CHAPTER 6

"A storm?"

At that moment, the ship's captain, a seasoned sailor with a broad frame and a long smoking pipe in his mouth, stepped onto the deck. His sharp eyes scanned the skies before shifting toward Gon, who was perched at the highest point of the mast.

"Hmph… Looks just like him."

The captain narrowed his eyes, his mind drifting to memories of that man. The way Gon assessed the sky, his instincts—everything reminded him of Ging Freecss.

"A storm?"

Lan Fei nodded without hesitation. Unlike the skeptical Leorio, Lan Fei knew Gon's intuition was sharp, especially when it came to nature.

"How can there be a storm in such clear weather?" Leorio adjusted his glasses and looked up at the sky, unconvinced.

Before anyone could answer, Kurapika, standing beside him, spoke in a calm but firm voice. "The wind has shifted."

As if on cue, dark clouds began rolling in, swallowing the bright sky. The once-gentle breeze turned into strong, howling gusts.

BOOM!

A deafening crack of thunder split the sky, and lightning streaked across the darkened clouds. The sea, once calm, grew violent as towering waves crashed against the ship.

"Everyone, get below deck! The storm is upon us!" the captain barked, gripping the helm tighter.

The Storm Strikes

"A storm? Seriously? Just my luck!"

"Dammit! What if the ship sinks before we even reach the exam venue?"

"Forget the Hunter Exam, I don't want to die here!"

The aspiring Hunters who had earlier mocked Gon and Lan Fei now stumbled toward the cabin in panic, their faces drained of color.

WHOOSH!

A powerful gust of wind slammed into the deck, sending a trainee crew member flying toward the open sea.

"AAAHH!"

At the last second, he managed to grasp the ship's railing, his body dangling dangerously above the raging ocean.

"Not good!" Leorio shouted, instinctively rushing forward. But the ship rocked violently, causing him to stumble.

Just as the crew member's grip began to slip—

WHIZZ!

A thin wire shot forward, latching onto the man's waist.

"Hold on tight!"

Gon, gripping his fishing rod, reeled him back in with swift, practiced movements.

Kurapika immediately grabbed onto Gon's fishing rod for support. "I'll help!" Together, they pulled the crew member to safety.

"Nice job, Gon!" Lan Fei smirked, giving him a thumbs-up.

"Are you okay?" Gon asked the shaken crew member. "You should get inside before it gets worse."

Still pale, the man nodded, staggering toward the cabin.

"Lan Fei, let's go inside too," Gon urged. "At this point, our fate is in the captain's hands."

Lan Fei gave one last glance at the dark ocean before following him.

The Weak Are Eliminated

As Lan Fei and Gon moved through the cabin, they passed by the other exam participants—who were in far worse shape than before.

The so-called "tough guys" who had laughed earlier were now slumped against the walls, their faces green. Some were vomiting, while others had already passed out from sheer exhaustion.

Lan Fei scoffed. "Pathetic."

Gon tilted his head. "They were acting all tough earlier…"

Kurapika folded his arms. "This is the reality of the Hunter Exam. Some don't even make it past the first stage."

Leorio nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "I won't lie, this storm is rough, but if they can't handle this, they were never going to pass."

"Should we give them some seasickness medicine?" Gon asked.

Lan Fei shook his head. "No need. If they can't handle this, they're better off quitting now."

Having grown up on Whale Island, both Gon and Lan Fei were used to harsh sea conditions. Even the strongest storms were nothing new to them.

A Captain's Judgment

After what felt like an eternity, the storm finally subsided. The ship, though battered, had made it through.

KNOCK KNOCK.

A firm rap on the door drew their attention. When the door swung open, the captain stepped inside, his pipe still in his mouth.

"Well, looks like we're all still breathing." He exhaled a long puff of smoke before continuing. "I've got some good news for you."

The four of them exchanged glances.

"As of now, everyone except the four of you has been eliminated from the exam."

Leorio's eyes widened. "Wait, what?"

The captain chuckled. "You heard me. A storm of this level shouldn't knock out a real Hunter candidate. If they couldn't handle it, they weren't fit for the exam."

Lan Fei raised an eyebrow. "Wait… so this was part of the test?"

"Exactly." The captain smirked. "The Hunter Exam begins the moment you step onto this ship. I may not be an official examiner, but I've been given the authority to filter out those who don't meet my standards."

Kurapika remained composed. "So, we've technically passed the first stage?"

"You could say that." The captain nodded. "You four handled yourselves well. That's why you're still here."

Lan Fei crossed his arms. "Huh. That's it? Just your personal judgment?"

The captain chuckled again. "That's right. The first round is entirely up to my mood."

He gave them an approving glance before turning back toward the helm. "Next stop—the real Hunter Exam."