The identity of a Zodiacs' member could provide many conveniences.
That was why Ging had joined the Zodiacs back then.
Law now needed this identity too, not just for himself, but also for Netero.
Seeing Pariston intervene, Law actually had to thank him for proposing such a troublesome and demanding suggestion.
He wasn't afraid of bad things happening… he was afraid of things being doomed before they even started.
Given Netero's detached, hands-off attitude, if the Zodiacs really used a voting system to shut Law out, it might indeed become irreparable.
"I accept."
Law agreed to Pariston's proposal, reached out, and placed a hand on Botobai's severed arm.
It was unclear what Botobai thought. The arm had been taken out of the book by Law, but Botobai had closed the Aura Nodes on the arm and wasn't trying to control it, giving the impression he was determined to abandon it.
That severed arm on the table was an eyesore, but including Botobai, no one said anything.
Those who could sit here were far from ordinary.
Cheadle glanced at her colleagues around her. No one objected to Pariston's proposal, and she sighed softly in her heart.
It must be said, Pariston's proposal specifically designed to cause trouble had hit their soft spot.
'Such fun, how could they miss it?'
'Probably, that's what most people thought, right?'
Cheadle shifted her gaze to Law's calm face.
'Compared to straightforward bribery, gaining the acknowledgment of the colleagues present was a more difficult condition, wasn't it?'
Meeting everyone's gazes, Law said, "Who's first?"
As he spoke, he gave Ging a look.
The meaning was roughly: 'Hurry up and take the lead, show your stance.'
Seeing this, Ging put down his chopsticks and cooperatively raised his hand.
He had come specifically this time to help Law with this.
Everyone stared at Ging with drooping eyelids. Even without using their brains, they knew what Ging would do next.
"Praise me."
In front of everyone, Ging said his acknowledgment condition nonchalantly.
He didn't even try to hide it… he was blatantly going easy.
'Any shame...?!' The Zodiacs' members thought.
Law looked at Ging and said seriously, "You are very handsome."
"You noticed," Ging nodded. "Congratulations on passing."
'Congratulations, my foot!'
Cheadle and the others glared at the easygoing Ging with gritted teeth.
"First vote."
Law smiled, then abruptly looked at Ginta and asked, "Full?"
Ginta looked at the nearly empty plates, only stains left, and nodded honestly.
"Was it good?" Law continued.
Ginta nodded again.
"Good," Law smiled.
Ginta carefully glanced at his colleagues present, gave an awkward smile, and said, "I vote for Law too."
He didn't even give a test… he went straight to the essence.
Whether it was voting or acknowledgment, the rule of setting tests was inherently flawed, but the essence was still voting.
Ginta voted directly, giving Law a second vote, and the others had no objections.
"Second vote."
Law said, returned to his seat, picked up the arm on the table, and directly threw it to Botobai.
Botobai's brows furrowed. He raised a hand and caught the arm, looking calmly at Law.
"Arm returned. Whether you vote or not is up to you," Law said flatly.
Such a straightforward attitude left Botobai unsure how to respond.
He frowned in thought for a moment, glanced at the unconcerned Netero, and said solemnly, "I vote for you."
"Third vote."
Law smiled, then condensed a ball of completely harmless Nen in his palm and threw it towards Botobai's arm.
The Nen Ball held no ill intent. Botobai understood and let it land on the severed arm. Immediately, white light shimmered, and the arm was restored as good as new.
Retrieved something lost, yet it felt completely unjarring, as if the arm had always been there.
If Law hadn't helped him restore it, he had his own methods, just more troublesome.
Now, Law directly helped him restore it… this was giving him an easy way out.
Retrieving his arm, Botobai quietly looked at Law, his eyes unreadable, his thoughts unknown.
In just a short moment, Law had obtained three votes. With just three more, he could legitimately become the [Monkey] in the Zodiacs.
The fourth was Gel, the Snake, an old acquaintance of Law's.
She looked at Law and posed five poison questions of difficulty close to A-grade.
Law answered them one by one, clearly and logically.
Seeing Law answer, Gel remained expressionless, but her heart was in turmoil.
Among those five questions, four were known difficult problems, and one was a still-researched topic regarding the correct antidote sequence for the Black Date Worm. She hadn't expected Law to know it.
"Pass."
Gel said succinctly, memorizing Law's answers.
She wasn't entirely sure if the answer was correct, but it didn't affect her casting a vote.
In her opinion, Law probably wouldn't make something up.
Law's first three votes were obtained easily. With Gel's fourth vote, it was a real challenge.
"He actually answered them."
Everyone silently watched the calm Law.
'Two more votes...'
Kanzai, the Tiger, jumped out fifth, saying arrogantly, "Compare strength. If you can beat me, you pass."
