Larry Nudging

Some pigs were charred beyond recognition— Others were half-cooked, still oozing red juices. And yet, all of them had expected their roasted pigs to be just as fragrant as Larry's. They thought that the natural aroma of the Rabid Pig would be enough. But the truth hit them hard. Larry's dish wasn't just about the pig. It was the technique, the preparation, and most importantly— The Red Volcanic Salt.

Without that legendary salt, none of their dishes could even compare. And yet—because of Larry's perfect roast. Everyone had subconsciously used it as the standard. 

Even if they didn't realize it, they were competing against an impossible benchmark. But what they failed to consider was simple: Want your pig to taste as good as one seasoned with Red Volcanic Salt? Keep dreaming.

Not all candidates failed completely—some managed to prepare decently cooked roasted pigs. Kurapika sat at his table, resting his chin on one hand, frowning at the roasted pig in front of him. Unlike Leorio, who looked like he had just witnessed a personal disaster, Kurapika had followed proper cooking techniques. The roasting time had been reasonable, and the meat was fully cooked. While it wasn't perfect, at least it was edible. Yet something was off. Even though the meat was properly roasted, it lacked the strange, captivating aroma that had come from Larry's dish.

Kurapika's sharp mind immediately picked up on the inconsistency. His eyes wandered toward Larry's table, where only scattered pig bones remained. From the distinct nose bones, it was clear that Larry had also used the same species of pig. So why was the difference so drastic? Kurapika's intuition told him there was only one possible answer. Larry must have used a special ingredient. While Kurapika was deep in thought, another candidate stepped up boldly to present his dish. His roasted pig looked horrendous. 

Menchi's brows twitched, and before the candidate could even say anything, she immediately raised the rejection sign. "Unqualified!" she snapped. Her tone left no room for argument. "If you hadn't told me this was a roasted pig, I would've thought it was just a pile of coal shaped like an animal." Her merciless critique sent the poor man into a spiral of shame. Clutching his failed dish, he quickly scurried away.

Watching this, Buhara sighed in relief. At least the guy had the common sense to take his dish away instead of forcing them to taste it. After experiencing Larry's heavenly cooking, even Buhara, who usually ate anything, found himself unwilling to taste such poor-quality food.

From his hidden perch, Satotz observed everything through his telescope. At first glance, things had deviated slightly from what he expected, but ultimately, they were going exactly as planned. One by one, candidates presented their dishes—only to be rejected outright.

Menchi, holding her rejection sign like a battle flag, turned them all away with righteous authority. But then, Buhara, realizing that things were getting out of hand, decided to step in. He tasted Kurapika's roasted pig and begrudgingly gave a passing score. However— The rules stated that both examiners had to approve the dish in order for a candidate to pass. And Menchi? She refused to lower her standard. So despite Buhara's approval, Kurapika was still disqualified.

Larry stood silently at his table, arms crossed, watching the reactions of everyone around him. As the last candidate received a final rejection, an unsettling silence filled the venue. It was the calm before the storm. Frustration boiled among the candidates. Many were clenching their fists, their expressions dark and dangerous. The atmosphere felt like a powder keg—ready to explode at any moment. Some candidates were on the verge of outright violence. The situation was spiraling out of control. 'Different cause same result… in the end she still fail everyone… I should have gone last.'

Buhara, sensing the growing hostility, leaned in and whispered,"Uh… Menchi? You do realize that only Larry passed, right?"

Menchi lowered her gaze, her expression conflicted. It had been an accident—she never intended to be this strict. But after tasting Larry's roasted pig, she simply couldn't bring herself to approve anything lower than that standard. Her devotion to high-quality food had clouded her judgment. Now, she was stuck in an awkward position. She could sense the growing hostility from the crowd. If things escalated, she might even lose her position as an examiner. Just as the tension was about to explode— A soft sigh echoed through the air. "Ah… I see how it is." Larry shook his head and calmly walked toward the stage.

His sudden movement immediately caught everyone's attention. Even Satotz, who had been preparing to call the Hunter Association, hesitated and lowered his communicator.

Menchi watched Larry approach, her tone slightly uneasy. "Larry…" she murmured.

He smiled reassuringly. "It's fine," he said lightly. "I'm just here to offer you a better solution." Hearing this, Menchi and Buhara exchanged uncertain glances. But there was something about Larry's confidence that made them trust him. And so, he explained his idea.

After listening to Larry's plan, Menchi and Buhara nodded in agreement. They both looked oddly obedient—like kindergarteners following their teacher's instructions. "Alright then," Larry said, satisfied. He then turned toward the crowd— But his true target wasn't the candidates. He was looking beyond them, toward the distant forest. Raising a hand, he made a simple beckoning gesture.

The candidates, completely confused, started whispering among themselves.

"What is he doing?"

"Why is he waving at the air?"

"Who's he calling?"

And then— A familiar sound.

Tap… Tap… Tap…

The rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed from the gate. As everyone turned to look A familiar figure stepped into view. A man with a neatly pressed suit, slightly curly short hair, and a pair of distinguished mustaches. Kurapika's pupils shrank. He recognized the man immediately. "That's…" The other candidates stared in shock. "The examiner from the first test?!"

Satotz, standing at the entrance, waved casually. "Hey there," he greeted with a smirk. "Looks like we meet again." He walked straight toward Larry, completely ignoring the stunned expressions of the other candidates. As he approached, he muttered under his breath, "…Why do I feel like I just got played?" He had left, and now he was back again. And it was all because Larry called him.

With Satotz now present, the candidates felt the power balance shift. No one knew what Larry was planning— But whatever it was, it was about to change the outcome of the exam.

At first, Satotz wondered if he was just being paranoid. How could Larry possibly know that he was still in the forest, watching over the exam? But then—He caught sight of Larry's mouth moving slightly. Though no sound came out, it was unmistakable— "Satotz." At that moment, he knew for certain—Larry had called him on purpose.

Even though Satotz couldn't quite figure out why, he decided to go along with it. With long strides, he made his way forward. Larry greeted him with a slight nod before glancing at Menchi, then casually walking back to his desk.