This bomb was Saiki Kusuo's latest invention, inspired by that time Illumi threw a needle at Hisoka. The needle was small, didn't do visible damage to the wall, but wrecked it from the inside.

Same concept here—the bomb wasn't a typical big-blast type, but specially designed to disrupt reinforced concrete and stone from within. But Saiki had never tested it in a deep tunnel before—no idea what would happen!

And now, the ground behind him started collapsing.

Satotz, the proctor, immediately sensed something was wrong. He sped up to full throttle. Suddenly, even the slowest test-takers found new strength!

Time to run for your life!

Fall behind and you're done for! Humans can really push their limits when death's on the line!

Satotz stopped leading the candidates in circles and took the fastest route to the Lost Mire Swamp. Saiki Kusuo used x-ray vision to monitor the entire area, making sure no one was left alone in the collapsing tunnel.

The tunnel was still crumbling, and they couldn't go back yet—the shockwave was still spreading. So many voices, so many thoughts. Saiki Kusuo could already see several people mentally flashing through their life stories while running.

Sheesh… You're not dead yet—what's with the dramatics?

The booming collapse kept echoing through the tunnels. Satotz quickly contacted the other examiners. Some of them immediately entered the tunnel to investigate.

"Hey, Brother Kusuo!"

Saiki Kusuo's communicator buzzed inside his white coat. He'd set it up so that Killua's phone could call directly into his own.

"You took Alluka with you, didn't you? Just tell me—are you two safe? You're close to the finish line. It's at Shimei Wetlands. You just need to get back on land!"

"Brother Kusuo brought me out! I'm fine, Killua!"

Alluka was holding up the phone next to him. Saiki Kusuo, carrying Alluka, leapt and set her down near the exit, just as the door creaked open.

[Alluka, hide here for now. Killua will come get you when he shows up.]

"Brother Kusuo, where are you going?"

[To fix the tunnel. Don't tell anyone.]

Saiki Kusuo switched the drone that had been monitoring Killua to now follow Alluka, making sure Illumi's side was still working fine. Then in a flash, he teleported into the tunnel.

Chunks of rock fell, but his psychic powers stopped them midair. He placed his hand on the wall and began reversing time.

Even a huge structure could be rewound to how it was a day earlier. Stones rose and returned to their places. The collapsed ground reformed.

But living beings weren't affected by the rewind unless he touched them. So injured people stayed injured. Runners kept running.

Their personal timelines hadn't changed.

Teleporting had a three-minute cooldown.

Saiki Kusuo looked at the stairs ahead, hands in his pockets, and calmly walked up.

"Brother Kusuo! I got Alluka. Where are you?! Wait—why did Alluka say you went into the tunnel? Get out of there! Where are you? I'll come get you!"

…Idiot. I told Alluka not to tell anyone.

[Alluka: But big brother isn't "anyone."]

...So Kusuo's still inside the tunnel?

Illumi, who had been watching his younger brothers closely, turned toward the tunnel.

At the rate it was collapsing, it should have caved in any moment now.

He took a step forward.

Others were also watching the tunnel, waiting to see if anyone else would make it out—

some out of concern, others just to see the collapse, and some had already backed away.

But no further sounds came from within.

Then, Saiki Kusuo appeared, head slightly lowered, pushing up his glasses and silently walking up the stairs.

Even so, it was impossible not to notice him.

His white coat was spotless, completely unharmed. Compared to everyone else, he stood out completely.

[This guy... he must be really strong!]

That thought ran through most people's minds in that moment.

Yare yare.

Saiki Kusuo sighed. He really hated this—

being stared at by so many people.

"Brother Kusuo!"

Killua ran over, full of relief. Gon followed, just as happy.

"Glad you made it out safe!"

Leorio was too tired to say anything. Kurapika was completely out of breath.

Everyone was panting.

But for Illumi, Hisoka, and Chrollo, this level of danger was nothing. They stood around clean and relaxed.

There was no monkey mascot performing a "famous scene" this time.

Even the animals had run off from the sudden earthquake earlier.

Honestly…

Did the plot shift a little because of me?

Saiki Kusuo wondered.

No, the bomb was Killua's doing.

Only about 0.2% of this was his fault.

He scanned the whole area—

and noticed something strange.

The number of people!

More people had made it through the first stage than expected.

At the same time, the proctor Satotz and Hisoka were both watching the crowd.

A thought popped into their minds at the same time:

[We'll need to thin the group more in the next round.]

Saiki Kusuo:

Why is Hisoka also thinking about that?

You're not a secret examiner, are you?

How are two totally unrelated people thinking the same thing?

From what I remember, Hisoka's going to kill a few people in the next round.

That's when the main group gets tested.

Satotz didn't give them much time to rest. He stretched his long legs and started running again. Everyone else had to follow.

The terrain in the Shimei Wetlands made skateboarding impossible.

Saiki Kusuo handed the skateboard back to Killua, then picked Alluka up and carried her into the forest.

"Brother Kusuo? You're not going with Killua this time?"

[The Milsy Wetlands are dangerous. Killua can handle himself.]

There was no helping it.

Illumi still treated Killua like a kid, thinking he couldn't protect Alluka.

Letting Alluka go out to play always came with strict conditions.

[Nanika likes Killua, doesn't she?]

Saiki Kusuo asked, looking at Alluka's usual face as he mentioned "Nanika."

But Kusuo knew: Nanika was already in control now.

That mask-like expression wasn't how he knew—it was from hearing her thoughts.

The mask only shows when her powers activate.

"Yes! Killua's my favorite!"

Nanika answered without hesitation.

Saiki Kusuo patted her head.

It was because Nanika liked Killua that Killua could command her without needing to "wish" for anything—

a simple command would be enough.

Recently, Kusuo had reconsidered his thoughts about Illumi.

Illumi's attitude toward Alluka had been strangely off.

If Illumi ever found out that Killua could give direct orders to Nanika...

Things might get scary.

Illumi had already planted needles in both his and Killua's minds.

That desire to control everything—

would it drive him to do something to Alluka?

"Brother Kusuo, what are you thinking about?"

Nanika tilted her head, innocent and unaware.

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