"Inventor?"
Beans hesitated on the other end of the line. "Before the official exam began, the examiners mentioned he did seem to refer to himself that way..."
"Then it's definitely him!"
Biscuit confirmed immediately.
At the same time, memories of their first meeting at Heavens Arena resurfaced.
"The moment we met, he first called me senior, and then changed it to big sister..."
Biscuit couldn't help but chuckle softly. "Looks like my so-called good little brother decided to take the hunter exam this year, huh?"
On the other end, Beans thought: Did I just hear something I wasn't supposed to?
Biscuit had just referred to that applicant, number 404, Luke, as her good little brother?!
Beans didn't even dare to think too deeply about the word good.
There was definitely something between them, no doubt about it.
Being tactful, Beans immediately hung up the phone, pretending he hadn't heard a thing.
As the dial tone beeped in her ear, Biscuit quickly regained her composure.
"If I remember correctly, I had previously determined he came from Meteor City."
"And recently, the chairman of that Mom's Help Foundation was supposedly killed by someone from Meteor City, wasn't he?"
"It's hard to say there's no connection between those two events..."
Biscuit's large, sparkling eyes glimmered with the wisdom of a seasoned hunter.
But ultimately, she shook her head.
"In this world, knowing too much isn't always a good thing."
"I'm just a Stone Hunter. Investigations and chasing down criminals are better left to Blacklist Hunters."
"As for my good little brother, Luke..."
Her ponytail swayed as she smiled faintly. "Forget it. Knowing how he operates, there's a good chance we will meet again someday."
"Besides..."
Biscuit looked up at the sky, where an airship bearing the Hunter Association insignia was flying toward her direction.
"That old man is probably even more interested in that guy than I am right now."
The second and third test sites weren't far from each other, so Biscuit could clearly see the Hunter Association's airship arriving.
Something this interesting happened during the hunter exam; there was no way that old man would stay out of it.
And Biscuit's guess was right.
Chairman Netero was quite interested in Luke.
In fact, he had personally come along on that very airship to the testing grounds.
When the airship landed, the black-suited staff members escorted the unconscious applicants to a safe area outside the hunter exam site.
That included Tonpa as well.
Having been eliminated, he no longer had the right to board that airship.
He could only turn back and glance at Luke's departing figure as he boarded, sighing softly.
"Well, I suppose this is for the best."
Tonpa thought to himself.
"This means he officially passed and became a real professional hunter."
"From now on, he won't be taking the hunter exam again."
"So that means… I'll never have to run into him again."
Tonpa felt nothing but relief.
Although this year's hunter exam had ended abruptly and dramatically, and he hadn't even gotten the chance to live up to his nickname as the Rookie Crusher, at least he'd made it through safely, surviving yet another year.
And next year, that terrifying guy wouldn't be around to haunt the hunter exam anymore.
All in all, that was definitely a good thing.
Yes, if things stayed that way, Tonpa had every reason to feel relieved.
But then again… who could really predict the future?
"Applicant 404, please come with me."
While Tonpa and the others departed, Luke, under Beans's guidance, followed him deeper into the airship.
This was the first time Luke had ever been so close to Mr. Beans in person.
That green face and small, round, bean-shaped head truly piqued his curiosity.
A unique appearance, characterized by a bean-shaped head, no nose, and no ears.
Highly capable, long-serving as the administrative assistant to the Hunter Association's 12th chairman, Isaac Netero.
And now that Mr. Beans himself had come to lead him here… it could only mean that the person he was about to meet was none other than…
"I've brought him, chairman."
Following Mr. Beans, Luke arrived at the innermost room of the airship.
After a polite knock, the door slid open.
Luke immediately saw the old man sitting cross-legged on the tatami floor in front of a long table, in a relaxed and casual posture.
This was the first time Luke had formally met him face to face since arriving in this world: the chairman of the Hunter Association, founder of Shingen-ryu martial arts, the world's strongest Nen user, and a true living legend, Isaac Netero.
If there were ever a ranking of the strongest old men across all anime, then Chairman Netero would absolutely stand alongside figures like Master Roshi from Dragon Ball and Whitebeard from One Piece.
Setting aside comparisons, just standing here in front of Netero himself, Luke could feel the overwhelming, boundless power concealed beneath that frail exterior.
"Hm?"
It was as if Chairman Netero had sensed something; he raised his head and their eyes met in midair.
"Oh?"
Interest flickered in the old man's probing gaze.
"I originally thought you were just a rather interesting young man, but it seems..."
He chuckled. "In terms of strength, you're not to be underestimated either."
"You've really given me quite a pleasant surprise, Hohoho."
As soon as Netero finished speaking, Luke suddenly felt the pressure in the room shift.
In that instant, the old man sitting there no longer seemed like a frail elder, but rather a ferocious beast radiating a suffocating aura of danger!
The sheer intensity of it was enough to make even a seasoned Nen user's hair stand on end.
But Luke…
"So this is the pressure that comes from the world's strongest Nen user, huh?"
He stayed calm, nodded slightly toward Netero, and said: "It really is… Quite overwhelming."
"Is that so?"
Chairman Netero stroked his beard. "Funny, you don't look even a little overwhelmed to me."
"No, I'm just pretending to look calm. Inside, I'm terrified out of my mind."
Terrified, my foot…
Chairman Netero gave him a sideways glance.
There wasn't the slightest trace of fear on Luke's face; his composure was absolute calm.
"Hmph. This ability to lie with a straight face… Reminds me of myself in my younger days."
