With the Chimera ants still in their fermentation phase, Oboro had some time to stay with the Hunters. Before the ant colony hunt could begin in earnest, there was still a small but significant "dessert" to be dealt with in the form of the movie version of Jed.
While Jed promised to be a formidable opponent whose soul would prove valuable, the Phantom Troupe had become less attractive to Oboro as a target. Even if each Spider had reached the level of a National Hunter, their individual souls or black mists would barely register as "experience points" to someone who had been hunting National-level prey for the past two years. Still, the troupe's numbers made them worthy prey, and even small game was still game. Among Nen users, they remained an exceptional group.
Oboro hadn't paid much attention to the Spiders lately, treating them as little more than an afterthought. Even Hisoka's communication had become sparse, the mercurial fighter seemingly preoccupied with his own pursuits. From what Oboro knew of him, Hisoka was probably training obsessively in seclusion. Their shared mission with the Bozwa tribe had changed something in Hisoka, especially after Oboro witnessed his reckless gamble of sacrificing future potential.
A few days after Oboro's promotion to Three-Star Hunter, Menchi and the others returned. Notably, Menchi had been promoted to Two-Star Hunter two months earlier, with Oboro's help. She now served as deputy captain, commanding the team in his absence.
With his personal goals accomplished and cultivation no longer beneficial, Oboro had stepped back from active leadership, allowing Menchi to guide the team's continued development. The team had returned to its original five members, and Oboro had been transparent about his ultimate goal: reaching the Dark Continent. He'd given them the freedom to decide their involvement when the time came, making sure they had plenty of time to consider the implications while continuing to grow.
The Dark Continent held a special meaning for each hunter. Despite their faith in Oboro's abilities, the five team members had to weigh their options carefully; this decision meant life or death. Though they'd immediately pledged their loyalty to Oboro as their leader, he insisted that they take time to think.
Deep down, most of the hunters harbored an adventurous spirit. A successful return from the Dark Continent would immortalize them in human history and elevate them to legendary status. However, history showed that death was the more likely outcome.
An interesting development occurred after Menchi and the others left. The Review Committee had asked her to serve as an examiner for the 287th Hunter Examination, but she declined.
In the original timeline, Menchi and Buhara would have overseen the second phase of the trial. However, Oboro's influence had created a butterfly effect, and Menchi had not only become much stronger, but had also advanced rapidly through the ranks of the Hunters. Her personality, shaped by his influence, had taken on a harder edge.
To Menchi, it seemed like a waste to spend time evaluating rookie candidates when she could be completing missions and growing stronger. She firmly refused the committee's request, regardless of their status.
Her teammates had noticed that her personality increasingly mirrored Oboro's traits. Thus, it was natural for Oboro to step in and take her place as the second phase examiner. This announcement surprised the committee; three-star hunters rarely participated in the examination process, and even two-star participation was rare.
The committee eagerly welcomed his participation. And so, as history began to unfold, Oboro took his place as an examiner. Having made his promise to the Chairman, he deliberately slowed his pace. His role now was to watch from the sidelines, using his knowledge of the coming events to either wait and see, or to seize opportunities to harvest more "additions". His death list still had quite a few names to cross off.
"I've arrived," Oboro announced the next day, entering a meeting room at the Association's headquarters. Pushing open the door, he saw familiar faces: this year's Hunter Exam proctors. The room was buzzing with professional hunters: Satotz in his pink suit and curly mustache, the mohawked bounty hunter Lippo, the ever-smiling Khara, and the sunglasses-wearing Menchi.
His appearance drew all eyes. Some tensed nervously, others stood up abruptly, while a few seemed unsure of how to react. The appearance of a three-star hunter had taken them by surprise.
Who hadn't heard of Oboro? Especially the newer members of the Association like Mashita, who'd adopted Oboro's signature black suit and sunglasses. The young man was obviously a devoted fan.
"Please, relax. We're all colleagues here," Oboro said with a disarming smile, easing the tension in the room. As he took his seat, the others gradually followed suit and began to discuss the content of the exam. The Association needed their input to select and arrange a suitable venue.
The room wasn't at full capacity, various examiners and officers would join later, but they were lower-ranking personnel. While everyone else actively participated in the discussion, Oboro simply watched with an amused smile and remained silent.
"Senior Oboro, what do you think?" Mashita asked, swallowing nervously, his admiration obvious.
"I'll leave it up to you all," Oboro replied with a smile, studying the group with interest.
The key figures of the test stood out in his memory: Satotz would handle the first phase, Lippo the third, while Khara would supervise or comment on the fourth. Mashita would serve as one of the black-suited referees during the final-phase matches between candidates.
The later testing phases had some unique elements that didn't designate specific testers, possibly due to Khara and Mashita's relative inexperience with the association.
Satotz, interestingly enough, was an ardent fan of Ging Freecss and took a special interest in Gon's welfare. In Satotz's eyes, Ging represented the best of the Association.
After Satotz had completed most of the exam, which matched Oboro's memories perfectly except for the second phase, Oboro spoke up. "I haven't decided on the content of my phase yet. I'll improvise something when we get there," he said, snapping his fingers with a smile.
"That's fine," came the unanimous response. No one questioned his approach; he'd more than earned that right.
As the meeting dispersed, Satotz lingered by the door, wiping the sweat from his brow with a relieved sigh. Despite Oboro's friendly demeanor, something about him made Satotz nervous. Perhaps it was because, although both were high-ranking members of the Association, Oboro felt fundamentally different from Ging. The rumors about those who had died at his hands, including one of the former Zodiacs, the Monkey, might have contributed to that unease.
"So awesome!" Mashita exclaimed, pumping his fists excitedly. Oboro had patted him on the shoulder to encourage him, a gesture from his idol that meant everything to him.
Satotz understood the emotion well. To find inspiration in a fellow Hunter, someone who could shape your path and push you forward, wasn't that a form of happiness in itself?