"Humph!!
I want to see just how amazing these so-called 'real gourmet dishes' are that you're all so worked up about."
Tonpa, Candidate No. 16—infamous for sabotaging new applicants—sneered and strutted forward, brushing past the other stunned candidates. Standing before Menchi's table, he brazenly grabbed a piece of roasted pork shoulder from the remaining seven dishes and shoved it into his mouth.
"Mm?"
"What… what is this?"
The second the tender meat touched his tongue, Tonpa's condescending expression collapsed. His eyes widened, and his pupils trembled in disbelief. The richness of the mad boar's meat—tempered by the perfect balance of herbs and heat—unleashed waves of flavor he never thought possible.
"This taste… this texture… it melts and explodes on the palate!"
"Is this truly the meat of a horned mad pig?"
Caught in a trance, Tonpa's face twisted into pure ecstasy. "This can't be real… how can something taste this divine?!"
The rest of the examinees, initially skeptical, became curious after witnessing Tonpa's unusually genuine reaction.
"I'll try a piece."
"Me too."
Soon, candidates began crowding around Lan Fei's dishes. A few picked samples of the sweet-and-sour pork ribs, the spicy stir-fried belly, or the slow-cooked shoulder in mushroom sauce—each presented with the artistry of a culinary master.
"It's true… it's incredible!"
"I thought mad boar meat was too tough and gamy…"
"Unbelievable. How'd he tenderize it like this?"
Among them, Hisoka—the enigmatic and sadistic magician—plucked a slice of Lan Fei's savory garlic-seared loin and slowly chewed it, his usual twisted grin fading into one of sincere intrigue.
"Fascinating…"
"This child… he has layers," Hisoka whispered to himself, eyes twinkling like a predator who's just found a new toy.
In the back, Gourmet Hunter Buhara (also known as Buhara or Bhatti) leaned closer with a glimmer of envy. "To think he got such flavor using just one pig… even I would struggle with that."
Nearby, Jitari, a lesser-known but perceptive candidate, glanced at Lan Fei and muttered, "No wonder Hisoka's interested in him…"
Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio each sampled a different dish.
Killua, mouth full, mumbled, "This guy's been holding out on us!"
Gon blinked in astonishment. "Not even Aunt Mito cooks like this…"
Kurapika closed his eyes, savoring the umami richness. "He concealed this ability so well."
Leorio adjusted his glasses, chewing thoughtfully. "A doctor could build a fortune with this level of cuisine."
Menchi, watching the spreading reactions, smiled proudly. "Now you understand the difference between 'just cooking' and cuisine that conveys emotion, balance, and technique."
She turned to Lan Fei. "Candidate No. 406, you pass the second exam!"
The forest suddenly fell into shocked silence.
"Pass?"
"Only one person passed?"
"No way!"
A surge of resentment swept the other candidates.
"Unacceptable!" shouted Candidate No. 255, fists clenched. "What is this, a cooking show? We're here to become Hunters, not chefs!"
"Exactly!"
"This isn't the Gourmet Guild! It's the Hunter Exam!"
Ignoring the mob's complaints, Menchi calmly crossed her legs and reclined on the wooden bench. "Gourmet Hunters are licensed Hunters. Like any other specialization, we undergo the same trials and have the same authority. You failed because your dishes lacked even the basics of effort and technique."
Suddenly, Candidate No. 255 stormed the stage.
"You smug witch—!"
Before his outburst could reach its climax, Buhara's massive fist descended with explosive force. With a single blow, he sent the offending candidate crashing into a nearby tree, knocking him unconscious.
Lan Fei winced at the impact.
Menchi, sighing, turned to Buhara. "Was that necessary?"
"He would've embarrassed himself even more if I hadn't," the gluttonous giant replied with a shrug.
Stepping down the stairs, Menchi faced the remaining candidates. "Let me be clear—Gourmet Hunters don't just cook. We dive into volcanoes to harvest fire herbs and scale mountains swarming with carnivorous birds to gather sky truffles. We risk our lives in the pursuit of cuisine—so don't question our place as Hunters."
…
Meanwhile, high above the Biscayne Forest, a massive tree canopy rustled gently. Satotz, the first-phase examiner, observed through his monocular with furrowed brows.
"She hasn't changed one bit…" he murmured. "Only one candidate passed…? Not acceptable."
He tucked the scope away and pulled out his Hunter-issued communicator.
…
Thousands of meters in the air, aboard a state-of-the-art airship, a staff member in a frog-faced suit lowered the receiver and turned to the man seated at the center of the cabin.
"President Netero… Satotz has reported that only one candidate passed the second phase."
"Hmmm," the elderly man in white robes and traditional clogs stretched lazily. "If this keeps up, the entire exam will end in round two."
Isaac Netero—the 12th Chairman of the Hunter Association, and known as the strongest Nen user alive—slowly rose from his meditation seat.
"Well then… I suppose it's time I got some fresh air."
…
Back in Biscayne Forest…
"I won't accept this!!"
"Yeah! Only one person passes? Absurd!!"
The crowd had reignited into chaos.
Menchi raised her voice above the din. "You can throw tantrums all you want, but the fact remains: your efforts were pathetic."
From the shadows, Hisoka quietly produced a playing card, twirling it between his fingers with a subtle flick of malice.
"Still… isn't this a bit too harsh?"
Just as the situation teetered on the edge of violence, a thunderous roar echoed above.
WHOOOOOM!!
All heads snapped upward.
"That's—! The Hunter Association's emblem!"
"It's the official airship!"
"Is that… him?"
Even the unruly candidates fell silent.
Lan Fei's gaze sharpened. "The ceiling of the Hunter world… he's here."
BOOM!!
A blinding streak dropped from the airship like a meteorite, crashing into the forest floor with immense force. The ground trembled under the impact.
And standing amidst the cloud of dust, calm and smiling, was a wiry old man with a prayer bead necklace—his presence dwarfing everyone else's like a towering mountain.
"Isaac Netero…"
The Chairman had arrived.