Deception X Endpoint

"You'd better get a grip on reality, Melard! Don't try to joke your way through this and muddle past it." Bred was utterly serious. "Based on your answer, I'll decide whether to kill you on the spot and put a complete end to the unwarranted malice you once held toward me, as well as your improper thoughts about me now."

Resting her chin on her hand, Melard puffed out her cheeks, their baby fat not yet fully gone, and put on a pitiful expression. "Hey, hey, no need to be so serious! Kill me? Bred, we're companions~~ Besides, even if you stole my beloved Tornado, I only ever intended to teach you a lesson. Yet you want to kill me? That's too much!"

"Who knows what degree your so-called 'lesson' would reach? Physical or mental? Melard, some things are more terrifying than death," Bred said flatly.

Melard rolled her eyes and raised both hands with a cheeky grin. "But I surrender! Surrender means losing half, right? Bred~ Could you spare me? I'm willing to compensate you! What do you want? Financial compensation? If you're willing to dress as a girl, I wouldn't mind compensating you with my body either~ Though you still don't have the ability to 'commit the deed'..."

"No, you shameless bitch! Shut up!" Mosquito Girl snapped, as though a nerve had been struck.

Bred gave Mosquito Girl another strange look. "..." She could actually understand? Just what books had she been reading behind his back?

"Clap, clap, clap!"

"Woooow~~~"

Melard applauded, her expression deeply suggestive.

"Once upon a time, a cute human caretaker saved a beautiful demi-human, super-dangerous beast. In order to repay him, the demi-human super-dangerous beast became the cute human caretaker's pet. The cute human caretaker tenderly and devotedly cared for his pet, while his pet faithfully protected him. As time passed, neither noticed the feelings growing between them—but then, an old-fashioned fossil discovered it!"

"Well!"

"How could this be allowed?"

"A human and a demi-human super-dangerous beast? This love transcending race and crossing species is simply an open provocation against the taboos of human morality!"

"And so..."

She abruptly stopped.

Melard had been working hard to concoct an exaggerated tale, chanting like an opera singer. But out of the corner of her eye, she saw not the slightest sign of embarrassment from Bred. Instead, Bred looked at her as though she were a lunatic fool. Finding it utterly boring, she shut up.

"Your desire to survive is certainly strong. Your sense of shame, however... basically doesn't exist," Bred mocked.

Melard gave an elegant bow and continued imitating an opera singer. "Thank you very much."

"..." Bred: That wasn't a compliment!

"I heard your Oberg Family holds considerable influence within the Cipher Pol system?" Bred asked.

Melard returned to her lazy, tranquil demeanor and answered casually, "Several of my ancestors served as the highest-ranking officers of Cipher Pol."

"You owe me a favor. Since that favor is equivalent to your life, it's worth quite a lot—unless you think your life is worthless trash." Bred flicked his fingers as he laid out his terms.

Melard smiled. "No problem. I agree."

"I know your personality. You probably don't take your own promises seriously at all," Bred said quietly. "Let me remind you: my Nen is of the Conjuration type. It has a knack for giving people surprises. Your words, 'No problem. I agree,' are exactly the standard answer I was hoping for."

Melard's smile gradually vanished.

Naturally, Bred was deceiving Melard. He had not even decided what item to conjure to assist himself. But he had her pegged: arrogant yet cautious, paranoid and spoiled, twisted, perverse, and utterly shameless. He guided Melard—a typical suspicious person who liked to use frivolous, carefree chatter to conceal her true thoughts and intentions—into doubting herself.

"Trying to fool me?" Melard licked the corner of her lips and smiled. "You've got guts, Bred!"

Bred waved a hand. "Goodbye."

Greed Island.

The northern shore, and also the endpoint of the first official phase of the Hunter Exam.

"I was the fastest?" Esdeath charged through everything to arrive. Whether it was the other Hunter Exam participants, the island's dangerous environment, or all kinds of terrifying beasts, she had brutally bulldozed her way through them all.

"Yes, Candidate Number One! Since you..." the staff member said gently.

"Not yet." Esdeath interrupted him, declining the qualification verification for the second official phase. She then asked, "Is this the only endpoint for the first official phase?"

The staff member nodded. "Yes, Candidate Number One."

"Excellent." Esdeath smiled happily.

A few minutes later.

An enormous banner made of tree bark was erected, with words written in charcoal—

ENDPOINT

"This doesn't violate the rules, does it?" Esdeath asked sideways.

The staff member wiped away cold sweat. "It doesn't violate the rules. Hehe, but I suppose... no one will fall for it."

The staff member assumed Esdeath was pulling a clumsy prank, trying to mislead Hunter Exam participants into going to her for qualification confirmation for the second official phase. But with him, the real official, and the splendid true endpoint right here, how could anyone be fooled? Who would be that blind?

He had misunderstood.

"Boom!"

After knocking down another Hunter Exam participant, Esdeath dragged him by the leg and piled him beneath her banner, building a "pyramid."

"What are you thinking? This is the true endpoint for weaklings like you! Lie down obediently," Esdeath muttered.

The staff member, who had witnessed the entire thing: "..."

As Esdeath's "pyramid" grew higher and higher, the staff member could no longer help panicking. Terrified, he contacted his superiors, hoping they would at least stop Esdeath's rampage.

"Hahahaha~~~ It's fine!"

"But, Chairman..."

"It's fine! The Hunter Exam does not prohibit competition within the rules. She hasn't crossed any lines, so we have no reason to criticize her. If anyone is to blame, it should be us for not planning thoroughly enough beforehand."

"But..."

"Isn't this great? It's been ages since we've encountered such an interesting rookie! It's not as though previous Hunter Exams never had 'volunteer examiners' like her."

"But she's different from the previous 'volunteer examiners.' She's even mastered Nen! She's far too strong—she might be the only person left to take the later official trials!!!"

"Oh? That's fine too. There have been many years when we accepted only one person, or even no one at all."

"Chairman..."

"She has mastered Nen, fulfilling the second of the 'Ten Rules of Hunters.' She enjoys hunting opponents taking the Hunter Exam, fulfilling the first. She was also tested in patience, knowledge, observation, and more—all of which were outstanding... If she ends up being the only person left for the later official trials—no, if there are fewer than ten people—announce the cancellation of the remaining trials! I will exercise the authority granted by the ninth of the 'Ten Rules of Hunters' and personally decide their fate."

"..."

The person on the other end of the phone had an aged voice, yet possessed an entirely contrasting, extraordinary vitality. In just a few words, he completely suppressed the staff member's concerns.

"Haah~~~"

The staff member sighed helplessly.