[42]: You Fool

"Let's serve this to the examiner at noon," Maro said, carefully packing a portion of the roasted meat and setting it aside.

However, the white-haired, blue-eyed boy refused the suggestion. "No, you teach me how to do it. I'll do it myself."

"With how picky they are, if you do it, they'd probably declare it unqualified no matter what," Cyr said, his eyelids drooping, his face reflecting disinterest and understanding.

"As expected of you, Master. You've really thought it through," Maro said, grinning like a true sycophant, expertly providing emotional support.

"It must be really easy for you!" Maro said, his tone full of certainty.

Probably…

Cyr thought, unsure. Whether or not his cooking talent had been unlocked was still a mystery.

"Just slice along the meat's grain, sprinkle some herbs when it's cooked just right, and brush it with honey…" Maro gave his serious instructions.

Cyr, looking very serious, followed the steps carefully, determined to do it right.

Suddenly, he turned to look toward the left rear.

A chubby exam candidate appeared in his line of sight, followed by a flying creature with a wingspan over two meters and five claws.

This guy looks somewhat familiar…

"Help—" The chubby exam candidate's face lit up with the joy of finding what he thought were his saviors when he spotted Cyr and Maro.

"Run! This magical beast is dangerous…" His expression shifted to one of urgency as he shouted, though inwardly he was secretly pleased.

Run, he thought. He had already coordinated with two other candidates to set up a trap ahead. As long as these two ran forward, they would fall right into it.

Then, the treasures on their bodies, along with that golden-haired kid, would all be theirs.

However, as he continued to run, his expression gradually froze.

Why are these two still sitting there, so calmly, watching him like he's some kind of clown?

"Ah, I remember now," Cyr said, showing an expression of realization.

This was the same guy from the original story who gave Gon and Killua juice with laxatives during the Hunter Exam, the so-called "Rookie Crusher," Tonpa.

Looks like he's targeting me and Maro this time?

"Why aren't you running yet?" Tonpa shouted.

At that moment, he saw the white-haired boy raise his index finger and make a slight motion. The next second, he was drenched in scalding liquids and solids falling from above.

It was red… blood, and... intestines.

A heavy thud echoed beside him as Tonpa turned stiffly, only to see the magical beast he had summoned being butchered with unknown methods—its wings, claws, and head severed, and its belly split open.

The blood and guts that had splattered on him just now came from the beast.

Crap, I've messed with someone terrifying.

In an instant, Tonpa collapsed to the ground, stumbling and terrified, not daring to speak a word as he quickly lay flat, pretending to be unconscious.

"As expected of you, Master! So strong! We've got new ingredients! I've heard this beast tastes pretty good…" Maro cheerfully went to pick up the dismembered bird.

"Really? Let's give it a try," Cyr replied, his tone indifferent.

Tonpa tried to shrink away and reduce his presence, slowly crawling like a bug in the corner.

He clearly heard a laugh from nearby but didn't dare open his eyes to look.

Once he felt he had moved far enough, he crawled up and fled in terror.

"Continue," Cyr said casually, poking at the fire, signaling Maro to continue teaching.

...

Time passed quickly until noon.

The familiar location, the familiar examiners, the familiar dining table.

And... the familiar critical tone.

"The taste, it smells much better than this morning," the three examiners said, with expressions that were somewhat perplexed.

"Because I stuffed it with sour berries, and the skin was seasoned with herbs and honey..." Cyr said expressionlessly as he recited his lines. He had served them the roasted bird he had prepared.

Yes, the same bird that Tonpa had summoned.

Under Maro's guidance, Cyr had done everything himself step by step. The final product was deemed a great success by Maro.

"Can I be marked as qualified now?" Cyr impatiently urged, his already limited patience on the verge of running out.

"Of course... unqualified," Bindo deliberately drew out his words before mercilessly announcing it.

"Huh?" Cyr heard the warning that his patience had completely run out.

"You didn't take this seriously. This isn't your work. Another candidate must've made it," Hoshou said in a low voice.

These self-righteous arrogant fools!

"No, I watched Master Cyr do it with my own eyes! No one else!" Maro quickly ran forward to testify, shouting.

"…I've been irritated from the start," Cyr slowly raised his head, and the more furious he became, the more his smile became bright and sunny.

"I'm really fed up with being criticized by a bunch of weaklings," dark blue energy erupted from his body, spreading in all directions, making the grass stand on end.

Even those who couldn't see Nen could feel the subtle, terrifying aura around him.

Boom — his figure appeared behind the examiner, his hand pressed firmly on the examiner's head, slamming it into the table in front of him, splitting the table in half.

Hoshou quickly drew his twin knives, while Rogoff stood at a distance, cautiously extending his hand.

The white-haired, blue-eyed boy's smile was wicked, like a devil's, as he gripped Bindo's head tightly. His five fingers seemed ready to shatter the Nen shield protecting the man's head, as though intending to crush it completely.

"This was made by my own hands. If you waste even a bit of it, I'll kill you," Cyr bent down, grabbed some food that had fallen to the ground, mixed with dirt and roots, and forced it into Bindo's mouth. He covered Bindo's mouth with his hand, smiling brightly.

Once Bindo reluctantly swallowed the food in his mouth, Cyr let go of his hand.

"Understand your own strength, fool," Cyr grabbed Bindo's head and casually tossed him to the side, his tone full of impatience.

In the blink of an eye, Cyr appeared in front of Rogoff and kicked him hard to the side. The force of the kick sent Rogoff flying, crashing into three trees along the way.

Without even missing a beat, Cyr appeared behind Hoshou, stomped on his back with full force, pressing him into the ground and increasing the pressure, creating a pit in the earth shaped like a person.

"This candidate attacked the examiners, which is a violation of the rules!" Rogoff, holding his chest, got up and warned.

Even though he had used Nen for protection, his injuries weren't severe.

However, this series of actions proved enough that their strength was no match for the boy in front of them, and they could only passively endure the assault.

The white-haired, blue-eyed boy simply pressed his hand onto the back of Hoshou's neck, adding a bit more pressure with his foot, and tilted his head as he asked, "So what? Are you going to announce that I'm expelled from the exam now?"

"In that case, I could just kill you all." Cyr's smile was radiant, but it carried an overwhelming killing intent and malice.

"Cough... Calm down first, and let go of your foot." Bindo reappeared.

He wasn't seriously injured, but...

Being treated like this by such a young candidate, with no way to fight back, was a huge blow to his pride.

"I can also prove it, he really did make it himself. I happened to pass by and saw it." Tonpa suddenly stepped forward, pulling the two examiners with him and loudly explaining for Cyr.

He hoped that, given how hard he was working to testify, the boy wouldn't come after him later.

"Do you all now know who made this food?" Cyr asked with obvious disdain in his expression.

It was like putting in all the effort to prepare a big meal, only for someone to ask if you had lazily ordered takeout.

"It was you who made it..." Bindo nodded, acknowledging his earlier mistake due to prejudice.

"Then apologize." The white-haired boy stood there, stepping repeatedly on the back of one of the examiners, Hoshou's head, as if he were kicking a soccer ball.

Each time Hoshou managed to lift his head, Cyr forcefully pushed it back down.

"Apologize for your arrogance, pride, and stupidity," Cyr said in a tone that was almost dismissive, full of malice.

"It better satisfy me, examiner." The corners of his mouth curled upwards, and the look in his eyes was filled with undisguised sarcasm.

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