Third Person POV: Gon

287th Hunter Association Exam,

Kukanyu Kingdom, 80+km away from Zaban City,

Somewhere in the sewers, Hunter Exam Phase One,

Underground Marathon,

Five hours and two minutes in,

Leading runner: Satotz, Distance run: 82.6km,

Distance remaining: 925m

"The exit!

Whew…Finally, I can get out of this dark tunnel!" One of the participants exclaimed in relief after the light appeared at the end of the passage. As soon as the words exited his mouth, the others also took notice.

From the hundreds of examinees around Gon and Kurapika at the beginning, not many had managed to keep up the pace. Some were still trying at their rhythm far back; others had simply given up or passed out from exhaustion.

Fatigue and mental strain had already taken its toll on those who had remained, but an expression of confidence and anticipation replaced the anxiety and stress they were previously feeling. The man's hopeful cry had allowed them to picture a finish line, to the taxing and blind test of endurance.

At the other end of the mob, two people were running or more accurately sprinting with more zeal than before towards the baptizing and refreshing light.

Only one of them was smiling, however. The other one was too busy trying not to get left in the dust when his rival performed a devilish burst. The velocity with which the former cleared the mile-long stairs was something worth witnessing. He looked behind one last time before passing the eccentrically dressed gentleman.

A hand still in one pocket, a wooden board wrapped inside the other, he yelled victoriously:

"You tried, but this is 'Game Over' old-timer."

"Shit!" On his left, his competition sworn in frustration. His legs were clumsily, yet redoubling with effort. Sadly the last-ditch push proved utterly unable to match the ridiculous dispatch.

Five seconds later, Satotz, who had just put his remaining foot on the ground, was startled. He looked to his right, only to follow with interest as a little white-haired speed rascal breezed through him. The latter enounced playfully, two feet away:

"Goal!"

Minutes later, the rest of the participants arrived in tow, followed by Gon and Kurapika. Close by, Leorio was lying on the floor, too tired to respond to a nagging Killua. The bet was already lost, and unlike the kid, he wasn't a sore loser.

"Is this where Phase two takes place?" Other examinees after cooling down.

"No, we still have a long way to go," Satotz replied with an assured tone, which caused some of their happiness to vanish. Some were even hoping that another race wasn't going to take place.

Satotz, who seemed to be utterly unaffected by the previous warm-up, just stayed silent. He patiently let the potential hunters recuperate, hands crossed in his back.

………………….

"The fog is fading," Kurapika remarked a minute and a half later. As the words left his mouth, Gon, who was seated close to Killua, looked toward the forest.

Just like in his last life, the examiner opened another speech when a loud and agitated pack of crows, in the distance, disrupted the quiet as they flew from the trees:

"The Numere Wetlands, also known as Swindlers swamp.

We must cross these wetlands to reach Phase Two of the exam. This place is home to many bizarre animals, many of them being cunning, insatiable creatures who deceive humans and prey upon them.

Be very careful. If you let them fool you... you're dead."

The audience, in a daze, stared at the man with cold sweat, open mouths, just when something mechanical sounded from behind:

"Wait for me!"

They looked with confusion, then empathy after the exit blinds cruelly closed on one brave yet late runner. He determinedly begged for the examiner to wait as the doors closed before his extended hand.

The poor guy would have to make his way back to the elevator at the entrance, though, having been disqualified in this brutal manner. Having to accept the rough actuality of his failure was something of a test in itself.

Gon, who was remembered of this poisonous truth, was wondering if the man would ever come back a year later. In reasonable likeliness, and with a chaotic state of mind, he would not be able to make his way again before a few days. The sorry fellow would succumb to weariness or hunger unless he were promptly rescued.

"These wetland creatures will use every trick in the book to fool their prey." The onlookers gazed back at Satotz, who appeared unmoved by that man's scream for compassion. He severely continued with his speech, arms crossed on his chest this time:

"An ecosystem in which creatures obtain food through deceit…" He paused for a second.

"Hence the name Swindlers Swamp." This time he turned his back on the examinees before he advised with emphasis and care:

"Stay very close to me so you won't be deceived."

"..." The people groaned in either anxiety or fear.

Gon at that moment, though, looked at a pink-haired individual who, despite grinning like a fox, eyes closed, seemed to be listening with rapt attention.

The boy smirked knowingly, but right now, he was most concerned about the fate of that man and many others left behind these doors.

In his last life, he was too engrossed in the process to pay attention to such matters. In this one, though, he had already learned something of value when he saved Saegusa from those capricious, debase, and yet influential scions.

Someone spoke faster than he did, nevertheless. It didn't matter that the emitter with a knack for rash decisions and advice refusal stayed quiet this time. Instead of using the interval to voice a theoretical contribution, he disorderly collected his breath on the ground.

"Don't let him fool you!" Someone berated from behind the structure.

The person got out from his hiding place as the examinees looked in his direction.

"D-Don't fall for it…" It was a brownish blonde man with a short haircut. He wore a purple shirt, a green hoodie, and donned coffee-colored pants. As he was trying to warn the participants, what Gon noticed first were the bruises on his face.

"He's lying to you!" The guy pointed at the examiner and accused harshly, his face contorted in hate and reproval.

"He's an impostor! He isn't an examiner…" The man then pointed at his face with his thumb and followed dramatically:

"I'm the real examiner." People began to panic. "Then, who is he?" Hanzo asked, with sweat trickling down his face. He stared at the leader with guard and suspicion like most of the participants.

"..." The man in question, however, kept to himself, even if it was tricky to assess when his mouth was open or not. Satotz seemed to lack an essential feature on his face after all.

Gon, who liked how he gazed at the impostor's antics with composure, used that moment to peek at his profile. In this peculiar situation, he wouldn't hinder Hisoka's entertainment. That monkey's plan was devised just to eat the intruders after all.

X Close

Name: Satotz

Strength: 47

Fitness: 49

Wisdom: 45

Dexterity: 66

Perception: 47

Versatility: 12

Composure: 51

Charisma: 9

Physical Potential: 209

Mental Potential: 117

Total Battle Potential: 326

Classes and Aptitudes:

Nen, Enhancement Nen, Pro Hunter, Hunter Examiner, Ruins Hunter, Model Citizen, Civic Duty, Gentleman's handicap

Compatibilities:

Gambler