Chapter 69: Be a Good Person

After handing the unconscious Aldama over to the Hunters' Association rescue team, Oboro made his way back. Two of the team members were examiners for upcoming Hunter exams, and they watched curiously as he explained the situation before leaving.

"A candidate who could not only stand up to Aldama, but also save him..." one of the examiners mused. "And Aldama is a single star hunter. No wonder the chairman seemed so interested during the interview."

When Oboro returned to the oasis, he noticed that the knight had disappeared - an expected development. After such an incident, they wouldn't risk another confrontation.

"Phink's death will affect the Phantom Troupe, but they'll be more cautious until they get stronger," Oboro thought. "Revenge is certain, considering what they did to the Kurta clan. Still..."

He wasn't particularly worried. The troupe would only target those they could overcome, like Aldama. They wouldn't dare challenge the Hunters' Federation directly.

"I won't be their primary target," he reasoned. "If the troupe wants to play, I'll be happy to oblige, if I have time. Otherwise..." He grinned. "I could always make a call. Let Silva and Zeno handle it. The troupe would lose more than a leg."

His family's wealth made it possible to hire the Zoldycks, while the Troupe couldn't afford their services. Most of their stolen goods went back to Meteor City, and even black-market sales wouldn't bring in enough money. Besides, the Zoldycks rarely took jobs without special circumstances.

At the oasis, Examiner Nanji's tension eased after receiving a phone call. Oboro noticed two candidates near the ones who'd survived Aldama's earlier outburst. One was a Nen user who had probably noticed Franklin's departure alerted Nanji, prompting her to contact the Association.

His return drew attention, but no one approached. The candidates balanced on tree trunks, searching for the blue-eyed scorpions needed to pass the second phase. By the afternoon, few had managed to catch even one.

The creatures weren't just hidden in trees, they lurked in the sand, highly aggressive and ready to strike with their venomous tails at any disturbance.

Oboro had memorized their scent when Nanji had shown him one earlier. He walked to the edge of the oasis, stomped once, and with a precise manipulation of force, uncovered an underground nest. Several scorpions emerged, flailing.

He grabbed one by the tail and handed it to Nanji. The candidates immediately swarmed around the exposed nest.

"Pass!" Nanji accepted the scorpion and studied it with interest. Even Nen users struggled with this task, hence the variety of Hunter specializations. As a biological research hunter, she'd designed this test to challenge everyone equally. But Oboro had passed it with ease.

"The chairman mentioned him specifically...", she thought. "He's just here for entertainment."

While others continued to search, Oboro found shade under a tree and closed his eyes.

"It hurts! I've been stung!"

"Help! I'm poisoned!"

"Inspector! This one's dying, foaming and turning purple!"

As the hours passed, chaos broke out. Some contestants' hands swelled grotesquely. Others fled toward Padokea City, ignoring Nanji's earlier warning about delayed treatment.

One candidate shouted at Nanji, pointing to an unconscious candidate twitching on the floor. She continued to read, unmoved.

Through his rest, Oboro heard panicked screams, but remained uninvolved.

"You monster! This is a hunter's test, not a death sentence!" A man brandished a spear at Nanji. "Save my friend or I'll kill you!"

Oboro opened an eye just in time to see Nanji deliver a swift kick to the man's abdomen, causing him to curl up in pain.

"Don't disturb my reading," she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she returned to her seat.

As sunset approached and the desert temperature dropped, only three candidates had passed. The scorpions' rarity and camouflage made them difficult to locate, let alone capture.

A light breeze carried the sound of rustling. Oboro opened his eyes to find Tonpa kneeling beside him in shorts, waving a makeshift fan with an ingratiating smile.

"What do you want?" Oboro asked, amused.

The fan fell as Tonpa made a formal bow, hands crossed on the ground. "Please help me catch a blue-eyed scorpion! I'll be eternally grateful!"

Oboro's eye twitched. "The Examiner never forbade asking for help... Clever use of the rules, as expected of the Rookie Crusher."

"Why not ask the other passed candidates? Afraid of me?" Oboro gestured to the others.

"Not at all! Your distinguished appearance and early arrival speak for your caliber. I felt unworthy of approaching you before, but now desperation overwhelms my shame. Compared to the others, you seem more compassionate!" Tonpa's forehead remained pressed to his hand.

"The poison will not kill you," Oboro said. "It's strong, but not deadly. There are some under the tree. Be careful, though a sting means unconsciousness for at least a day, so you will automatically fail."

"Thank you!" Tonpa's face brightened.

"Wait until dark. They're more active and less aggressive at night. The heat makes them hostile and hidden during the day."

"Yes, sir!" Tonpa sat down and resumed his fanning, his manipulation transparent but amusing.