"Talk"
'Thought'
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"Iris, Sherry, you're here too?"
Claire Kageno could be seen walking up and catching the attention of two specific people that were here that surprised her.

"Oh? Claire Kageno, what a surprise, I didn't expect you to be here as well."

"U-Um, hello..."
And those two people, who were also surprised to see Sister Kageno, was the 20 year old redhead princess, Iris Midgar, and a 16 year old pinkhead artifact researcher, Sherry Barnett.

"I must say, it's nice to see a familiar face, though I have to ask, what brings you here?"
But despite the unexpected and confusing meeting, Iris was somewhat glad to meet someone she could recognize.

"I only came here to help my brother, that's all."

"C-Cid is here! Where is he?!"
As soon as Claire mentioned her brother, Sherry immediately looked interested and curious, which definitely surprised Princess Midgar.

"I told him to stay back while I look around to see what we're up against... Why do you want to know?"
Though seeing Barnett suddenly take interest in Claire's brother, it did make her glare slightly in suspicion.

"N-Nothing..."
Which made Sherry flinch and look away, not wishing to say or do anything to get in trouble with the older sibling of the Kagenos.

"Please forgive my lack of understanding, but what do you mean help Cid? Who I assume is your brother, correct?"
Luckily Iris was able to break the tension and asked something specific about what the Heiress Dark Knight meant for what she had planned for her sibling.

"Yes, Cid is also my brother, and when I mean by helping him, I mean unlocking his hidden potential."
Claire suddenly wasted no time praising her and hoping for her brother very positively.

"Unlike others, only I was able to recognize his hidden strength, and I just thought taking him to the Hunter Exam would be enough to help both see and release such power I know he has."
To see Claire think and talk so highly for her younger sibling, well, both the Princess and Artifact Researcher didn't really expect it.

"You truly believe that Cid is hiding some form of power?"
Sherry tilts her head curiously.

"Of course I do, I'm his big sis after all, so I know that he's destined for greatness, just like me~"
Claire puff her chest and cheeks, as if proud to know her brother and what he could do.

"I have to admit, I'm jealous of your confidence and kindness towards your sibling."
Iris couldn't help but sigh softly, and slightly sadly to herself.

"I should've done the same, and more, for my sister..."
A small frown started to form slightly on Iris trembling lips.

"If you don't mind me asking, why are you and Sherry taking the Hunter Exam?"
Fortunately such upsetting thinking and feelings were quickly stopped when it was Claire's turn to ask her question, specifically on why they were here for the Hunter Exam.

"... After such a humiliating defeat from, "SHADOW", I realize how lazy and over reliant I was with my natural strength, so much so that I had to use outside help and crutches to even stand a chance in our fight."
Iris, after taking a deep breath to calm herself down, was the first to explain her reasoning, though such reasons still made her tremble in slight shameful anger.

"So you're using the Exam to get stronger?"
Claire wasn't necessarily surprised by the reason, though it did make her wonder if she had other motivations.

"Among other things, but yes, that's the basic idea of why I'm here."
Which Iris did, though didn't really explain further, luckily Lady Kageno was able to accept the answer and didn't ask more than what was needed.

"And what about you?"
Claire then turns her attention to the pinkhead, unlike the Crimson Knight and can understand why she was here, she couldn't think of anything on why the other was attempting to take the Hunter Exam.

"I... I needed the license for my research..."
Unfortunately, it would remain a mystery, as Sherry only revealed the bare minimum of why she was here, which wasn't a whole lot.

"I'm guessing it's personal secret stuff?"

"Yes, sorry I can't explain more."
Claire slightly pouts in disappointment for not getting anymore information from Sherry.

"It's fine, we all have our reasons to be here."
Though Iris seemed to be ok with not knowing more about Barnett intentions, thinking it was OK that everyone had their own reason for coming here.

"We actually came here together, or to be more accurate, she was the only reason why I was able to learn and find this place."
Not only that, but Iris took the opportunity to both explain and thanked the artifact researcher for being the one who introduced her to this Hunter Exam.

