The Hunter Association's airship cruised steadily ten thousand meters above the ground, passing through banks of clouds.
Inside its dining hall, the atmosphere was livelier than ever.
Fueled by alcohol, the exhilaration of surviving a brush with death had even these normally composed examinees cutting loose.
"Come on! Cheers! To our great victory!"
Leorio raised his glass high.
His face, which looked far older than his actual age, was flushed red with excitement and alcohol.
He clapped Lin Yan hard on the shoulder. "And especially to our hero, Lin Yan! If it weren't for you, we'd still be locked up in that Trick Tower!"
"Cheers!" Gon excitedly raised his juice glass and clinked it against Leorio's. The crisp sound rang out clearly even amid the noisy dining hall.
Kurapika said nothing, but he too raised his glass toward Lin Yan and gave him a solemn nod, his eyes full of sincere gratitude.
Lin Yan smiled and raised his own glass in acknowledgment.
He could feel it. After facing life and death together in the Trick Tower, he had truly become part of this little group-and an indispensable member at that.
It felt good.
Just then, the dining hall's loudspeaker suddenly crackled to life.
A high-pitched voice that somehow sounded like a bean rang throughout the airship:
"Attention, examinees. Attention, examinees. I am Beans, Chairman Netero's secretary. I will now explain the fourth phase of the exam."
The noise in the dining hall died away instantly.
"The fourth phase will take place on Zevil Island, east of Saba City. Your test will be a week-long badge hunt."
Beans explained the rules at an unhurried pace.
"Before landing on the island, each of you will draw a card bearing the number of your designated prey."
"Your own badge is worth three points."
"Your prey's badge is also worth three points. Anyone else's badge is worth only one point."
"At the end of the week, anyone who has accumulated a total of six points will pass."
As soon as the rules were announced, a chorus of sharp intakes of breath swept through the dining hall.
Everyone was both hunter and prey.
Tension and suspicion instantly replaced the earlier ease.
"In other words, the simplest method is to hold on to your own badge and take your prey's," Kurapika analyzed calmly, a grave look settling over his brow.
"But how could it be that easy?" Leorio exclaimed. "While you're looking for your prey, your hunter will be looking for you! It'll be a total free-for-all!"
Lin Yan listened in silence, his thoughts turning.
A badge hunt... Hisoka will definitely enjoy this. And there's Illumi... I hope I don't run into those monsters.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the red-haired figure playing with cards nearby.
Hisoka seemed to sense his gaze. He looked up and gave Lin Yan a meaningful smile, his eyes regarding him like an amusing toy.
Lin Yan's heart sank.
The airship slowly descended into Zevil Island's harbor.
The moment they stepped out of the cabin, hot, humid air washed over them, heavy with the scent of vegetation and the salty tang of the sea breeze.
The island was far larger than they had imagined. Primeval jungle stretched as far as the eye could see, its towering trees blotting out the sky. Strange birdcalls and animal roars occasionally rose from the forest, filling it with mystery and danger.
All the examinees were gathered in a clearing.
Secretary Beans stood on a temporary platform, reiterated the rules, and announced how they would enter the island.
"To ensure fairness, you will enter in the order determined by the draw. Every two minutes, a guide will lead one examinee onto the island from a different landing point."
"That's ruthless," Killua said quietly beside them. "They're scattering us completely. We'll be on our own from the start. Even forming a team will be hard."
"That isn't necessarily bad," Kurapika said. "At least we won't have to worry about being targeted as a group and surrounded right away."
"Then what do we do? Should we agree on somewhere to meet?" Leorio asked.
"There's no point." Lin Yan shook his head.
"This island is too big, and the terrain is complicated. Once we're inside, finding one another will be too difficult. Let's act separately. Staying alive comes first."
Gon nodded emphatically too. "Yeah! Everyone, be careful! We'll meet at the finish!"
There was no fear of the impending bloodshed in the boy's clear eyes. Instead, they brimmed with anticipation for the adventure.
Watching him, Lin Yan couldn't help marveling. Gon's pure, childlike heart was itself an incredibly powerful force.
"All right. We will now begin the draw to determine your prey."
As soon as Beans finished speaking, a staff member carrying an opaque box began making his way through the examinees.
The atmosphere instantly grew heavy.
One after another, the examinees reached into the box and drew the cards that would decide their fates.
Some turned deathly pale the moment they saw the number on their card;
others broke into savage grins;
most kept their faces blank, giving no one a glimpse of their thoughts.
Lin Yan silently activated his Qi Observation Technique, studying the aura of everyone around him.
Fear, greed, murderous intent, wariness... all manner of negative emotions wove an invisible net through the crowd.
He saw the bald ninja, Hanzo. His qi was steady and sharp, like an unsheathed blade.
He saw the nail-faced Gittarackur. His qi was eerie and chilling, like a venomous snake lurking in the dark. Even Lin Yan's dantian embryo felt a faint discomfort.
Finally, his gaze settled on Hisoka.
The twisted magician was leaning against a tree, idly licking a playing card.
His qi was unlike anyone else's: a pinkish-purple aura mingling extreme excitement with icy murderous intent. Like a vortex that constantly contracted and expanded, it was steeped in menace and madness.
Please don't let me draw him... Lin Yan prayed inwardly.
Of everyone in the Hunter Exam, the last person he wanted to face as an enemy was this unpredictable madman who delighted in toying with his prey.
"Next."
The staff member stopped in front of Lin Yan.
Lin Yan took a deep breath and reached into the box.
The box was full of identical cards. He picked one at random and pulled it out.
He didn't look at it immediately.
He could feel several hostile gazes settling on him. One in particular clung to him, hotter and more insistent than the rest.
Hisoka.
Lin Yan casually returned to his original spot and turned his back to the crowd. Only then did he slowly scrape away the card's silver coating with his fingernail.
Beneath the coating, a number in black gradually emerged.
The instant he saw that number clearly, Lin Yan's pupils shrank to pinpoints.
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