Chapter 135: Let's Play Together
The 287th Hunter Exam was progressing quickly.
Haze had already arrived at Piska Forest Park, not far from the registration point in Saba City, near the Shimele Wetlands.
The Association had arranged a small cabin for him to rest in.
All he had to do now was wait quietly.
Still, in the meantime, he wandered around Saba City for a bit.
Just like in the Hunter Exam he'd once taken himself, a large number of outsiders were pouring into the city every day. Judging by their temperament and eyes, most were exceptional candidates.
Those who reached the end of the exam all shared certain traits.
And most importantly ... among them were quite a few familiar faces.
Haze's daily pleasure was to sit at the registration area ... on a street corner across from a restaurant and beside a juice stand.
There, under a parasol, he'd leisurely watch the newcomers enter the restaurant with their arrogant, overconfident expressions, silently counting and ranking them by order of arrival.
Some candidates arrived guided by exam proctors, while others had discovered the location and come on their own ... the trial missions in each region were different.
Haze also spotted an old acquaintance ... Tonpa.
But Tonpa didn't notice him.
That sly man was also loitering nearby, pretending to be a passerby while secretly observing every new arrival.
For several consecutive days, Haze saw him scurrying about the streets, clearly having fun.
Tonpa's number was 16, meaning he was among the first to arrive.
He had plenty of time to gather information and prepare.
Several times, Tonpa even passed right in front of the juice shop ... less than a few meters away ... but never saw Haze.
That was because Haze was concealing his presence with Zetsu.
"Anyone here?"
The next day, as usual, Haze sat beneath his parasol, lazily holding a newspaper in one hand and sipping juice through a straw ... completely at ease, like he was on vacation.
Suddenly, a voice came from across the table.
Haze lowered his newspaper and glimpsed a man dressed as a clown standing before him, his expression sinister.
Hisoka.
"Why so slow…?"
Haze rested his chin in his palm, tilting his head slightly.
They'd already been in contact before. Haze had asked Hisoka if he'd be joining this year's Hunter Exam.
He knew Gon and Killua would definitely participate, but Hisoka hadn't been sure ... there might have been a butterfly effect.
Once Hisoka learned that Haze would be one of the examiners for the second round, he immediately expressed his desire to participate.
"Did you miss me?" Hisoka teased, sitting down.
"Yes… the exam hasn't started yet, and I was getting a little bored by myself," Haze replied, nodding.
At this, Hisoka didn't smile as brightly as usual. Though he grinned, his eyes seemed… heavier.
"Oh… you've improved. How calm."
Haze raised an eyebrow, mocking him lightly.
"…"
Hisoka fell silent, idly spinning a playing card between his fingers.
They'd known each other far too long ... and were far too comfortable in each other's presence.
From the very beginning, Hisoka had sensed a cautious hostility in Haze. That subtle tension had always been there.
Even after Haze became one of the Ten Dons… even later, when they went to East Gorteau, Hisoka had remained wary.
That wariness meant danger ... it was that very sense of threat that drew them closer.
But now… that feeling was gone.
Haze no longer seemed to hold any animosity toward him.
On the contrary, he chatted and laughed easily, like they were old friends.
That could only mean one thing ...
To Haze, Hisoka was no longer a threat.
Seeing him again made Hisoka uneasy.
The image of Haze killing the Bozwa tribal chief still burned vividly in his memory. That power… had thrilled him.
He'd had a premonition ... that Haze would undergo a complete transformation, growing even stronger at a terrifying pace.
But he hadn't expected this.
He couldn't sense a trace of Nen from him. It was as if Haze had perfectly blended into the cityscape itself.
Even sitting there, lazily beneath the umbrella, seemingly relaxed and unguarded, Hisoka knew ...
He wouldn't even have a chance to attack.
He had planned to give Haze a little "surprise," but his instincts stopped him cold.
By now, Hisoka would normally be brimming with excitement and bloodlust. Yet this time, he was calm ... eerily calm.
It caught Haze slightly off guard.
"120 points," Hisoka murmured after a pause, smiling. "You exceeded perfection."
He was rating Haze.
"Zero points," Haze replied flatly.
"Are you absolutely sure you can kill me?"
Hisoka narrowed his eyes.
"Do I really need to answer that? Your instincts already have."
Haze took another sip of juice, glancing him over.
"Your physical strength has grown terrifyingly. Seems you've been training hard these past few years."
Haze spoke casually ... but inwardly, he was impressed.
Hisoka… was no longer at the level of a National Hunter.
He was now approaching the Sub-World Level ... perhaps even surpassing Shenhou Saiyu.
His growth far exceeded where he should've been at this point in the original story.
Clearly, Hisoka had been doing something in secret these past years.
"I've changed your fate…" Haze thought with a faint smile. Then he said aloud, "Been learning from me?"
"I can't help it. To kill you, I have to match you in everything. I can't fall behind in any area," Hisoka replied, ordering a juice of his own.
"But compared to you, I still feel a little slow… Though if we fought for real, I doubt I'd lose."
"Because… I'm the strongest."
"You believe that too, don't you? You think you're the strongest."
Hisoka stared directly into Haze's eyes.
"Of course," Haze replied with a small grin, showing his sharp white teeth.
"Don't rush. I'll give you time ... until you're ready. Or…"
He leaned forward slightly.
"We can start acting right now, following your script. I'll play along."
"Back then," Haze continued, "your troupe leader Moritonio groomed you as his successor. That means your acting talent surpasses mine. So I've never doubted your performance skills."
"…Heh."
Hisoka twirled a card beneath his sleeve, a red gleam flickering in his eyes. He licked the edge of the card lightly with the tip of his tongue.
Haze was provoking him ... and he was starting to lose patience.
The next instant, Hisoka froze, as if doused with cold water.
Realization hit, and his expression twisted.
"Are you trying to make me lose control on purpose? Are you toying with me?"
"Tsk, tsk. I thought you'd matured, but it seems a little teasing is still enough to expose your true colors. How disappointing," Haze said, shaking his head in mock disapproval.
Even if Hisoka reached the sub-world level, he still wouldn't be capable of challenging him.
Once surpassed, Hisoka could never catch up ... because humans had limits.
But Haze's abilities… did not.
"Don't talk about me," Hisoka muttered. "You're even worse than I am… For the first time ... I don't like you."
The two fell silent, sipping their juices.
"I came to bring some news," Hisoka said suddenly, a mischievous smile spreading across his face.
"Chrollo and the others… they're already in the Republic of Padokia. I'll head there as soon as I get my license."
He mentioned it just to gauge Haze's reaction ... to see if he was anxious.
After all this time, the Phantom Troupe's revenge against the Field family had officially begun!
"Oh… if you hadn't said that, I might've forgotten all about them," Haze replied, clicking his tongue.
"Not worried, are you?"
"For the past few years, they've been operating separately, growing stronger to prepare for the danger you pose," Hisoka said.
"They hate you ... deeply. And this time, they've all reunited for one purpose: you. Chrollo's determined to kill you."
"When Illumi arrives," Haze said with a faint smile, "let's play together."
"A game?" Hisoka's lips curved upward.
(End of Chapter)