"Pietro…?"
Leorio murmured the name under his breath, his expression momentarily dazed.
"Then why couldn't you operate on me back then? Why did you just watch me die? I was already dead—
a cold corpse that would never move again."
Pietro's voice was hoarse, filled with resentment, as though all the bitterness of his death had poured out at once.
Before Leorio's eyes, Pietro seemed to appear again—red clothes, khaki pants—but now only as a skeleton.
He had indeed been dead for many years.
"No… that's not it. I wanted to save you too. But I had no money. And surgery requires a licensed doctor.
Becoming a real doctor costs a huge amount of money…"
Leorio spoke as if in a trance.
Lu ou noticed Leorio's abnormal state immediately and frowned slightly.
So this was fate after all.
Even though Lu ou had done everything he could to prevent Leorio from being led by Tonpa into the Bewitching Cedar Forest and triggering his inner demons during interrogation, it had still happened.
Most likely, Leorio had unknowingly inhaled a small amount of the cedar tree sap's sweet fragrance earlier, and with his stamina already depleted and his emotional knot deeply rooted, the mental trial had finally been triggered.
Fortunately, the amount he inhaled was minimal—more of a test of mental fortitude than a real danger.
Lu ou quietly let out a breath and relaxed a little.
There was no real threat to Leorio's safety, but seeing him ride a skateboard while mentally drifting through such a psychological ordeal meant Luou had to keep a close eye on him.
The others also noticed Leorio's condition. Seeing that Lu ou didn't intervene, they understood it wasn't something to disturb lightly. Still, they subtly moved a little closer to Leorio, ready in case something went wrong.
Even Killua unconsciously edged closer, looking as if he might lend a hand at any moment.
Tonpa, on the other hand, didn't think much of it. But since he still had his own schemes in mind, he couldn't afford to let things fall apart now. He followed along with the group, keeping a wary eye on Leorio as well.
"Money… lots of money… If I pass the Hunter Exam, I'll have lots of money…"
Leorio repeated the word money over and over. Gradually, his eyes cleared, and Pietro's phantom vanished.
Because Kurapika was standing close, he heard Leorio muttering "money, money" repeatedly and felt a black line form across his forehead.
To be obsessed with money even while half-delirious… just how attached was this man to it?
Everyone present had exceptionally sharp senses and had naturally heard Leorio's muttering as well. They couldn't help but feel both amused and exasperated.
This was the very definition of "money to the grave."
"Right… if I pass the Hunter Exam, I'll have a lot of money. A lot."
This time, Leorio was completely lucid.
Carrying the crushing weight of his best friend's death—and knowing that his own helplessness had played a part—was an unimaginable burden. Leorio often thought that if he'd had money back then, or if he'd already been a licensed doctor, maybe everything would have turned out differently.
The Bewitching Cedar sap had given him an outlet today, forcing open the festering wound in his heart so it could finally heal.
"I'm going to pass the exam! I'm going to make lots of money!"
Leorio suddenly roared, catching Lu ou and the others completely off guard.
Their first instinct was to run faster—to put some distance between themselves and the guy shouting about money. Unspoken consensus formed instantly: We don't know him.
Unfortunately, such self-deception was useless.
Since they were already near the back of the group, Leorio's sudden shout drew the attention—and laughter—of nearly every remaining examinee.
Having just broken free from his inner demon, Leorio had no awareness of his surroundings. He'd simply blurted out his true feelings. Now, even with skin as thick as his, he couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
"I'd rather quit right now than quit halfway… If I started, then I should see it through."
Hanzo, who had endured years of brutal training, couldn't understand why so many people gave up midway. Hearing Leorio's determination not to quit made him look at him with new respect.
Leorio stopped his skateboard, picked it up, and stood firmly on the ground. He loosened his suit jacket, looking ready to go all out.
"Here—thank you, Killua."
Leorio handed the skateboard back, bowing deeply in gratitude.
"…Yeah."
Killua nodded. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes as he studied Leorio carefully. Seeing the seriousness in his gaze, he silently accepted the skateboard without another word.
"And you too, Lu ou—thank you. But I think I can make it on my own now. I'll be fine."
Leorio spoke with conviction.
"Alright. If you can't hold on anymore, say so."
Lu ou replied calmly.
Gon and Kurapika exchanged a smile, choosing not to interfere.
That was what companions were for—trusting and supporting one another.
"Let's go!"
Leorio ran ahead confidently.
His suitcase had already been hooked onto Gon's fishing rod earlier, leaving him unburdened. Without the weight—and with his emotional knot finally undone—he ran surprisingly well, looking genuinely capable of making it.
The others exchanged glances, shook their heads lightly, and followed after him.
"Huff… huff…"
After running continuously for over two hours, it was nothing short of a miracle for Lu ou, who had been an ordinary person not long ago. Even with the training from the Face Fruit, the mental fatigue was unavoidable.
Calculating the time, Lu ou figured they were nearing the end. With dangerous beasts awaiting them in the Drowned Swamp—and the need to prepare for the second phase—insufficient stamina would be fatal.
It was time to activate the backup plan.
"Tonpa-san still looks like he has plenty of energy. Your stamina is impressive."
Lu ou subtly moved closer to Tonpa, running alongside him while speaking casually.
"Of course. This much is nothing. I've done this plenty of times."
Tonpa replied modestly.
"Tonpa-san, you're being too humble. You're barely even breathing hard. Especially at your age—that's truly impressive. Sadly, I'm not nearly as fit."
Lu ou sighed regretfully.
"It's fine. You should be able to hang on."
Tonpa listened to the praise with a vague sense that something was off, but couldn't pinpoint what. He grew a little uneasy.
This guy feels dangerous. I'd better be careful.
"Tonpa-san, earlier you said that if I had any questions, I could ask you—was that really true?"
Lu ou asked hesitantly, looking embarrassed.
"Of course. If there's anything I can help with, I will."
Tonpa replied cautiously.
" Tonpa-san is so reliable. You're kind-hearted too—sharing so much useful information right from the start. That's really rare."
Lu ou flattered him earnestly.
"That's nothing. We help each other out. I was a rookie once too."
Tonpa said righteously, wearing a thoroughly respectable expression.
The Face Fruit began to activate…