspicion elevated more.

"What's wrong Gon?" She asked. Oh, and the very funny thing was the way how Tonpa gasped unexpectedly with this.

"The juice tastes funny." Gon declared. "Tonpa-san, this juice must have expired."

The girl ended up smirking. She was right all along. For a few days, Sam learned to trust Gon's senses.

Leorio splurted out his, while Kurapika flowed out the contents without hesitation. "O-Oh. That's strange..."

"What!?" Leorio exclaimed.

She finally can see through this goody act. Thanks to Gon.

This man is one of the candidates who want to mess up rookies. No wonder he's been repeating for the 35th time. They better watch out for this one.

"W-well then, I'll see you guys around. Nice to meet you." Gladly, he was smart enough to back down and left but with a defeated and annoyed look.

"What do you think is in there?" Sam asked.

"It must have been laxatives that would make our stomach upset for a few days or maybe a week," Kurapika explained.

Sam nodded at him. That must be it. Surely that man would not even attempt to kill anyone just because of his stupid hobby.

BRIIIIIIING!