No one actually cares why they want to become Hunters.
Just by passing the Hunter Exam, you can become a Hunter—
Whether you have lofty ambitions or vulgar desires, whether you're a good person or a criminal.
Moreover, after asking Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio, the captain didn't tell Kurapika and Leorio where the next stage would be. He only told Gon alone.
There's a huge problem with that.
If Gon weren't around, Kurapika and Leorio might miss the exam entirely. And both of them actually ended up passing the Hunter Exam this year.
This is no longer just about rigorous screening— It's outright eliminating top contenders before the exam even continues.
Think of it like the college entrance exams:
Because the number of applicants is huge, there's a preliminary round to weed some people out.
The original goal would be to eliminate those ranked toward the bottom.
But then a certain teacher holds an oral test on the topic of dreams and judges based on personal whim— Thus removing two examinees who could have scored top ten in the entire province.
That's a bit too much.
Ron really dislikes people like that captain.
Still, such people exist in every world— They're nobodies, yet once they're hired and given some authority, that power just happens to let them control others.
They treat that authority as if it were their own personal right, and those under their thumb as though they were lesser.
Soon, the ship began rocking again.
When Ron looked outside, he saw two people at odds on the deck:
Leorio on one side, Kurapika on the other.
Their personalities didn't mesh well
One comes across as crude,
The other holds an idealistic view of being a Hunter.
Conflict flares up easily between them.
But at this moment, Ron felt the bigger problem lay with Kurapika.
This was someone whose clan was massacred, who bore a deep-seated grudge.
He was someone who had the thought of vengeance in him all the time, yet still wasn't even one hundred percent certain who was truly responsible— And he'd gone and revealed he was from the Kurta clan so readily.
Just a contracted examiner for the Hunter Association. Gon and Leorio are people he only just met.
He shouldn't be so open.
Suddenly, someone cried out—
A crew member lost his footing and toppled over the deck's railing.
Gon instantly lunged forward to save him, and Leorio and Kurapika had to stop squabbling, working together to pull both Gon and the sailor back on deck.
Seeing that, Ron withdrew his gaze.
Early the next morning, the ship pulled into a harbor.
Everyone disembarked.
Because he disliked the captain, he kept a low profile, so the captain never noticed him.
But Ron already knew the location of the next exam site.
Someone quickly ran after Ron.
Turning around, Ron saw Gon jogging over.
"What's up?" Ron asked.
"You're also here for the Hunter Exam, right?"
"Want to go together? The old captain gave me some information—he said we should head in the direction of a giant tree. You weren't there when he told me, so he probably didn't share it with you."
Ron raised an eyebrow.
He was somewhat curious.
"Logically speaking, we're all taking the Hunter Exam, so we're competitors. If I didn't get that intel, I might head to the wrong place. Wouldn't that be good for you?
Aren't you worried about having one more rival? Aren't you afraid I might take your spot as a Hunter?"
"We were on the same ship, and you passed the test just like us, so you deserve the info. Anyway, if we're here to take the exam, we can't be afraid of competition.
And I've got a gut feeling you're a good person."
"I'm nothing of the sort."
He never considered himself good—a killer focused on becoming stronger. But he understood that Gon's concept of 'good' wasn't the usual one.
"Maybe it's because I've had contact with Ging Freecss?" Ron thought to himself.
"In the original story, Gon warmed to Kite just from meeting him, even before knowing Kite was Ging's disciple. I've also spent time around Ging— Or at least my Nen Beast, Baki, has."
Ron's eyes flickered momentarily.
Just then, Leorio and Kurapika caught up.
They both eyed Ron curiously.
"He's an examinee like us. He was on the ship and passed the test, too," Gon replied.
Leorio and Kurapika exchanged a look—neither remembered seeing him.
"Gon, you must be mistaken. The only ones who passed were the three of us, right? The captain only called us to his cabin," Leorio said.
"There wasn't a fourth."
Kurapika's eyes showed a hint of caution.
"That's not it," Gon said, shaking his head. "After the storm, he was in the same shape as us, not a scratch on him. It's just that the captain didn't notice him, but I did."
He then turned to Ron.
"Want to come along?"
Originally, Ron hadn't planned on getting too involved with the trio—Observing them from the shadows was enough to satisfy his Observer's Intention.
But since Gon extended the invitation, Ron saw no reason to refuse. He was strong enough now that he didn't need to worry too much. In this Hunter Exam, there weren't many he had to be wary of.
No need to deliberately avoid Gon and the others, nor to force closeness.
"After all," he thought, "the Zoldyck family and the Hunter Association get along well, and Killua will become Gon's best friend in the future. I'm his older cousin, so there's bound to be some connection anyway."
Gon gave a broad smile.
"I'm Gon Freecss. You can just call me Gon."
Leorio couldn't help but ask, "Ron, you really were on that ship? I can't recall seeing you at all. Be honest, where exactly were you? Maybe that'll jog my memory."
"I was on the bunk above yours, one bed over."
Leorio tried hard to remember.
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