The screening proceeded in an orderly fashion.
Behind the curtain was a spacious room. Tsezgala sat behind a long table, asking each challenger to demonstrate their strength.
Those who couldn't even maintain a steady 'Ten' were eliminated immediately, leaving dejectedly.
Gon and Killua passed the screening smoothly.
Tsezgala glanced at them but said nothing more.
Two hours later, when the final person had been screened, Tsezgala walked back into the waiting area.
Standing at the front, his gaze swept over the sixteen people present, and he spoke in a deep voice.
"Congratulations to everyone for passing the screening and obtaining G·I player qualifications. The one who clears the game will receive the fifty billion reward promised by Mr. Leo."
He tilted his head slightly, signaling his assistant to distribute thick stacks of contract documents.
The assistant held a stack of files, handing them out one by one to everyone.
"The specific terms are detailed in the contract. Please read and confirm them carefully, and finish signing by 5:00 PM."
Just as he finished speaking, a burly man raised his hand, his voice filled with obvious confusion.
"I have a question! Who is Leo? Isn't Battera the one providing the reward?"
Another person chimed in.
"Yeah, isn't this the G·I selection organized by Battera? Why the sudden change in personnel?"
Gon and Killua were also shocked. They exchanged a look, seeing the same name in each other's eyes.
Gon lowered his voice.
"Leo? Could it be..."
Killua took the lollipop out of his mouth and nodded without saying a word.
In a corner, a petite figure with blonde twin-tails also showed a hint of surprise.
Biscuit's eyes narrowed slightly, but the corners of her mouth slowly turned upward.
She didn't make a sound, just watched quietly, waiting for what came next.
Tsezgala smiled slightly, as if he had long expected such questions.
"Regarding this—"
From a passage on the other side of the waiting area, a voice rang out.
"Let me explain that personally."
Leo walked out of the passage with his hands in his pockets.
He was dressed in simple white casual clothes, his pace unhurried, as if he were out for a stroll.
But his appearance made the air in the entire waiting area feel different.
Gon and Killua looked at each other and whispered simultaneously.
"It really is him!"
Biscuit also wore an 'I knew it' expression, smiling mischievously as her eyes sparkled with the light of someone watching a show.
Leo walked to the front, standing beside Tsezgala, his gaze sweeping over the sixteen people.
"I am Leo. Everything belonging to Battera has been transferred to me. I'm the one who had him continue this selection. Once you pass the screening and sign the contract, you will be working for me. Of course, those who are unwilling are free to leave."
He paused, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.
"Any more questions?"
The moment his voice fell, a massive surge of Nen erupted from him.
Golden aura rose around him, but it didn't soar into the sky as it usually did—he controlled it, letting the Nen cover only this room.
But even so, everyone felt a suffocating sense of pressure.
The air became thick, and breathing became difficult.
Some people's eyes widened, some had trembling fingers, and cold sweat poured down some foreheads like a waterfall.
Only one thought remained in their minds—unbeatable. A monster.
Standing closest to Leo, Tsezgala felt it most intensely.
His pupils constricted slightly, and the hair on the back of his neck stood up.
He had seen many strong people, but none could compare to Leo.
He didn't know how Leo did it, but he knew this man had already reached a height he could never attain in his lifetime.
Feeling Leo's Nen, Biscuit nodded with satisfaction.
She hadn't expected that after not seeing him for so long, Leo had already become stronger than her.
She remembered what this young man was like when she first met him, remembered him drenched in sweat during special training, and remembered his obsession and love for Nen.
Now, he had carved out his own path, and he had gone much further than she had imagined.
She was very gratified.
Cold sweat poured down Gon and Killua's foreheads, and their bodies began to tremble involuntarily.
It was a strange feeling—like prey being stared at by a natural predator; their bodies reacted before their minds could.
Gon's hands clenched into fists, and Killua's lollipop slipped from his mouth and fell to the floor without him even noticing.
Leo quickly withdrew his Nen.
The pressure receded like a ebbing tide, and the air in the room began to flow again.
Everyone immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Some gasped for air, some leaned against the wall just to stay upright, and some slumped back into their chairs.
Being subjected to Leo's Nen was too much pressure; it was so great that one couldn't even summon the thought of resisting.
Those who originally had objections shut their mouths instantly.
No one asked any more questions, no one challenged him, and even their breathing became cautious.
Leo's gaze swept over the crowd, spotting Gon and Killua among them.
He nodded slightly as a greeting.
Gon was stunned for a moment, then grinned and nodded back vigorously.
Killua nodded toward Leo with a look of annoyance.
Leo withdrew his gaze and looked back at the crowd, his tone returning to a relaxed one.
"Meeting point: Tashado Station, Central Exit. We depart punctually at 5:00 PM. Please be prepared."
With that, he turned and left, his figure disappearing at the end of the passage.
Tsezgala watched his back, silent for a moment before looking away to continue processing the selection.
Inside a bustling restaurant in Yorknew City.
