"Chase!"
Gon and Kurapika exchanged a glance, then dashed away at top speed after the Kiriko.
"You're injured; you need treatnt!"
Upon seeing the wounded man, Leorio imdiately slipped into doctor mode. Technically, he was still in training to beco a doctor, but he already had a strong sense of dical ethics.
Nothing was more important than helping an injured person.
"Uh-oh, I didn't bring enough dicine. I'll check the area for any useful herbs. Ron, could you keep an eye on him? Don't let him move around too much or he'll lose more blood."
With that, Leorio ran toward the nearby woods.
The mont Leorio disappeared, the middle-aged man's expression suddenly turned calm. He looked at Ron with marked respect.
"Greetings, Ron."
Ron raised an eyebrow.
"You know ?"
"Yes."
He said, "Our Kiriko clan has served the Zoldyck family for many years. Right now, half of us work as butlers in the Zoldyck estate.
We're part of the outer branch.
Because of that, we have to stay inford about you and the others.
I've seen photos of you.
We took a commission from the Hunter Association to be examiners for this preliminary test.
Would you like to take you to the official exam site right now?"
"No need."
"Understood."
Before long, Leorio returned with so herbs and treated the man's wounds.
anwhile, Gon and Kurapika were still chasing the Kiriko.
Around that sa ti, several other examinees arrived at the main test site:
- Tonpa, a seasoned participant who enjoys toying with newcors.
- The Amori Brothers, solid mid-to-upper-level examinees.
- Hanzo, a ninja.
- Bourbon, the old man who handles snakes.
- Ponzu, who controls bees.
- Stick, a sharpshooter.
- Pokkle, dubbed "ant feed." (t/N damn....)
- Hisoka.
- Illumi, disguised as Gittarackur.
When Leorio finished treating the man—
Bang!
He canceled his disguise, revealing his true form as a sturdy Kiriko.
Leorio was startled.
"What the—?"
"Congratulations. You've passed this test."
The Kiriko bared its teeth in what was supposed to be a friendly grin, but in its real form, the smile looked rather fierce.
Leorio instinctively took a step back.
"What do you an?"
He glanced at Ron.
"All this was just an act, a performance. I'm one of the examiners. Your actions et the passing standard."
"For real?"
"Of course."
"It's because I gathered herbs and treated your injuries?"
"Exactly."
"What about Ron?"
"Ron… saw right through from the very beginning."
The Kiriko almost called him "Sir Ron" aloud but caught itself.
Leorio still wasn't entirely convinced and looked to Ron, who gave a small nod.
Since the Kiriko clan was affiliated with the Zoldycks, Ron had no reason to expose them. The Kiriko's story also helped gloss things over. Indeed, Ron had recognized them as Kiriko right away, even if they didn't know it.
At Ron's confirmation, Leorio finally believed and let out a relieved sigh.
"I see. Great. So what now?"
He turned to the Kiriko.
"We'll wait to see what happens over there. Once that's done, we'll bring everyone who's passed to the official Hunter Exam site. Those who failed must go back."
A short while later—
A sharp cry rang out in the distance.
The Kiriko looked that way and let out a call of its own.
"What's that supposed to an?" Leorio asked.
"It ans your two companions have passed as well."
Overhead, a large Kiriko appeared, flapping its arms and wing mbranes. The Kiriko on the ground stepped over to Ron and lowered its voice.
"Ron, I'll take you all there now. Hold on to ."
With that, it rose into the air.
Ron gave a slight hop and grabbed hold of one of the Kiriko's legs.
Leorio, seeing this, hesitated only briefly before leaping up.
The airborne Kiriko caught him by the shoulders.
So distance away, Gon and Kurapika had also reached the sky.
With vigorous wing beats, the Kiriko steadily lifted the group higher. A strong wind buffeted them.
Gon's face glowed with excitent.
Kurapika was thrilled, too—though for a different reason. Gon was simply enjoying the ride, while Kurapika felt they were one step closer to becoming Hunters.
Leorio looked worried, afraid a single slip might send him plumting to certain death.
Ron, however, was already used to such heights. Back in Fiore, he had battled alongside Wendy, and Chii could also lift him at low altitude, so heights were no longer an issue.
Wind whipped around them, and Leorio began shivering from the cold.
Finally, a city ca into view.
The Kiriko landed with the four on board.
Three of them returned the way they ca, while one shapeshifted into a middle-aged man once more.
"Follow ."
He led them into the city, through a restaurant, then down a hallway until they reached a hidden room with an elevator.
"Take this elevator, and you'll arrive at the official Hunter Exam venue.
Ti is tight, so I won't be going down with you.
Farewell."
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