Rummaging through the ninja's clothes, Nicolas retrieved the two badges in his possession: number 291 and 305.
With these badges, he fulfilled the success conditions of the exam, totaling seven points.
Satisfied, he stored them in his backpack, moved Hanzo's unconscious body against a tree, and walked away.
Hanzo was strong, Nicolas knew that without the element of surprise, the task would've been far more difficult. His success largely relied on using Zetsu to remain hidden.
After moving about 40 meters away, Nicolas silently slipped into a bush.
There were still several days left before the end of the trial. He could spend them hiding or go meet up with Gon and the others, but that held no interest for Nicolas.
This exam was meant to select future Hunters, but it also served as a massive training ground, and Nicolas intended to make the most of it.
From his hidden spot, he watched Hanzo slowly wake up. He had planned to keep tailing him for the rest of the trial, aiming to shorten the distance between them as much as possible without alerting the ninja.
Previously, Nicolas believed 50 meters was the minimum distance he could maintain undetected. However, after observing Hanzo during the pursuit, he gained the confidence to reduce it.
Thus, Nicolas followed Hanzo for the remaining days. Having lost all his badges, the ninja became more aggressive and managed to retrieve enough badges one day before the trial's end.
During that time, Nicolas had managed to close the gap to just 20 meters. He was even confident he could get closer. He thought back to Netero's words about his Zetsu, it now seemed they hadn't been a lie.
The quality of his Zetsu was clearly excellent. But even if Hanzo had sharp senses, he didn't yet master Nen, a seasoned user might be a whole different story.
Over those few days of espionage, Nicolas learned a lot from Hanzo, from combat techniques to ambush strategies. He was completely satisfied with having followed him until the end.
Finally, the trial ended, with an announcement echoing across the island, inviting candidates to gather.
Nicolas parted ways with Hanzo and returned to the meeting point first.
After 20 minutes of sprinting, he arrived. A few candidates were already there. Spotting Killua among them, Nicolas approached.
"Killua! You're already here, I guess you passed too."
The white-haired boy turned around. "Oh, Nicolas. Yeah, I passed. You too? That was easy."
Sitting on the ground next to Killua while waiting for the boat to arrive, Nicolas nodded. "Yeah, I thought it'd be harder, but it was fun all the same."
"Hmm, well there's only one test left. I hope the difficulty spikes at the end," Killua said.
Nicolas chuckled quietly. He knew that completing this trial was the hardest part of the exam, the final tournament would only eliminate one person, meaning most of the candidates were already as good as through.
As they chatted peacefully, they suddenly felt a heavy gaze on them. Turning around, they saw Hanzo staring at Nicolas, his expression dark.
Killua shot a curious look at Nicolas, his demeanor silently questioning.
Nicolas sighed, scratching his head. "Hanzo was my target. I got his badge during the trial. I guess he's not taking it well."
"Oh!" Killua exclaimed, surprised. "Didn't expect you to beat Hanzo, that guy's really strong."
"Hmm… not sure you can say I beat him. I just ambushed him," Nicolas replied, dodging his friend's gaze.
Killua hummed, his expression turning cat-like with curiosity, though he said no more. Internally, he was surprised by Nicolas's abilities.
Soon, the remaining candidates arrived. When the time ran out, instead of the expected boat, a blimp landed on the island to pick them up.
On board, Nicolas noticed Gon behaving oddly. Knowing it stemmed from the helplessness he'd felt in front of Hisoka, Nicolas decided to leave him alone. He began exploring the blimp in search of food, after a week of eating only fruit, he was eager to feast.
Upon reaching the restaurant, Nicolas saw Leorio devouring a steak. Laughing at the sight, he sat across from the future doctor.
"Yo, how'd you get here so fast? I guess your trial went well too," Nicolas started.
Leorio didn't bother answering, mouth full. He just nodded, swallowing with difficulty.
"Yeah, thanks to Gon. Also, if you want to eat, don't touch my food. You can order, it's free."
Amused, Nicolas placed an order with the server. Since the Hunter Association was footing the bill, he didn't hold back. Soon, another spread of dishes was laid out in front of the two, a mini feast unfolded in a corner of the blimp.
Suddenly, an announcement called candidates in for an interview with the chairman. One by one, they were summoned.
"Candidate number 181! I repeat, candidate number 181!"
At the sound of his number, Nicolas regretfully left his half-finished meal. Leorio, belly swollen, looked at him in disbelief.
"You monster... It's physically impossible to eat that much…"
Laughing, Nicolas headed toward the room where the chairman awaited. Entering, he saw Netero seated with dignity at a table, exuding a completely different aura than during their "games."
"Ohoh, nice to see you again. Sit down," Netero said in a calm voice.
Nodding, Nicolas sat casually on the cushion opposite the chairman, waiting for him to speak.
"Let's see…" the chairman mumbled, scanning a document. "Ah, here it is. Candidate 181, Nicolas. I see, I see."
After a few seconds of reviewing, Netero set the stack of papers down.
"Alright, I'm going to ask a few questions ahead of the final test. Answer honestly."
"First question: Why do you want to become a Hunter?"
"Well, it was my father's wish. As for me, I'm just enjoying the experience. Becoming a Hunter will let me do things impossible for ordinary humans… That's all," Nicolas replied, looking him in the eyes.
"I see," said the chairman. "Among the remaining candidates, who draws your attention the most?"
"Number 44, Hisoka, and number 198, Gitaraku. They're the strongest and most dangerous."
"Very well. And who's the one you least want to fight?"
Nicolas hesitated. "Hmm… Good question. I'd say 44. He's completely insane."
Netero nodded. "Very well. That's all for the questions, you may go."