The Greasy Spoon Diner was small and unimpressive—greasy windows, flickering neon lights, and the faint smell of fried oil clinging to everything. Silver and Ponzu stepped inside, silver still damp from the river.
A weary waitress with curlers in her hair walked over, eyeing them skeptically.
"What'll it be?"
Silver stepped forward, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Red Carp Special."
The waitress raised an eyebrow.
"How do you want it cooked?"
He met her eyes.
"Add magic to it."
There was a beat of silence. Then, without a word, she turned around and gestured for them to follow. They exchanged glances and walked behind the counter, through a curtain and into the kitchen. The cooks didn't look at them. The smell of frying fish and boiling broth clashed with the tension in the air.
The waitress opened a metal door labeled Supply Closet and waved them through.
Inside, there was no mop or broom—only a rusted elevator at the back of the cramped space. It hummed ominously as its doors opened on their own.
Ponzu squinted.
"This is definitely not up to health codes."
They stepped in, and the doors clanked shut. A low mechanical hum followed. The descent was long—longer than expected. It felt like minutes passed in the dim light, the elevator rattling and creaking the deeper it went. Neither of them spoke.
Finally, the doors opened.
And before them lay a vast underground chamber, its ceiling lost in darkness and walls reinforced with metal beams and stone. The room was packed with people—contestants of all shapes, sizes, and temperaments. Some sat in quiet meditation. Others stood, posturing with confidence. A few eyed Silver and Ponzu like fresh meat.
A massive screen at the far end of the room flashed the words:
"WELCOME TO THE HUNTER EXAM"
Ponzu let out a low whistle.
"Well... we're not alone."
Silver nodded slowly, eyes scanning the crowd.
"No. Good thing we made it."
As they stepped forward, a green bean like person in a sharp black suit approached them.
He handed Ponzu a badge and said, "Examinee 246."
Then to Silver, "Examinee 247."
"Pin these on your person. It must remain visible at all times. Lose it, and you're disqualified."
They accepted the numbered badges, their fingers trembling slightly as they pinned them to their shirts. Ponzu looked down at hers with smile.
Then Silver glanced around the massive chamber.
"I should probably change into something less soaked," he muttered, tugging at his damp tank top. He spotted a hallway marked Rest Area with a faded restroom sign flickering above it.
"Be right back," he said, and jogged off before Ponzu could answer.
Ponzu waited, idly watching other examinees. Some practiced forms, others sat still with unsettling calm. After about two minutes, Silver reappeared from the hallway, looking freshly energized.
He walked over with a proud smile—still wearing the exact same outfit: orange tank top, blue cargo shorts, and blue shoes.
Ponzu squinted at him.
"…Did you actually change?"
Silver blinked, then grinned sheepishly.
"Yup. Just into… cleaner versions of the same thing."
She shook her head with a half-smile.
"You're like a manga character. They don't really change clothes until the end of the series."
He laughed as he rejoined her, brushing his now-dry tank top.
"Hey, when something works, you stick with it."
...
The underground chamber was dimly lit and filled with murmurs and shadows. Exam participants sprawled across benches, against walls, and along crates, each carrying their own brand of intensity. The occasional cough or clink of gear echoed through the bunker-like waiting area.
Silver and Ponzu sat side by side near a wall, surveying the room in quiet awe. The air was thick with anticipation—and danger.
A loud, cheery voice broke their silence.
"Yo! First-timers, huh?"
A pudgy man with a round face and receding hairline popped into their view, holding out two slightly dented Red Bull cans.
"Here, drink up! Red Bull! It'll give you wings for the exam!" he grinned proudly.
Silver and Ponzu looked at the cans warily.
"Uh, thanks?" Silver said, not taking it.
"Don't worry, I'm Tonpa. Been taking this exam for 35 years!" he added, tapping his chest proudly beneath his badge, #16.
Ponzu raised a skeptical brow.
"35 years? Why are you still here?"
Tonpa chuckled.
"Hey, hey, exams are all about the experience. Besides…" —he leaned in with a smirk— "you two look a little lost, so let me help you out. Want to know who's who in this room?"
Silver exchanged a look with Ponzu.
"Sure."
Tonpa turned and pointed discreetly around the chamber.
"See that white-haired kid upside down on the pipe?" Tonpa whispered. "That's #99. A also a new comer. Still needs a lot to learn." 'Hehe, and soon he will be going to the toilet with diarrhea with all the drinks his been having' he thought.
He pointed next toward a lanky man sitting cross-legged, humming softly with a snake tucked under his arm.