"We made a deal, I would handle most of the complicated things, and she would be my sword and shield in return."
Sherry explained in more detail on the kind of arrangement and why specifically they were here together.

"Mhm, we also promised each other that if one of us succeeded and the other failed, the winner would lend their license to the other if needed."
Once Iris and Barnett finished explaining what was going on, the Heiress Dark Knight could only nod in response, now understanding the whole picture.

"Well, I could only wish you luck that both of you will succeed."
With no more questions, all Claire could do was just wish the two good fortune in success over the Hunter Exam.

"Likewise, I hope you and your brother will pass the Exam as well."
A feeling shared by Iris and her pinkhead partner.

"T-Tell Cid I said hi."
Though Sherry seems to aim those feelings towards the brother of Kageno.

"Why?! Trying To Seduce Him Or Something?!"

"EEP!"
Meanwhile, as Claire continues to hang around Iris and Sherry more, though more threatening Barnett, far away on the other side of the area, and somewhat away from the crowd, a certain hidden elf and white clown could be seen standing near one another, having a private conversation just between themselves.

"So glad we could finally meet again, Alpha~"
The magical magician, also known as Hisoka Morow, couldn't help but tease the blonde elf known as Alpha, who just glares at him for using her secret name in public.

"Oops, sorry, almost forgot that was supposed to be a secret~"
Hisoka chuckles and gives an "Innocent" smile to the First Shade.

"If you weren't useful in your information gathering, I would've killed you for knowing too much."
Alpha huffs softly in annoyance.

"Don't threaten me with a good time~"
Though not only was Hisoka not bothered by the threat, he in fact welcomed her to do something.

"It's a promise, not a threat."
But Alpha, despite her warning, didn't do anything, mostly because it wasn't worth the risk.

"No need to be so hostile, we're friends aren't we?~"
Hisoka winks and sticks his tongue, trying to act all friendly with the blonde elf.

"And speaking of friends, I assume you and him know each other?~"
Hisoka then glanced away and looked at a certain "Mob Character", also known as Cid Kageno, sitting by himself and just looking bored waiting for the Hunter Exam to start.

"Is he as strong as you?~..."
From a first glance, Hisoka would've assumed he was weak trash, but his own instincts, as well as seeing how friendly the Chief Shadow Garden was with him, he couldn't help but be, "Interested", in him, which earned him having a blade aimed at his neck.

"You better stay away from him, if you know what's good for you..."
Alpha glares became much more harsher as she pressed her weapon against the magical magician's neck.

"So mean to not share with me, wah~"
Hisoka chuckles in response, again not bothered by the threats he was getting.

"Just hurry up and prove your usefulness, before I fulfill my promise!"
Alpha was now starting to show off a bit of her frustration.

"Fine fine, I'll behave for now~"
Luckily Hisoka decided that he had his fill and had fun teasing the blonde elf, as he then reached in his pocket and pulled out a small device.

"Here you go, everything you could ever want to know about your Cult problems is right here, in this device, I'm sure you could figure out what it could mean~"
Hisoka then tossed the device to the First Shade, which she catches and puts away somewhere safe.

"Thank you, Hisoka."
Alpha grumbles softly, despite how much she dislikes white clown, she can't deny how useful he was and worth keeping around, for now at least.

"Just remember to keep your end of the deal~"
Though Hisoka reminds the Chief Shadow Garden of why he does all this in the first place.

"Of course, I shall call you, when the, "Party", begins."
Alpha just nods in response before walking away.

"Can't wait~"
Hisoka, while waving his goodbye for the blonde elf, his teasing and "Innocent" smile suddenly turned more smug and slightly sinister.

'So many toys for me to play with~'
Hisoka licks his lips "Hungrily", not only for Alpha, but for a certain "Mob Character" that also caught his attention.

'I can't wait to break them all~...'
As Hisoka was admiring his "Toys", back with Cid Kageno, as he continued to wait and be bored, a certain fat man suddenly walked up to him with a "Friendly?" smile.

