[32]: Airship

"If you've already registered for the Hunter Exam online, all you need to do is give your name to the receptionist at the front desk, and someone will guide you."

Following the enthusiastic advice of the self-proclaimed information broker, Cyr returned to the area with the large fleet of airships. This time, he entered through the main entrance, walking confidently into the reception hall.

He headed straight to the front desk and provided his name for the exam.

"Cyr DeVille. Check my flight."

The receptionist's fingers danced across the keyboard. After a moment, she flashed a perfectly professional smile. "Please head this way."

She raised her hand and pointed in a specific direction.

Though the venue was bustling with people, the area she indicated was cordoned off with barriers, the doors tightly shut, and not a soul in sight.

The contrast was stark—completely separated from the lively crowds.

Was it really this simple? Had he overthought things?

Cyr pushed open the doors and stepped inside. Instantly, several pairs of watchful, scrutinizing eyes turned toward him, filled with both caution and curiosity.

The gazes were bold, but no one moved first. The room was silent and tense.

"What's wrong? Want to start a fight right now?" Cyr smirked, his tone full of provocation as he swept a contemptuous glance over the others present.

One by one, the others averted their eyes, remaining indifferent and silent. Each kept a careful distance, wary of one another.

Everyone was armed, and they all looked like masters of melee weapons and martial arts.

The air was heavy with quiet menace. Each person resembled a dangerous fugitive... except for one out-of-place figure.

In the corner, a blonde boy with a pageboy haircut clutched his backpack, huddling quietly as though he were a hostage brought here against his will.

Compared to the others—who radiated the energy of hardened criminals—the blonde boy seemed utterly weak.

Was he a candidate, too? He looked so fragile...

Though, in truth, none of the others seemed particularly strong through Cyr's Six Eyes, the blonde boy was undoubtedly the weakest. His entire presence screamed "easy target."

Still, in a world like this, it wasn't impossible for the weak to rise up against the strong.

Appearances could be deceiving. He might look helpless now, but people who didn't bark often bit the hardest.

Cyr settled onto an empty sofa, casually observing the room's decor.

The soft carpet covering the lounge floor, the shiny leather sofas that looked perfect for lying down, the oversized golden clock hanging boldly on the wall, and shelves filled with antiques.

And, most importantly, the freely available food.

Opening his backpack, Cyr checked his remaining supplies. His appetite had grown larger, which meant his food reserves were depleting faster. The snacks Syd prepared for him were already gone during his journey here.

Without hesitation, he began stuffing the snacks on the table into his backpack, focusing on high-calorie and sugary items—especially chocolate balls.

If his backpack were bigger, he might have packed everything in the lounge.

As he did this, the other candidates watched in silence, offering no comments.

After all, no one had touched those snacks before Cyr's arrival.

Once his backpack was full, he slung it back over his shoulder, leaned back into the sofa, and began slowly munching on the snacks he couldn't pack.

"Attention, candidates. The airship has arrived. Please board within ten minutes. Latecomers will bear the consequences..."

"Attention, candidates..."

"Attention, candidates..."

The announcement repeated three times from a speaker in the corner of the lounge.

But by the end of the first announcement, everyone had already bolted out of the lounge, unable to contain their urgency.

The announcements inside the lounge couldn't be heard from outside, clearly intended only for the candidates.

Cyr waited until all three broadcasts had ended before leaving.

After all, who knew if the examiners had hidden a trick in the announcements? For instance, what if the first broadcast caused everyone to rush out in a panic, only for the critical information to be revealed in the final one? It wasn't out of the realm of possibility.

Shortly after stepping out, Cyr caught up with the others who had rushed ahead of him. Before long, he spotted a massive red-and-white airship descending gracefully from the sky—the unmistakable mark of the Hunter Association.

As the airship landed, its doors opened slowly. Before they had fully opened, the crowd surged forward, scrambling to board.

Cyr followed them in and finally experienced firsthand the luxurious interiors he had once only seen on screens.

The transparent glass corridor allowed passengers to look down and view the landscape as the airship cruised through the skies. There was a high-end restaurant with personal service, a bar stocked with various wines, a training room, and a lounge—all available onboard.

It was even better than the private jets Cyr had been on before, though the airship wasn't as fast as a plane.

Clap, clap.

A loud clapping sound drew everyone's attention.

Two figures stood waiting inside the airship.

The one who clapped was a man standing around 1.8 meters tall, slightly lean, wearing long-sleeved clothes, with fair skin.

"Welcome, everyone, to the 286th Hunter Exam. I'm your examiner for this year—Bindo," he introduced himself with a mild-mannered tone, then gestured to the person beside him. "And this is Rogeff."

Rogeff was a shorter man, barely reaching 1.7 meters. His skin had a pale greenish hue, and he wore green clothes, looking as if he were a plant brought to life.

He simply nodded at the crowd, clearly not fond of speaking.

"The airship will take six days to reach the Azian Continent, so you'll all be spending this time onboard," Bindo explained with a warm tone. "There's a restaurant, lounge, training room, and entertainment room—all available for free."

He emphasized the last part, perhaps because candidates in the past had asked whether the amenities required payment.

"Remember to get along. If you absolutely must fight, do so in the training room. And while everything here is free, you will be charged for any damage to the facilities," Bindo added with a smile, likely referencing past incidents of onboard destruction.

Cyr yawned lazily, finding these reminders tedious.

"Well, that's all. Dismissed," Bindo concluded with a clap of his hands. In an instant, he vanished from sight.

Rogeff, like a shadow, nodded once more and silently left.

With the examiners gone, the candidates dispersed quickly, each heading in their own direction—to the lounge to sleep, the restaurant to eat, the training room to prepare, or the entertainment room to relax.

Cyr was no different.

"Let's see what's in the entertainment room..." he muttered to himself, starting toward that direction.

Before he could take more than a few steps, the blonde boy with the pageboy haircut from the lounge suddenly approached him.

"Um... how old are you? What's your name?" the boy asked.

"You look so young... and already so strong," he added, his tone full of admiration.

Cyr didn't respond outwardly but couldn't help his inner thoughts: Of course you think that. You didn't cheat, but I did.

A system, a second chance, and every buff imaginable—how could he not be strong?

Fully aware of his unfair advantage, Cyr smirked internally.

Yes, I know I'm a walking cheat code.

°°°

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