A game of surrender

Among the spectators, Menchi stood off to one side, her face livid.

She stared at the examinees in the hall, gritting her teeth.

"What kind of Hunter Exam is this?" she muttered. "They're all surrendering, one after another. Are they playing house?"

Buhara stood beside her, rubbing his belly. "Menchi, don't get so angry."

"How could I not?" Menchi pointed at the hall. "Look at them! Odin surrendered, Hisoka surrendered, Killua surrendered, Gittarackur surrendered. This isn't a final exam. It's a surrender convention!"

Buhara chuckled. "But they did pass. The rules say the loser advances and the winner passes. Surrendering just lets them face someone they can handle sooner. Nothing wrong with that."

Menchi glared at him. "Easy for you to say!"

Buhara rubbed his belly and fell silent.

Sitting beside Odin, Ponzu watched Menchi's expression and whispered, "That examiner looks really angry."

"Yeah," Odin said.

"Will she disqualify us?"

"No," Odin said. "Chairman Netero set the rules. She has no authority to change them."

Ponzu sighed in relief, then asked curiously, "There's only one match left. Do you think that white-haired kid can win? Honestly, I'm really hoping he does."

She looked at Gittarackur in the corner, then at Killua beside Gon.

"Match nine: Gittarackur versus Killua. Both contestants, please prepare."

Gittarackur stood up.

The pins in his body swayed gently with his movements, making faint clicking sounds.

He walked to the center of the hall and stopped.

Killua stood up too.

He walked to the center and stood opposite Gittarackur.

Their eyes met.

The hall was so quiet that their breathing could be heard.

The referee raised his hand.

"Begin."

Killua intended to finish this quickly.

"Killua, you hurt Mom and ran away. Mom cried~" Gittarackur's words made Killua's relaxed body go rigid in an instant.

Killua's pupils constricted as he stared at the pin-covered man in horror.

After a few seconds, Gittarackur raised his hand.

Under everyone's gaze, he grasped a pin in his face and slowly pulled it out.

The pin came free with a faint scraping sound.

Everyone watched Gittarackur in confusion.

Ignoring the people around him, Gittarackur continued pulling out the pins.

One, two, three.

The pins fell to the floor with crisp clinks.

His face began to change.

The muscles distorted by the pins rapidly returned to their original positions, and his features soon softened.

His hair changed too, going from stiff, short black hair to soft, long black hair.

In barely ten seconds, Gittarackur was gone.

In his place stood a young man with long black hair, delicate features, pale skin, and deep, empty eyes.

Illumi Zoldyck.

He looked at Killua, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

"Killua," he said softly. "Mom told me through her tears that she was so happy. She said you'd grown up."

Killua stood rooted to the spot, his face pale.

His body was tense, like a frightened cat.

Gon stood up. "Killua! What's wrong? Do you know him?"

Killua said nothing.

Leorio and Kurapika stood up too, staring at the center of the arena.

Illumi looked at Killua with calm eyes. "It's too soon for you to take the Hunter Exam. I'm here because I need a Hunter License for a job. Come back when you need one."

Killua gritted his teeth without speaking.

Illumi paused, then continued, "You're an assassin. All an assassin needs to do is complete his jobs. There's no need to play house here."

"I want to make friends," Killua said defiantly.

"You don't need friends. Your family is all you need. Besides, you'll never have friends." Illumi's gaze turned dangerous.

"That's not true! I have friends!" Killua protested anxiously.

"That's right! We're Killua's friends! What's wrong with making friends?" Gon and Leorio shouted from the sidelines.

Illumi looked at Gon at the edge of the arena, his gaze lingering on him for two seconds.

"Is this your friend?" he asked. "Looks like I'll have to kill him."

Killua's pupils constricted.

Illumi walked toward Gon.

Leorio and Kurapika stood beside Gon, watching Gittarackur grimly.

Gon also braced himself for a fight.

Illumi narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at them, as though weighing something.

Killua stood where he was, his hands clenched into fists.

He looked at Gon.

Gon stood at the edge of the arena, his face full of anxiety. "Killua! Don't give up! Fight!"

Leorio shouted too. "Kid, what are you scared of? Hit him!"

Kurapika frowned but said nothing.

Killua clenched his fists even tighter.

He turned back to Illumi.

Killua was silent for a few seconds.

Then he raised his hand.

"I surrender."

The referee announced, "Killua surrenders. Gittarackur wins."

Gon rushed into the arena. "Killua! Why?"

Killua said nothing. He simply turned and left.

Gon chased after him, but Killua walked quickly without looking back.

Leorio and Kurapika followed too.

Illumi stayed where he was, watching them leave.

Then he looked at Hisoka.

Hisoka met his eyes, then smiled and put away the playing cards in his hand.

Clearly, if not for Hisoka's actions just now, Illumi really would have attacked.

Beans walked over to the board and directed the others as they tidied up.

Menchi stood off to one side, looking even angrier than before.

"What a complete mess," she grumbled, then turned and left.

Buhara followed her, rubbing his belly. "Menchi, wait for me."

Only a few examinees remained in the hall.

Sitting beside Odin, Ponzu whispered, "Is it over?"

"Yeah," Odin said. "The final exam is over."

Ponzu was silent for a few seconds, then smiled.

"So I passed?"

"You passed."

Ponzu let out a long breath.

"It's finally... over."

Beans walked to the center of the hall.

"The last match is over. We will now compile the list of successful candidates."

The examinees stood where they were and waited.

"The successful candidates are as follows."

He read out the names:

"Hisoka."

"Gittarackur."

"Hanzo."

"Odin."

"Gon."

"Pokkle."

"Kurapika."

"Leorio."

"Ponzu."

"These nine candidates have passed."

Ponzu froze for a moment, then grabbed Odin's arm, her face filled with excitement.

Odin breathed a sigh of relief and nodded with a smile.

Gon, who had already returned, was still staring at the doorway without saying a word.

Leorio patted him on the shoulder.

Gon shook his head to show that he was all right, but his expression remained troubled.

"Congratulations, everyone. Gather in the conference room here at nine tomorrow morning for the Hunter Lecture. You are now dismissed," Beans said, putting away the list in his hand.

With that, he turned and left.

The examinees left the hall one after another.

Odin and Ponzu walked out together.