Chapter 16: Chapter 14: The First Phase!
As Raymond descended into the underground tunnel, the lift emitted a soft ding, signaling his arrival.
Stepping out, Raymond was met with curious gazes from the other participants of the Hunter Exam.
Clad in his sleek, luxurious suit, Raymond stood out amidst the crowd.
His sophisticated attire hinted at a wealthy background, but it was his imposing aura that made others uneasy in his presence.
Amidst the sea of participants, a short, green bean-shaped man caught Raymond's eye as he approached him.
"Ah, just in time! You're the final participant for this year's exam. If you'd arrived a second later, you'd be in quite a bind," The bean-shaped man remarked with a small smile, handing Raymond a badge numbered 406.
"Here's your badge. Keep it with you at all times; it helps us track your whereabouts in case of any emergencies."
As the bean-like man finished speaking, a strange alarm blared, causing everyone to turn their heads in confusion.
Their attention shifted to the newcomer, whose striking appearance immediately got their focus.
With pale lavender locks framing his face and piercing blue eyes, the newcomer exuded an air of mystery.
Despite his lack of a visible mouth, his intense gaze spoke volumes.
Before anyone could inquire about the alarm, a powerful vibration shook the surroundings, startling everyone.
The wall at the end of the tunnel began to ascend slowly, unveiling an expansive, seemingly endless passage beyond.
"Now, we've reached the end of the registration process. My name is Satotz, and I'll be your guide for the 287th Hunter Exam."
Satotz announced, his moustache bobbing up and down as he spoke, the sound of his voice echoing throughout the tunnel.
Excitement buzzed through the air as the participants eagerly awaited further instructions.
"With that being said, let's officially begin the Hunter Exam," Satotz declared, prompting nods of agreement from the crowd.
With a stern reminder of the exam's dangers, Satotz instructed everyone to follow him. He turned on his heel and led the way into the tunnel, his confident stride signaling the start of their exam.
As they moved forward into the tunnel, the participants exchanged glances before following behind Satotz.
Meanwhile, Raymond's attention fixated on a man adorned with needles sticking out from his face as a smirk slowly formed on his lips.
"...Found the rat," he muttered under his breath.
A chubby man in his thirties who was clutching soft drinks in his hands immediately froze in his tracks as a chill ran down his spine at Raymond's intense stare.
"Damn it..."
He muttered to himself, realizing he couldn't execute his devious plan.
"That guy is also an unusual one..."
He was Tonpa the Rookie Crushed and was known for his dirty tactics. He always had the goal to trip up his fellow participants, going as far as to repeat his game by repeatedly joining the Hunter Exam.
Initially, he was about to try being sneaky with Raymond. But a sudden chill down his spine convinced him otherwise.
As for the reason why he would do that?
Simply because...
...why not?
Shifting his focus, Tonpa eyed a peculiar figure making odd sounds while tinkering with a laptop.
With a smirk, he muttered to himself, "You're my first target, Nicholas..."
As the hours passed and the participants trailed behind Satotz, confidence waned.
His relentless pace wore them down, their energy draining with each step.
After two grueling hours, they anticipated the end of the trial, only to find themselves still engulfed by the tunnel's darkness.
Some faltered, succumbing to despair and dropping out of the race, while others persisted, their determination unwavering.
Yet, their hopes shattered as they reached the four-hour mark, only to encounter an endless flight of stairs looming ahead.
Exhausted and disheartened, many collapsed, unable to summon the strength to continue.
Raymond casually glanced at his watch, confirming that four relentless hours had elapsed.
With a shake of his head at the defeated participants, he picked up his pace and surged ahead.
"Raymond!"
A child's voice reverberated through the tunnel, prompting Raymond to turn his head. There, approaching him, was Killua, accompanied by another kid.
Killua was visibly relaxed.
Though he was tense in front of Raymond before, it was mainly because there was little space to work with.
Given the expansive nature of the tunnel, he was confident in his ability to handle any confrontation or evade it altogether.
"Gon, this is the one I mentioned earlier," Killua said, directing his attention to the other kid as he introduced them both to each other.
"He's Raymond. And Raymond, this is Gon. He's also twelve, like me!"
Raymond couldn't suppress a chuckle at Killua's genuine enthusiasm upon encountering someone of his own age amid the Hunter Exam.
"Hey Raymond, I'm Gon! Pleasure to meet you!"
Gon extended a hand in greeting, and Raymond reciprocated with a nod and a warm smile. "Likewise, Gon. I'm Raymond..."
Their conversation flowed easily as they ascended, oblivious to the tall man with dark hair and a spiked crew cut trailing behind them.
His annoyance was palpable as he struggled to keep pace.
Leorio's expression soured further, prompting a chuckle from Kurapika, who effortlessly maintained his stride up the stairs.
"Your frustration is showing again, Leorio..."
"Shut it, Kurapika!"
Leorio grumbled in response as Kurapika simply laughed, his movements remaining steady and effortless as they continued their ascent.
As the light at the end of the tunnel's stairs became visible, a collective sigh of relief swept over the weary participants.
Hope ignited in their eyes, signaling the near culmination of their demanding trek.
Gon and Killua exchanged a playful glance, their laughter bubbling forth as they surged forward with renewed vigor.
Raymond observed their antics with a fond shake of his head.
He found himself admiring Gon's innocence, appreciating how effortlessly Gon let him into his world.
It was as though there were no secrets between them, allowing Raymond to understand Gon's life with ease.
Gon had a way of being completely open, sharing every detail of his life without reservation.
From stories about his family to the happenings in his neighborhood, Gon held nothing back.
"Such innocence," he muttered to himself, a nostalgic smile playing on his lips.
It was a quality that attracted others to him, like magnets.
"...Perhaps that's why he could influence people fairly easily," Raymond pondered, his eyes shimmering with newfound insight as he also reached the top of the stairs.
Joining the others gathered there, Raymond observed Satotz in silence, his gaze fixed on his watch as they awaited further instructions.
---
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