Chapter 5 Examiner and questions

'ah! It reminds me that there really is a storm coming as in the anime shown' Ian completely forgot to confront Kurapika and fallen in a deep thought remembering what happened in this episode of the story.

Ian's eyes widened as he remembered the impending storm from the anime. His confrontation with Kurapika was forgotten, replaced by a sense of urgency. 'I need to get inside, now,' he thought, his mind racing with memories of the story.

"Kurapika," Ian called out softly, his voice gentle. Kurapika's gaze dropped to Ian, his expression questioning. "Is everything okay?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Ian shook his head, his thoughts still focused on the storm. He slowly stood up, his eyes locked on Kurapika. "There's a storm coming," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I think it's best if we stay inside."

Kurapika's eyes narrowed slightly as he considered Ian's words. He nodded thoughtfully, his expression calm. "Yes, that would be wise," he said, his voice measured.

Kurapika stood up, his tall frame towering over Ian, who barely reached his chest. "Let's go?" he asked gently, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he gazed down at Ian.

Ian nodded enthusiastically, his face lighting up with a smile. Without waiting for Kurapika, he took the lead, walking towards the ship's interior. Kurapika followed closely behind, his long strides easily keeping pace with Ian's quicker steps.

As they departed, the captain's peripheral vision caught their movement. He nodded slightly, his attention still focused on the young boy in front of him – Gon, the son of Ging Freecss, a man of considerable reputation.

As the storm clouds gathered, Ian and Kurapika headed inside the ship, seeking shelter from the impending downpour. Meanwhile, the captain continued his conversation with Gon, discussing the boy's ambitions and dreams.

Leorio, who had been listening in, suddenly interrupted, his voice laced with skepticism. "You're joking right?" he asked Gon, his tone dripping with doubt.

Before Gon could respond, the captain's voice boomed across the deck, his words urgent and commanding. "All hands on deck! Prepare for the storm – move, move, move!" The crew scrambled to obey, their movements swift and practiced.

Hours later, the storm slowly unleashed it's fury, as everyone gathered outside to assess the situation. Kurapika emerged from the ship's interior, his eyes scanning the deck as the harsh rain continued to fall and thunder rumbled in the distance. Meanwhile, Ian opted to stay inside, claiming a comfortable spot to lay down and rest.

As the storm raged on, events unfolded much like they had in the anime. Gon's confusion was palpable, but Kurapika's calm explanations helped clarify things for him. Leorio, never one to miss an opportunity, chimed in with a teasing comment, calling Kurapika a "walking encyclopedia."

Later, as the ship's occupants struggled to cope with the rough seas, the contrast between them and the four calm individuals was stark. While everyone else was throwing up, sliding around, or feeling dizzy, Kurapika, Leorio, Gon, and Ian seemed entirely unbothered.

The door burst open, and the captain stood in the entrance, his expression a mix of frustration and amusement. He gazed out at the people sprawled on the floor, groaning and clutching their stomachs. His eyes then landed on the four individuals who looked remarkably more composed.

His gaze lingered on Leorio, who was busy adjusting his tie with precision; Gon, who was helping others despite his own queasy expression; Kurapika, who was napping peacefully; and Ian, who was engrossed in playing with a colorful, weird-looking cube. The captain's expression turned thoughtful, his eyes narrowing slightly as he observed the four.

The captain's gaze swept over the four individuals, his expression thoughtful. "It seems like only these four can pass the test," he mused to himself. His voice boomed out, calling out to them. "The four of you!"

As they turned to face him, he asked, "What's your name?" Leorio's response was immediate and tinged with annoyance. "You want to know our names?" he asked gruffly, his tone implying that the captain should already know.

Gon, however, responded without hesitation. "I'm Gon," he said, looking up at the captain with a bright smile. Kurapika opened his eyes, his gaze calm and collected as he introduced himself. "I'm Kurapika."

Ian looked up, his emerald eyes locking onto the captain's face. He placed the Rubik's cube on his lap, his fingers drifting away from it as he spoke in a soft, melodious voice. "I'm Ian."

