Leorio knew few things in the world were absolutes. He knew he wanted nothing more than to be a doctor. He knew the Zoldycks were world renowned for their methods of assassination. And he knew that the friendly and playful interaction going on with Gon's genuine nature and Killua's own curiosity, the two would be good friends if they made it to the end of the exam.

He couldn't help but feel pleasantly pleased to see Killua challenge Gon to a race and Gon accepting, under the stipulation the loser buy dinner. He hid a smile as Killua just ran, not using any of his assassin techniques.

Leorio just kept his pace with Kurapika, figuring he could truly sprint if he fell too far behind.

"Doc, I have a question for you."

"You shouldn't be talking to much. You'll only make this harder on yourself," Leorio commented. He watched as many contestants dropped like flies from the increased speed of the proctor. He eased a bit to the side, having a person obscure him from Killua's sight should he turn his head.

"Why are you here? To be a hunter. You asked me earlier."

"Well, in a word...?"

Leorio thought for a moment. He knew that the moment he was under the Zoldyck's training and regimen, freedom would be near impossible to obtain. They took what they wanted and had a unique honor system. Leorio's own training was proof of that.

He knew it wasn't freedom he wanted either persay. He wanted to help others, regardless of their situation. To do that he needed access to medicine and transportation. Some of that could come from being a hunter alone. But the rest, the reason he sought to be a hunter...

"Money."

"Money?"

"It's as good an answer as any. There are few things people can't do with money."

"I've known many people whose only passion in life was money. That doesn't seem like you."

Leorio snorted.

"You've got it all figured out eh?"

Leorio saw no reason to give any information when it seemed Kurapika had come to his own little conclusion without a solid answer.

"The Scarlet Eyes."

Leorio's heart betrayed him with a slightly faster beat. His mind went to Lady Kikyo's implanted red beauties. Kurapika kept talking.

"That's why the Kurta Clan was targeted."

Leorio did not like the sound of where the conversation was going. There was a certain twinge in Kurapika's voice he recognized from when he was a child, before the Zoldycks. The succulent and tantalyzing necter of vengeance. Kurapika wove a scene of bloodshed and spiderwebs, describing himself as the last of his once decent sized family. Leorio said noting about having once held a set of those eyes in his hands, nor of the work to implant them into a cruel and powerful person.

That, and he had no urge to fight Kurapika. He was the last of his family and the last genetic carrier of a rare eye anomaly. He seemed dedicated and it would be a shame for him to die as he was. But then again, he may have just wanted to avoid drama that could have Killua lose his friendship with his first friend.

"You can't be serious. Thinking that just becoming a Hunter, will prove you strong enough to face the Phantom Troupe."

"Perhaps. But it will help me locate all my brethren's eyes. If I become a contract hunter with wealthy clientele, I'll have access to black market information."

"Yeah, but if what you're telling me is true, one wrong move and they'll have a set of scarlet eyes."

"It is a small price to help my clan."

"Is it? Or are you trying to ease your guilt? Regardless, I don't have some grand or noble cause like you do," Leorio began, "I have no living relatives. None dead I care for. In the grand scheme of things, the only thing I'm after is money."

"How can you say that? If money was all you cared about, why would you even bother to run with me, let alone speak to me. You don't even know me. Deep down, I believe you aren't really after money. Do you really believe money can buy everything? Tell the truth."

Truth. While he was able to somewhat speak his mind, he was always controlled in how he said it based on the situation. Given how he barely knew Kurapika and in the grand scheme, didn't seem to be terribly important if they were friends, he decided to be blunt.

"Damn right, I do."

He firmly believed it. How could he not when he had been brought to the Zoldyck manor on the whim of the rich? Or when his friend died simply because he had no funds.

"For the right price, you can buy treasures, dreams, hearts, and even people's lives."

Afterall, how many died simply because they couldn't pay the price?

"Take that back, Doc! I will not stand here and allow you to insult the Kurta."

"Why not? It's the truth, isn't it? How many people die, on the whim of someone paying money? Or die because they had no money? If I had money, my friend would still be alive, I would be free, and probably never stepped foot here."

Leorio felt a slight ease of burden on his heart. He never spoke of his dead friend at the Zoldyck home. There was no place for the dead there, ironically enough.

"Was he ill?"

"Yeah. And you know, it was a curable disease too. He could have lived. But a kid like me barely scraping by alongside him, there was no way in hell we could've ever come up with the money."

He felt a sting of tears in his eyes recalling the hot summer day that did him in. How his friend tried to act like nothing was wrong until the bitter end.

"The operation was, and still does cost a fortune. When I was younger, I was naive. I figured I could become a doctor, and help everyone without having them worry about not being able to afford it. I got pretty decent with local remedeys. Problem is, to do anything big, you have to already have a boatload of money to help them the way I wanted to. Get it now? The whole world runs on money. So I'd like to get as much as I can."

Kurapika stared at the suited man.

"Oh look, a light at the end of the tunnel. Try and keep up Kurapika," Leorio taunted. Kurapika huffed but kept up the pace as they exited the tunnel. Leorio had an amused grin on his face as he looked over the applicants. He saw Illumi, a large distance around him undisturbed by anyone. Hisoka was shrouded in the natural fog, ready to strike, much as a snake would. Killua was still near Gon, both talking about who buys who dinner. With a slight grin, he began to blend in with the crowd.

Soon enough, the fog began to lift, ever so slightly. He could hear Satotz's voice carry over the contestants. He described their next location of challenge, The Milsy Wetlands. Or Swindler's Swamp. Leorio recalled a few tales of Kikyo having a few of their "dogs" sent to hunt in the dangerous forest. He recalled that the pork collected from the Wetlands was quite a delicacy when prepared correctly.

"Don't let him fool you!"

Leorio's barely gave a glance to the shouting voice. Whatever the creature was, it wasn't human. He lightly tapped his foot, sending a small but controlled pulse to the owner of the voice. Lanky and gangly, and very much not human. Their guide on the other hand, very much human with his nen well pronounced to those who could sense it. He felt a twinge of bloodlust and turned his eyes to Hisoka, just as he threw three cards at both the imposter, and the guide.

The imposter was struck dead. Satotz caught the three potentially deadly cards.

He looked over at Kurapika who, like the others, stared at Hisoka in awe and fear as Hisoka gave a more "friendly" explaination for what he did. As for why, Leorio could only ponder a guess.

It was during the explanation that vultures had already arrived to strip the dead creature of its' flesh. Satotz casaully mentioned how it was no doubt trying to lure competitors away so they could be consumed. Leorio wasn't surprised. Deception was an art to those who made killing their business, so of course, the same could be said about those who worked for them. His eyes trailed over to Killua.

Despite it being Killua's choice to be in the exam, and that he really didn't want him to see him and potentially stunt his growth, he knew he would have to watch out for the snowy haired boy and his new friend.

So, I kind of started off the series not liking Kurapika a lot. I just was kind of over the stoic loner when I started the series. And when he's questioning Leorio on his reason on being a Hunter, he states his attitude is terrible and that he isn't very bright, I was kind of miffed. Leorio had not been the most "hunter" smart, but he was mentioned to be very good with assisting an injured individual with the "couple" trial, and before that, he inadvertently led Kurapika and Gon to the "answer" for the old woman. As for his attitude, sure it can clash but Kurapika was hardly the nicest person either. He follows with shallowness isn't a downfall sure but he does think rather poorly of the guy.

On a side note, doesn't little Leorio look a frick ton like Gon?