The gates opened to reveal a huge field filled with cooking machines. Cooking... I thought as a smile grew on my face.

In the end of the field, was a big mansion as I sensed 2 strong auras from there.

"All of the applicants who passed the first phase, please step up," I heard a woman's voice.

Along with others I walked in and straight went to the end the garden. There stood a huge man and a neon green haired woman with shorts and a transparent top and a visible black bra.

"Welcome, all! I'm Menchi your examiner of the second phase!" Said the woman.

"And like wise, I'm Buhara!" Said the man.

Their names are cool, I thought.

Then out of sudden we heard a big growl. Killua, Gon and I all gasped at once once we realised who's stomach was that.

Buhara held his grumbling stomach as we all stared at him in shock. Everyone around us started whispering. While Menchi looked at Buhara as if it was the most common thing ever.

"Sounds to me like your getting hungry," she said still a smile on her face.

"Not just hungry, I'm famished!" The big man whined.

"Well there you have it!" Menchi said standing up, her hands on her hips. The second phase..." everyone stared at her in tension. "...will be cooking!" She finished pointing her finger at us.

Everyone around me started gasping. "What do you mean we're cooking?!" Some guy shouted. I glared at him. What's so wrong with cooking?
"We came here to take the Hunter Exam!" He shouted again.

"That's right, the second phase of the Exam will be preparing a meal," she kept her cool. "That'll satisfy our pallets." she added.

"Why do we have to cook?" Someone asked.

"Don't you know?" Menchi asked. "It's simple really." Her eyes sparkled. "Because we're gourmei Hunters!" She said, both her and Buhara smiling.

A few moments of silence. Then people started laughing, the guy from before being first. I frowned. Back at home papa told me that Hunters can be very unique. And that we should respect them all. After all mommy was a gourmet Hunter like them.

"Talk about a let down!" The guy said again.

"Hear that? Gourmei Hunters!" Another one said.

This seem to loosen Menchi's trust in herself. I felt bad that they had to be treated like that. I glared at people. "Hey! Don't treat them like that! Just because they have a different view of Hunters, doesn't mean their somehow bad!" I yelled out, getting both, the Examiners and applicants attention. Menchi met my gaze as I looked determined at her. "I promise to participate in this Phase as best as I can!" I shouted out. Menchi's face relaxed a bit.

"Alright, alright let the little girl protect you," the guy said again. "So, Gourmei Hunters, what exactly do you want us to make?" He asked, disrespect hints in his voice. Menchi's eyes went cold again.

"Buhara," she said.

Buhara stepped up. "Today's requiring ingredient will be pork!" He said.

Some people already started complaining about it while I just smiled.

"Feel free to use meat from any pigs in Viscafoura forest!" He said. "As you see you'll use these cooking facilities to prep your pork dishes! To pass the exam, you must create a dish to satisfy our discriminated pallet!" Buhara finished.

"But we won't be be evaluating tastes alone," Menchi said. "So take this seriously. Is that clear?" she added. "When we both eaten our fill, this portion of the Exam will be over," she finished.

"Okay enough talk," said the guy from before. Again. "Let's just get to it, alright?"

Buhara raised his hand. "Let the Exam, second phase, begin!" He made a gong sound as he bounced his hand to his belly.

Everyone started running out and when I was about to join them, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked back to see smiling Menchi.

"Thank you for what you did back there," she said Buhara nodding while walking up to me.

"It's nothing," I said giving her a smile back. "I know how it feels to be discriminated... and I think that you are very unique in your way!"

This made Menchi brighten up a little. "Alright in return let me give you a tip, she said as she bowed down to my level. "The only pigs in this forest are huge and carnivores. They are very dangerous, so I wonder if they'll make it out alive," she said pointing at the others, who already ran out.

I bowed to her. "Thank you for your help. Even if I truly don't deserve it," I said my cheeks a little red in embarrassment. I stood straight again and started to ran out of the place.

"Also another thing!" Menchi shouted at me. I stopped at my tracks and looked back. She smiled and pointed at her head. "Aim for the forehead," she said as I nodded in response.

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"Gotta catch your pig and cook it? This is way easier than the first phase!" Leorio said.

I've joined up explaining that I tripped over a huge rock and didn't really stood up at first.

"That's what Menchi said," I coughed out.

"I hope it's that simple," Kurapika said. Oh you have no idea...

Gon then sat down and slide down the hill we where on. Killua and the two other boys following him. I sweat dropped. "Guys! We need to be careful-..." I yelled running down the small mountain catching up. And went white pale as I saw what they where looking at.

"I found them," Gon let out.

"P-pigs!" Leorio followed.

Yeah pigs. Pigs that were 3x times bigger than us. Pigs that where eating bones of who nows what. Pigs that were totally the one Menchi talked about.

"They're all... chowing on bones." Leorio shuttered.

"Don't tell me..." Kurapika inhaled. "Their..."

