Unexpected Landing Spot

The massive stone gate of Trick Tower slowly closed behind them with a deep, rumbling boom, as if announcing the end of a perilous journey and the beginning of a new chapter.

Gon, Killua, Kurapika, Leorio, Tonpa, Hisoka, Illumi, Hanzo, Ponzu... These surviving examinees wore expressions ranging from excitement to exhaustion to indifference. Each carried different thoughts as they headed toward an airship moored in the distance. Ryan walked slowly at the very back, maintaining Zetsu the entire time and making sure not to reveal the slightest trace of his aura.

His steps were steady and calm, and his eyes swept rapidly over Shu's surroundings, observing everyone's expressions—Gon's excited smile, the mischievous curve at the corner of Killua's mouth, Kurapika's slightly wary sidelong glance, Leorio's loud, carefree shouting, Tonpa's guilty survivor's smile, Hisoka's half-lowered eyelids and lightly tapping fingers on his cards, Illumi shrouded in shadows, and Hanzo and Ponzu each lowering their heads in thought.

The airship's crew told the examinees, "Please rest on the airship for a while. We'll be heading to the transit point for the next part of the examination." The examinees filed aboard one after another, with Ryan boarding last and quietly taking a seat off to the side. His fingers rested at his waist, ready to draw his dagger at any moment. All his senses were fully extended, alert yet composed. The airship slowly rose into the sky. In the main cabin, Gon excitedly dragged Killua around to look at everything. "Wow, Killua, so this is an airship! How cool!" Killua rolled his eyes. "Compared to this, I'm more interested in what's going to happen next." Leorio lounged in his seat. "I just want to catch up on some sleep. I'm exhausted." Kurapika sat to one side, quietly wiping his weapon while occasionally glancing