The man's gaze lingered on Ian for a moment, his eyes searching for something – perhaps a glimmer of uncertainty or a crack in Ian's facade. But Ian's calm demeanor seemed to unsettle him, and he eventually sighed, his shoulders sagging in resignation.
"Please just stay here while we continue to test the others," the man said, his voice a little softer now, as if he'd accepted Ian's awareness of the situation. He turned to leave, walking outside to rejoin the magical beast fox.
As he paused and turned around, his eyes locked onto Ian's, trying to gauge his reaction. But Ian merely looked back at him with interest, his expression unreadable.
A soft smile played on Ian's lips. "Don't worry, just go," he said, his voice gentle but dismissive. The man's eyes narrowed slightly, as if expecting Ian to reveal more, but Ian simply sat down in a corner, his attention already drifting away.
With a final glance, the man disappeared from view. Ian waited until he was sure the man was gone before refocusing on his nen training. Silently, he began to practice, his aura flowing smoothly as he honed his Nen.
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*_Time skip_*
As the morning sun cast its warm rays over the city, the five companions stood in front of a massive building, their eyes fixed on its imposing structure. One of them, the eldest, was engrossed in reading a piece of paper, his brow furrowed in concentration. Meanwhile, the four younger ones gazed up at the building in awe, their faces tilted upwards as they took in the grandeur of the architecture.
The building's sleek, modern design seemed to stretch on forever, its towering spires and gleaming glass façade reflecting the morning light in a dazzling display. The younger ones' eyes widened as they craned their necks, taking in the sheer scale of the structure. They whispered to each other, their voices filled with excitement and curiosity.
However, as the group continued to study the building, their excitement soon gave way to disappointment. The eldest member of the group looked up from his paper, a serious expression on his face. "It seems this isn't the place where the exam will take place," he announced, his voice calm but tinged with a hint of regret.
The younger ones' faces fell, their eyes dropping from the building to the ground. They had been so sure that this was the place, and now it seemed they had been mistaken. The group's dynamic shifted, with the younger ones exchanging disappointed glances and the eldest member trying to reassure them.
"Let's not worry about it," he said, folding the paper and tucking it into his pocket with a calm, reassuring smile. Then, he pointed his finger towards a small, unassuming restaurant that seemed to blend into the background of the bustling city street. The other four followed his line of sight, their eyes scanning the restaurant's modest facade before returning to him with a mixture of confusion and skepticism.
"That's the place," he said, his voice steady and confident, as if he had just revealed a hidden treasure.
The group's reaction was immediate. Leorio's jaw dropped in bafflement, his eyes wide with incredulity. "Are you kidding me?" he asked, his voice laced with amusement and disbelief. He looked at the restaurant, then back at the others, as if seeking confirmation that this was some kind of joke.
Ian, on the other hand, simply rolled his eyes, a dry smile playing on his lips. "Of course, it would be a dump like this," he muttered, shaking his head in exasperation.
As they entered the restaurant, the group's skepticism was palpable. The restaurant's interior was cozy, but it was far from the grand, imposing buildings they had expected. The tables were small and closely packed, the decor simple and unpretentious. The aroma of freshly cooked food wafted through the air, mingling with the hum of conversation from the other patrons.
Soon, they were led to an empty room, the familiar setting sparking Leorio's ire once again. "What's going on?" he demanded, his voice rising in frustration. "What kind of exam is this? We're just being shuffled from one empty room to another. What's the point of all this?"
The others exchanged tired glances, but Leorio wouldn't be silenced. "And what's with the restaurant?" he continued, his ranting unrelenting. "I mean, seriously, who expects us to believe that's where the exam is being held? It's just a bunch of nonsense."
Just as it seemed like Leorio was about to exhaust himself, the room suddenly lurched into motion. The walls began to slide shut, and the floor started to descend. The group's eyes widened in surprise as they realized the room was, in fact, a disguised elevator.
As the elevator continued its smooth descent, Gon turned to the others with a curious expression. "Hey, why do you think so many people want to be Hunters?" he asked, his voice genuine and inquiring.
The question sparked a familiar debate between Kurapika and Leorio, their voices rising in argument as they presented their respective views. "It's all aboutprotecting the nature and those almost extinct species," Kurapika said, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Are you kidding me?" Leorio retorted. "It's all about the money and the power. You can't seriously expect me to believe people do this for the love of adventure and nature."
Ian watched the exchange with a mixture of amusement and fascination. He leaned back against the elevator wall, his eyes fixed on the three people in front of him with a relished gaze. He seemed to be enjoying the spectacle, his expression a mask of calm interest.
As the elevator continued to descend, the group's discussion showed no signs of abating. The debate raged on, with Gon and Kurapika trading points, while Leorio countered with his own arguments. Ian, meanwhile, remained a silent observer, his eyes never leaving the others as he absorbed the dynamics of the group. The tension between them was palpable, and Ian seemed to be savoring every moment of it.