"...carnivores," I said my eyes widening. One of the pigs let out a rage scream as I jumped high in the air.

Everyone stood up and started running along with me, as the pigs ran after us. The pigs bumped into applicants sending them to air as I trembled. Menchi, why thank you so much...

"These pigs are insane!" Leorio yelled.

"How surprising!" I yelled back to him. People around me trying to find a way to dismantle them. Yet nothing worked. They where like iron and whenever people tried killing them, nothing worked.

Think Annya, think! What did Menchi say? She said that their carnivores, I could have figured it out myself... That's right! She mentioned the foreheads!

I ran to one of the pig as I jumped up high in the air. I had no weapons, which was not good. But I can still use something like...

I focused my nen aura around my hand as it became deadly cold. Then as I fallen to the pigs forehead I pressed my palm against it as it screamed in pain. It soon fallen on itse knees as I proudly stared at my job. Then turned away and shouted. "Everyone! Aim for the head! The forehead!" Everyone seem't to heard me and followed what I said.

Soon almost all of us where heading back at where the phase started and began cooking. When no one was watching Menchi send me thumbs up. Even though she was still in a bad mood.

I found myself a cooking spot as I first checked out the pork. Then I took off the skin so there would be only meant left. I used my nen to create ice around it, I lessened my power as it turned to water and I brushed it against the meat. Then, I putted oil on it as I brushed it against meat as well and poured a little salt and a tiny bit of peppers. And finally I put it to fry. Keeping one side 30 seconds and then changing. I did this for at least 10 minutes. Then I took it out and placed it on my board. I cut the pork into pieces and took out the bones. Then I put some more salt on and decorated it with some vegetables.

I proudly looked at my work. I hope they'll like it.

When I turned around I saw that Menchi hasn't passed anyone yet. She was now tasting her actual first meal. And she was testing Kurapika.

In the end she didn't pass him anyway.

I then took my work and brought it to Menchi and Buhara.

"Alright it seems there's another one, good enough to at least taste," she mumbled and took out her fork. She took a bite of my pig pork and froze.

She stayed silent for a few moments before bringing her head up smiling. "This is really good! It's not overcooked, not too fresh, very traditional and tasty!" She leaned to me smiling still. "Where did ya learn to cook like that?"

I smiled back. "My mom is like you guys! She's also a gourmet Hunter, so she tough me how to cook!" I exclaimed.

Menchi seemed to be proud of me and I felt like flying. She sat back in her spot and brought her stick showing me the 0, which meant that I passed! Buhara showed the sign before and now almost fully eaten the pork.

"Hey, leave some to me!" Menchi took another bite.

I then walked away, people whispering around me. I straight went to Killua and others standing and yawning.

"How did you do it?" Killua asked me.

I shrugged. "I just cooked," I replied bringing my hands to behind my head. The whole group stared at me blankly.

"No way you could have done that by yourself!" Leorio shouted.

I just shrugged while Killua glared at me.

"Oh, don't be mad!" I said while poking his cheeks. "I can teach you how to cook whenever you want!"

His cheeks reddened from embarrassed as he looked away letting out a tsk.

I heard as Buhara chuckled petting his stomach. "That was so much food! I couldn't take another bite!" He exclaimed.

"Yeah, I'm pretty stuffed myself..." Menchi groaned. "So only one of you passed to the next phase," Menchi said in disappointment as I smiled awkwardly. "Seems like Exam's over!" She shouted as Killua flinched next to me.

"Only one person passed?" People started whispering around me. Now I'm even more uncomfortable. Yay.

I heard as someone crushed their pallets and turned around to see yet the same guy from before- number 255. "This is unacceptable!" He said. "Do ya hear me?! I will not accept this!"

"Say what you want, but you still failed," Menchi replied.

"Shut the hell up! You asked for pork and we gave it to you! We risked our lives-"

"Your challenge was to prepare a pork dish that both of the examiners would find delicious. And only one of you succeeded, while you all weren't even close. You all own the exact same thing! I mean, it's like you didn't even try to figure it out! And the only great dish was of the little girl's that's half younger than all of you complainers! It's clear that only she took it seriously!" She shouted as I got bright red because of the compliments.

The ninja looking guy raised out his hand. "Yeah, but come on pork? No matter how you cook it it's still pork!" I stared at him as if he just grown a second head.

Menchi grabbed him by the collar. "You wanna say that one more time?! If I hear anymore crap from you I'll sho my hand up your ass and knock your teeth out! Got it?!" She yelled at him.

I noticed how Buhara seem to be in deep thoughts. Killua tapped my shoulder, making me snap out of my imagination.

"So as I was saying, only one of you has the guts to cook anything remotely new or innovated," she said as I smiled stupidly.

