"Ohohohoho! Seeing you in such good spirits puts my mind at ease."
Accompanied by a very distinctive laugh, an old man with a sky-high ponytail and traditional martial arts attire walked into the ward.
Evidently, this was none other than Isaac Netero, renowned as the strongest Nen user in the Hunter World, an ancient monster who retained his powerful fighting ability despite living for over a century.
The old man first glanced at Lupos, who had climbed to its feet and adopted a highly vigilant stance. He then slowly pulled a card bearing a double-X logo from his pocket and offered it directly to Allen.
"After deliberation among all the Examiners and observing your performance during the test, we unanimously agree to pass you as the sole successful candidate of the 286th Hunter Exam. Here, this is your Hunter License."
"A Hunter License? For me? A failure?" Allen stared at the card held close to him, a puzzled expression on his face.
During his recovery in the hospital, he had managed to sort through the residual memories of the body's original owner, giving him a clearer picture of why he had encountered the deviant Hisoka immediately after transmigrating.
The answer was simple.
The body's original owner had participated in the 286th Hunter Exam. He unfortunately ran into Hisoka during a murderous outburst, where the latter injured an Examiner and began slaughtering the applicants. The original owner was pierced through the heart by a playing card and died on the spot, allowing Allen's transmigrated soul to take over.
As a side note, the following year, the 287th Hunter Exam, was when the protagonists Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio would officially make their debut.
"Ohohoho! The Hunter Exam isn't just about judging success or failure; it's a test of your potential. In my opinion, for you to have injured Hisoka under those circumstances, you were more than exceptional. So don't belittle yourself. I believe you will become an excellent Hunter. Take it; this will be the start of your new life."
As he spoke, Chairman Netero offered the Hunter License closer, his eyes revealing undisguised admiration.
He had witnessed the battle via surveillance footage and knew exactly how difficult it was to temporarily suppress, or even injure, a battle-hardened maniac like Hisoka without having learned Nen.
Especially when faced with that terrifying killing intent and severely wounded, the boy had shown not the slightest trace of fear, fighting with everything he had until the very last moment. That kind of strong will meant that once he learned Nen, he would, without a doubt, quickly grow into a master.
Staring at the small card held within arm's reach, Allen did not immediately reach for it. Instead, he fell into a silent state of contemplation.
What did the Hunter License signify?
Having watched the anime, he was perfectly aware!
With that tiny card, he could not only enter 90% of all countries and 75% of restricted areas that ordinary people could never access, but also use 95% of public facilities for free. It allowed him to access specialized Hunter databases, could be used as collateral for loans, and selling it could instantly yield a massive fortune, enough to live comfortably for generations.
Most importantly!
Typically, it was only after obtaining the Hunter License that one would begin the final test of a Hunter: learning Nen. Otherwise, most ordinary people in this world, and even over 80% of the wealthy and high-ranking officials, would remain ignorant of Nen's existence.
The problem was that Allen did not want to pass the Hunter Exam as a "failure."
In his view, unless he could defeat Hisoka during the Hunter Exam, even getting the license would feel incredibly unsatisfactory—like swallowing a fly, a symbol of personal humiliation.
After repeated internal contemplation and struggle, he finally opened his eyes and spoke to the old man standing by his bed: "I apologize, Chairman. Please allow me to refuse."
"Oh? Refuse. Why?" Netero asked with a smile.
"Because this isn't what I want. Don't worry, my refusal isn't because I don't want to become a Hunter. On the contrary, I feel I am not yet worthy of passing the exam. Please give me one year. I will return here in one year," Allen answered solemnly.
"Ohohoho! I see. Very well, I understand. I wish you a speedy recovery, and I look forward to seeing you next year."
Netero laughed, retracted the Hunter License, and decisively turned to leave with Bean. There was no hesitation whatsoever.
Listening to their footsteps gradually fade away, Allen, still on the bed, immediately leaped up. His movements and agility were completely unlike those of a patient who had nearly died from severe injuries.
He first carefully checked his surroundings, then glanced at the clock, confirming that no one would interrupt him for several hours. Only then did he draw the curtains and lock the door. He placed one hand on Lupos's head and silently uttered the word, "Teleport."
Instantly!
A flash of white light occurred, and the boy and the wolf vanished from the ward without a trace.
The next second…
They appeared inside an ancient, massive ruin. Everywhere Allen looked, there were huge statues and stone columns. In the passages to the left and right, he could faintly see numerous Troggs roaming about.
Any player from the 60-era could instantly recognize this as the classic Level 45 dungeon, Uldaman, which revealed much about the Titans and their creations—the Earthen and the Dwarves.
Of course, Allen was already intimately familiar with the history of Azeroth's changes. He immediately pressed his hand to his chest, causing the Hunter's equipment panel to surface, preventing his bandages from picking up any dust or dirt, which would be difficult to explain to the doctor later.
After doing all this, he immediately threw a Freezing Trap on the ground and gave the order to the Wolf Alpha, Lupos: "Go! Tear them apart!"
"Awoooooo!!!!"
Following a sharp wolf howl, the silver giant wolf shot out like an arrow, directly pouncing on the nearest Trogg Shaman, pinning it to the ground and viciously tearing into it—the scene was incredibly bloody and brutal.
Yet Allen had clearly adapted to all of this. He unhesitatingly raised his hand for a Hunter's Mark.
Multi-Shot, Serpent Sting, and Arcane Shot followed closely behind!
Relying on his absolute level advantage and a frantic output that spared no mana, it wasn't long before two elite Troggs lay dead on the ground, transformed into Experience Points, gold, cloth, and potions as loot.
It was obvious that he was using this method to gain Experience Points and acquire things that could only be found within the game.
As for why he wasn't doing quests on the outer map, it was because he could only stay inside the dungeon. If he touched the swirling portal at the dungeon entrance, he would instantly be teleported back to the hospital room.
This was a conclusion Allen had reached after repeated experimentation.
Meanwhile, the severe injuries that would have killed an ordinary person several times over had long since recovered with the help of Healing Potions. The main reason he hadn't left the hospital yet was to avoid drawing attention — he intended to stay for at least another month.
Otherwise, his rate of self-healing would undoubtedly reach the ears of the Hunter Association, potentially inviting unnecessary trouble.