<strong><b>Chapter 10: Retest x Conditions x Identity</b></strong>


    “I’m full. The exam is over. One person has passed the second stage of the Hunter Test!” Menchi announced loudly, her stubborn streaking through.


    “What?”


    “How can this be?”


    “My dish is almost finished!”


    The Hunter examinees erupted in protest, each growing anxious.


    Having achieved his intended goal, Lorin was back among the crowd, quietly enjoying themotion.


    The most stunned were undoubtedly the candidates who had realised the test’s true purpose but hadn’t yet had the chance to present their dishes.


    Compared to those who were eliminated without understanding why, these candidates felt the most frustrated.


    “When I say it’s over, it’s over. Are you not satisfied?” Menchi shouted angrily at the indignant examinees.


    “You fools mocked the examiner from the beginning, then acted like idiots, failing to grasp the test’s essence and not taking your cooking seriously. Now you think you have a right toin?”


    “Even so, isn’t this a bit too harsh?” A voice tinged with amusement suddenly came from above.


    Everyone froze, looking up to see a blimp had somehow appeared overhead. The voice hade from the broadcast on the blimp.


    “That’s… the emblem of the Hunter Association.”


    “It must be someone from the Hunter Examination Committee.”


    The examinees grew excited. In their eyes, since themittee had arrived, justice would be served.


    “Buhazi, you’re meddling again…” Menchi frowned, ring discontentedly at her partner.


    Though the Hunter Association’s blimp was nearby, it was clear they had departed in advance to arrive so quickly.


    “Hehe, since the situation escted, we’d be in a bind otherwise!” Buhazi chuckled softly.


    “Hmph…” Menchi snorted, but said no more.


    At that moment, the hatch of the blimp, still dozens of metres off the ground, suddenly opened, and a figure leapt down.


    The next second, with a thunderous crash, the figurended among the examinees, kicking up a cloud of dust.


    “Who’s that old man?”


    “He jumped from that height without a scratch?”


    Many of the Hunter examinees stared nkly, looking up at the blimp, then at the figure in front of them,pletely in disbelief.


    Jumping from dozens of metres without a parachute was absurd.


    “That’s Netero, the Chairman of the Hunter Examination Committee and the chief overseer of the Hunter Test,” Menchi exined.


    “Calling me the chief overseer is a bit much. I’m mostly here to handle troublesome situations like this!” Netero chuckled.


    “So, Menchi, I remember in your original report, you mentioned that this stage of the test was primarily about the candidates’ courage to face the unknown. The evaluation concluded with only one passing, correct?” Netero looked serious… but his gaze subtly wandered over Menchi’s alluring figure, earning her a silentpliment.


    “No, that’s not entirely urate.” Menchi, now standing before Netero with some embarrassment, answered, “At the beginning, some examinees made derogatoryments about Gourmet Hunters, which provoked me.


    “Then, when another examinee revealed the cooking method, I grew agitated. Later, further provocations led me to handle things excessively.”


    At that moment, many of the examinees were stunned by the exchange between Netero and Menchi.


    Courage to face the unknown?


    Wasn’t the test about cooking?


    But there were few fools present. With Netero’s clear exnation, anyone still failing to grasp it was truly unsuited to be a Hunter.


    Suddenly, the realisation caused the faces of the awakened examinees to flush with shame.


    “Oh ho ho—”


    “So you admit your judgment was unfair!” Neteroughed cheerfully.


    “Yes, once cooking is involved, I lose my sense of judgment. I’m not fit to be an examiner,” Menchi stated seriously.


    “I hereby resign from the role of Hunter Test examiner and request that the results of this exam be dered void.” Menchi paused, then added, “But, Chairman Netero, can we exempt the candidate who passed from having his result annulled?”


    “The one who passed, huh!” Netero nced across the crowd, quickly locating Lorin, and shed a radiant smile.


    “No, we can’t,” he stated without hesitation.


    Menchi was taken aback, not expecting Netero to refuse even this small favour.


    “But what I meant was, you’re not allowed to resign,” Netero continued, still smiling. “You’ll remain the examiner and give a new test. This time, however, you’ll also participate as a candidate, so the examinees will be more epting of the results.


    “What do you say, do you agree?” Netero asked Menchi with a grin.


    “Of course!” Menchi agreed immediately.


    “Over here, over here, Chairman Netero, I haven’t agreed yet!” Lorin suddenly raised his hand.


    “Oh! You don’t agree…” Netero turned, smiling at Lorin.


    “Naturally, if there’s no retest, I’d be the only candidate to receive the Hunter Licence, right? With a retest, I’d be at a disadvantage…” Lorin spread his hands, disregarding the res from the other examinees.


    “Ah, you have a point… You should bepensated!” Netero stroked his beard, thoughtfully considering Lorin’s words.


    “How about this: you’ll be granted a special qualification for the Hunter Test,” Netero said suddenly.


    “Special qualification… for the Hunter Test…” Lorin was momentarily stunned but quickly caught on.


    It turned out he hadn’t officially registered for the Hunter Test at all!


    That’s right.


    Having participated in two stages of the test, Lorin hadn’t even signed up for it.


    After all, he had arrived in the elevator cabin immediately after transmigrating. He hadn’t registered for the exam or even obtained an official identity in this world.


    His system certainly wasn’t the kind that took care of everything like a nanny.


    Along the way, Lorin had suspected this.


    Now, Netero’s words confirmed it.


    However, it was clear that Netero didn’t mind and was willing to let Lorin continue with the Hunter Test.


    Lorin grinned and replied, “Then I appreciate it, old man!”


    “Oh ho ho… Now that it’s settled, Menchi, please announce the new test!” Netero said, stillughing.


    Menchi, still contemting the meaning of Lorin and Netero’s conversation, quickly responded when Netero called her.


    “Yes… right away!”


    “Chairman Netero, may I use the blimp to transport the examinees to that mountain?” Menchi pointed to a round, isted mountain in the distance.


    “Oh… of course.” Netero nced at the mountain, his eyes revealing understanding, and responded with a smile.