Biscuit's gaze could not help shifting toward Botobai. "What exactly happened?"
If Botobai had not had such a sterling reputation, Biscuit would have suspected that he was deliberately making things difficult for the examinees and driving them out of the exam in anger.
Yeah, there were plenty of brain-dead examiners like that.
More than a decade later, when Hisoka took the Hunter Exam for the first time, hadn't he beaten an examiner half to death and lost his eligibility as a result?
"But that guy shouldn't be that kind of person. Why can't I get through to him no matter how many times I call?"
Biscuit pouted and complained, then tried dialing again.
"Beep?~~Click!!"
"Hello?"
Morin's voice came from the other end of the phone. Biscuit froze for a moment before immediately reacting with fury.
"Where the hell did you run off to? Why weren't you answering your phone?!"
"Sorry, my phone ran out of battery. I only just noticed."
He apologized over the phone, but there was not the slightest hint of apology in his voice.
"Where are you now? Why did you drop out of this exam without saying a word?!"
Biscuit fired off question after question.
"Um..."
Morin hesitated briefly, then answered decisively.
"Mainly because I feel that, at my current level, I'm still not good enough to become an outstanding Hunter."
"In other words, I haven't made sufficient preparations to become a qualified Hunter yet. So I plan to train myself some more, lie low for a while, and come back for the exam later. What a liar~"
Lying?
That was obviously a lie??~
Biscuit, Kruke, and Kanzai all had the same thought at the same time.
"Hey, listen..."
A large red vein bulged on Biscuit's forehead.
"Don't be so damn willful, you bastard!!"
"What I said is true."
Morin's tone suddenly turned serious. "Over the coming period, I plan to properly study and improve my Nen training."
"I can't rely on Master Biscuit for everything, either. You've already taught me so much."
"What do you mean by that?"
Biscuit sensed that something was off.
"You brat, have your wings grown in? Are you planning to fly solo?"
"Don't put it like that. It makes me sound heartless."
A soft laugh came from the other end of the line, followed by his calm voice.
"It's just that I have my own path to walk and my own ideals to put into practice."
Ideals?
At that word, Biscuit clearly noticed Botobai, who was sitting beside her, grow slightly more serious.
Her eyes rolled as she more or less guessed what Morin had discussed with Botobai during the third round of the exam. Though curious, she ultimately sighed inwardly.
"I understand. Although I knew this day would come eventually, I didn't expect us to part so soon."
She muttered softly, "I haven't even trained you enough yet."
"I heard that, Master Biscuit."
Morin said from the other end.
"So what if you did?" Biscuit said, though she had no real ground to stand on.
"I originally had some Age Spring Water prepared for you, but it seems you don't want it anymore."
"I do!"
Biscuit answered decisively. "You heard wrong just now. I was praising you for being such a wonderful disciple!" Morin: "...Why does that sound like an insult?"
"When were you planning to give me the Age Spring Water?" she asked eagerly.
"Right now."
"Right now??"
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At Morin's answer, Biscuit was stunned for a moment.
Then, all of a sudden, a huge hand emerged from her phone screen.
Kruke and Kanzai widened their eyes, while Botobai's gaze sharpened.
Only Netero continued stroking his beard with a cheerful smile. "Interesting."
"Has it been delivered?"
The hand was holding a large water jug. After placing it into Biscuit's hands, it swiftly withdrew back through the screen.
"...Could you stop casually using gadgets that scare people half to death?"
Biscuit, who had nearly been startled herself, gritted her teeth.
"Sorry, I understand."
On the other end, Morin casually removed the Object Teleportation Connector from his phone screen.
I know I was wrong. I'll still do it next time.
Item: Object Teleportation Connector Effect: Place the connector on a mobile phone or telephone, and objects can be sent through the phone or telephone to the other end. It can also retrieve the other party's belongings.
"You really are..."
Biscuit, who could also hear that Morin had no remorse whatsoever, could only rub her forehead helplessly.
However, when she saw the large jug filled to the brim with blue Age Spring Water in her arms, her mood instantly cleared, and her smile grew brighter.
