NOVEL WEB Chapter 53: Isaac Netero
The entire sequence of events left the candidates utterly bewildered. Their anger and frustration, which had been on the verge of exploding, suddenly lost momentum. What was going on? First, Larry whispered something to the examiners— Then, out of nowhere, the first examiner returned? The confusion spread through the crowd like wildfire.
Before they could piece it together, Menchi took two steps forward, inhaled deeply, "First of all, I want to apologize." Her voice carried genuine sincerity, catching the candidates off guard. "The results of this exam have been voided." Her next words sent shockwaves through the crowd. "Everyone will be retaking the second exam—at a new location!"
Murmurs erupted instantly. A special airship had already been arranged to transport all candidates to the new site. As soon as she finished speaking, Menchi gave Satotz a signal. Finally, Satotz understood. Larry had called him here not just for show—he was the one in charge of summoning the pre-arranged airship. With a sigh, he contacted the airship, setting everything in motion. But at the same time, a nagging thought surfaced in his mind.
Had Larry known that Satotz had been assigned to monitor Menchi? Had he even predicted the existence of the pre-arranged airship? One realization after another kept stacking up in his head. But there was no time to dwell on it. The airship arrived shortly after, descending above the venue with the Hunter Association logo prominently displayed on its sides.
As soon as it landed, the candidates and examiners boarded one by one, still buzzing with questions. Halfway up a towering mountain, the airship came to a stop. The site was famous for one reason. A massive ravine ran straight through it, dividing the mountain into two symmetrical halves— And deep within the chasm lay the nest of the Spider Eagles.
Menchi turned to the candidates and explained their task. "The challenge is simple." She gestured toward the massive ravine. "Retrieve a Spider Eagle egg from the nest and boil it."
Some of the candidates stared in disbelief. It almost sounded too easy Until they saw the sheer depth of the chasm. One misstep, and they wouldn't just fail the exam—They'd be dead.
This entire second exam adjustment was Larry's idea. Or, rather, it was the original plan from the Hunter Exam, which Larry had simply nudged Menchi toward before things could spiral out of control. Under normal circumstances, Chairman Netero would have appeared to correct Menchi's strict grading. But with Larry stepping in before things escalated, Netero never even got a chance to show up.
Still, given the situation, this was the best possible outcome. Wanting to make up for her mistake, Menchi decided to go first, diving straight into the chasm and retrieving an egg herself. The Spider Eagle egg was as large as a human head—And it was finally time for the candidates to act.
One by one, they took the leap, plunging into the chasm to grab their own eggs. From a distance, it almost looked like a mass synchronized event. Larry, however, had no need to go through the hassle. As a Pokémon Master, there was no reason for him to physically jump down. Standing at his table, he calmly stretched out his hands. A second later, a perfectly smooth Spider Eagle egg materialized in his grasp. Gardevoir's speed was unmatched, delivering the egg with two flawless teleportations. Not a single person noticed. Well—almost no one.
A few mentally sharp Nen users sensed faint fluctuations, glanced at Larry briefly— Then chose to ignore it. The Spider Eagle eggs were often called "Dream Eggs." And now, Larry would finally find out why.
Once his egg was boiled to perfection, Larry gently peeled away the shell. The first thing that caught his eye was the crystal-clear egg white, which shimmered in the light. Then came the soft, fragrant aroma—A scent that carried a hint of rich butter. He took a bite. The outer egg white had the smooth, velvety texture of jelly, A perfect balance between firm and delicate.
Then, as he reached the center… A wave of warm, golden yolk spilled into his mouth, bursting with an intense, layered flavor. This was exactly what Menchi had advised. The egg was best enjoyed with the yolk still partially liquid. It was so incredibly delicious— There were no words for it. It was no exaggeration to say that this egg deserved its legendary name. The "Dream Egg" lived up to its reputation.
Soon, the other candidates also finished boiling and tasting their eggs. And almost every single one of them had the same reaction. Men, women, old, young, They all wore the same look of pure bliss. The entire day's exhaustion seemed to melt away the moment they tasted it. Watching the scene unfold, Menchi walked over to Larry, smiling. Her voice was gentler than before. "Larry… thank you." She meant it. This experience had helped the candidates truly understand the purpose of Gourmet Hunters. They had felt it firsthand.
As the sun began to set, the sky turned a deep purple, signaling the end of the first day of the Hunter Exam. One by one, the candidates boarded the airship, preparing to rest for the night. Out of the original 405, only about 40 remained. The first day alone had already eliminated nearly 90% of them. For most candidates, this was a rare moment to relax—A brief respite before the third exam. But not for Larry.
"Hohohoho, I've wanted to meet you for quite some time." Larry sat across from Isaac Netero, the legendary chairman of the Hunter Association, watching as the old man casually lifted a steaming cup of tea from the table.
"Likewise, President," Larry responded, a small smile forming as he studied the man before him. "I've been looking forward to this meeting as well."
Netero had a unique presence—one that exuded both warmth and boundless fighting spirit. His bald head, contrasted by a single ponytail on top, gave him a strangely refreshing look. A long white beard, curved at the end like a scorpion's tail, swayed slightly as he took a sip of his tea. The loose blue-and-white robe he wore was simple but distinguished—his most common outfit in the Hunter Association.
From what Larry recalled, Netero only wore three types of clothing. His standard robe, the one he was currently wearing, was the most familiar. Then there was his casual sports outfit, reserved for warming up or exercising. But the most infamous of all was the "Heart" T-shirt, a garment surrounded by rumors among Nen users. It was said that Netero only wore it when he was completely certain of victory—an outfit so rare that even veteran Hunters had never seen it firsthand.
Though decades had passed since his prime, Netero remained one of the strongest Nen users alive. His sheer presence commanded respect, an unshakable force that few dared to challenge. And yet, Larry could feel it—beneath his relaxed demeanor, behind the easygoing smile, Netero's eyes burned with anticipation.