One of Two

The ship docked at Dolle Harbor.

Gon was the first to jump off, taking a deep breath. "We're here!"

Kurapika followed behind him and looked around. Leorio came down last and stretched with all his might.

"Finally off the ship. That damn thing had me seasick."

The captain stood on deck with a pipe in his mouth. He walked down and patted Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio on the shoulders. Then he glanced at Saitama standing at the back. Instead of patting his shoulder, he merely nodded. Saitama did not react.

"You've passed."

The captain pointed toward the distant mountains. "See that huge cedar tree on the mountaintop? Head that way. There's a shortcut to the exam site."

Gon followed his finger. On the mountaintop, an enormous cedar shot straight into the clouds.

"Captain," Gon suddenly said, "did you know my dad?"

The captain fell silent for a moment. A chunk of ash fell from his pipe, and he did not notice.

"Kid, you have an outstanding father."

He turned and went back into the cabin without looking back.

Leorio scratched his head. "Come on, what are you still staring at?"

The four set off in the direction the captain had indicated. Gon walked in front, Kurapika and Leorio walked side by side in the middle, and Saitama trailed behind. He moved at the pace of a stroll, falling farther and farther behind the other three.

Leorio turned and shouted, "Brother Saitama, hurry up!"

Saitama did not speed up.

Leorio shouted again, but Saitama maintained the same pace. Leorio gave up and slowed down to wait for him. Kurapika slowed as well. Gon ran back and walked alongside Saitama.

"Brother Saitama, aren't you in a hurry?"

"What's the hurry?"

"The exam!"

"The exam isn't going anywhere."

Gon thought about it and decided that made sense. He stopped urging him. The four formed a line and walked slowly.

A village at the foot of the mountain came into view.

It was completely deserted. Every door and window was shut, and there was not even a dog on the streets. The wind swept past, stirring a few fallen leaves.

Leorio looked around. "What's with this place? There isn't a single person here."

Kurapika's hand was already resting at his waist. "Be careful."

Gon's nose twitched. "There are people. A lot of them."

As soon as he spoke, a wooden door slowly opened. A group of people dressed in white and wearing masks emerged, forming two rows. An elderly woman sat in the middle, her hair gray and her face covered in wrinkles, yet her eyes were startlingly bright. She sat in a wooden rocking chair with her hands folded on her knees.

"I know you're heading for the cedar tree," the old woman said, her voice hoarse but clear. "This is the only route. I am the examiner waiting here. If you want to pass, you must answer my question."

Other examinees had gathered around them at some point. They had arrived by different routes and stood scattered about.

"Next, I will ask a question." The old woman's gaze swept over everyone. "You must answer within five seconds. You may only choose one or two. You may not say anything else."

She paused.

"Your mother and your lover have both been captured by villains and are in mortal danger, but you can save only one. Who do you save? One, your mother. Two, your lover."

The moment she finished speaking, an examinee who had been hiding nearby and secretly following them since Dolle Harbor rushed out. He was tall and thin, his face full of urgency, clearly trying to answer first and win the examiner's favor.

"I choose one! Of course I save my mother! She gave birth to me and raised me; she's irreplaceable! If my lover is gone, I can always find another!"

The old woman remained expressionless.

"Wrong answer. You are eliminated."

The floor beneath him suddenly gave way. The floor flipped open, and he fell straight down. His screams came from underground, growing fainter and fainter before disappearing. The floor closed as if nothing had happened.

The surrounding examinees gasped. Some took a step back, while others began to tremble.

Leorio exploded at once, clenching his fists so tightly that veins bulged along his arms. "What kind of bullshit question is that?! There's no correct answer at all! It obviously depends on the situation! How can you make people casually choose one or the other?!"

He raised his fist and was about to charge forward when Kurapika grabbed him tightly.

"Leorio! Calm down!"

"Let go of me!"

The old woman had no intention of dodging. She did not even look at Leorio. She looked at the remaining people instead. "Next. Who will answer?"

No one dared step forward.

Gon stood where he was, his brow slightly furrowed, saying nothing.

The five-second countdown ended.

The old woman looked at him. "What is your answer?"

Gon did not speak.

The old woman's gaze passed over Gon and landed on Saitama at the very back.

