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356 HxH: The Strongest Assassin
🕑 Added 2025-03-12 06:00:04 +0000 UTC"To be exact, a little over three years."
"I was twelve when I left for the United States of Saherta."
"And now, I'm almost sixteen."
"Just a little bit more. Once the Hunter Exam is over, I'll officially be sixteen."
Time had flown by in the blink of an eye—three whole years gone in an instant.
Kaizen stood on the deck, gazing at the horizon. He had changed a lot since his departure. The youthful softness of his face had faded, giving way to the features of a young man. He had grown significantly taller, to the point where his old clothes no longer fit.
"I didn't expect things in the United States of Saherta to be so complicated."
In truth, resolving the issue with Red Trang alongside Mizaistom hadn't taken long—less than half a year. However, the real time-consuming part was gathering unique abilities. Kaizen had spent over two years collecting traits across Saherta, navigating the unstable undercurrents beneath the country's seemingly peaceful surface.
The king was incompetent, power-hungry ministers ruled from the shadows, and nobles across the land secretly maintained private armies. Meanwhile, commoners lived in misery. Compared to a kingdom like Fiora, Saherta was a disaster. Fiora, at least, clearly divided people into social classes, but its civilians still had stability. For the average person, what mattered wasn't rank—it was whether they could live a decent life. Equality meant nothing if it didn't improve their reality.
This harsh environment had given birth to the Revolutionary Army, a group determined to break the status quo. Nen users on both sides ignored traditional limitations, dragging ordinary people into their battles. Killing a civilian here or there was overlooked, but excessive slaughter was forbidden. V5 had set this rule, and most nations abided by it. However, in Saherta, the situation had spiraled out of control.
The conflict between the Kingdom of Fiora and the Republic of Mimbo worsened by the day. Among the remaining two V5 nations, one was too far to intervene, while the other, though closer, chose to stay out of Saherta's affairs.
Kaizen couldn't shake the feeling that Saherta's situation was eerily familiar. After some thought, he realized it resembled the world of Akame ga Kill—an empire in decay, where a weak ruler was nothing more than a puppet for corrupt ministers. The entire capital reeked of decadence, and tragedy was commonplace.
Kaizen had witnessed countless atrocities firsthand.
A noble who hunted civilians for sport.
A criminal who found pleasure in violating women.
Nobles who exercised their so-called right of the first night over their subjects.
A tangled web of corruption linked criminals, aristocrats, and wealthy merchants, while commoners were left to suffer.
From Kaizen's perspective, the people of Saherta might live marginally better than those in the old and new districts of Meteor City, but they had even less hope. The kings and nobles were completely rotten. If any force could bring change, it was the Revolutionary Army.
An older man, short in stature, stood on an elevated spot, a bottle of liquor in hand. The sharp smell of alcohol filled the air.
He was the captain of the ship, but Kaizen knew his other identity—an external examiner for the Hunter Exam.
The number of participants in the exam was massive, far too many for the Hunter Association to handle alone. Screening out unqualified candidates required significant manpower and resources, but the Association simply didn't have enough members. Many Hunters who obtained a license didn't actually serve the Association. Some, like Shalnark of the Phantom Troupe, had a license but used it solely for personal gain. Others, like Tsezguerra, were only in it for the money.
To deal with this issue, the Hunter Association outsourced part of the exam, hiring external examiners. These individuals weren't particularly strong—many of them didn't even use Nen—but their role was simple: eliminate at least 90% of the candidates before they even reached the real test site.
Of course, this system had its flaws. Since these examiners weren't professionals, their decisions could be inconsistent or even unfair. Some competent candidates might be disqualified due to the examiner's bias or mood. However, the Hunter Association wasn't overly concerned.
In their view, anyone truly worthy of becoming a Hunter wouldn't be stopped by a mere external examiner. If someone was eliminated unfairly but still had the skill, they would find a way to the real test. On the other hand, those who couldn't pass this initial hurdle wouldn't stand a chance in the final exam anyway. In a sense, the external examiners themselves were another test—one of adaptability and resilience.
Kaizen shifted his gaze toward the sea. A strong breeze carried the scent of salt and fish.
A whistle blew.
The large ship began to slow as a port came into view.
A group of about a dozen people waited on the dock. Kaizen scanned the crowd until his eyes landed on a familiar figure.
A young man dressed in a suit, briefcase in hand. He had short black hair and wore glasses. Though his appearance seemed mature, he was only a few years older than Kaizen.
Leorio.
A fellow Hunter Exam participant.
A Nen user of the Emission category.
And a future doctor.
In time, he would become one of the Twelve Zodiacs of the Hunter Association.
Leorio's rise within the Hunter Association wasn't just due to his medical skills—though they were unparalleled among the Zodiacs. His influence also grew due to the changes within the Association itself. After Chairman Netero's death, and the departures of Ging Freecss and Pariston, the organization's overall strength had declined significantly.
With no time to find better candidates, Leorio's unique expertise made him a necessary addition to the Zodiacs.
