The atmosphere in the airship's luxurious dining room was rather strange.
With the final test approaching, most of the applicants had little appetite. They sat in twos and threes, either talking quietly or resting with their eyes closed.
Hanzo, the bald ninja, held a glass of water and silently studied everyone around him.
As a ninja who moved through the shadows, assessing every potential opponent had long since become instinct.
Hisoka, that pervert, was absent, and so was Illumi, that weirdo. Among the remaining applicants, Gon's group undoubtedly stood out the most.
Especially the one named Lin Yan.
Hanzo's gaze settled on a nearby table.
Kurapika sat there, the black tea before him already cold. His golden bangs hid his eyes, leaving his thoughts unreadable.
"Tap."
Hanzo gently set his glass on the table, pulled out a chair, and sat opposite Kurapika.
"Hey."
He got straight to the point, lowering his voice. "That friend of yours, Lin Yan-what exactly is his deal?"
Kurapika raised his head, a flicker of wariness crossing his clear eyes. "Why do you ask?"
"No reason. Just curious."
Hanzo shrugged and leaned forward slightly. "Back on Zevil Island, he managed to get a number badge from Hisoka.
"Then Illumi went looking for him just now. Anyone who attracts both those monsters' attention and lives has to be something special."
He paused, his gaze sharpening. "He looks frail, with no obvious muscle definition, yet he can use those invisible moves.
"Is he a qigong practitioner from some school? Or does he know some special sorcery?"
Kurapika fell silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head. "I don't know. His power is strange. It's unlike any martial arts school I've read about in ancient texts."
"Unlike any of them?" Hanzo grew even more interested. "Even you can't