"And you, bald boy. If your mother and lover were captured by villains at the same time, who would you save?"

Saitama tilted his head.

"I don't have a lover. And my mom's dead."

The old woman was silent for a moment.

"So?"

"So this question has nothing to do with me."

The surrounding examinees looked at one another. Someone quietly said, "That works?" while someone else held back a laugh. Leorio rubbed his forehead, and the corner of Kurapika's mouth twitched.

The old woman stared at Saitama for a long time.

Her Nen extended outward. It was an incredibly fine and concealed thread, like a breeze brushing past the tips of one's hair—ordinary people would never notice it. The instant her Nen touched Saitama, it vanished. It was not repelled, nor was it blocked by any defense. It simply disappeared, like a drop of water falling into the sea without leaving even a ripple.

One of the old woman's fingers trembled beneath her sleeve. Her expression did not change.

Then she smiled. The wrinkles on her face bunched together, making the smile ugly, but it was undeniably a smile.

"Correct. The four of you have passed."

Leorio froze. "Passed? We didn't say anything!"

The old woman's smile faded as she slowly explained, "This question has never had a so-called correct answer. When true disaster strikes, it never gives you a chance to choose, nor does it give you time to weigh the pros and cons. The condition for passing was never choosing the so-called correct answer. It was staying calm before an unsolvable dilemma, refusing to be controlled by emotion, and not making a blind choice. Those examinees who rushed to choose one or two have all been sent down the dead road infested with magical beasts. They will never reach the exam site."

Leorio opened his mouth, then slowly lowered his fist. Kurapika released him and let out a long breath. Gon grinned.

Behind the old woman, the masked people stepped aside. A medium-built man walked out of the house, a faint glow surrounding him as he instantly transformed into a fluffy fox.

Leorio's eyes widened. "A fox?! Was that a transformation?"

The fox scanned the group, his gaze lingering on Saitama for a moment. He had stood behind the old woman when she extended her Nen. He had felt the Nen reach out, and then—felt nothing at all. There was no trace of Nen on this bald man. Yet he had passed.

"I am the navigator, Fox Bear," the fox said gently. "Congratulations on passing the first trial. Next, I will lead you through Cedar Mountain to the official venue of the Hunter Exam. Remember to follow closely and do not leave the group on your own."

He turned and walked through the wooden door. Gon was the first to follow, with Kurapika close behind. Leorio swallowed and followed as well. Saitama came last, yawning.

The wooden door slowly closed behind them.

Beyond it was a long passageway. Oil lamps burned along the walls, casting dim light. Fox Bear's footsteps were soft, like he was walking on cotton, almost completely silent.

Leorio could not help asking, "Are you really a fox?" Fox Bear did not answer.

Gon quickened his pace and walked beside Fox Bear. "Mr. Navigator, how far is the exam site?"

"We'll be there once we cross Cedar Mountain."

Kurapika spoke up. "Are there other routes besides ours?"

"Yes. They will all converge at the same place."

A light appeared at the end of the passage. Fox Bear pushed open a door, revealing a wetland shrouded in thick fog. The mist was as dense as milk; nothing could be seen beyond three meters.

Fox Bear stopped.

"Up ahead is Visca Swamp, also known as the 'Swindler's Nest.' There are many magical beasts that imitate human voices, as well as all kinds of traps. Stay close to me, and do not trust any voice you hear."

Leorio tensed up. "Imitate human voices? What does that mean?"

Fox Bear did not answer and stepped into the thick fog.

In front of the television, Genos held half a plain potato chip. On the screen, Saitama was following Gon and the others toward the village.

The voice of an Association receptionist suddenly came through his earpiece. "Mr. Genos, three Tiger-level slug monsters have appeared in Zone Z. Hellish Blizzard, Rank 1 of B-Class, has been defeated. Emergency support is requested."

Understood. Master is absent. I will handle it myself.

He jumped out the window. Two pale blue incineration blasts flashed.

Two minutes and seventeen seconds later, Genos returned to his seat, spotless.

Eliminated. No casualties.

He looked up to see Fox Bear leading the group into the thick fog.

I missed it.

He did not touch the remote and continued staring at the screen.

Potato Chip Supply: Two-thirds of the plain chips remaining.

Note: Fight monsters during commercial breaks next time.