Chapter 25: The Fourth Phase!

Finally reaching the bottom of the Trick Tower, the group let out collective sighs of relief as they stepped into the waiting room.

One by one, their names were called out. Bodoro took the lead, claiming the eighth spot.

Then, it was Raymond's turn.

"And in twelfth place, number 406, Raymond!"

Silence greeted Raymond's entrance, save for the amused chuckle from Hisoka, who had arrived earlier.

"Seems like you're quite late," Hisoka remarked, his gaze fixed on Raymond.

"..."

Ignoring the exchange, Raymond scanned the room, spotting a few familiar faces, including Gittarackur.

But to his dismay, there wasn't a single chair in sight.

With a resigned sigh, Raymond found a corner to settle in.

Closing his eyes, he waited patiently for the rest of the participants to finish their exams.

As Gon's group battled their way through the challenges, they eventually emerged victorious, albeit with a penalty for betting on their time – an additional 50 hours added to their tally.

Luckily, they had enough time to spare, thanks to Gon's clever decision to take the easier path, much like Raymond's group.

"Oh, Raymond!"

Gon and Killua waved excitedly at Raymond, who greeted them with a smile.

They began to regale him with tales of their recent adventures, their enthusiasm infectious which prompted everyone to look their way.

"As expected of you, that should be a breeze," Kurapika acknowledged with a nod.

Raymond chuckled, "I've got some pretty great teammates."

"You're lucky. One of my teammates is a useless, grumpy old man." Leorio grumbled in response.

His complaint drew chuckles from those nearby, except Tonpa, who retorted, "Don't forget who made us wait for 50 hours."

The exchange sparked a bickering match between Leorio and Tonpa, attracting the interest of the onlookers.

As tensions simmered and the bickering threatened to escalate, Lippo emerged from his observation room, effectively diffusing the situation.

He congratulated the participants on passing the third phase of the Hunter Exam and then guided them out of the tower.

He then explained the next phase, set to take place on Zevil Island.

Lippo assured them that transportation would be provided by the association as he handed out cards to each participant, each containing a target number.

Each person's own badge counted for 3 points, as did their assigned target's badge.

The other badges, apart from theirs and their target, were only worth 1 point each.

And, the goal was straightforward...

Gather up a total of 6 points!

Understanding the rules of the game, everyone quickly stashed away their badge numbers for safekeeping. With their target numbers in hand, they prepared for the next phase of the exam.

Some wore furrowed brows, others displayed hints of satisfaction, while most adopted a nonchalant demeanor, masking their emotions behind a poker face.

"...Number 80, huh?"

Raymond murmured as he recalled the red-haired female participant among them.

He had meticulously memorized the badge numbers of all 25 participants who had made it through to the Fourth Phase.

Number 80 belonged to Siper, a competent sniper with no remarkable traits beyond her skills.

With a nod of acknowledgment, Raymond immediately crushed the target card in his hand to pieces.

As the ship finally arrived, everyone quickly boarded and they set sail towards Zevil Island.

As they sailed across the sea, a guide congratulated them on passing the third phase and provided them with essential information for the journey ahead.

However, amidst the guide's instructions, the attention of everyone seemed to be focused on a particular individual, namely Raymond.

The reason for their attention was mainly because...

"Raymond, why haven't you taken off your badge like everyone else?"

Gon asked curiously, eyeing Raymond's badge number still neatly pinned to his suit.

Killua was intrigued as he leaned in. He himself had hidden his badge just in case. So, Raymond's act had piqued his interest.

"My regular pockets and some customized ones in my vest were already packed, so I just left it there..." Raymond explained.

"Full? What are you carrying? Weapons?" Killua inquired sounding genuinely curious.

Raymond recognized Killua's question as a way to gather information about potential threats within the exam, including himself.

He chuckled before replying, "I brought some spices..."

"Huh?"

Gon and Killua blinked in surprise, their expressions puzzled.

"Did I hear that correctly?"

"We're heading into a life-or-death situation, and he's worried about spices?"

"He seems wealthy, probably clueless about real challenges in life."

The murmurs of disapproval echoed among the other participants, excluding Raymond's former group members in the last phase.

Noticing the judgmental glances from the others, Illumi and Hisoka remained silent, observing quietly.

Meanwhile, Raymond was unperturbed by the criticism and simply chuckled at Gon and Killua's further questions and patiently answered them.

Stranded on a deserted island, Raymond had thought ahead and brought along a supply of spices.

Considering his past as a beggar...

Even when he had only experienced it through inherited memories, Raymond had developed a strong taste for flavorful food and refused to settle for bland meals or scrounge around the island for seasoning.

Unconcerned about the possibility of others targeting his badge number.

In fact, Raymond even welcomed any potential challengers.

And talking about the one targeting his number, Raymond just shook his head.

During the distribution of target numbers by Lippo, Raymond couldn't help but notice an intense stare directed his way from someone he knew quite well.

Sensing the subtle glance directed at him, he turned his gaze.

With a knowing smile, Raymond met Kenmi's eyes, causing the latter to visibly tense up. It was clear that Raymond was aware of who had their sights set on him.

"He knows!"

Kenmi silently exclaimed in his mind, shaking his head in frustration.

Realizing that he had been too obvious when examining the target card earlier, Kenmi cursed his own foolishness.

He understood that Raymond's strength far surpassed his own.

"I suppose I'll have to target three people instead..."

Recognizing that he stood little chance against Raymond's formidable abilities, Kenmi sighed inwardly and made a silent decision.

As the ship finally docked on a small pathway alongside the island, everyone peered eagerly at the unfamiliar terrain.

"Alright, now it's time to disembark one by one, starting with the contestant who took the least time to complete the third phase!"

Their guide, Khara, announced.

"We'll wait for two minutes between each participant," she continued, ensuring fairness.

Nodding in agreement, the contestants watched as Hisoka was beckoned forward to begin his journey.

"Only 20 minutes, huh?"

Raymond murmured, eyeing Gittarackur as he ventured onto the island after two minutes had passed.

A smirk tugged at Raymond's lips, "Plenty of time to cover his tracks..."

"...but it's making my hunt all the more interesting," he added, excitement sparking in his eyes.

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