Leorio, on the other hand, was less enthusiastic. "Do we really need to tell you our names?" he asked gruffly, his tone dripping with sarcasm. Eventually, he relented, his voice tight with annoyance. "My name is Leorio."

The captain's gaze lingered on each of them, his expression inscrutable. He nodded thoughtfully, his mind racing with possibilities. Suddenly, he posed another question. "Why do you want to become a Hunter?"

Leorio's response was immediate and laced with attitude. "Why would I spill my guts? Are you a reporter or something?" Gon, however, jumped in, his enthusiasm infectious. "My dad is a Hunter, and I want to follow in his footsteps! I want to experience what he's experienced."

Leorio's gaze snapped to Gon, his expression incredulous. "Why are you answering him? We're still discussing this," he grumbled. Gon shrugged, unfazed. "I'm just stating my reason." Leorio snorted. "I don't care. I'm still not answering his question, even if we have to duke it out."

Kurapika stood up, his movements fluid. "I can agree with you there, Leorio," he said calmly, his eyes locked on the captain. Ian watched the exchange, his thoughts drifting. "It's different watching this live versus on screen," he mused.

Leorio's gaze turned to Kurapika, his tone accusatory. "Wait, how old are you? You're talking like we're buddies!" Kurapika ignored Leorio's outburst, his voice steady. "We can spin a reasonable story to answer his question. Interpret a lie as greed, perhaps."

Leorio's confusion was palpable. "Huh?" he exclaimed. Kurapika continued, his words measured. "My reasons for taking the Hunter exam are complicated. I don't feel like sharing them with strangers." Leorio chimed in, his tone mocking. "At least put 'Mr.' in front of my name, Kurapika. And I'm Mr. Leorio, by the way. I don't have anything to share either."

Gon and the captain's gaze flicked between Kurapika and Leorio, his expression unreadable. Finally, he spoke. "If you're not willing to share your reasons, then you're free to leave my ship."

Leorio's gaze locked onto the captain, confusion etched on his face. "Huh?" he exclaimed. "Don't you know the Hunter exam started the moment we boarded this ship?" The captain's expression remained unreadable as he took out a card from his clothes.

The card's appearance sent a ripple of surprise through Gon and Kurapika, their eyes widening in unison. Ian, however, remained calm, his gaze drifting to the card before he silently stood up and walked towards the group. Only the captain noticed Ian's movement.

"The Hunter Association!" Leorio announced, his voice carrying above the thunder's rumble outside. "You see, countless individuals vie for a Hunter license every year, far exceeding the Association's capacity to accommodate them all. That's where people like me come in – we're paid to assess participants. Those who can't cling to the ship for long are reported to the Association, effectively disqualifying them from the exam."

His gaze swept over the group, lingering on Ian before continuing. "In other words, your participation hinges on my decision. So, it's in your best interest to answer my question." Leorio's tone turned rhetorical. "Then there's really no choice but to answer, right?"

As Leorio began to speak, Kurapika interjected, his voice calm and collected. "I'm the sole survivor of the Kuruta tribe." Leorio's head snapped towards Kurapika, irritation flashing across his face. "Wait, I'm still telling my story!" However, Kurapika remained unfazed, his gaze locked onto the captain.

"What I aspire to be is a Hunter who brings criminals with bounties on their heads to justice," Kurapika declared. The captain's eyes narrowed. "For what reason?" Kurapika's response was measured. "Four years ago, my tribe was massacred by a group of thieves known as the Phantom Troupe. I aim to capture them."

The captain's expression turned grave. "Kid, the individuals you're after are extremely dangerous. Each member has a hefty bounty, and even seasoned bounty hunters have refused to take on the mission. You might very well die in the hunt." Kurapika's response was unwavering. "I'm not afraid of death; what terrifies me is the moment my anger fades."

Leorio chimed in, his tone laced with mockery. "This is the first time I've seen someone take the Hunter exam solely for revenge. If you're truly bent on avenging your tribe, why not go after them directly?"