Some people had no cooking skills whatsoever and just threw the entire pig over a fire to roast—without even killing it first.
The Great Stamp pig woke mid-roast and let out a piercing shriek.
Some ended up charring the pig until it was pitch-black, practically like a lump of coal. It was dreadful to look at, let alone taste.
Sushi, roasting, stewing, pan-frying, deep-frying…
All sorts of cooking methods were on display here. Some smelled heavenly, while others reeked horribly. The entire plaza filled with a thick, unpleasant mix of odors. It definitely couldn't be called an enticing aroma.
That's just how smells work. Two foul odors together might become even fouler—or possibly turn into something fragrant. But if a good smell and a bad smell blend, it usually becomes worse.
A candidate finished cooking and hurried to present the dish to Buhara and Menchi. Earlier, Menchi had mentioned:
"When we can't eat another bite, the exam ends. Anyone still waiting at that point automatically fails."
So time was also part of the challenge.
Buhara turned no dish away. If it looked tasty, he ate with gusto; if it looked inedible, he still ate heartily—except in the case where the pig wasn't killed or cleaned at all.
"Pass!"
Buhara gave his verdict. The candidate's face lit up—but only for a moment.
"Fail."
Menchi pronounced the final word.
Only when both examiners declared "pass" did the candidate truly pass. A single examiner's "fail" meant failing the test. It ended this candidate's Hunter Exam journey on the spot.
It wasn't just that one candidate. In fact, up to now, every candidate who had submitted a dish had failed.
"Why is my cooking a fail? I made it perfectly! Looks great, smells great, tastes great! You won't even give that a pass? What do you want from us? This exam is already a mess. We came here to be Hunters, not chefs! You owe me a reasonable explanation—or I won't show you any courtesy!"
A chubby, blond-haired candidate, furious at his failure, yelled at Menchi and Buhara, stalking toward them as though ready to fight at any moment.
Menchi's eyes narrowed. One hand rested on her blade's hilt. By nature, she was the explosive type—like a keg of dynamite waiting for a spark. She was also quite proud and headstrong.
You could see it from the way she handled this Hunter Exam. It was meant for applicants of all kinds, yet she chose a cooking-based test.
While Gourmet Hunters are a recognized branch within the Hunter community, they're not a large one. Most Hunters are after strength, wealth, or adventure. Menchi could have tested gathering ingredients instead. If she felt the Great Stamp pig was too easy, she could simply have swapped it for a harder-to-acquire ingredient.
It was like a preliminary exam for a huge group of test-takers, only for the examiner to decide that everyone had to pass a drawing test. Sure, some people might be good at drawing, but the majority aren't.
Technically, it's the same subject for everyone, but in truth, it's hardly fair. It was natural for some candidates to have objections.
Menchi didn't care. Before this, she'd only been wary because Hisoka and Ron were so powerful. But as for this particular candidate, she saw no reason to fear him.
He dared to approach with such an attitude. Menchi certainly wouldn't indulge him.
Right before she could make a move…
Bang!
Buhara stepped in, striking the candidate with one palm and unleashing a tremendous force. The next second, the man was sent flying dozens of meters until he slammed into the courtyard wall. The entire wall shook with the impact, leaving a dent. He slid down until he hit the ground, unmoving—whether truly unconscious or simply feigning, no one could say.
The candidate did not get back up.
Buhara returned to his spot as if nothing had happened.
Everyone's gaze shifted from the fallen candidate to Menchi and Buhara. They all paused for a moment.
"Continue the exam!"
Menchi's voice rang out. Some candidates remained where they stood, still hesitant, while others got back to cooking. A few lowered their heads in silence, then packed up and headed for the exit.
They were the ones who had already been declared failures. Seeing how forceful Buhara and Menchi were, they knew there was no chance of overturning the decision. Staying would change nothing, so they chose to accept it and leave. Some would wait for the next year's exam, others might give up on the Hunter path altogether.
"Just our rotten luck this year!"
"Running into these ridiculous examiners…"
"We come here to test our hunting skills, but they test cooking? This is insane!"
"Completely over the top!"
"I curse them!"
They walked away, cursing Menchi and Buhara—and their friends, ancestors, everyone. If curses could kill, those two would've died a thousand times over.
The exam went on.
"Pass!"
"Fail!"
Yet still no one received a real "pass." They all got rejected. The remaining candidates grew increasingly anxious, but in truth, Menchi and Buhara themselves were on edge, for soon it would be Hisoka's turn, as well as others with real power. They didn't know Illumi well, since he hadn't done much yet. Ron's strength worried them, but they assumed he wouldn't make a scene if he got turned down. Hisoka, however, was a different story. The man had already attacked Satotz in the first stage, and clearly came across as dangerous.
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