The 'Testing Gate' rumbled open once again—this time, four doors were pushed apart. The final person to step inside was none other than Kurapika.
"It was a bit difficult... Looks like I still need to keep training," Kurapika shrugged before turning to greet Gon and Leorio.
Killua and Leorio let go of each other, both responding in a daze.
Seaquant picked up the cigarette butt on the ground, turned to look at Zebro, and saw the shock in each other's eyes.
It was the first time they had seen so many people able to push open the "Testing Gate" in one day, and some had even pushed open the Sixth and Seventh Gates.
When did the "Testing Gate" become so easy to open?
In the manga, Leorio indeed opened two doors, and Gon and Kurapika each opened one. The anime made some changes, but honestly, the main group's talents are pretty impressive, even Leorio, who seems unreliable.
"Mr. Germain, please wait a moment." Zebro nodded respectfully and hurriedly instructed Seaquant to make a phone call to notify the mansion. He stayed behind to entertain Germain and the others.
Seaquant quickly left.
Zebro led everyone toward the Kukuroo Mountain mansion.
Along the way, Zebro's enthusiasm towards Germain made Gon and Leorio think that this was a completely different person. Over the past twenty days, he hadn't been this friendly to them.
Gon and Leorio had been somewhat neglected.
At this moment, only Kurapika approached them to chat. He wanted to know how they were doing.
"I heard you guys say on the phone before that you'd stay with the Zoldyck family until you could open the 'Testing Gate.' I didn't expect you to actually do it."
"Of course!"
Leorio yelled out, tossing his jacket over his shoulder.
"We wanted to show the Zoldyck family our perseverance and patience!"
Anyone can talk big, but only those who turn their words into action are truly capable, and clearly, Gon and Leorio were such people.
Kurapika smiled. After the revenge, his mood had been a little down, but thanks to Germain's advice and seeing Gon and Leorio, he felt much better.
Gon adjusted his fishing rod, his weapon: "Kurapika, we knew you were strong during the Hunter Exam."
"Among the exam candidates, probably only Killua's older brother Illumi could outclass you. But we didn't expect you to be this strong."
"Leorio and I trained for twenty days to open the 'Testing Gate,' but you were able to open four of them! How did you do it?"
Leorio asked curiously, "Yeah, how did you do it?"
Killua was able to push open three doors because he was the third son of the world's greatest assassin family, trained harshly from a young age, far beyond what normal people could imagine.
But Kurapika showing an even more terrifying strength than Killua was truly astonishing.
"It's a long story, it's a power called 'Nen.' In short, you'll understand it soon enough. I can't explain too much right now."
Kurapika didn't mean to be mysterious, but this was related to Gon and Leorio's real "final test," and it also tied into their future.
He had only been a Nen user for just over nine months, so he didn't want to guide them using his "Brave-level" experience.
After all, everyone's Nen system might not be the same, and the way they train could differ. He didn't want to mislead them and delay their progress.
Professional matters should be handled by professional "examiners" and "teachers," who already had mature teaching systems in place.
Gon and Leorio were a bit disappointed since they didn't get clear answers from Kurapika, but they started thinking about what "Nen" could mean.
After a while, Gon, whose brain was overloaded, gave up on thinking. He asked another question out of curiosity.
"Kurapika," Gon pointed to Germain and Shizuku, "Who are they? Why did you come here with them?"
He'd already been amazed by Germain and Shizuku, who could push open seven and six doors respectively, so now was the perfect time to ask.
"That person is my Nen teacher, Germain."
Kurapika hesitated here, pointed at Shizuku, and continued, "That person should be my 'teacher's wife,' Ms. Shizuku."
"'Should be my teacher's wife'?" Leorio's focus was on this detail.
Kurapika nodded and admitted, "I didn't dare ask."
Gon's eyes lit up, "So Kurapika's Nen ability teachings came from Germain? Can we have him teach us too?"
Leorio couldn't help but feel a bit excited.
