บท 22: Chapter 20: A Sly Fox
Amidst the busy preparations, participants boarded the aircraft, getting ready for the substitution exam as they arrived at Split Mountain.
Raymond glanced out the window, lost in thought, as he absentmindedly traced his finger along the sofa's armrest.
"Raymond..."
"Hmm?"
Raymond turned at the sound of his name, finding Satotz standing nearby with a sharp gaze fixed on him, "...Celestia."
Raymond's eyebrows raised in surprise since he hadn't expected Satotz to know his identity.
"Oh? You know me?"
"Well, most higher-ups and some of us are aware of your identity..."
A green bean-like man entered the room, his demeanor much more serious than before. Taking a seat opposite Raymond, he regarded him with a solemn expression.
"I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Beans. It's a pleasure to meet you, Raymond Celestia..."
However, his serious expression didn't really impress Raymond since Beans looked adorable instead.
"Say... What's your goal in participating in the Hunter Exam?"
Beans asked his question with a serious demeanor, and Satotz turned sharply to Raymond, awaiting his response.
They were well aware of Raymond's considerable influence and questionable actions in recent years.
Given his track record, their skepticism was warranted.
Although they were eager to intervene, the Hunter Association had never caught Raymond engaging in illegal activities, much to their frustration.
Nevertheless, they remained vigilant, determined to prevent Raymond from expanding his influence through the Association.
They understood that allowing him to do so could make him unstoppable.
Despite the tense atmosphere, Raymond responded with hearty laughter, catching Beans off guard.
The surprise on Beans' face was evident as he blinked in astonishment.
Satotz just stood in silence with a frown.
"Ah, my apologies..."
Raymond attempted to suppress his laughter before addressing them, "Someone took out one of my men, so I'm here to track them down..."
"...And you expect us to believe that?"
Satotz interjected after a moment of silence, skepticism evident in his tone.
"Why wouldn't you? There's no benefit in lying to you..." Raymond merely shrugged in response, offering a nonchalant retort.
Of course, there was.
That's why Raymond had kept his true intentions of meeting with Netero to himself.
Subordinates often complicate matters, after all.
"I see. Just finish your business quickly and leave us alone..."
Bean let out a heavy sigh in response, feeling the tension ease from his shoulders as he wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.
"By the way, if I pass the Hunter Exam, will I still receive a Hunter license?"
"...Yes."
"Good to know. Anyway, could I trouble you for a cup of coffee?"
"..."
Beans sighed again, seemingly accustomed to Raymond's evasive manner of speaking, which was similar to their chairman.
Standing up, Beans responded, "Of course. Please wait a moment..."
"I'll take care of it," Satotz chimed in.
His expression was visibly dissatisfied with how Raymond treated them, as if they were his subordinates.
Despite his discomfort, he remained silent.
Still, as Beans' subordinate, it was only natural for Satotz to fulfill the request.
As they both made their way out of the room, Raymond couldn't help but chuckle softly, "I prefer my coffee without sugar. And if you don't mind, please bring me a chessboard..."
"...I'll see what I can do," Satotz replied, briefly pausing in his stride before continuing on his way.
After savoring the coffee Satotz had prepared, Raymond found himself among the 43 remaining candidates as they moved on to the venue for the third exam.
Being the only participant with a private room, Raymond received an unexpected visitor.
An old man cheerfully greeted, "Hello there!"
"Oh, Chairman Netero. I wasn't expecting you," Raymond greeted with a smile.
"Ohohoho, just thought I'd surprise you, young man," Netero chuckled, attempting to leverage his elder status.
Raymond's smile remained unwavering, unperturbed by Netero's attempt at amiability.
"I see. Would you like to come in?"
"Sure thing!"
Netero came in and looked around like a curious old man as Raymond sat down before gesturing him to sit, "Oh, Chairman, please take a seat..."
"Of course. Ohohoho..."
Netero smiled as he sat down after Raymond.
"So, what brings you to my humble abode, Chairman?"
Raymond inquired, a warm smile gracing his features.
"Ah, I simply wanted to meet the only participant to pass Menchi's initial test. I've heard you're quite the talented cook."
"Oh, please. I'm just a home cook at best."
Their exchange was cordial, the atmosphere brimming with warmth as if it were a conversation between a grandfather and his grandson.
"Ohohoho, you're as humble as ever. And now that I think about it, it's no surprise your new venture is thriving..."
"Oh? Have you tried our product?"
Raymond asked, maintaining his smile despite Netero's subtle implication that he was keeping an eye on him.
"Yes, the Kintaku Fried Chicken, isn't it? It's absolutely delicious! The fact that it's ready in minutes is truly impressive. How did you come up with such an idea?"
Netero inquired, a smile playing on his lips.
Raymond explained how he had met a chef from Jappon who had an unusual obsession with fried chicken, inspiring the concept of Kintaku Fried Chicken.
The name "Kintaku" meant "Gold" in Jappon, signifying the golden perfection of their fried chicken.
"Enough about that," Raymond said, changing the subject. "We still have some time. Would you care to play a game of chess with me?"
Raymond took out a chessboard he had requested from Satotz, prompting Netero to raise an eyebrow.
"You brought a chessboard with you?"
"Not really. I asked one of the examiners for it a while ago since I was feeling bored," Raymond replied, smiling with his eyes closed.
Netero's smile widened even further as he chuckled, "Ohohoho..."
Realizing that Raymond had planned his visit, Netero couldn't help but feel thoroughly impressed as his gaze visibly sharpened.
"Well, I may be an old bone at this point, but I'm always up for a game!"
"Awesome!"
And so, they engaged in several games of chess.
Eventually, Netero bid his farewell, explaining that he needed to get some rest as he couldn't stay up too late due to his age.
Raymond knew it was nonsense, but he didn't call him out for that.
As Netero exited the room, Raymond's cheerful expression faded, replaced by a sense of nonchalance.
"Hmm..."
He rhythmically tapped the sofa's shoulder, contemplating the chess game they had just played.
He couldn't help but notice that Netero had intentionally made some clumsy mistakes throughout the game, prompting Raymond to respond with clever moves.
Reflecting on their games, Raymond realized there was more to Netero than met the eye.
"...That old man is a sly fox," Raymond muttered to himself.
Furrowing his eyebrows, Raymond concluded that he needed to adjust his plans regarding the Hunter Association accordingly.
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