"Hey, shut up!" The same guy yelled. Can he just stop, like didn't he embarrass himself enough? "I'm not here cuz I'm trying to be some Goarmei cook! But a Hunter!" He shouted. People joining him. Honestly... I sight before leaning over to Killua's shoulder and resting my head on it. He glanced at me and I gave him an exhaustive smile.

"My goal is to become a blacklist Hunter! And no stupid but gourmei Hunters are gonna tell me, I can't!" He again yelled.

"Then, it's too bad, that a stupid gourmei Hunter is your examiner," I heard Menchi answer. Since my eyes are now closed I can't really see what's going on. But man, Killua's shoulder is truly comfy... "Well better luck next year, I guess," she said. I'm pretty sure by now that guy was an angry popierian.

"Why you... DON'T MESS WITH ME!" Those where the last thing I heard from him, before someone stepped up and yanked him to the wall's mini tower. I assumed it because of the sound. And I also bet it was Buhara. But I was too exhausted to open up my eyes.

"Buhara. Please don't interfere," I heard Menchi's voice before fully dozing out to sleep.

\\Killua (POV)\\

I felt as Annya's body fallen off my shoulder as I cached her with my arms and brought her close. I looked back at the dramatic scene that was going on and almost whined.

"I'm sorry, but it kinda looked like, you where going to kill him, if I didn't step in," The Buhara guy said. Annya flinched as she snoozed. Seriously how can she sleep when this is all going on?

"Hmph. Probably," she said standing up from her throne. I noticed she was holding huge knifes now. "Let's get this straight. We think that frequently veteran to the sense of ferocious beasts and sorts of a finesse ingredients," she said lowering her knifes down. "And every Hunter is proficient to at least some form of marshal art. You lack focus and the will to experiment with new things," She continued as she thrown the knifes in the air, circling as it looked like there where a bunch of knifes.

I just stared, almost dusting out of boredom.

When she finished the knifes again fallen back to her hands. And it seemed like there where more of them. She pointed her hand with three of them at the crow. "And that all, disqualify's you all except that girl from becoming Hunters!"

Everyone stared in shook. I was getting myself a little mad, but the next to me nuzzling Annya didn't let me go on rage.

"Well that said," I heard a voice from above us. "It seems a bit excessive to fail every single applicant," the voice said again.

This seem to wake Annya up as she looked up whit us and we parted ways.

We saw a blue, shark like dirigible.

\\Annya (POV)\\

Even though I was confused of what is going on I assumed that Menchi made a speech about gourmei Hunters, but then this thing appeared out of nowhere and as much as I heard, it was saying it's not right to disqualify all applicants.

"The symbol of the Hunters association!" Someone jelled.

"It must be someone from the Exam committee!"

Then I heard a swoosh as a very strong aura joined us and landed on the ground, creating dust. I hid my mouth with my hand as I watched the mist of dust slowly disappear revealing an old man.

The man walked out of the remaining dust. I could see him clearly now. This was truly no ordinary human. He was...

"Who is this old man?" Someone asked from the crowd.

"He is the head of the Exam committee. And he's responsible for the Hunter Exam," Menchi said as they both stood in front of each other. "Chairman, Netero!"

I knew it! He was really someone from the committee, and the Chairman himself!

"Oh I just work behind the scenes, it's not all that impressive," Chairman Netero said casually. "I only interfere in the Exam's when little issues like this one pop up," he said. I was really impressed by his whole stance and big floating aura. "Now, dear Menchi..."

"Sir!" Menchi replied.

"It come to my attention that you've chosen to fail all of these years applicants," he said.

"Actually, I did pass one of them..." Menchi murmured.

"Reason being," his eyes landed on somewhere and I followed them, soon turning pale-white. "As I understand it, their general reluctance to challenge the unknown,"he said.

"No..." Menchi replied. "I'm sorry sir, but I snapped it when a candidate insulted gourmei Hunters. And I'm afraid I made the exam harder than necessary," she finished, looking a little ashamed. I again felt bad.

"I see. But it seems that you're aware that this Exam was completely unacceptable," Netero said.

"Yes..." Menchi confessed. "It's just that, I get so emotional whenever food is involved. I'm not suited for this position," she grumbled. "So I must resign as examiner! Please let them retake the second phase!"

This was truly driving insane. In a way it seem like they planned this before, and in other way it looked like it was happening by an accident.

"Sadly, I can't imagine what we be to find another examiner on such short notice," Chairman replied.

"My deepest apologies, sir." Menchi said bowing her head a little.

"Hold on. I have an idea," Netero exclaimed. "You continue serving as examiner, but you yourself must participate along side these applicants and complete whatever challenge you choose!" He said making Menchi gasp.

He smiled at our examiner. "Well what do you say? Sound reasonable? Sure that will make the applicants more comfortable with the results," Chairman convinced. Everyone around them looking speechless.

"I suppose your right," Menchi smiled back at him. "And I have just the thing for the new challenge! We'll all be making boiled eggs!"

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