After earning the captain's favor, we arrived safely at Dolle Harbor. I kept my weights on, as usual. While Gon stayed behind to chat with the captain, Leorio, Kurapika, and I scanned the harbor for a map, hoping to pinpoint the Hunter Exam's location.
When Leorio and Kurapika saw the size of my bag, their curiosity kicked in.
Leorio: "What the hell did you pack to make it that huge?"
I just shrugged.Max: "Too many things to count."
They stared for a moment, dumbfounded, before deciding not to push further.
Once Gon finished his conversation, he jogged over to us, still full of energy. He glanced at my gear and asked the same thing the others did. I gave him the same answer.
Gon: "Oh, okay."
Then Leorio furrowed his brows.Leorio: "Huh… That's strange."
Gon: "Why?"
Leorio: "According to the notice I got, the exam's supposed to be somewhere in Zaban City."
He pointed at the map.Leorio: "We're here. But that tree the captain mentioned? It's in the opposite direction."
Kurapika: "Perhaps you misheard him?"
Gon: "Nope. He clearly told me to head toward that big cedar tree."
Kurapika: "I see…"
Leorio held up the notice, frustration growing.Leorio: "And this isn't much help either! It doesn't say exactly where in Zaban City we're supposed to go."
Kurapika: "Our task is to find the exam site using limited information. It's just another test before the real test."
Leorio: "I-I knew that… I already knew that!"
Gon: "Anyway, I'm gonna check it out. The captain must've had a reason for telling me that."
Without waiting, Gon turned and started walking.
Leorio: "Oi, oi… You serious?! The bus to Zaban is about to leave! We should just take that!"
Gon simply waved without turning back.
Leorio: "OIII… Jeez. Kid's gotta learn not to trust everyone."
Kurapika and I exchanged glances, then followed after him.
Leorio: "Hey! Kurapika! Max!"
Kurapika: "Gon's behavior interests me more than the captain's advice. I'm going with him."
Max: "I agree. That notice might not even be legit. I trust the captain's word more than a piece of paper. Could be a trap. Face-to-face info's usually more reliable—and the captain's not the type to lie. He is a Hunter Examiner, after all. He'd know better than any of us where the exam really is."
Leorio looked like he wanted to argue, but then paused, thinking it over.Leorio: "...You know what, you're right. Damn, wait up—you guys are already that far ahead! Wait for meee!"
As we headed toward the tree, I dropped into a duck-walk position while moving. The others stared.
Leorio: "What the hell are you doing?"
Max: "Training. I'm not wasting a single chance to improve."
They sighed and ignored me. I noticed someone following us, but he looked weak, so I didn't bother worrying about it.
After a long walk, we finally arrived. I was drenched in sweat and drained my entire water bottle in one go.
Max (thinking): Goddamn it. I wish I had an inventory cheat… too bad.
Gon: "Are you okay? You're sweating like crazy. Want me to carry your bag?"
Max: "Honestly… no. But I'll manage. Thanks for the offer, though."
Kurapika: "Why not just take off your weights for a while?"
Max: "I'll be fine. This is just another test—pushing past my limit. A little rest and I'll bounce back."
Kurapika: "If you say so."
Leorio: "If I were in your shoes, I'd be collapsed by now. And what the hell is that? A water bottle? That thing's basically a gallon! Can't believe you emptied it."
I was too tired to reply and just kept walking.
Leorio: "Not talking, huh? Fine, I get it. You're beat. Still… this place is kind of creepy. I don't see a single person."
I wanted to say, there are people here, but decided not to.
Gon: "No, there are plenty."
Leorio: "What?"
Then, out of nowhere, a group of masked people appeared, all wearing strange outfits and holding musical instruments—except for one guy holding a crow and an old lady standing in the middle. She looked like the leader, blocking our path. Could be an enemy… or an examiner. I leaned toward the latter—no way they were emitting any Nen, and let's be honest, instruments aren't exactly practical weapons.
Max (thinking): Don't tell me the next part of the exam is singing… Well, I'm good at it, so bring it on.
Leorio: W-What's with the freak show?
Old Lady: Exciting…
Leorio: E-Exciting?
Old Lady:Exciting…
Leorio:Exciting?
Old Lady (loudly): EXCITING TWO-CHOICE QUIZ!
Then suddenly, all the masked people started playing their instruments. We just stood there, dumbfounded.
Max: And here I was hoping for a singing contest…
Leorio: That'd be even worse!
I dropped my bag and collapsed onto the ground, still wearing my weights. I was dead tired.
Gon: Are you okay?
I just gave a thumbs-up while lying on the ground, too exhausted to even talk. I managed to sit up, barely.
The old lady ignored me and continued.
Old Lady: You boys are headed for that tree on the hill, correct? To reach it, you must pass through this town.
Gon, Leorio, Kurapika: Huh?
Max: So… this is part of the Hunter Exam?
Old Lady: That's right. I shall now administer a single-question quiz. You'll have five seconds to answer. Give the wrong answer, and you're disqualified. That means giving up on this year's exam.
