I'm Really Not A Nen Exorcist (HxH Fanfic)

Beans wasn't sure what Moses was thinking, so he decided his best option was to report the matter to Chairman Netero.

"Hoho, let's talk about it when we meet."

Netero replied over the phone.

He didn't know if it was an illusion, but Beans felt that Netero sounded unusually enthusiastic on the line.

Without thinking too much of it, Beans informed Moses of the outcome and had the airship detour to Zaban City, where Netero was located.

Zaban City was the site for the first phase of the 287th Hunter Exam.

As the Chairman of the Hunter Association and the highest authority in the Hunter Exam Review Committee, Netero actually wasn't required to show up directly at the Hunter Exam.

However, he was expected to remain nearby to handle any unexpected incidents as quickly as possible. After all, many Pro Hunters were eccentric or, more bluntly, self-centered.

If they are asked to serve as examiners, they will basically not consider the issues from the examinees' perspectives when designing tests.

Under these conditions, if the Review Committee were to fully adhere to the examiners' rulings, the passing rate for the Hunter Exam would practically drop to zero each year.

For example, during Pyon's stint as an examiner, she created an ancient language test far beyond the examinees' comprehension, practically holding up a 'You're already eliminated' sign from the start.

And Pyon's test wasn't an isolated case.

So, when Moses asked about the so-called scope of authority, Netero should have directly answered 'everything is based on the opinions of the Review Committee', but he refrained from doing so.

"Let's see what's on your mind."

In a high-rise building in Zaban City, Netero stood by a floor-to-ceiling window, stroking his beard slowly, a glimmer of amusement in his old eyes.

....

As the registration period for this year's Hunter Exam drew to a close, millions of prospective examinees readied themselves.

On January 1, 1999, clues to the location of the first test location for the Hunter Exam began to be placed in specific locations around the world.

Out of these millions of examinees, only about one in ten thousand would ultimately find the test location.

From across the globe, candidates began their journeys:

A young man with spiky black hair and a fishing rod set out from Whale Island.

A prodigious assassin boy, willing to injure his own mother, left home.

A handsome blonde, wearing ethnic attire and harboring a deep-seated grudge, prepared to enter.

A man in a suit, driven by greed but possessing noble aspirations, readied himself.

A severe Bro-con.

A battle maniac.

A carefree trickster.

A troublemaker.

There is also a simpleton...

Each candidate, for their own reasons, set out for the first test location of the Hunter Exam.

…

At the same time.

Moses met with Netero in a building in Zaban City.

After not seeing each other for several years, the elder and the youth studied each other.

In Moses's eyes, the top veteran powerhouse in front of him had not changed at all, whether in his Aura State or appearance.

It was as if time had no effect on him.

But in Netero's eyes, the boy in front of him, whom he had high hopes for, had undergone a drastic change.

No, he should be called young man.

In the past, no matter how mature Moses acted or how many remarkable feats that were inappropriate for his age he did, it could not weaken the immaturity brought by his age.

But now, the traces of youth had faded, replaced by a keen sharpness, as if he were a blade drawn from its sheath.

"Hmm…"

Netero stroked his beard and looked up and down at Moses's now-angular features and his tall figure that was nearly 1.9 meters tall.

This striking appearance, combined with a vibrant aura, made him impossible to ignore.

But what Netero focused on was not the changes in Moses's appearance, but the Aura covering his body. It was calm and steady like a boulder, yet carried a subtle, eye-pleasing flow, like a trickling stream.

Undoubtedly, Moses had reached a new level of control over his Aura after two or three years of quiet dedication.

But he didn't know what the level of Manifested Aura and Potential Aura has reached.

The only thing Netero could be sure of now was that Moses's speed of progress was extremely fast, which completely met the high hopes he had placed on him before, or it should be said… it exceeded his expectations.

"Generally speaking, only the location of the test is determined by the Review Committee. Apart from that, the Review Committee will not easily interfere with any independent decisions made by the examiner in the level test, including the test content or results."

In response to Moses's request, Netero gave a fairly official answer.

Moses thought for a moment after hearing this and asked, "What would it take to remove the word 'easily'?"

In the corner of the room, Beans had been quietly observing the conversation and thought to himself, 'Shouldn't that be impossible?'

For years, the Review Committee had adhered to a rule of non-interference in examiners' decisions, which resulted in the pass rate of previous tests being infinitely close to zero.

That was precisely why Chairman Netero had been reserved in his response.

Granting complete authority to the examiners had been proven ineffective through years of experience.

"Hoho, if you remove the word 'easily', the Review Committee would be reduced to a mere figurehead."

Netero chuckled, looking at Moses with interest.

Beans nodded subtly from the corner, agreeing with Netero's assessment.

The involvement of the Review Committee is also part of the test, so they cannot be a bystander.

But Moses detected a hint of flexibility in Netero's words and said seriously: "Chairman, just tell me if it's possible or not."

Hearing this, Netero narrowed his eyes slightly.

Beans, who had been quietly observing, looked at Moses and muttered to himself: "Chairman may enjoy a bit of chaos, but when it comes to serious matters, he would never..."

"It's possible."

Netero answered Moses's question with a smile, abruptly cutting off Beans' mumbling, leaving him in shock.

After getting the answer he wanted, Moses showed a slight smile.

After all, if the examiners couldn't conduct the Hunter Exam freely and were even subject to limitations from the Review Committee, where was the excitement in that?

However, before Moses could savor his small victory, Netero continued in his cheerful tone, "But there is a condition."

"…"

Moses's eyelid twitched.

Netero, ignoring the look of annoyance Moses gave him, continued with a chuckle: "In life, many things must be earned through effort. If you want unrestricted authority, I can give it to you. But only if you can prove you deserve it."

"Wise words, as expected of Chairman Netero."

Moses raised a thumb toward Netero.

Netero laughed heartily, stroking his beard.

But in the next instant, Moses put his hand down, saying calmly: "But I'm not interested in playing with volleyball."

"…"

The smile on Netero's face froze for a moment, though it returned to normal in an instant.

"What volleyball?"

He asked, pretending to be clueless.

Moses shot him a look that clearly said, 'Just keep pretending, old man.'

"Volleyball is boring. How about a proper fight instead?"

"Huh?"

Netero obviously didn't expect Moses to make such a suggestion, and he instantly became interested.

Without waiting for Netero to ask any more questions, Moses continued:

"But let's do it after the Hunter Exam. I'm not arrogant enough to think I'll walk away unscathed from a fight with you. If I get flattened like last time, how will I serve as an examiner for this exam?"

"Hmm…"

Netero realized that he had been trapped by Moses and couldn't help but groan.

In the corner, Beans instinctively took out a handkerchief to wipe his forehead, looking like he wanted to say something but couldn't.

Moses had a slight smile on his face as he patiently waited for Netero's answer.

In fact, there was no need for Netero to set any conditions. After completing three years of training the Divine Script, Moses was thinking about whether he could have a more formal spar with Netero.

Not that he expected to win, of course.

He just wanted to take this opportunity to measure his growth.

And along the way, shake off the rust from three years without battle.