Rebirth in HxH World With Gardevoir

As Hisoka wiped the sweat from his brow, he felt something cool trickling down his neck. He reached up, fingers brushing against dampness. Drops of water. Hisoka frowned slightly. "...Is it raining?" He stared at his slightly wet fingertips, murmuring to himself. Then, realization struck. They were underground. It couldn't be rain. Hisoka chuckled softly. "...Cold sweat, huh?"

Ding!

The sharp chime of the elevator echoed through the tunnel. The doors slid open, revealing three figures. One was tall and dressed in a suit, wearing small glasses that gave him the air of an experienced office worker despite his young age. He carried a briefcase, adding to his mature demeanor. The second was much younger, wearing a bright green sports jacket, with a fishing rod strapped to his backpack. His messy black hair spiked up like a sea urchin, making him stand out. The third had striking golden-blond hair and a composed expression. His outfit bore a distinct, intricate pattern—a traditional garb of the Kurta Clan. They were Leorio, Gon, and Kurapika.

Leorio glanced around, frowning slightly. "...The atmosphere feels weird." After stepping out, they each received their number plates from the short man managing the exam. 

"Hey, new faces! You're all first-timers, right?" A seemingly friendly voice called out to them.

Gon blinked in confusion. "You can tell?"

"I'd say it's a safe guess." The speaker, a slightly chubby man with an 'honest' face, hopped down from where he had been sitting. "Because I've taken the Hunter Exam thirty-five times."

"THIRTY-FIVE?!" The three shouted in unison, staring at him in shock.

Leorio practically choked. "That many times?! What the hell are you still doing here?"

The man—Dongba—grinned good-naturedly, holding up a tray of canned drinks. "Anyway, let me welcome you guys with a little treat. Want a drink?" His smile was friendly. His tone was kind. But beneath that 'harmless' exterior, Dongba was already smirking to himself. His drinks were laced with a strong laxative. If any of these rookies took a sip, their exam would be as good as over. This was the method of the infamous "Rookie Killer" Dongba. And he was already preparing to strike.

On the other side of the room, leaning against a wall, Larry cracked a faint smile. He watched the scene unfold, eyes glinting with quiet amusement. He knew exactly what kind of person Dongba was. And this little trick of his? Pathetic. Shoving his hands in his pockets, Larry pushed himself off the wall and casually walked toward them.

Gon popped open the can and took a cautious sniff. Immediately, a faint, rancid odor—not something an ordinary person could detect—hit his nose. "Mr. Dongba… this smells kinda off. Has it expired?"

Gon's innocent question sent a jolt through Leorio, who had just taken a sip. His face paled as he instinctively spat the juice out. "Holy crap! I almost drank it!" Leorio coughed violently, glaring at the can.

Kurapika, ever the most cautious of the three, didn't even hesitate. Without saying a word, he popped the tab and poured the liquid straight onto the ground. Dongba blinked, forcing an awkward chuckle. "Oh wow, that's strange. Must've grabbed the wrong ones by accident…" But inwardly, he was in complete disbelief. 'This laxative is colorless and odorless! How the hell did they notice?!'

Before he could recover, a familiar voice cut through the conversation. "I'll take one of those laxative-infused drinks, Dongba—the Rookie Killer." Dongba whipped his head around and locked eyes with Larry, who had casually strolled up to them, hands in his pockets, smirking.

Cold sweat broke out on Dongba's forehead. Gon and the others immediately turned their gazes on him with suspicion. Feeling the pressure, Dongba scratched the back of his head, let out a nervous laugh And bolted. He slipped into the crowd, weaving through the mass of candidates like a fish in water.

Within seconds, he was gone. Larry watched his retreat with mild amusement. Dongba might be infamous as the "Rookie Killer," but he had another nickname among certain circles—"Dong Fulis." Of course, that was just a joke among fans, a play on words linking his name to the infamous player Douglas Fourlis, who never actually competed. But still, there was something impressive about Dongba. Even without Nen, the man had managed to survive the Hunter Exam thirty-five times.

Thirty-five. The mortality rate for this exam was sky-high, yet this guy had always made it through—unscathed. That alone spoke volumes about his instincts. Rumor had it he actually could've passed the exam before. But once you became a Hunter, you couldn't take the test again. And if he passed, how would he keep playing his favorite game—messing with rookies? So he chose to fail.

Most of the time, he'd drop out by the third or fourth phase, either by bad luck or, more often, on his own terms. Larry couldn't help but wonder—if Dongba ever awakened Nen, what kind of ability would he develop? His guess? An ability to sense danger. And in a world like this, that was nothing to scoff at. "Thanks for the heads-up, sir," Gon said, snapping Larry out of his thoughts.

Larry waved him off. "Don't worry about it. Just call me Larry." After a bit of conversation, Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika quickly warmed up to him. They were surprised to learn that Larry was a first-time examinee like them.

DING! DING! DING!

A loud, piercing chime suddenly echoed through the underground hall. All heads turned toward the massive stone gate at the far end. As the bell rang, the enormous door rumbled to life, slowly lifting upwards. The ground trembled beneath their feet as it moved, sending vibrations through the air. A thin figure stood in the doorway. The man wore a black suit, his short purple hair neatly combed. A curly mustache made his face instantly recognizable. In his hand, he held a small, ringing toy, the source of the chime. He surveyed the room, his expression calm, collected. Then his eyes landed on one person. And all of that composure snapped. "MR. LARRY?!" The man's usual professionalism shattered in an instant. His mouth practically fell open in shock, exposing a small part of his face behind his curled mustache.

Larry grinned. "Hey, Satotz. Long time no see." He casually raised a hand in greeting. And just like that, the entire room erupted into chaos.

"WHAT?! HE KNOWS THE EXAMINER?!"

"Are you kidding me?! How is that fair?!"

"Oi, oi, oi! This dude better not be getting special treatment!"

The whispers grew into outright discussions. Some candidates were shocked, others furious. The fact that Larry knew the lead examiner was a huge deal.

"Leorio, Kurapika, did you hear that? Mr. Larry knows the examiner!" Gon beamed, oblivious to the tension in the room.

Leorio, meanwhile, narrowed his eyes in thought. "...He must be loaded."

Kurapika gave him a deadpan stare. "That's your first thought?"

Leorio crossed his arms. "Think about it! A guy this well-connected? He's gotta have money!" And honestly? He wasn't wrong.