Chapter 296: Awkward Fights—Netero’s Unclear Intentions

With the victorious yet unconscious Gon being carried away, everyone else seems satisfied with him, aside from Auren and his little group.

“He won’t accept his win, I’m telling you!” Hanzo complains. “Stubborn maniac! If he doesn’t... why are we even continuing?!”

“Don’t worry. He has passed... and that won’t change. When he wakes up, this little tournament will be over. Even if he were to reject the license, he’ll officially be a Hunter,” Netero declares.

“Fine,” Hanzo says, walking away. “I’ll be brutal and unforgiving in the next round.”

“Round two: Examinee No. 404, Kurapika vs. Examinee No. 44, Hisoka!” Masta announces.

The fight begins, and Kurapika immediately draws his two wooden swords, confronting Hisoka head-on.

“Are these people all idiots?” Auren whispers. “Just give up.”

He can’t win. It’s stubborn pride... worthless pride. Deadly to a Hunter.

In just a few moves, Hisoka completely dominates Kurapika, breaking his wooden swords with a simple punch and landing a couple of soft punches and kicks, wounding the desperate Kurta.

However, instead of continuing the fight and securing his win, Hisoka whispers something very quietly to Kurapika and then surrenders, shocking everyone.

Slightly annoyed, Auren addresses Hisoka. “For every round you lose from now on, I’ll make sure you lose another limb. Stop fucking around.”

Everyone stares at Auren in horror, but Hisoka just replies, “You are ruining my fun... but okay. ♦️”

The third match continues, with Pokkle getting absolutely wrecked by Hanzo and put into a submission hold, immediately causing him to yell, “I give up!”

His quick decision allows him to move on without taking any real damage, impressing Auren.

“Many people would call him a coward, but fear is vital for a human being. A human being without fear is defective. It’s an invaluable tool. He made the correct decision. I would be even more impressed if he’d given up before even being put on hold. Strictly speaking, that much pride... to show that he at least tried, is a mistake.” Auren argues with quite a few people listening in.

“That’s a smart decision indeed,” Vanessa says. “You know, despite having so many chances... if you’re wounded, they’re all worthless. At that point, you won’t win even with 100 chances. This exam is deeper than I thought.”

“Hoho, you are smart after all, girl, that’s it!” Netero says, praising her. “How about I invite you to dinner and expl—”

Vanessa replies by sending a lightning-fast jab, using Emission towards Netero, causing him to awkwardly lower his body, barely managing to evade in time.

“Huh?!”

“What happened?”

“Did you see that. Meteor Fist Vanessa punched the chairman.”

“No wonder she could destroy this entire building if she wanted to.”

The Hunters react, some staring at Vanessa, quite a few of them with satisfied expressions; the chairman not quite as popular as Auren thought, the exact opposite of Vanessa.

“Wow, you are awesome,” Leroute says, genuinely impressed with her Master.

The next fight between Bodoro and Hisoka starts, with the latter showing no interest at all in his opponent, knocking him around ruthlessly, first with a clean kick to the face, then punch after punch. It finally ends with Hisoka apparently whispering something to him.

“I give up,” Bodoro finally says.

What... did he say? I don’t remember. I thought Hisoka didn’t care about this guy. Was it a threat?

Anyway... this is what happens if you don’t give up. Such a stark contrast. Now he’s so beaten up... he can’t even walk. Pokkle made the correct decision.

Next, Pokkle, still in top condition, is up against Killua, who confidently walks up to him. “I’m gonna win in two seconds. You’d better give up now... I’m not interested in you, but I’ve been warned to take this seriously.”

“Ugh...” Pokkle says, deep in thought, analyzing Killua.

Is he going to give up? That would be smart.

Before the referee can start the fight, a quiet, yet unmistakably creepy voice fills the hall.

“Kill....”

“Give up on this fight... we need to talk.”

Killua’s face pales as he turns towards the voice and sees Examinee No. 301, Gittarackur, slowly transform his face, turning into the familiar black-haired, black-eyed, emotionless assassin.

“Why...?” Killua mutters. “I want to become a Hunter. I won’t give up.”

“Kill... I’ve shown you some leniency. If you don’t want your little friends, whom I’ve just been told about, to end up dead, you’ll surrender. I may have granted you some temporary freedom... but I can revoke it just as quickly as I granted it.” He then takes out a few needles, filling them with Aura, allowing even the Non-Nen-users to feel the immense danger they’re symbolizing.

“This is against the rules!” the referee warns, but Illumi merely glances at him with his icy cold eyes, shutting him up, with nobody else interfering.

“You owe me a little talk,” Illumi says. “Kill.”

