Shalnark stared at Kisho for a long time and still didn't get an answer, so he could only snort unhappily.
"Annoying little brat."
"You just said 'insufficient retrieval permissions,' right?"
Kisho completely ignored Shalnark's mood and continued squeezing his labor.
"Are there ranks among Hunters too? If it's the highest-level Hunters—"
"—then they'd have the permission to look up information, right?"
"Brat—" Shalnark choked.
"You don't even have the qualifications to apply for the Hunter Exam yet, and you're already thinking about things that far ahead?"
"Although the exam itself is on January 7th every year, registration happens at the end of December the year before."
"The age on your ID is eleven. If you really wait until you turn twelve, you'll miss the deadline."
"Well, about the age thing," Kisho shrugged.
"Isn't there still you to help me? Help me out—it's not like I won't pay you for your trouble."
Why hadn't he thought this brat was so hateful before?!
Shalnark rolled his eyes, then skillfully opened the national login system, bypassed the firewall, and entered the operation backend as if strolling into his own backyard.
"Then I'll just bump your info up by one year."
Watching Shalnark casually messing with the information fields, Kisho buttered him up.
"You're the best—everything's in your hands!"
While typing on the keyboard, Shalnark sneered.
"Heh! Don't think sweet talk means you don't have to pay."
"Ten million Jenny. Not a single cent less."
Kisho looked aggrieved.
"...Can't you give me a discount, considering how easily you broke in?"
"Nope. If you think I did it too fast, I can change it back."
"You come find me again in two hours, and we'll just say it took me two hours to change your info."
Kisho's mouth twitched.
"You think this is picking a lock?"
"Alright."
After a flurry of keyboard clacking, Shalnark lifted his hands.
"Done—though now comes the second problem."
Kisho. "What?"
"Here~"
Shalnark stepped aside, letting Kisho see the preview page of the Hunter registration website on the computer.
On the monitor was a form that needed to be printed.
At the very bottom, clearly listed before a blank space, were the words "Guardian".
Seeing Kisho fall silent, Shalnark spoke gleefully.
"Minors taking the Hunter Exam need a guardian's signature."
Kisho. "...?!"
Unable to take it anymore, he raised his hand and slammed it hard onto the battered desk holding the computer.
"Why is taking this damn exam such a hassle!!"
Shalnark immediately pressed down on his computer, preventing his precious machine from being shaken off the desk.
Only after the trembling table steadied did he let go.
"Because the Hunter Exam's failure rate—or rather, death rate—is terrifyingly high."
"If you get a Hunter License, not only can you freely use all kinds of basic facilities for free, but no matter what you do afterward, everything gets greenlit."
As if showing off, Shalnark made his Hunter License spin on his fingertips.
"You could say that once you pass the exam, you gain endless wealth and transcendent status."
"So every year, the number of people taking the exam is like cockroaches in a garbage mountain."
Kisho was covered in black lines.
"...What kind of metaphor is that?!"
"So, in order to filter out most people, whether it's the exam content or even finding the exam location, the difficulty is absurdly high."
"The probability of a rookie passing on their first try is 'once every three years.'"
"Many people don't even make it to the exam site before—because of all kinds of accidents—"
Shalnark suddenly leaned right up to Kisho's face, making a ghostly expression to scare him.
"They die~~~"
Kisho raised his hand in disgust and pushed his face away.
"Needing a guardian's signature is naturally so that the guardian can't hold the Hunter Association responsible afterward."
"It's basically a disclaimer."
"Of course, even if someone really tried to pursue it, the Hunter Association wouldn't care."
Kisho. "...So who am I supposed to get to sign for me?"
Was fate really inescapable?
Even though he'd escaped the exam in his previous life, he still had to face the nightmare of needing a 'parent' signature in this life—
It was just inexplicably ridiculous!
Kisho looked at Shalnark in pain.
"Can the signature be forged?"
Shalnark narrowed his eyes, revealing an amused smile.
"The Hunter official site verifies the information."
"It checks whether the guardian actually has a relationship with the ward."
"If you just fill in some random person, there's a high chance your application will be shot down~"
"...Ten million!"
Kisho ground his teeth.
