"This third exam was so exhausting. The Hunter Association really is cutting us some slack."
However, some examinees were more cautious.
"That's too easy. Could it be a trap?"
"After all, these two might not even be genuine examiners."
"We have to stay alert."
"We've come almost to the end. Getting this far hasn't been easy. We can't afford to fall for a trap now."
"We've passed harder exams. It'd be too humiliating to fail here."
Gon's group of four were still together.
Gittarackur was by himself.
Hisoka stood off to the side.
Led by the two elderly innkeepers, the examinees arrived at the inn's entrance. Just as they were about to enter, the couple stopped them.
"Our inn isn't free."
"The Hunter Association didn't pay your lodging fees either."
"Each person needs to pay ten million Jenny to stay here."
For a seasoned Nen user like Ron, ten million Jenny was hardly a big sum. Ron currently had assets worth tens of billions. But for regular people—even these examinees—it wasn't a trivial amount.
Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio certainly didn't have that much money. Most of the other examinees were in the same situation. Even those who could afford it weren't necessarily willing.
"That's way too high!"
"It's daylight robbery!"
"No way. Absolutely not!"
"I'd rather camp outside!"
But not everyone could handle camping for three whole days.
Ron felt his phone vibrate. He took it out to find a message from Netero. Reading it, he raised an eyebrow slightly.
"So that's it. Got it."
Then he deleted the message and continued standing among the other examinees.
The message contained only one line:
"Ron, this exam isn't for you."
Recalling the Zevis Island test, Ron realized it wasn't a solo challenge or a direct competition among examinees, but something requiring everyone to work together to overcome difficulties.
Yet Ron's strength was far beyond the normal scope. If he got involved, the Zevis Island test would lose its meaning. That wasn't what the Hunter Association wanted.
Hence, Netero hoped Ron wouldn't intervene.
"I got the message. Illumi happened to leave, and what about Hisoka?"
Ron glanced in Hisoka's direction. With Hisoka's level of power, he could also affect the outcome of the Zevis Island plan. Hisoka took out his phone and gestured. Ron understood that he'd received the same text.
"It's rare for Hisoka to cooperate with the Hunter Association's arrangements."
Facing the outcry from the examinees, the two old innkeepers gave an alternative.
"If you don't want to pay ten million Jenny, you can go salvage treasure from the wrecks."
"And any treasure you retrieve must be sold to us."
"Based on what you manage to salvage, we'll arrange different rooms for you."
Everyone arrived at the shipwreck zone. Many wrecked vessels lay stranded on the reefs, and some had sunk beneath the sea.
"There are a lot of derelict ships here."
"Some ran aground, others drifted until they got stuck. The unusual terrain caused many ships to gather in this spot."
"There could be all sorts of valuables on these ships."
Adventure and treasure—both were appealing to examinees aspiring to be Hunters. This was exactly what they wanted. Their faces lit up with excitement.
Ron was the slowest to move. Ordinary riches didn't interest him unless they were related to Nen. As for concerns about food or water, Ron had none.
Hisoka appeared not far away.
"Care to make a deal?"
"You know the Phantom Troupe, right?"
Of course Ron knew about the Phantom Troupe. In the original story, they featured heavily as antagonists, yet they also had a certain allure that attracted fans. Ron had even come across some Troupe members when he visited Meteor City, though they never realized it was Ron observing them at the time.
On the airship, Ron had met Shalnark once. Later, in the Kurta Clan's hidden village, he witnessed the Troupe's slaughter of the Kurta Clan. He'd also briefly cooperated with Machi while fighting monsters.
"There's intel about you within the Phantom Troupe. If you help me with something, I can share that intel with you."
"I'm not interested."
Hisoka paused, surprised.
"Why not? The Phantom Troupe has its sights on you. Don't you want to know why? Don't you want to know their plan for you?"
"Before that, shouldn't you explain your relationship with the Phantom Troupe?"
Hisoka narrowed his eyes slightly.
"I'm a member of the Phantom Troupe, number four."
"But I'm not a real member. I joined only for one purpose—to find a chance to face their leader, Chrollo, when he's alone."
"I want to fight him."
"He's almost a perfect opponent."
Hisoka couldn't help flicking out his tongue and licking his lips.
"Just imagining our battle thrills me."
"That feeling—I don't know if you've experienced it. But that's exactly what I'm after."
"He rarely separates from the group.
He's usually with several members at once. So I need someone to help create an opportunity for me."
"Ron, I'm targeting Chrollo, and the Phantom Troupe is targeting you. Essentially, we share an opponent, don't we? Work with me."
Ron didn't answer right away. He was thinking.
The Phantom Troupe has its eyes on me?
He hadn't anticipated this. He knew the original storyline, but his arrival caused countless ripples, and he wasn't part of that original plot. Naturally, his actions must have changed many things—he'd influenced Taris Kingdom, Fiola Kingdom, the Sahelta United States…all of them.