Chapter 27

I woke to the gentle pressure of Rem's arm draped across my chest, her soft breaths warming my neck.

The morning sunlight filtered through the window of our Hunter Hotel room, casting a warm glow across her sleeping face.

It was a peaceful scene, one that filled me with a sense of contentment and gratitude.

Then, the urge to pee hit me like a rogue blast of Emission Nen.

Damn it.

I tried to shift my position, to extricate myself from Rem's embrace without waking her, but it was a futile effort.

She was wrapped around me like a contented vine, her sleep-heavy limbs a surprisingly effective restraint.

"Rem," I whispered, gently nudging her shoulder. "Rem, wake up."

She mumbled something incoherent, burying her face deeper into my chest.

I sighed. There was no way around it. I had to resort to more…persuasive measures.

I leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her nose, then her forehead, and finally, her lips.

Rem's eyes fluttered open, a sleepy smile gracing her face for a fleeting moment before a frown replaced it. "Nuuu…" she groaned, her voice thick with sleep. "Don't wake me up romantically in the morning. Need sleep."

I chuckled, unable to suppress a grin. "Sorry, Love," I said, pressing another quick kiss to her lips. "Nature calls."

Reluctantly, we disentangled ourselves from each other's embrace and got ready for the day.

The mess hall closest to the examinee rooms was bustling with activity.

The remaining contestants were fueling up for the next phase of the exam, their conversations a mix of nervous anticipation and bravado.

We spotted Sukina sitting Next to a silent Killua at a table near the window, a plate of meticulously arranged pastries before her. She looked up as we approached, her face lighting up with a smile.

"Good morning, you two!" she chirped, her voice bright and cheerful. "Sleep well?"

I glanced at Rem for a moment and then shut my mouth about last night.

"As well as one can on an airship filled with potential murderers," I replied dryly, taking a seat across from her.

Rem, her usual morning grumpiness fading, offered a polite nod. "Good morning, Sukina."

Sukina's smile widened, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Speaking of potential murderers," she said, leaning forward conspiratorially, "did you bring the souvenir of a well cooked bastard?"

I knew exactly what she was referring to.

I reached into my armor's storage and retrieved the bag containing Illumi's severed head, placing it discreetly on the table.

"One bagged head of a Jerkbag head, slightly used," I said, my voice low. "As requested."

Sukina's grin widened, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Excellent," she purred. "Daddy will be pleased and so am I."

She pulled out a tablet and placed the bag on it.

Even without opening the bag, the tablet seemed to scan what was inside with a humming sound.

A ding rang out and the sound of a robotic, "Bounty confirmed. Insert blank card for account creation." is heard.

Sukina placed two cards that looked pretty intricately engraved inside a slot in the tablet.

She then moved the head to the side, and lifted the tablet as if it were a camera.

"Say cheese!" she said.

I just stared into the camera with a blank look.

Rem did the same.

"Oh come on! Smile!' Sukina asked.

We did not.

Sukina pouted and took two photos. "Party poopers."

She then pulled out the two cards and started explaining. "Here's your debit cards. It has 24 Billion and 600 million Jenny on it, that was the aggregate of all the bounties on Illumi's head. Congrats! You two are now in the top 400 Richest people on earth."

She nodded, placed the head in a briefcase, and pressed a button.

The briefcase seemed to glow for a moment with a massive temperature and then after a ding she opened the briefcase to reveal an empty bag.

She handed the bag to us saying, "Pleasure doing business with you!" Then walked away, carrying her pastries to another table.

We turned to killua who was patiently waiting there the whole time.

Killua's hesitant "Thank you," barely left his lips before Sukina reappeared, a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Come on, Killua," she exclaimed, grabbing his arm and pulling him away from our table. "Gon's waiting. We're gonna have some fun!"

Killua, clearly torn between expressing his gratitude and having fun with his new friends, offered a sheepish smile and wave as he was dragged away.

I watched them go, a faint smile playing on my lips. They were an odd trio, the carefree Gon, the Heiress Sukina, and the former assassin-in-training Killua. But somehow, it worked.

"Kids these days," I muttered, shaking my head.

Rem, who had been silently observing the exchange, leaned against my shoulder, a soft sigh escaping her lips. "The two of them remind me of us," she murmured, a smile in her voice.