Leorio: I see how it is… Good thing I'm a quiz expert.
Max (thinking):I doubt it.
Leorio: Wait… only one question?
Old Lady: Your answer will be either "1" or "2." Any other answer is incorrect.
Leorio: Hold on! Do all four of us share one question? So if one of them answers wrong, I'm out too?
Kurapika: As if that would happen. What's more concerning is the vice versa happening.
Leorio: What was that supposed to mean?!
Max: Looks like I'll be taking next year's exam after all.
Leorio: Don't start losing hope now! We haven't even heard the question yet!
Max: I'm joking.
Leorio: Not funny!
Gon: But you know… this way's kinda easier. Only one of us needs to know the answer. I'm not good at quizzes anyway.
Leorio: I guess you're right.
Kurapika: Makes sense.
Just then, a suspicious-looking guy walked up from behind with a weird smile.
Guy: Hey there. Hurry it up, or I'll take the quiz first.
Leorio: Who the hell are you?
Gon: He followed us from the port.
Leorio: Seriously?
Max: Yeah, I noticed too. But he didn't seem like a threat, so I didn't bother. Anyway, you should thank us—you wouldn't be here without us. So, name?
Matthew: Fair enough. Name's Matthew.
He turned to Gon and said—
Matthew: Sorry, kid. I overheard your chat with the captain.
Old Lady: So what will you do?
Leorio: He's eager, so let him go first. That way we'll know what kind of question it is.
Gon: I don't mind.
Kurapika: I agree.
Max: Yeah, fair enough. Just remember—he's not part of our group. So if he gets it wrong, it doesn't affect us.
The old lady simply nodded in agreement.
Max:Whew...
Matthew: Then I'll go first.
He smiled—obviously planning something. I was the only one who seemed to notice. I didn't say anything, though. I was still sitting there, catching my breath while the others stepped back.
Old Lady: Here is your question.
One of the masked dudes honked a horn, and the crow guy let out a strange growl.
Old Lady: An evil villain has captured your mother and your lover. You can only save one. Select "1" for your mother, or "2" for your lover. Which do you choose?
Everyone was stunned.
Leorio: H-How is that even a quiz?!
Matthew, without hesitation, pressed the answer button.
Matthew: The answer is 1.
Old Lady: Oh? Why?
Matthew: Because you can't replace your mother… but you can find another lover.
Max:Huh… makes a little sense.
Leorio (shocked): Did you just agree with that?!
Old Lady: You may pass.
Leorio: Wait—what?!
Matthew: You just gotta say what the old lady wants to hear.
Max: Yeah yeah, thanks for the tip. Now shoo.
Matthew: Alright then. Adiós, amigos!
Matthew left them behind with a smirk.
Leorio:Hey, now! That's complete bullshit! How was that the right answer?!We're supposed to say whatever the old lady wants to hear? And that's considered correct?!
He turned to Max, grabbing his sleeve in frustration and trying to pull him up—but Max didn't budge.
Leorio:Say something! Why did you agree with that guy?!
Max(still sitting, eyes half-open): I mean… it kinda made a little sense.
Leorio:Why you—
Max: If that lover's a damn cheater who stabs you in the back, then yeah, I'd pick 1 too. But if he truly loves her—loves her the same way he loves his mom—then I wouldn't know what to choose. Honestly, I'd probably stay quiet.
Leorio fell silent.
Max turned to the old lady.
Max: The person in that question… they're equally in love with both their lover and their mother, right?
The old lady said nothing.
Max: If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes.
Leorio clenched his fists.
Leorio:Tch. I'm not putting up with this sham anymore. I'll find another route.
Old Lady: Too late. Refuse to take the quiz, and you're disqualified.
Leorio:That's insane! Different people would expect different answers! There is no right one!
At that moment, Kurapika's eyes lit up. Max caught it—yeah, he's figured something out.
Max(thinking): Looks like Kurapika's onto it. I'll stay silent. Honestly, I don't care if I fail—I can try again next year. But I have a feeling we won't fail. Gon's the protagonist. There's gotta be a trick here.
Kurapika:No right answer… I see, Leorio—
Old Lady:Wait! Not another word from you. Say anything but the answer and you're disqualified. That goes for all of you.
Max: He—
Old Lady:Don't even start.
Max(thinking): I HAVEN'T EVEN SAID ANYTHING YET, YOU GODDAMN OLD HAG.
I said I'd stay silent—but that doesn't mean I don't want to know the answer.Max glanced at Kurapika, who met his eyes. With a subtle gesture, Max silently asked, "You figured it out?"
Kurapika gave the tiniest smile and began raising his hand into a silent pose.
Old Lady:Don't get clever. No hand signs. No notes. Only spoken answers allowed. I'll let it slide once.
Max(thinking): Thank god she let it slide… I saw that pose. So silence is the answer, huh. Guess I was already right.
He winked at Kurapika. Kurapika barely smiled again.
Old Lady(thinking): Hmph… Maybe I shouldn't have let it slide. But the man in the suit still hasn't figured it out. They got lucky.
Max turned to check on Gon. He was still deep in thought, brows furrowed.
