Bisky's Daughter

Chapter 4

 I walk over toward Gon and Killua. I at least want to make sure I have a chance to say goodbye before we're all separated. I was stopped by a large crashing sound. Someone broke a table out of anger. "Your challenge was to prepare a dish that would satisfy both of us. And none of you even came close to succeeding. You all did pretty much the exact same thing. I mean it's like you didn't even try to figure it out. And when it looked like you had tried it was just fancy plating with no flavor to back it up! It's clear that none of you took this seriously!" Menchi ranted on and on. I think at this point she failed us all because we didn't respect gourmet hunters as nice as she wanted us to. I thought I was nice though. I shoulda passed. This sucks. Now I can't even go to play the game with Mom.

CRASH!!!! The loud noise pulls me out of my thoughts. Buhara had just thrown somebody, and they hit the wall behind us. "Let me make myself clear." Menchi starts walking down the stairs, approaching us. "In our search for ingredients, we Gourmet Hunters are used to coming face-to-face with fearsome beasts. And every hunter is proficient in at least some form of martial arts." Menchi starts juggling knives. A beautifully dangerous circle of spinning knives filled my vision.

"Woah, that's so cool!" I pointed excitedly toward the display Menchi was putting on. Menchi ignores me.

"You lack focus and the will to experiment with new change. And that alone disqualifies you all for becoming hunters." All the knives she was previously juggling come together, the sharp side was being pointed towards us. "Bella at least tried to make something new, but it was disgusting."

"I don't know what you were expecting from me." I shrug. "I'm only 7. It's not like I cook every day." Menchi's face turns a shade of pink after my comment.

"Still, you didn't satisfy my taste." She defends her failure.

"Well that said, it feels a bit excessive to fail every single applicant." A voice spoke from an airship above us. It had the symbol of the Hunter Association on the side. The voice sounded familiar. Where have I heard it before? While in thought, a person jumps from the air ship, creating a big pile of dust. The dust cleared relatively quickly, but I knew who it was as soon as I sensed their aura.

"Mr. Netero!!!" I run forward and wrap my arms around him.

"Ohoho." A small chuckle is released as he returns my hug. "If it isn't little Bella. You sure have grown."

"Mhm. I can take the exam now!"

"I see. That must've taken a lot of convincing." Mr. Netero shifts me to his side and places his arm around my back. Facing to address the rest of the applicants.

"Hey, wait, who's the old man?" A voice in the crowd asks.

"He is the head of the selection committee, and he's responsible for the Hunter Exam. Chairman Netero." Menchi introduces Mr. Netero.

"Hey wait. If that little girl knows him, does that mean she got here based on favoritism?"

"Yah! That's not fair!" Voices agree to the nobody that called Mr. Netero out.

"I can assure you I have nothing to do with her being here. In fact, I didn't even know she was going to be taking the exam this year until I got her application." This seemed to shut the people up. Mom had called Mr. Netero over a few times after she found out about my specialist ability. She told me she just had to ask Mr. Netero for some advice on how to train me. "Now, dear Menchi."

"Sir!"

"It's come to my attention that you've chosen to fail all of this year's applicants. The reason being their general unacceptance to challenge the unknown, right?"

"No. I'm sorry sir, but I snapped when a candidate insulted gourmet hunters. And I'm afraid I made the exam harder than necessary." Menchi lowered her head.

"I see, but it seems that you were aware that this exam was completely unacceptable."

"Yes." Menchi's face scrunches. "It's just that I get so emotional when food is involved. I'm not suited for this position." Menchi looks back up towards Mr. Netero. "So, I must resign as examiner. Please let them retake the second phase." My eyes light up in hope. Maybe I do have a chance of passing this year.

"Sadly, I can't even begin to imagine where we would find another examiner on such short notice."

"My deepest apologies sir."

"What do you think we should do dear Bella?" Mr. Netero puts his hand on my head and smiles down toward me. Everyone's attention snaps towards me. Their eyes begged me to say that we all pass the 2nd phase, but that would be no fun.

"I know!" I look up towards Mr. Netero. "Why doesn't Menchi choose a different thing for us to do? But this time it has to be a possible task. I don't think I can make anything a gourmet hunter will enjoy." I say sadly.

"What a lovely idea! Menchi, why don't you participate in the exam as well!" Mr. Netero rubs my head. "Well, what do you say? Sounds reasonable? Surely that would make the applicants more comfortable with the results."

"I suppose you're right. And I have just the thing for the new challenge. We'll all be making boiled eggs." Eggs? I wonder what type of eggs. Like chicken eggs? "Chairman, since I see you brought your airship, can you take us to split mountain?"

"Split Mountain? Oh, I see. Yes, I can."

At Split Mountain

"This is it!" Menchi cooed. "Take a look at what's down there." Below us was a series of webs with large eggs attached. "That's a spider eagle's nest."

"They build their webs way down there?" Gon leaned over the edge of the cliff, looking closely at the eggs below.

"Did you say spiders?" I hate spiders. They are creepy crawly.

"Look beyond the web at what's underneath." Eggs. Those must be the eggs we have to boil. "Those are Spider Eagles' eggs."

"Spider Eagles lay their eggs in deep ravines like this one. It helps protect their eggs from predators. That's what makes Spider Eagle eggs one of the most difficult ingredients to obtain. Also, the eggs are commonly known as 'Dream Eggs'." Mr. Netero explained to the group. Once he was done explaining, Menchi jumped off the cliff and grabbed a hold to the web below.

"Mr. Netero."

"Hmm."

"How is she gonna get back up?"

"Just wait and see." Mr. Netero crouched down beside me. I felt a small breeze shortly after she let go of the web. Gasps surround me, but my lips turn up in realization. The wind will bring Menchi up safe and sound.

"I get it now!"

"Very good." Mr. Netero pats my back in congratulations. Ms. Menchi flies back to the top of the ravine, egg in hand.

"This looks so fun!" I jump down after Menchi flies up. Wind flies on my face, a pressure builds up in my stomach, but it quickly ends as I grab a hold of a web. I wasn't by myself for long. Soon enough, half of the hunters were by my side, getting ready to secure their eggs. I feel the web is starting to give under the weight of the people. Just as it was about to snap, I let go and grab an egg. The draft brings me safely back to the top.

We boil all the eggs and I eat mine. It was the best egg I ever had. "Mr. Netero, do you want some of my eggs?" I walk over to him and offer up an egg toward him.

"You're so sweet, Bella. I'm ok though."

"Did my mom really not say anything about me taking the exam?"

"I was surprised as well when I saw your application."

"Mom said once I mastered nen I could take it. After I get my license, I'm going to go play a game with her! I'm really excited."

"I can tell." Mr. Netero chuckles. "I wish you the best of luck." I nod. I am going to pass.

Word Count: 1389

A/N: I'm really enjoying writing this story. Please comment to let me know your thoughts! Have a blessed day <3.