"Here."
Netero poured a cup of matcha for Germain, a light layer of froth floating on the surface.
"Have a sip."
Germain took a small sip. The taste wasn't something he was used to, so he quietly set the teacup down.
Netero didn't press him.
"I've already been fully briefed on what happened during your expedition," Netero said. "Beyond being buried on the land of the Dark Continent… perhaps it fulfilled a final wish of his."
His tone was calm—no sadness, no anger—just a quiet acceptance.
Truthfully, Netero had already sensed Beyond's fate the moment Germain set out.
Germain glanced around Netero's office. On the wall, he saw Netero's iconic oversized portrait, along with a calligraphy piece featuring the word "heart."
Classic Netero. Still as flamboyant as ever. As if he wanted every person who walked into this room to feel his presence—to never forget him.
At the same time, it was necessary. This was how he projected his confidence to the outside world.
When people sensed his confidence, those trying to maintain stability would feel reassured. And those craving power would hesitate before making a move.
"Chairman, did you summon me all the way here just to ask me about what happened again?"
"No, not at all."
Netero inhaled the aroma of the tea, took another sip, and spoke unhurriedly. "I want us to be completely honest with each other."
"Honest with each other?"
"Yes," Netero explained. "You and your team walk in the shadows, while we walk in the light. But these two paths are now starting to intertwine. And we need to decide where they lead."
Germain understood. He looked serious as he asked, "What do you plan to do next?"
"There are several things that need handling. First and foremost—maintaining the balance of power on the New Continent, and ensuring its stability."
"You mean… you're going to deal with the relationships involving Steiner and Queen Oito?"
"Yes, but also no." Netero stroked his white beard, smiling as he spoke. "The fact that we are now divided into three factions is actually the result of mutual agreement."
"Last October, I still couldn't control the entire situation. Meanwhile, the number of survivors was gradually increasing. I realized that if things continued like this, a second great chaos would erupt."
"I thought for a long time about how to release these potential contradictions and dissatisfaction. In the end, I decided to cooperate with Steiner and Queen Oito, starting a sort of staged performance together."
"They openly stand for their own factions, fighting for their interests and opposing me, while cleverly maintaining a three-way standoff."
"In this way, the potential great chaos is broken down into smaller conflicts. Meanwhile, the three of us keep necessary communication channels open, basically controlling the situation and its direction."
Germain nodded. "Kurapika said he heard someone call you 'King' and 'Tyrant'… So that's how it really is."
Netero smiled and sipped his tea again.
"There's no helping it. Here, people range from nobles to commoners, from the highest to the lowest social classes. It's impossible to have them all united in a short time."
"In times of danger, they might unite in effort. But now that life is orderly, they naturally want to regain their former status or break through their social class."
"Several months ago, when we abolished the caste of Have-Nots and unified them into the commoner class to gain more enthusiasm and support from the lower layers, we faced huge resistance..."
"Though the Have-Nots system was officially abolished, divisions still exist in secret. 'Have-Nots will always be Have-Nots,' is a phrase I hear often."
After roughly explaining the internal order of the two main strongholds, Netero moved on to discuss the external issues concerning the entire new continent.
"This place is really huge. The good thing is that resources are relatively abundant, enough to temporarily sustain the survivors. The bad thing is there are too many 'natives'."
As Netero told this grim joke, he pointed at a large map on the wall, marked with various pen marks and pinned with tacks.
"This is the Hunter Association's rough map of the New Continent's outline and terrain, compiled over several months."
"Although it's not complete and contains some errors, overall, it's very useful for us right now."
"Do you see these red crosses? They mark the nests of some dangerous beasts or beastmen that threaten us."
"And those green circles represent tribes willing to communicate and cooperate with us for mutual benefit."
"We sacrificed a lot to achieve the current relative peace. But soon, this peace will be broken."
Germain immediately understood Netero's meaning. "You mean the reinforcements from V6 that are about to arrive?"
"Yes," Netero said. "A new powerful force is stepping in. I have to share power, and this will bring many uncertainties."
"What do you plan to do?"
Netero raised his left hand. "I need something that can show the Hunter Association's weight in front of the reinforcements. Something they'll have to rely on. It seems your return is perfect timing."
"I plan to showcase the 'Herb for All-illnesses' and the 'Greedy Dragon Crystal' this time, proving that the Hunter Association's exploration team has successfully obtained 'hope.'"
"You are the heroes who brought back this 'hope.'"
"This way, the Hunter Association won't lose all its influence."
"Besides, we still have other 'hopes' in our hands. At crucial moments, we can reveal one to continuously raise the Hunter Association's status and increase our bargaining chips."
"If they want more 'results,' they cannot ignore us professional hunters."
Netero stretched out his right hand again.
"I know you will soon return to the Dark Continent to reap a new round of 'Disasters and Hopes.' This is also the capital we hold."
"You can take different members each time and travel to various parts of the Dark Continent to get familiar with the situation. For example, people like Kanzai, Mistastorm, and Botobai from the Zodiacs."
"Besides that, you can also make a trip back to the Six Continents and bring more trustworthy Nen users here."
"I have already asked Kite and Izunavi to do this, but most of those they brought from the Six Continents this time are old acquaintances from the Hunter Association."
"Germain, we need new faces and fresh blood. This is a major plan for the future. It can't all be done by our older generation and you middle forces alone."
"Those newcomers must start adapting to the new world and the new century."
"The newcomers on Greed Island have been training since last August. By now, they should be ready to move to the next stage."
"Germain, bring the best and most trustworthy among them here. I believe they will shine with their unique light on the New Continent and the Dark Continent."
After Netero said this, Germain also remembered the group of young people still on Greed Island.
Killua, Gon, Milluki, Hanzo, Pokkle, and Alluka in hologram form...
If they seriously carried out the tasks assigned to them, then after spending more than half a year on Greed Island, they should have cleared the island and made obvious progress, right?
It's indeed time to go back and see how they have improved, to see if they have lived up to their extraordinary talents.
*******
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