Both of them, having experienced the event where they had to "push open the Testing Gate" to meet Killua, were even more determined to grow stronger.
Kurapika showed a troubled expression. "That depends on what Teacher Germain thinks. But I think he's been busy lately, so he probably won't take in too many students."
Gon and Leorio once again showed signs of disappointment, but they quickly cheered up. After all, their main goal was to meet Killua.
As long as that goal was achieved, everything else could wait.
The "Nen" ability, this mysterious thing, could be discussed later.
At this moment, Kurapika seemed to think of something and smiled faintly.
"Gon, you might have a chance."
"Huh, why?" Gon tilted his head.
"I remember you said during the Hunter Exam that you started your journey to follow in your father, Ging Freecss's footsteps, right?"
"Yeah." Gon didn't understand why Kurapika was suddenly bringing this up, but he had a strange feeling that something was about to happen.
Sure enough, Kurapika smiled and said, "If that's the case, you might want to ask Teacher Germain later. As far as I know, he's acquainted with your father."
"Huh?!" Gon couldn't help but shout in surprise, causing Germain, Shizuku, and Zebro to turn and look at them.
Realizing that he had shouted too loudly, Gon quickly covered his mouth with both hands and bowed apologetically to everyone.
Germain, Shizuku, and Zebro were puzzled but didn't press on about the conversation the three of them were having.
Germain, after observing Gon and Leorio for a while, didn't feel the need to engage with them too much.
Because he thought, "I have my own story, and I am the protagonist in my own story."
Zebro led Germain, Shizuku, and the others to a small forest path.
A huge, fluffy hunting dog, "Mike," was lying under a large tree. Its eyes were eerily fixed on the direction of Gon and Leorio, making them both feel uneasy.
However, everyone had entered the area outside the "Testing Gate" as per the rules, so "Mike" did not see them as intruders and did not attack.
"Sorry, Mr. Germain," Zebro said respectfully. "I can only lead you this far. From here on, both Seaquant and I cannot enter on our own."
Germain waved his hand. "It's fine. We can go ahead on our own. I've been here once before, so I remember the way."
"I'm truly sorry. Then, please continue ahead. Seaquant has already informed the mansion, and someone will come to greet you shortly."
"Thanks," Germain replied.
"No need to thank me."
This was Zebro's second meeting with Germain, though their first meeting had barely involved any conversation.
Now, he was surprised to realize that Germain was quite a down-to-earth person.
Seaquant was a professional Hunter, and he had shared some gossip about Mr. Germain from the "Hunter's Special Website" during their breaks.
"New Zodiac Rat," "Fastest One-Star Hunter," "Killer of the Phantom Troupe and Shadow Beasts," "The greatest contributor to the extermination of Chimera Ants"...
This man, with so many titles, was just as humble and low-key as Mr. Netero.
He didn't act like a cold Illumi or arrogant Milluki...
No, no, no... As a gatekeeper, dog keeper, and a humble servant, how could I think that way about the young masters?
But no matter how much Zebro denied it in his heart, he, Seaquant, and the other butlers secretly preferred Killua over the other young masters.
This was an undeniable truth, though no one openly admitted it.
The reason was that Master Killua had no airs about him and possessed a talent that could be called genius, with strength far beyond his peers.
Everyone was pleased to see that Master Killua would likely become the next head of the Zoldyck family.
However, this time, when Master Killua returned from the outside, his mood was clearly down and gloomy. He was later confined to the Zoldyck family mansion.
It was from Gon and Leorio that Zebro learned about Killua's recent experiences. Unfortunately, as someone with little power, there was nothing he could do.
Even if Gon and Leorio could open the "Testing Gate," Zebro didn't believe they could easily change Killua's current situation.
However, someone who could do something appeared.
He hoped that Mr. Germain would help free Master Killua from his current situation...
He watched Mr. Germain's retreating figure, and couldn't help but think to himself.
********
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