"I'll add another ten million. Help me solve this problem!"
"Hmm~ you really get it~"
Shalnark blinked in satisfaction, then thoughtfully suggested:
"You can go ask the leader to help you."
"When I helped the leader make a fake identity before, I remember that identity had the qualifications to adopt a child."
"If the leader agrees, I'll move your identity under his fake one."
"Then I'll fabricate a whole series of information for you—absolutely authentic and verifiable."
Kisho's eyes widened as he stared at Shalnark, this outlaw who treated information systems like a doodle board, drawing whatever he wanted.
This method was truly absurd, yet undeniably feasible—
It was seriously too wild!
But something felt off...
Kisho suddenly realized that this would mean letting a certain annoying guy become a whole generation older than him out of nowhere?!
No way! Absolutely not!
Seeing Kisho's teeth-gritted expression, Shalnark seemed to see through his thoughts and gave a sly grin.
"Once you're registered and the review passes, you can just move out again."
Kisho was stunned. "...?!"
Good grief, you spiders really know how to play!
...
"Sure."
Hearing Kisho's request, Chrollo—who was roaming the sea of books in his room—was unexpectedly easygoing.
But the very next second, Kisho realized that thinking Chrollo was "easygoing" had been incredibly naïve.
The man before him leisurely closed the book in his hands and smiled faintly.
"However—"
That familiar, extremely irritating "however" again.
Kisho felt utterly lifeless.
"...Leader, you're not going to charge me too, are you?"
Chrollo showed a gentle smile, making Kisho's scalp tingle.
Chrollo spoke softly.
"Agree to one condition, and do as you please."
Kisho snapped.
"You might as well charge me!!!"
Chrollo said calmly.
"I don't lack money."
Kisho. "..."
That's true.
People like you international thieves obviously wouldn't lack money.
—but why am I the one who's so broke?!
Standing there, Kisho felt the unevenness of the world and didn't want to talk to this group of rich people anymore.
Fine, he wasn't worthy.
Chrollo smiled.
"Why not hear what the condition is first?"
Kisho sighed helplessly.
"Say it."
"It's very simple."
"I previously promised you that if there were activities you didn't want to participate in, you wouldn't have to."
"You'd just need to provide the badge, right?"
Chrollo said softly.
Kisho nodded.
"Yeah."
In front of him, the spider leader's deep, pitch-black eyes looked calmly at him.
"At some future activity, if necessary, even if you don't want to, you must personally participate."
Kisho frowned.
"Is that necessary?"
"After all, the Troupe needs the badge's ability more than my personal strength."
Chrollo curled his lips.
"Whether it's necessary is for me to decide."
Kisho. "..."
He looked at Chrollo and seriously asked:
"Leader, if it's really an activity I don't want to join, and you force me to go along—aren't you afraid I'll betray you halfway?"
Chrollo looked at him.
Facing Kisho's question filled with provocation—or rather, threat—he remained as calm as ever.
Chrollo answered with the same seriousness.
"If you have that ability, and can bear the cost."
The two stared at each other for a long time.
Kisho shrugged.
"Fine, I agree."
....
A few days later, Kisho appeared in a small town near Meteor City where airships could be boarded, carrying his pack.
In his pocket was the phone Shalnark had given him.
"When registration opens, I'll register you directly and then contact you."
That was what Shalnark had said when handing him the phone.
Probably because Shalnark—who loved gambling—had started some betting pool with the spiders back at the base about whether Kisho could pass in one go,
Before Kisho left, Shalnark even sneakily pulled him aside.
Under the disdainful gazes of the other spiders, he lowered his voice in a self-deceiving manner.
"You can go to Whale Island."
"Although the exam location changes every year, the guide's position is fixed."
"There's a guide over on Whale Island."
"They can save you some trouble—consider it intel from a senior, free of charge this time."
After saying that, Shalnark patted Kishu hard on the back.
"Good luck! You have to pass!"
"I've put all my assets on you!"
...
"Whale Island, huh?"
Standing in front of an airship, he clenched the ticket in his hand.
Facing the rising sun, a dazzling light flashed in his eyes.
A new adventure belonging to him was about to set sail!
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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