Max(thinking): Damn, he's still thinking? Kinda saw that coming… kid's a little airhead sometimes.
Kurapika(thinking): Good, Max must've figured it out. Did Leorio see it? Judging from his face… no. Great. Come on, Leorio. It's a simple trick. As for Gon… I hope he gets it.
Old Lady: Here is your question:"Your son and daughter have been kidnapped. You can only save one. Select 1 for your son, or 2 for your daughter. Which will you rescue?"
Leorio clenched his teeth in frustration. His eyes flared with anger.
Leorio(thinking): She's just mocking us now.
Without saying a word, he turned and picked up a wooden plank near someone's house. The masked musicians didn't flinch. The old lady started the countdown.
Old Lady: Three…
Leorio gripped the plank tighter and gave it a quick swing, as if practicing his strike.
Old Lady: Two…
Leorio(thinking): Go ahead. Keep counting, you hag…
Old Lady: One. Buzz. Time's up.
[Leorio lunges at the old lady, swinging a wooden plank with the full intent to clobber her, but—]
CLACK!
Kurapika blocks the attack with his bokken. The plank shatters on impact.
Before Leorio can react again, I grab him from behind in a full nelson, locking him in place.
Leorio (struggling): Kurapika, why the hell did you block me?! And Max—let go! I'm not gonna be satisfied until I teach this hag a lesson!
Of course, despite all his struggling, I don't budge an inch.
Kurapika: Calm down, Leorio!
Leorio: How am I supposed to calm down!?
Kurapika: You'll ruin our correct response.
That makes Leorio freeze for a second. I feel him stop squirming, and I finally let him go.
Leorio: Huh? Correct response?
Kurapika steps forward, calm as ever.
Kurapika: We gave the right answer. Silence was the correct response.
Leorio (confused): Silence? What do you mean…?
Kurapika: You hit the nail on the head earlier when you said, "There's no right answer." That was the key.
He begins explaining, gesturing slightly as he speaks.
Kurapika: This quiz had no correct answer. But we were only allowed to say "1" or "2"—nothing else. That means... we weren't meant to respond at all. Silence was the real answer.
Leorio: But what about that other guy? Matthew or whatever?
Before Kurapika could answer, I jumped in.
Max: She never said he gave the correct answer. She just said, "You may pass." Am I wrong?
Kurapika (nodding): You're right. Which means… this was the wrong path. Isn't that so?
We all look toward the old lady, waiting.
She smiles softly.
Old Lady: Precisely.
Then she stands up and signals. Two masked figures appear and open a hidden door in the wall.
Old Lady: This way leads directly to the tree. Walk for two hours and you'll reach the top.
Leorio: So that's what this was all about…
She nods.
Old Lady: There's a couple living in a cabin beneath the tree. They serve as Navigators. If you meet their standards, they'll guide you to the exam site.
Leorio drops his broken plank with a sheepish look and walks over to the old lady.
Leorio: Granny… I'm sorry for earlier. For being rude.
Old Lady (smiling gently): Don't worry about it. I enjoy this job because I get to meet people like you.
Leorio: Huh?
Old Lady: Do your best to become a good Hunter.
Leorio blushes slightly, scratching the back of his head.
Leorio: T-Thanks...
Just then, Gon finally speaks up, a deep frown on his face.
Gon: Haaah… I still don't know what to choose. I kept thinking and thinking, but… I couldn't come up with an answer.
Leorio chuckles.
Leorio: You were still thinking about that? You can stop, buddy.
Gon: Huh? Why?
Kurapika: The quiz is over.
Gon: I know, but… what if I actually had to make that choice someday? To choose between two people I love? I don't think it's right to pick just one. But… what would I do if I had to?
Everyone falls silent for a moment. I'm the one who breaks it.
Max: Well, I learned something important today.
Gon: Really? What is it?
Max: If the answer was "nothing"… then you should just choose nothing and abandon them both. Right? Hahahaha!
[Awkward silence.]
CAW.
Even a crow somewhere nearby repeated "idiot" like it was translating for everyone.
They all stared at me—Kurapika, Leorio, Gon, and even the old lady. Deadpan. Emotionless.
Max (sweating): Okay, okay! I was just joking!
Kurapika: Your jokes are always lame… except for the Oreo one.
Leorio: Hey! That joke wasn't funny either!
Max (thinking):Yeah… because that joke It was meant just for you, after all.
Gon: That wasn't funny at all...
Max: Alright, alright! I'm sorry! I mean, if there was a third option, I'd sacrifice myself to save them both. Maybe use some kind of revive spell or technique that trades one life for two... But since that's not possible—whatever! Let's just stop thinking about it.
I sling my giant bag over my shoulder and take off at a run.
Max: Let's go already! My stamina's fully recovered!
Gon (laughing): Wait for me!
Kurapika (sighs): Here we go again…
Leorio: You guys don't have to run, y'know... How the hell is he running that fast with all that weight? He's not a normal human, that's for sure.
The old lady watches us go, her smile lingering as our footsteps echo down the forest path.
[Their journey continues.]