"But unfortunately, you're still a bit too green to fool me."
Seeing this exchange, Mr. Beans quietly stepped out and gently closed the door, leaving the two of them alone in the room.
"Applicant No. 404, Luke, who passed this round of the hunter exam."
Chairman Netero began, his tone shifting to business, "I've learned a bit about you."
"Your strength is impressive, your abilities are remarkable, and some of your past deeds… have certainly caught my attention."
Without wasting time, Chairman Netero got straight to the point: "I've heard about the Hunter Chat Site matter."
"And later, about your involvement in the issue of the Two-headed Wolf's reproduction and the capture of the two Kute Gang of Thieves."
"Before you even became a hunter, you had already made remarkable contributions that many professional hunters can't achieve even in a lifetime."
"With all that, your name is already worthy of being recorded in the Hunter Association's history, in the rolls of honor for professional hunters, or even cited in academic works across the world."
At this point, Luke sensed there was more behind his words and asked directly, "Chairman, if you have something you want to say, please just say it. I prefer to get straight to the point."
"Is that so? Seems I've been spending too much time around Beans, I'm starting to talk in circles myself."
Chairman Netero said with a laugh, then continued bluntly: "I'm currently planning to form a high-level group within the Hunter Association, called Zodiacs."
"They will hold authority second only to myself as chairman, and their positions will be extremely high."
"My idea is to select twelve people that is exceptionally capable, upright in character, responsible, and determined to guide the association toward an even brighter future."
"All internal matters, big and small, will be handled jointly by these twelve people."
"In simpler terms."
Chairman Netero said while tucking his hands into his sleeves, "If I were ever to die unexpectedly, these twelve people would become the association's highest governing body and automatically succeed me as its leaders."
In short, they would be the most powerful group within the Hunter Association, second only to Chairman Netero himself.
"Sounds pretty good."
Luke nodded. "But chairman, if you're granting them such great authority, will the association even agree to it?"
"If I say they will agree, then they will agree."
Chairman Netero replied matter-of-factly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
He didn't seem the least bit embarrassed about turning the entire association into his personal domain.
"I see..."
Luke smiled, looking intrigued.
"Since they will have such high authority, surely it doesn't come without a price, right?"
"To become one of those twelve, there must be certain conditions or requirements?"
"That's right..."
Chairman Netero nodded seriously.
"Not just anyone can be included in this group."
"The most important things are personal strength and the ability to solve problems; both must be exceptional."
"As for how I intend to evaluate that..."
"As for ability, that naturally depends on achievements, who has contributed the most, accomplished the most, or done the most influential positive deeds."
"That naturally shows who's the most capable."
"After all, to gain such authority and join such a group, one must, as a professional hunter, accomplish deeds that are recognized and respected by others."
Those words made perfect sense, and the criteria regarding ability were indeed quite reasonable.
As for the aspect of strength…
"Judging one's strength is much simpler."
At this point, Chairman Netero finally revealed a smile. "Naturally, it will be up to me, the chairman of the Hunter Association, to properly evaluate that myself!"
"With my strength, of course, I can tell who's truly strong and who isn't!"
"Hohoho..."
At this point, Chairman Netero finally showed a hint of his fox's tail.
By saying he would evaluate their qualification, he really meant that those he took an interest in would get to spar with him.
In simple terms, it was just him finding people to play with.
Yes, in Chairman Netero's eyes, fighting someone was just another form of play.
And the stronger, more serious, and more ruthless his opponent was, the happier and more excited he became.
In fact, if someone truly possessed the power to kill him, he would actually face that death with joy and anticipation.
Chairman Netero had lived far too long in this world.
He had grown utterly bored with its dullness.
This twelve-member group he was forming under his authority was, in truth, just something to entertain himself when he got bored.
Nothing more.
"So, to become one of those twelve, one must have a match against you, chairman?"
Luke directly extracted the key point.
Influence and achievements, none of that mattered. It all came down to Chairman Netero's words anyway.
As long as one pleased him, those so-called achievements could easily be created later.
"That's right!"
Chairman Netero nodded slightly, his lofty demeanor fully displayed.
"To receive my guidance, to exchange blows with me, to earn the privilege of my instruction…"
"There are countless hunters in this association who want to experience."
"But only twelve people that catch my eye can be entrusted with great responsibility."
Chairman Netero spoke with such gravity and solemnity as if this were an important and sacred matter.
And indeed, in the end, the establishment of the Zodiac Twelves was a major event for the Hunter Association.
They would later play a significant role in administrative decisions, the association's operations, and the management of professional hunters.
The Zodiac Twelves truly had great authority.
However… The creation of this group was born purely from Chairman Netero's desire for amusement.
Even though, in the end, ten of the chosen twelve were indeed earnest, responsible, and devoted to their duties with sincere dedication…
Yes, ten.
Pariston Hill and Ging Freecss, the first and last of the Zodiacs, didn't exactly fit that mold.
"I see..."
Luke nodded in understanding. "Hearing you explain it like that, Chairman Netero, I get it now."
"Don't worry, chairman. If you're planning to establish such an organization…"
Luke raised both his hands high. "I'll absolutely support your decision with both hands and feet!"
"Is that so, Hohoho..."
Chairman Netero finally revealed a satisfied grin.
The hand stroking his beard sped up slightly, and his eyes began to gleam with anticipation and excitement.
"Well then..."
After speaking, Luke promptly stood up.
Chairman Netero leaned forward slightly, ready for what he assumed would be the fun sparring session to come.
However…