"Hey, I'm Tonpa, nice to meetcha."
The fat man, now known as Tonpa, immediately greets and says hello towards Kageno.

"Oh, um, hi?"
Which Cid was both surprised and confused to see a random fat man walk up to him for basically no reason.

"I just wanted to see if you would like something to drink, just thought a rookie like yourself would be thirsty from such a long trip."
Tonpa, as he said, offered a can of juice for the Mob Character.

"Ah, well, now that you mentioned it, I am pretty parched, so thank you."
But despite the confusion, the mention and offer of a free drink definitely caught Cid, as he didn't hesitate to take the can.

"Don't mentioned, what are friends for~"
Though unknown to the average boy and Tonpa, a certain 12 year old white hair child could be seen in the background watching them.

'Idiot, doesn't he know not to accept random stuff from strangers?'
The pale child couldn't help but shake his head in disappointment when he saw Kageno accept the generosity of the fat man.

'Especially taking a drink that is full of power laxatives?'
The pale child simply sighs, and just watches to see what will happen next without helping.

"Yum, orange juice, my favorite."
Cid then started to chug the entire can of juice, obviously to the fact that the drink was filled with laxatives.

'Hehe, have fun experiencing the toilet for the entire day~..."
Tonpa struggles to hide his smug and mischievous smirk as he watches Mob Character drink the can of laxatives.

"Haaaah!~ Refreshing!~"
However, instead of suffering the effects of the poisoned drink, Cid acted completely fine, as if it did nothing to him.

"Oh?/H-Huh?!"
This definitely shocked Tonpa and surprised the pale child.

"Hey, can I have some more?"
Not only that, but Cid even asked for more of the juice, somehow finding it delicious.

"U-Um, sure?..."
Tonpa, now completely freaked out and worried, nervously gave more juice drinks to the average boy, before quickly running off.

'I-I better stay away from this kid, he's definitely not normal!'
Once Tonpa realized the danger, decided to stay far away from Kageno, not wanting to risk anything with someone so dangerous.

"I will never understand the taste of alcohol, but when it comes to simple juice drinks, they're just simply the best~"
As Cid was enjoying his juice drinks, still unaware of the laxatives, the pale boy decided to walk up to him, no doubt very curious about him.

"Hey, do you mind if I sit with you?"
The pale kid asked politely.

"Huh, of course, go ahead."
Cid just simply shrugs and lets the child sit next to him. He was surprised to see someone so young attempt the Hunter Exam, but decided not to question it.

"Nice skateboard by the way."

'Man, how long has it been since I saw one of those again?'
Though Cid couldn't help but feel nostalgic when he saw the skateboard, as it made him think about his past life.

"Thank you, the name is Killua Zoldyck."
Once the pale child took his seat next to Mob Character, he introduced himself as Killua Zoldyck to him.

"Cid Kageno."
Which Cid just simply greets and gives his name in return.

"Juice?"
Cid also decided to be nice and offered a can of juice to Zoldyck.

"Don't mind if I do~"
Killua, despite knowing what was inside the juice, didn't hesitate to accept the offer and take the drink, now both of them could be seen drinking the laxative juice together.

'To drink an entire can and stay so calm and casual, well, can't say I'm not interested in you.'
Killua was still very impressed to see someone else also handle poisoned drinks very well, just like himself.

"Hey, can I try out your skateboard?"
Cid, after finishing his 2nd can, decided to ask the pale child if he could try his skateboard.

"Huh? Why?"
Killua tilts his head curiously when the average boy asks him something so randomly.

"Just want to try something."
Cid just shrugs in response, which made Killua chuckles as he then gave his skateboard to Kageno and saw what he planned to do with it.

'To ask something from a killer assassin, yep, I'm definitely curious about you.'
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Sorry for the long wait, I was playing Pokémon and was having fun with myself, but don't worry, I'll continue to be your slaves and write more stories for you~
(BTW, I'm still open to suggestions and ideas on what to do with this story~)