Chapter 78 — The Retest
Osren forced himself to steady the restless energy surging through his body.
When he noticed Kurapika glancing toward him, he gave a small, reassuring nod.
Seeing that nod, Kurapika finally relaxed. With the tension lifted, he even found the mood to observe the "old man descending like a savior" with genuine curiosity.
As Chairman Netero walked toward Menchi, he suddenly paused—
His gaze swept sharply in Osren's direction.
When their eyes met, something flickered in the depths of the Chairman's expression before he moved on without stopping.
Shff.
A chill instantly ran down Osren's spine.
Just from that single glance, every cell in his body snapped into first-degree combat readiness—tense, alert, trembling on the edge.
"The strongest man of the previous era… Even if age has worn away his peak, he's still terrifying."
Osren could feel the crushing pressure lingering on his skin.
Netero finally stopped about three meters from Menchi.
"You wanted to test whether these candidates had the courage to challenge the unknown, so you chose a cooking challenge for the second phase… is that right?"
The Chairman's tone was calm but carried undeniable weight.
"Yes, Chairman! You are correct," Menchi answered loudly. "My intention was to conduct a test that evaluated both internal and external qualities. So naturally, I thought of using an extremely difficult dish to distinguish skill and resolve."
"Naturally?"
Netero's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Ah— I mean… no…"
Menchi suddenly froze, realizing she had walked herself right into that trap.
"So in the end, your conclusion was that nearly everyone lacked the ability to challenge the unknown. And therefore, you marked almost all of them as unqualified. Correct?"
Netero pressed.
"That's not it! It's just—"
Menchi's voice rose in panic.
"The candidates had such a dismissive attitude toward cooking that it made me furious! And then… once the correct method for making sushi became known to all the candidates, I started to feel nervous. My blood got pumped up, and— and I had eaten way too much by then… so my head got hot, and I—"
She trailed off completely, unable to defend herself further.
Although Menchi was impulsive, fiery, and unreasonably strict when it came to cuisine, she was far from stupid.
She immediately understood what Chairman Netero's questions implied and confessed her thoughts honestly, point by point.
Hanzō, however, shrank his neck at the moment she mentioned "the sushi-making method getting leaked to everyone."
He knew very well that he was the culprit—though unintentionally.
"So," Netero continued calmly, "you yourself admit that the evaluation of this test was unfair, correct?"
"Yes… once it involves cooking, I lose control far too easily. I'm not qualified to be an examiner. I truly apologize."
Menchi lowered her head, eyes shut in shame. She knew she had made a mistake; apologizing was the least she could do.
"HAHAHAHA!"
Netero suddenly burst into hearty laughter.
"You're an honest girl, that's for sure. And although you had some issues acting as examiner this time, your qualifications as a One-Star Gourmet Hunter are beyond doubt. If anything, this incident only proves again how passionate you are about cooking."
"Chairman!"
Menchi raised her head gratefully, her mood instantly brightened.
"Now then," Netero said, "let's simply conduct a new cooking test. I hope you'll continue presiding over it. However, there's one condition: as the examiner, you must demonstrate the dish yourself alongside the candidates. What do you think?"
The old fox struck again—brilliantly.
He found a solution that preserved Menchi's dignity, upheld the Hunter Association's authority, and ensured the candidates had no reason to object.
"Truly devious," Osren murmured.
He couldn't think of a better solution—Netero's approach was perfect.
The candidates, already stirred up by the previous fiasco, were now practically vibrating with anticipation.
"That's great!" Gon beamed.
A retest meant another chance to pass—and another step toward finding his father.
Kurapika also felt relief. He was closer to his goal.
Leorio and Killua were just as thrilled—continuing the exam was the best outcome.
"This should satisfy them, don't you agree?"
Netero turned toward the candidates, as though politely requesting their approval despite already knowing the answer.
"Yes!!"
"That's fair!"
"We accept!"
Excitement crackled through the air.
"But remember," Osren said calmly, splashing cold water on their excitement, "this is still a test. Don't let your guard down."
Kurapika nodded in agreement—though he also felt safer knowing Osren was with them.
"That's for sure," Leorio laughed, slinging an arm over Osren's shoulder.
"We'll stay alert," Killua added, unusually cheerful.
"I won't lose this time!" Gon tightened his fists, burning with determination.
"Hehehehe…"
A shadow leaned casually against a tree—Hisoka had returned, clearly pleased by the turn of events.
"Of course…"
Even Tonpa, finally crawling back onto his feet, looked relieved. The beating still stung, but nothing was more important than another chance to pass.
Unbeknownst to Tonpa, his days were already numbered—someone had set their eyes on him.
With just a few words, Chairman Netero had revived the dead atmosphere.
"So, Examiner Menchi," Netero asked after the discussions quieted, "what will the new test be?"
"Let me think…"
Menchi tapped her delicate chin thoughtfully.
Her eyes suddenly lit up.
"The next test… will be boiled eggs."
"That's great! I can definitely do that!" Gon cheered instantly.
"So easy? I've got this in the bag," Killua grinned.
"Same here!" Leorio hooked his arm around Gon's neck, laughing.
"…Something feels off."
Kurapika's brows furrowed. The simplicity of the dish didn't sit right with him.
"You're forgetting something?" Osren cut in sharply.
"—The ingredient?"
The four exchanged glances.
"Exactly. The real test will be the egg we're supposed to boil."
Osren confirmed their suspicions.
The group fell silent, each imagining the worst possible scenario.
"Boiled eggs?"
Candidates murmured among themselves—unable to believe it was so easy.
The sharper ones already sensed that Menchi had something else in mind.
And so, the retest was about to begin.