“I...” Killua says, rubbing his forehead nervously, somehow looking at Auren.

“It’s your decision,” Auren says. “Think about it. What do you want to do?”

I’m not going to intervene. Coddling him too much will turn out badly.

“Fine... I surrender,” Killua says, walking away slowly, still looking shocked, allowing Pokkle to pass without landing a single hit.

Smiling awkwardly, but feeling immensely relieved, Pokkle returns to the others, his fists clenched, sweat pouring down his face.

Because Bodoro is still hurt and resting, Leorio requests that Netero delay his fight for just a little while.

“Fine, I like your honest attitude, young man!” Netero says, clapping. “Since these two people wanted to talk, they can do it right now.”

He then gestures towards Masta, the referee.

“Okay... it’s Examinee No. 99, Killua, vs. No. 301, Gittarackur!” he yells.

With Illumi walking to the middle of the room, Killua nervously steps forward.

“Kill... you always cause trouble. Almost killing your mother and brother, leaving home without permission. Mother was crying endlessly.”

“How cruel... I can understand that a mother would cry,” Leorio mutters.

“In joy. She’s so proud of you.” Illumi finishes, causing Leorio to appear quite foolish.

“Now you could have easily passed the exam. I’m quite proud of you for having gained such skill,” Illumi says. “Still... being a Hunter. You don’t need to be one. This is not the path best suited for you. Also, having friends... that’s something I just can’t accept. You just need to kill people, that’s all,” Illumi states.

“Is this guy... serious?!” Leorio yells, Kurapika holding him back, though looking equally disturbed.

“I...” Killua says, holding his forehead, his sharp fingernails even drawing blood. “I... might not have a goal. I might not have ambition. But now that I’m free of this... I have things I want to do! I want to make friends with Gon and the others and travel around the world. I want to—”

“So you can easily argue with me now... it’s such a shame I had to unleash you. I only did these things because I care about you. In the end... show me your will. Prove to me that my decision was correct. Just land one punch... if you don’t, I’ll take care of your little friends. Or... surrender and forget being a Hunter.”

What game is he playing now?

Well... it’s not my turn to speak up, but I just don’t get this guy. His thoughts and reasons, as well as his feelings for Killua, are just too complicated. Is this a test? Isn’t he pushing away Killua even more?

“Fine!” Killua yells. “I’ll beat you up for everything you’ve done to me.”

Morphing his hands into claws, Killua immediately performs Rhythm Echo, surrounding Illumi with illusions before suddenly springing into action and charging at him, only for Illumi to instantly pick out the real Killua and face him directly.

Exposed, yet not discouraged, Killua charges forward anyway, with Illumi merely raising his hand, activating Ren, and sending out his Aura, stopping Killua in his tracks.

This courage... quite surprising. Has Killua already found his will?

Going pale and shuddering, Killua’s charge comes to a complete halt. Taking a single step forward, then another one while shuddering like he’s freezing, Killua desperately forces himself to move.

That’s not easy.

“Yaaaaaaaaaaaa!” Screaming, he suddenly lunges forward, striking Illumi not with a claw, but with a comically weak right fist, Illumi’s Aura making his movements appear like his time has slowed down.

Illumi simply catches it with his hand and sighs. “It looks like you’ve already experienced something like this recently.”

“Yours... is nothing compared to the coldness I felt earlier!” Killua yells. “I want to be a Hunter! Stop your threats and leave me alone!”

“I agree. However, you’ll always be an assassin. The only reason I’m allowing this game to continue... is because I’ve already secured the perfect teacher for you. In the end... even without my control, you’ll be taught by one of the world’s most competent assassins and killers, just according to plan. I’ll grant you your freedom... but you’ll still forever be a Zoldyck and the future head of the family. The more you walk away... the sooner you’ll come home, you’ll see.” Illumi threatens, his logic not clear, with nobody understanding his intentions.

He then gently pats Killua’s shoulder. “I’ll talk to you soon, Kill... don’t leave without me.”

“You there?” Illumi says, turning around and staring at Masta. “I surrender.”

“Ah... okay?!” Masta replies, while Illumi walks back only a little, not rejoining the other examinees. Killua still stares at him in shock, before finally rejoining Kurapika and Leorio, the latter clapping him on the back.

“Damn straight, nice punch! Let’s tell Gon all about it,” he praises, managing to make Killua smile just a little.

“I’d say... this tournament is terrible,” Auren mutters silently. “Whoever came up with this exam has really dropped the ball, huh?”

“It’s nice drama,” Vanessa says, “though I have to agree. The pervert really managed to fuck it up.”

Netero’s face twitches, unable to really argue against Vanessa’s point.