"Us?" I echoed, raising an eyebrow. "You think we're that chaotic?"

"Yes." Rem Nodded Seriously.

I smirked and with a chuckle, pulled her closer. She was right, of course. Our journey has been Pretty crazy so far.

"Well, since the kids are off having fun," I said, rising from my seat, "I think it's time we put these fancy training facilities to good use."

The Hunter Association blimp-hotel combo was a marvel of engineering and luxury.

It boasted state-of-the-art training rooms equipped with everything from gravity chambers to holographic combat simulators.

Sadly nothing with time, though.

We spent the rest of the day pushing ourselves to our limits, honing our skills and refining our techniques.

I delved deeper into the intricacies of the Time-Space Divine Death Law, my chi flowing through me with a newfound intensity.

By nightfall, I had reached the 8th level of Houtian, feeling a surge of power that was both exhilarating and slightly terrifying. I had enough chi to push for the 9th level, but instinct held me back.

"I could break through," I muttered, feeling the energy thrumming within me. "But it wouldn't be wise. I need to solidify my foundation, get used to this level of power before pushing further."

Rem, who was radiating with a soft, blue glow, nodded in agreement. "Same here," she said, her voice laced with a hint of smug satisfaction. "My overflow is enough to reach the 8th level, but no way am I destabilizing my foundation that much. Besides, if I did, I might accidentally smash this entire airship into tiny pieces."

We shared a Chuckle, we sat beside each other silently.

It was nice to just sit there with her.

We stood up and headed back to our room.

—

The next morning We found Killua, Gon, and Sukina huddled around a table near the back of the mess hall, their trays laden with an assortment of snacks and sweets.

The champions of the Void Goddess, Zack, Nobara, and Miu, were with them, their expressions a mix of amusement and curiosity.

"Hey, kids," I said, taking a seat beside Killua. "Mind if we join you?"

Gon, ever the friendly one, beamed at us. "Sure! The more the merrier!"

Nobara, her eyes sparkling with mischief, gave us a sly wink. "So, Tereda," she said, leaning forward conspiratorially, "hear you had a bit of a disagreement with Illumi?" She smirked.

I shrugged, offering a nonchalant smile. "Let's just say we had a difference of opinion on living techniques."

Killua, who had been unusually quiet, shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

I could tell he was still processing the events of the previous day, the complex emotions swirling within him.

I placed a hand on his shoulder, offering a silent reassurance.

Just then, Sukina's meal arrived, a grand presentation of Ridgerider Quail, its golden-brown skin glistening under the dining hall's lights. It looked delicious, until Sukina cut into it.

Her face contorted into a scowl, her brow furrowed with displeasure. She poked at the center of the quail with her fork, revealing a shockingly raw, bloody interior.

"This quail is raw!" she snarled, her voice low and menacing.

In a flash, she was on her feet, kicking open the door to the chef's room with a resounding bang. The entire mess hall fell silent, every eye fixed on the unfolding drama.

Sukina stormed into the kitchen, her voice rising to a furious crescendo. "What the hell is this?!" she roared, brandishing the undercooked quail like a weapon. "Did you even bother to cook this?! it's still flying!"

Punctuated by her throwing the entire thing at him.

The chef, a portly man with a flustered expression, stammered in response. "B-but, Miss Tojo, it's cooked to perfection! It's medium-rare, just as you requested!"

Sukina's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Medium-rare?!" she shouted. "This is still clucking! I wouldn't serve this to a stray dog! Why would I ask for medium rare POULTRY?! Poultry is fully cooked! You don't medium rare anything about a bird!"

She then proceeded to unleash a verbal beatdown that would have made Gordon Ramsay proud, her insults precise, cutting, and utterly devastating.

"Are you a chef or a butcher?" she raged. "Did you learn to cook in a dumpster fire? This quail is so dry externally too, it's skin making the Dukoara Desert look like a tropical rainforest!"

The chef, his face now a shade of crimson that rivaled the raw quail, could only sputter incoherently as Sukina continued her tirade.

The rest of us watched in stunned silence, mesmerized by the spectacle unfolding before us.

It was a bizarre mix of amusement, horror, and a grudging admiration for Sukina's knowledge of poultry.

Even Rem, usually so composed and reserved, couldn't help but crack a smile while trying not to laugh.