Business at the Dessert Shop gradually settled into a steady rhythm.
After a happy reunion with their friends, Killua and Alluka set off on their travels once again.
Gon returned to Aunt Mito's side.
The kid had lost his Nen Ability. Though more extraordinary encounters surely awaited him in future adventures, for now, it seemed nice for him to stay quietly on Whale Island and keep Mito company for a while.
The days passed, and soon registration for the Hunter Exam opened again.
The adults and children of Whale Island had witnessed Gon's exploits firsthand. When they heard he had successfully become a Hunter, every one of them was terribly envious.
Among them was Lisa, the daughter of the owner of the general store next door to the Dessert Shop.
"A Luo, did all of you really take the Hunter Exam?"
As A Luo helped Malena at the register, she looked at the young girl beside her, who was thirteen or fourteen at most.
"Why are you asking me that?"
Little Lisa's big eyes darted around before she finally decided to tell A Luo the truth.
"It's Aim, Fula, and the others. They keep going on about taking the Hunter Exam. Everyone even made a bet that whoever passes this year's exam gets to be our leader."
Looking at the bright-eyed girl beside her, A Luo sighed in amusement.
"What about Aunt Leipei? And Aim's and Fula's parents? Are they really letting you get up to this nonsense?"
The world outside was nowhere near as wonderful as they imagined.
If Gon hadn't been so astonishingly gifted, and Ging's son-a born Hunter just like his father-he might well have died in the storm on his very first journey to take the Hunter Exam.
After all, this selection exam had the highest