Gon, Killua, and Leorio sat at a window seat.
Leorio held up his juice glass, a look of genuine happiness on his face.
"Cheers! You passed the first stage smoothly! Congratulations!"
Leorio said loudly, vigorously ruffling Gon and Killua's heads.
Gon's head wobbled from the ruffling as he spoke.
Killua dodged Leorio's hand and rolled his eyes.
"Stop ruffling my hair, I won't grow tall if you do that."
Leorio laughed heartily, withdrew his hand, and leaned back against his chair, looking at the two youngsters.
Time really flew; they had come all the way from the Hunter Exam to now, experiencing much and growing significantly.
After eating and drinking their fill, Leorio stood up, picked up his simple luggage, and slung it over his shoulder.
"Well then... I should head off to prepare for my exam too."
He looked at Gon and Killua, becoming uncharacteristically serious.
"You two, don't go reckless once you're inside the game console. Be careful with everything!"
Gon nodded vigorously.
"Leorio, good luck with your exam! You have to pass!"
Killua also managed to say something.
"Don't mess it up, Leorio."
Leorio gave a hearty laugh and thumped his chest hard.
"Don't worry! By the time you clear the game, I might already be Dr. Leorio! See ya!"
On the street.
Leorio waved nonchalantly, hailed a taxi, pulled open the door, and bent down to get in.
The car door closed, and the taxi merged into the flow of traffic, quickly disappearing into the busy streets of Yorknew.
Gon and Killua stood at the restaurant entrance, watching the departing taxi in silence for a moment.
"Let's go."
Killua took a lollipop out of his mouth.
"It's time to head to the station."
Gon nodded, and the two turned to walk toward Tashado Station.
Meanwhile, on the other side of Yorknew City, in a quiet cafe.
Biscuit and Leo sat facing each other.
Biscuit squeezed her fist and looked at Leo with a smile.
"Good boy, I didn't expect you to have already surpassed me after not seeing you for a while."
Leo smiled modestly.
"No, no. No matter how strong I get, Biscuit, you will always be my master."
As he spoke, he lifted an exquisite paper bag from beside his feet, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Biscuit.
"This is your favorite NATURE Beauty Mask, Master. I bought it specifically as a small token of my appreciation. I hope you'll accept it."
When Biscuit saw the logo on the paper bag, her eyes lit up.
She opened the bag to find over a dozen boxes of masks neatly stacked inside. Each box was a limited edition, very hard to find on the market.
She took it without hesitation and nodded.
"Not bad, you're much more likable than that Wing fellow. I'll reluctantly accept this!"
Leo smiled.
He knew that while Biscuit said she was 'reluctant,' she was actually very happy.
Without waiting for Biscuit to ask, Leo proactively explained—he had saved Battera's lover, and most of Battera's assets had gone to him.
He was also interested in Greed Island, so he continued the selection process.
He gave a rough summary of what had happened during this period, from the Doctor incident to the downfall of the Ten Dons, from the Zoldyck assassination attempt to the cooperation offer from Liam. He didn't hide much, nor did he exaggerate.
After listening, Biscuit was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Very well, you've done well. I won't comment too much; you've already found your own path. Keep it up!"
Leo nodded and took a sip of his coffee.
Soon, it was 5:00 PM.
Tashado Station, Central Exit.
A luxurious private train was parked quietly by the platform, its body reflecting a low-key yet opulent luster in the sunlight.
On the platform, staff in uniform stood in two rows, their postures straight and faces smiling.
"Whoa."
Killua whistled as he looked at the train.
"I heard the entire train was chartered. That's quite the grand gesture."
Gon stood beside him, looking up at the train's body with sparkling eyes.
"Amazing!"
The sixteen people who passed the screening arrived one after another, each needing to verify their identity before boarding.
Their expressions varied—some were expectant, some nervous, some expressionless, and some had smiles on their faces.
Leo stood at one end of the platform, hands in his pockets, quietly watching the people board.
Tsezgala stood beside him with a list, checking off names as people boarded.
Biscuit walked behind the crowd with a light step, looking like an ordinary little girl.
As she passed Leo, she winked at him and then hopped onto the train.
Gon and Killua were the last to board.
Gon walked up to Leo, stopped, and looked up at him.
"Junior Martial Uncle Leo, thank you!"
Leo looked down at him and smiled.
"Yeah, long time no see, Gon! Get on the train!"
Gon nodded vigorously.
"Mhm!"
Killua glanced at Leo, said nothing, and just nodded.
Then the two turned and boarded the train.
Everyone was present.
The whistle blew long and loud.
The train slowly started moving, and the scenery of Yorknew outside the window began to recede.
Tall buildings, streets, pedestrians, vehicles—everything was like an elongated oil painting, gradually blurring and fading away.
Leo stood on the platform, watching the train disappear at the end of the tracks.
He had already told Tsezgala how to obtain the harder-to-get cards, along with information about the The Bomber.