085: A Bit of Anticipation in My Heart ~

According to the plan, Menchi's idea for the test was well thought out.

Sushi is a traditional dish from a small country, and she figured most examinees wouldn't be familiar with it. During the test, she'd give hints—how to hold the sushi, how to use chopsticks, along with clues like rice and cooking tools. Eventually, she'd drop a hint about using fish, testing their observational skills.

Her plan was solid, but...

She underestimated this group of examinees. Even Kurapika, who seemed reliable, presented a dish that wasn't much better than Leorio's. This frustrated Menchi, leaving her both irritated and shocked.

On the other hand, she hadn't expected one of the candidates to know how to make sushi and then share the knowledge with everyone, throwing her entire plan into chaos. The test quickly spiraled out of her control, and Menchi nearly lost it.

Looking at the situation now, the archer, Pokkle, was awkwardly shaping the rice into a ball while Hanzo watched silently, clearly unimpressed.

It was almost time for the next part of the test, where Netero would step in.

Sighing, Menchi thought, Oh well, let's see where this goes.

Only Ronnel and the two examiners remained, while the other candidates rushed to the river to catch fish, thanks to Leorio's loose tongue leaking Kurapika's clue.

Menchi turned to Ronnel, curious. "Everyone else went to catch fish. Why are you still here?"

Ronnel smiled slightly. "Because I already scouted the river while I was cooking porcupine."

With a swift motion, he revealed several freshly caught fish on his chopping board.

"An ability to store things, huh? How convenient," Menchi said, raising an eyebrow.

Since the others had left, there was no need for pretense. Menchi knew that Ronnel, like herself and Buhara, could use Nen, so they could speak freely.

"By the way, I've never seen that dish you made earlier. I'm curious—what kind of place is your hometown, with such unique recipes?" she asked.

A hint of melancholy flashed in Ronnel's eyes. "My hometown... I doubt I'll ever go back."

Menchi looked apologetic. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up something painful."

"It's alright. That's all in the past now. I can't tell you much about where I'm from, but if you want the recipes, I'd be happy to share."

Menchi's eyes lit up at the offer. "Really? You'd do that?"

"Of course," Ronnel said with a smile, rubbing his fingers together in a familiar gesture.

Menchi's enthusiasm faded as quickly as it appeared. "I should've known. Nothing's free, huh? Especially when dealing with a Hunter."

"Well, there's no such thing as a free meal, right?" Ronnel chuckled. "What do you say? Gems or accessories will do."

"Gems? Accessories?"

"Yeah, I plan to give them as gifts. You must have plenty of contacts from your work as a Gourmet Hunter, right?"

Menchi grinned. "Alright, I'll get some gems for you. But how many do you need?"

"The more, the better," Ronnel said confidently. "These recipes are worth it."

"Deal," Menchi agreed. "Once this phase of the Hunter Exam is over, I'll collect some gems for you. But you better have those recipes ready!"

With a smile, Ronnel began preparing his sushi. Menchi, now in on the deal, had no reason to make things difficult. Plus, Ronnel's cooking was genuinely impressive, so he passed the test without issue.

As the first candidate to clear the second part, Ronnel leaned back and watched as the other examinees returned with strange-looking fish and even stranger cooking methods. He grimaced, resisting the urge to laugh at their bizarre concoctions.

Menchi, meanwhile, had no patience left. "This is cooking? It's a disaster!"

She smashed plate after plate, rejecting dish after dish, her frustration evident. Even Buhara, who was known for his appetite, looked horrified at some of the concoctions presented by the candidates.

As Menchi's irritation peaked, Hanzo approached with his "cooking," causing a scene so outrageous that Ronnel couldn't help but shake his head. With a smirk, he left, letting the madness play out behind him.

Ronnel noticed Satotz watching from the sidelines, clearly entertained by the whole ordeal. Hearing a voice beside him, Satotz turned and smiled.

"Don't you think this second-part of the phase was a bit unfair?"

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