"That's #103—nickname's Bourbon. Snake charmer. Creepy guy. Real hush-hush about his tricks. Don't get on his bad sides, or you won't know when to watch your backs."
Ponzu and Silver immediately narrowed their eyes to Bourbon when they heard he was a snake charmer.
A snake slithered to Bourbons ears and hissed. He then looked at Ponzu and Silver's direction and had a creepy smile when they met eye to eye.
"I don't like him" Silver told Ponzu.
"Me neither, he smells suspicious. You think he's the one controlling the snakes on the plane?"
"Maybe, maybe not. We don't have proof. But we must remain vigilant with him around."
Tonpa recognizing the tension, steered the topic to other examinee.
"Further off, three brothers in matching tracksuits were practicing synchronized poses. Those three? The Amori Brothers. #197 to #199. All bark, no bite, but they've got teamwork."
He shifted his finger next toward a seated figure dressed in full ninja garb, eyes closed in meditation.
"#294—Hanzo. Guy's a full-on ninja. They say You'll not know if he moves."
In the back corner, a chilling presence stood still. Pale skin, blank eyes, long black hair. The tension around him was suffocating.
"That guy..." Tonpa's voice dropped, "#301. Just… don't talk to him. He creeps me out."
Then, Tonpa lowered his voice to a near-whisper and pointed to the far end of the room where a tall man in a magician's outfit stood casually tossing a playing card between his fingers. His sinister smile was playful yet unsettling, and his crimson eyes glinted with something unreadable.
"#44. That's Hisoka."
The name hit differently.
"He's passed parts of the exam before. Killed 20 examinees mid-test. He also attacked the examiner and got disqualified. Better to stay away from him as well."
Silver's face tightened.
"Great."
All around were others—Bodoro (#191) with his muscle-bound stance, Pokkle (#53) checking his bowstring, and other hopefuls like Siper (#80), Sommy (#118), Cherry (#76), Nicholas (#187), and Kyu (#105)—faces of grit, hope, or unshakable nerves.
"And then there's me," Tonpa added with a wink.
"Old faithful. I never pass, but I do enjoy helping newbies like you."
Silver handed the Red Bull back politely.
"Thanks for the info. We'll take our chances without the wings."
"Suit yourself," Tonpa shrugged and waddled off to bug the next group.
As the night deepened, Ponzu leaned closer.
"That guy's more dangerous than he lets on. I'd watch our drinks from now on."
Silver nodded, but keeping his eyes on the card-spinning magician across the room.
...
The next day 10:03:11.035 AM
The faint hum of the underground vents was interrupted by the slow grinding of the elevator shaft. All eyes turned toward the steel doors at the far end of the room. With a soft ding, the doors slid open, and three new figures stepped out.
A boy with spiky green hair and a wide smile looked around with eager curiosity.
Beside him, a tall man in a blue suit and glasses scanned the room cautiously.
And behind them walked a calm, composed blonde wearing a blue tabard decorated with an orange-colored hem.
"Whoa... there's a lot more people than I thought," the green-haired boy said, adjusting his green jacket.
"I didn't expect it to be this crowded," the man in glasses muttered, brushing his forehead with the back of his hand.
The blonde simply observed in silence, eyes locking briefly with a few dangerous presences, including Illumi and Hisoka.
Silver nudged Ponzu and whispered,
"You think they're newbies too?"
"Probably," she whispered back.
The newbies where given the examinee number 403 to the man in suit, 404 to the blond and 405 to the spiky green brat.
Before the new arrivals could take more than a few steps, Tonpa reached them and started a conversation. They were then joined by another spiky Silver haired boy. A moment later Tonpa left their group looked defeated.
From the corridor emerged a tall, thin man in a dark green coat and brown slacks. His appearance was unusual, to say the least—pale lavender hair curled elegantly at the ends, piercing blue eyes, and a long pointed chin. Most unsettling, however, was his apparent lack of a mouth—covered by a curly mustache.
He stopped before the gathered examinees and stood with regal posture.
"Welcome, applicants," he spoke, his voice oddly crisp and clear despite his mouth seemed hidden. "I am Satotz, the Phase One Examiner of the Hunter Exam."
A wave of nervous energy passed through the room.
"Your first task begins now. Follow me through the underground tunnel."
Without another word, Satotz turned and began walking into the darkness of the tunnel, his footsteps echoing like a metronome.
"That's it?" Silver blinked.
"Guess we're not wasting time," Ponzu said, already starting forward.
All around them, examinees rose to their feet, securing bags, adjusting weapons, and sharing nervous glances.
"Let's go," Silver said, stepping in line with the others.
The exam had officially begun.