In the thick night that seemed impossible to dissolve, the train came to a stop in the wilderness.
The tension and fear of not knowing what was about to happen suddenly silenced the carriage, until the quiet turned eerie.
Kisho thought for a moment, then raised his hand. A badge concealed with "In" appeared in his palm.
"Amos, I'll share my power with you!"
He smiled and extended his hand toward Amos, making a gesture as if handing something over.
Hearing Kisho's unbelievably line, Amos rolled his eyes.
He looked up at him. The moment their gazes met, he understood Kisho's meaning.
"Ah."
He reached into Kisho's palm and took something.
Kisho raised an eyebrow at Amos.
After using "Gyo," Amos realized that what Kisho had given him was a badge.
Although Kisho had never explained the "badge" to him before, nor what it was used for, since Kisho handed it over, it must be something that could enhance his combat ability.
The way to use it was probably just to wear it and activate it with Nen.
Quite convenient, this Nen ability.
He glanced at Kisho. If the boost was significant enough—then it wouldn't be hard to understand why the "Spider" would be interested in this kid.
Even without recognizing who his deskmate really was, the kid still maintained basic vigilance and knew to put on a disguise. Not bad…
—Though it was useless anyway.
Chrollo watched the two of them and smiled gently.
"What are you two doing?"
Kisho replied with a straight face, "Secret."
"Oh?"
The corner of Chrollo's lips curved slightly as he stared at Kisho.
"Something I'm not allowed to know?"
Amos: "…"
Kisho answered calmly, "I already said it's a secret. Of course I can't tell you."
Chrollo's expression didn't change in the slightest; he maintained his usual gentle smile.
"All right then."
Kisho smiled and winked at Chrollo.
Amos had black lines across his face.
Kid, let's hope you can still smile like that after you find out who he is.
But in the very next instant, Kisho's expression suddenly turned extremely serious.
"I think I heard footsteps."
"What?" Amos looked at him in confusion.
Kisho pointed toward the next carriage ahead, then frowned as he looked out the window.
"They're heading toward the carriage in front of us."
Amos also looked outside, but all he saw was the dense night.
He frowned. "Logically, where we are now is still a long way from Huntsdon, and also far from the nearest major city in the downward direction, Filston."
Amos pondered. "And this area doesn't look like there's any small village nearby either."
Kisho frowned. "I'm sure I didn't hear it wrong."
"It's fine," Amos said. "No matter how the Hunter Association plans to conduct this exam, let's observe for now."
Kisho, however, remained solemn. After thinking for a moment, he said,
"I want to go take a look up front."
Amos frowned. "Now's not the time for you to go sightseeing."
Kisho shook his head. He smiled at Amos, then stood up and left his seat despite Amos's disapproving expression.
He walked to the connection between carriages, pushed open the closed door, then slipped into the previous carriage in the dark, crouching behind a seat.
"Honestly…"
Watching Kisho's figure disappear behind the door, Amos muttered.
He looked at Chrollo, who had been quietly watching the show the entire time. After hesitating for a while, he finally spoke.
"Could you… move a little?"
Chrollo slowly raised his head and looked at Amos. After a moment, he smiled faintly.
"You and him seem quite close."
Amos: "…It's nothing much. Just a simple life-and-death friendship."
"Oh?"
Chrollo's eyes showed a trace of contemplation.
"In less than half a year, in a place like that, you managed to make a friend you'd share life and death with?"
Amos's breathing hitched.
He stared at Chrollo, just about to say something, when Chrollo smiled slightly.
"Just watch."
Amos: "…"
Chrollo leisurely reopened the book in his hands.
"Aren't you curious what he'll do?"
Amos fell silent.
…
On the other side.
Kisho was surprised to see that this carriage held passengers of all ages.
All ordinary people.
Using "Gyo," Kisho observed them and thought to himself.
"…Were the examinees and the ordinary passengers separated into different carriages?"
"Shalnark told me that no matter what method the Hunter Exam uses, it would never involve ordinary people!"
Kisho's expression darkened abruptly.
Among the passengers, only a few were awake. Some were slumped over tables, others lying across seats, all immersed in the night's sleep.
"So—"
"The owner of those footsteps has nothing to do with the Hunter Exam!"
Kisho stared at the carriage door.
The footsteps grew heavier and clearer until they stopped.
A series of unmistakable gunshots erupted from outside the carriage door.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" The shots shattered the door's locking mechanism and the glass above it.
Kisho's pupils shrank.
The passengers were jolted awake by the deafening noise, rubbing their sleepy eyes as they looked toward the door.
The next second, the carriage door was violently kicked open.
Four or five burly men dressed in black stepped onto the train one after another.
Each of them carried a submachine gun.
…
Chaotic footsteps, screams, shouts, and the cries of children mixed together in the carriage.
The passengers let out terrified screams one after another, trying to hide somewhere safe.
"Rat-tat-tat-tat—"
The roaring sweep of submachine gun fire echoed through the narrow carriage, instantly suppressing every terrified face.
No one knew whether a bullet would pierce their skull the next second. Everyone fell silent, staring at the vicious bandits in despair.
"Cough."
Among the men in black, one man stepped forward. He let out a low chuckle and spoke slowly:
"Our apologies, ladies and gentlemen. Your pleasant journey will have to pause here for a moment."
"This was just a warning. Dear passengers, please remain seated and do not move. Otherwise, I can't guarantee what might happen next."
He gestured slightly with his hand. The men behind him spread out to different positions in the carriage, raising their guns and aiming at the passengers.
Crouched behind the last row of seats, Kisho frowned deeply.
Five people, all armed, and positioned too far apart.
If he couldn't subdue all the hijackers in an instant…
After his subordinates had taken their positions, the man surveyed the carriage and continued with a cold sneer:
"As long as you cooperate and leave behind certain items, you may continue your journey."
"By certain items, I mean including but not limited to cash, jewelry, gemstones, credit cards—credit cards must be accompanied by the password."
"Now then, starting from the first person, line up in order and place what we want into this box."
"And one more thing—don't even think about hiding anything. Otherwise, heh heh~"
"Everyone in this entire carriage will be buried alongside you~"