106 What A Psychological Shadow!

A serving of food was simple: two long strips of yellow compressed biscuits, enough to replenish basic energy and salt, accompanied by a bowl of millet porridge and a glass of water.

Lippo, known for his love of snacks, had a penchant for preparing meals that could sustain candidates, but the setup was spartan.

Ronnel, however, politely declined Gon's offer of the food. With a flick of his wrist, a plate of sushi appeared in front of him—something he'd prepared during the second stage of the Hunter Exam after submitting to Menchi. He had made a few extra servings to save for later.

Alongside the sushi, there were cold mixed pig meat and scrambled eggs with grape spiders. To complete the meal, he poured a glass of fruit wine he had collected before joining the exam.

"Mmm, what a great lunch," Ronnel thought.

Hanzo, chewing on his biscuit, glanced over at Ronnel's meal. His eyes widened in horror as he caught sight of the sushi, triggering memories of his earlier culinary trauma.

"Cough! Cough!" Hanzo choked violently, pounding his chest in an effort to catch his breath. After taking a long gulp of water, he shot Ronnel a wary look.

"Why does he have that on his plate?" Hanzo thought, recalling the sushi he swore never to eat again.

Even Geretta, who had been sitting quietly, nearly choked on her own meal as she noticed the sushi.

Hisoka and Illumi, both chewing their biscuits, remained indifferent but their lips curled slightly as they continued eating.

It was obvious how much psychological damage that sushi had inflicted on them during the exam.

However, what interested Hisoka and Illumi even more was Ronnel's Nen ability—specifically his method of storage.

"Is this something he learned from Machi? The so-called Dead Man's Pocket? Convenient, though. I wonder how many decks of cards it can hold," Hisoka mused.

As a member of the Phantom Troupe, Hisoka was familiar with the Nen abilities of his fellow members. Although he wasn't always welcomed by the Troupe, Machi had provided him with information in exchange for a hefty price.

Ronnel's Nen, Machi had hinted, would be worth watching.

Gon, meanwhile, was watching Ronnel with fascination as he munched on his compressed biscuit. He could almost taste the delicious meal Ronnel was enjoying just by looking at it.

Leorio, standing nearby, pretended not to care. But deep down, he too remembered the taste of the pork from Ronnel's last meal, his mouth watering at the thought.

Suddenly, the door to the waiting area creaked open.

Two candidates entered almost at the same time. One of them, Pokkle, the future Hunter of Fantastic Beasts, had his bow slung over his shoulder. He had no idea that one day he'd be captured by the Chimera Ants, dissected, and used to feed their queen.

The other, Geretta, was dressed like an Indian warrior, carrying a wooden spear. His eyes flashed with a fleeting desire to fight.

As more candidates arrived, the waiting room grew busier. Ponzu entered, calmly handling her bees, while Sommy played with his pet monkey. Bodoro, with his martial prowess, stood stoically in a corner, and even the infamous rookie killer, Tonpa, made his way in.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the timer counted down to zero. A massive stone door in the center of the room opened, revealing the rising sun beyond.

"It's so beautiful," Ronnel said, admiring the scene.

After a brief moment of awe, Ronnel turned his attention to the man standing in front of them Lippo, a Blacklist Hunter and the prison warden of Trick Tower. He still had traces of chocolate and oat milk on the corner of his mouth.

"Congratulations on successfully escaping the Trick Tower," Lippo announced. "I'm Lippo, and now, I invite you all—" he paused for effect, "—to board the boat."

With a snap of his fingers, a massive boat appeared from beneath the cliff.

Without wasting time, Lippo ushered the candidates onto the ship.

"No rest for the wicked," he thought to himself, already eager to get back to his personal plans.

The boat set sail, heading toward their next destination.

Ronnel, with nothing better to do, wandered around the ship.

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