"If I obtain any gadgets that can beautify and nourish the skin in the future, I'll send them to you at the appropriate time as well."
"At least you still remember that you have a master!!"
Biscuit's heart warmed. She wrinkled her small nose and gave a satisfied snort.
"Also, I gave you quite a lot of Age Spring Water. Drink it slowly, so the effects don't become excessive."
Morin continued to remind her, "Of course, if you really can't finish it, you can let Chairman Netero beside you try some. It'll be quite useful for him too."
"Chairman Netero beside me?"
Biscuit instinctively glanced at Netero beside her, then looked at the phone in her hand.
"You can see what's happening on my end, can't you?"
"Hm?"
Morin openly nodded in admission.
Item: Visual Phone Effect: No need for much explanation—think video call, except it is one-way.
Morin could see Biscuit's side, but Biscuit could not see Morin.
"You brat, you're really cunning. You can see me, but I can't see you."
Biscuit became even more dissatisfied. "When you're traveling outside, remember to be careful. Don't you dare die."
"Don't worry. I still have to support you in your old age."
You're the old one! Your whole family is old!
As Biscuit puffed out her cheeks again, Morin added one final sentence.
"Let's leave it at that for now, Master Biscuit. We'll meet again when we have time. I'm hanging up."
Beep, beep, beep~
The dial tone echoed through the room.
"He hung up."
Biscuit sighed softly. Her disciple had far more ideas of his own than she had imagined.
After her half year of training, Morin's growth and progress had been plain for her to see.
She had never seen a disciple like Morin before—so talented, so hardworking, and assisted by so many gadgets.
To be honest, though they were master and disciple, it was difficult to say who would ultimately achieve whom in the future. Biscuit was not worried about Morin's strength or knowledge; otherwise, she would never have agreed to let him fly solo.
Moreover, Morin had already experienced nearly every kind of dangerous terrain and landscape in the world. He could be said to have handled nature's trials and dangers well enough.
Besides, flowers could not remain in a greenhouse forever. They needed to weather the wind and rain outside too... Hmm, although Morin seemed to have been weathering wind and rain all along.
"No matter how strong or knowledgeable someone is, the dangers of nature may be terrifying, but what is even more terrifying than nature..."
Biscuit looked at Botobai, who had fallen into thought. "...is human society."
It was time for Morin to enter human society, enter the big cities, and cross paths with those Nen users.
The most dangerous thing in this world was the human heart.
"He seems to be quite an outstanding junior."
Netero smiled cheerfully. "Not just anyone can make Kanzai and Kruke suffer such a loss."
"And he even thoughtfully sent you something. He can also be considered a model of respecting one's master."
Netero nodded slightly. "If he can pass the Hunter Exam and become a Hunter, he will be worth cultivating properly."
At those words, Kanzai and Kruke showed no reaction, but Botobai slightly raised his head and glanced at Netero.
Earlier, he had heard from Beanperson that Chairman Netero intended to select some outstanding talents within the Hunter Association and form a team.
According to Beanperson, it was for the Hunter Association's better development, and Netero had entrusted them with helping run the Hunter Association.
However, judging from Beanperson's hesitant tone and the way he had left things unsaid, Botobai always felt that Chairman Netero had specifically arranged this to find opponents to play with in his spare time. After all, although their chairman looked like an immortal master with an air of transcendence, he was actually an out-and-out old child who was rarely serious.
Biscuit knew that too.
"After all that, there's no way I'm giving you any Age Spring Water."
Biscuit hugged the water jug tightly and looked at Netero with vigilance.
"Don't say that. That junior clearly said over the phone that there's a share for me in there."
Netero said indifferently.
"It's called Age Spring Water, right? It has something to do with age? I'm almost a hundred myself, so let's count it as a birthday gift for me—and a little filial piety from a junior of Shingen-ryu... By the way, how is this stuff used? Do you drink it directly?"
Biscuit: "Stop deciding things on your own, you old fart!!"
Before you continue