090: That Man Actually Came to Participate in the Hunter Exam?!

As he spoke, Ronnel rolled up his sleeves, ready to climb down the rock face from the outside.

"But is it really that simple?" Gon asked, tilting his head. "Ronnel said each phase of the Hunter Exam tests different abilities. If we climb from the outside, what are they testing?"

Gon's innocent question made the man, who had been about to climb down, pause in mid-motion.

Those who had made it to the third phase of the Hunter Exam weren't oblivious. After thinking over Gon's words, No. 86, the climbing expert, hesitated.

"Yeah, only climbing experts would be able to go down from the outside. But what about those who can't? The Hunter Exam must have other methods. Could it be...?"

For a moment, No. 86 glanced over the edge, then stepped back, chuckling nervously.

"Why don't we test it first?"

Ronnel said, borrowing Gon's fishing rod again. With a swift motion, he produced a chunk of fresh meat from his pocket.

"Is that... wild pig meat?"

Gon and the others watched curiously as Ronnel sat at the edge of the tower, tied the meat to the rod, and dangled it over the side.

Almost immediately, rustling echoed from the nearby forest.

"What... what is that?!"

Before the eyes of the stunned candidates on the Trick Tower, a flock of grotesque birds, their faces resembling infants, soared towards the bait.

"Sorry, but this meat isn't for you."

With a flick of his wrist, Ronnel reeled the meat back in, just out of the birds' reach. As the strange creatures lost interest, they veered off and disappeared back into the forest.

"It seems the outside route isn't a viable option," Ronnel concluded, returning the rod to Gon.

The others nodded in agreement. No. 86 swallowed hard, relief flooding his face.

"If I'd gone out there, I'd have been eaten alive..."

The thought of being torn apart by those grotesque birds had left the climbing expert visibly shaken.

"I think it's better to check the top for a door that leads down," Kurapika suggested, scanning the area around them. Someone had already started inspecting the stone slabs beneath their feet.

"It seems we're all thinking the same thing. We should split up and search for the entrance," Kurapika said.

The group dispersed to look for hidden mechanisms. But Ronnel paused, eyes narrowing as he stopped at a particular spot.

"Monitor... Lippo?"

Meanwhile, in the control room at the Trick Tower

Lippo, the spiky-haired prison warden of the Trick Tower, was enjoying a large pancake while watching the monitors displaying the progress of the candidates.

"This batch has two kids, prison warden."

"Must be luck," one of the guards joked, dressed in the standard blue uniform of the tower's prison staff.

"Don't be so sure," Lippo replied, taking a sip of iced soda. "The Hunter Exam isn't easy. Even kids who make it this far aren't ordinary."

Just as he said that, a new figure appeared on the screen.

Pfft!

Lippo spit out his drink, splashing it all over the screen.

"What?! Him? Here?!"

As the guards scrambled to clean the mess, Lippo gawked at the screen, stunned.

"I can't believe it... The champion of the Battle Olympia came to take the Hunter Exam?"

He sank back into his chair, shaking his head in disbelief, shoving a donut into his mouth to calm his nerves.

"Is that really Ronnel? I've never seen him up close before!"

The two guards, who had been cleaning, now stared at the screen in awe.

There wasn't much to do in the Trick Tower aside from guarding prisoners and watching TV, so they had spent countless hours keeping up with major events, especially the Battle Olympia.

Ronnel's legendary victory in the tournament was fresh in their minds.

It was unthinkable that someone like him, already the Floor Master of Heavens Arena, would even bother with a Hunter License.

"Prison warden, should we change the prisoners?"

"No need," Lippo said, waving them off. "Stick to the original plan. For someone at his level, prisoners won't make much of a difference unless they're A-rank or higher."

"Understood!"

Back at the top of the tower, Ronnel glanced briefly at the hidden monitor, but paid it no mind.

"Hey! Ronnel, we found the mechanism!" Gon called out.

"On my way."

Ronnel joined them and saw Gon holding up six fingers.

"I found six hidden doors. One's already been sealed, but there are still five left. Just enough for us!"

After inspecting the doors, everyone agreed. But just before they could proceed, a humorous scene unfolded:

Kurapika stood tall, "We'll meet again at the bottom."

Leorio nodded solemnly, "See you on the ground."

Gon and Killua exchanged a grin, "Let's go."

"One, two, three!"

And with a series of thuds, Ronnel and his friends vanished into the depths of the Trick Tower, leaving no trace.

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