"How?" Law looked at him.
Kanzai curled his lip. "Arm wrestling."
"Okay," Law smiled.
Ten seconds later, under everyone's attention, Kanzai lasted less than two seconds before Law crushed him.
Kanzai stared blankly at his arm pinned to the table, not yet processing it.
The reason he was stunned wasn't being defeated instantly, but that during the arm wrestling, Law actually had spare Nen to protect the table.
In that situation, even if unwilling, he had to concede.
"Tch, pass."
Kanzai scratched his head vigorously, looking slightly pained.
Whether it was Gel's theoretical questions or Kanzai's arm wrestling, the results were undoubtedly clear.
"Fifth vote."
Law looked at the remaining people.
'One more needed...'
Cheadle glanced at Pariston. The voting had reached its final moment. She thought Pariston would jump out to cause trouble, but Pariston just watched from the side, saying nothing.
Noticing Cheadle's gaze, Pariston suddenly smiled at her.
Cheadle saw this, heartlessly turned her gaze away, pretending not to see.
Mizaistom, the Ox, crossed his arms, acting like an outsider.
Pyon, the Rabbit, focused on playing with her phone, with no desire to participate.
Saccho, the Horse, couldn't think of a test, so he didn't speak. Moreover, with the vote count at five, he felt his intervention wouldn't make much difference and chose silence.
Cluck, the Chicken, propped her chin on her hand. Seeing no one in the room posing a sixth challenge, she grew impatient and casually said, "My requirement is simple: Play the second movement of Dickson's March at 2.5 times speed without any mistakes."
'This...!'
Everyone couldn't help but look at Cluck, thinking that her silence was fine, but once she opened her mouth, it was a death sentence.
However, one of Cluck's professional branches was Music Hunter. Her intention in giving a test was similar to Gel's.
"Dickson's second march? What instrument is it played on?" Law asked calmly.
If it was the harp, he could try to play it.
Cluck rolled her eyes and said casually, "Use whatever instrument you like."
The piece was suited for piano, and at 2.5 times speed, other instruments couldn't handle it.
So, Law's question was a bit stupid, and Cluck couldn't be bothered to answer.
"Is there sheet music?" Law continued.
"Huh?"
Cluck curled her lip. "You might as well give up."
She was clearly going for a final blow and didn't care about the rest.
"I don't want to give up," Law responded with a smile.
Cluck raised an eyebrow, motioned for Beans to bring paper and a pen, and directly wrote out the sheet music for the second march from memory.
Immediately after, Law had Beans prepare a harp.
If Kuro were awake, it wouldn't be so troublesome.
Soon, Beans brought a harp.
The others were watching the show. Cluck watched Law scanning the sheet music, thinking 'Why struggle? Just give up and find the next vote opportunity. There were already five votes anyway.'
Five minutes passed.
Law memorized the sheet music content, raised a hand, and placed it on the harp strings.
"Is he serious?" Cheadle thought silently.
The difficult problem Cluck posed was already outside her field. Anyone present would certainly fail.
"2.5 times speed..."
Law's hand slowly became enveloped in a layer of Nen, then without warning turned into a blur, sweeping across the harp strings.
His hand became a blur, hard to see clearly, while the harp strings vibrated rapidly, pouring out swift, urgent notes.
Hearing the performance that was correct step by step, Cluck was stunned.
Soon, the second march finished. Due to the 2.5 times speed and the instrument's unsuitability, the impact wasn't strong.
Except for Cluck, the others couldn't judge if Law passed, so they all looked at Cluck, only to see her complex expression mixed with surprise and astonishment.
Without waiting for Cluck to give the result, the others knew Law had probably passed.
A moment later, Cluck took a deep breath, looking at Law with a strange gaze, and said, "Pass."
"That's the sixth vote," Law released the harp.
Just then, Pariston clapped his hands and smiled. "Congratulations, congratulations. Now it's my turn."
"Huh?"
Everyone couldn't help but look at Pariston.
"What's wrong?"
Pariston said curiously, "It must be that everyone votes before it's considered over, right?"
That seemed to be the case.
Cheadle looked at Pariston, 'This guy... thought things weren't troublesome enough?'
Immediately, Cheadle directly stated her position, saying calmly, "I approve of him assuming the position of Monkey in the Zodiacs."
"Oh, that's seven votes then. Next, I'll give my test."
Pariston, however, ignored Cheadle and said unconcernedly, "When Zodiacs' members are appointed, the minimum is a Single-Star title. So my requirement is simple: just obtain a Single-Star title."
"Hmm, meaning as long as I don't obtain a Single-Star title, the voting isn't over?" Law hit the nail on the head.
"Correct," Pariston said seriously.
The other three who hadn't voted thought to themselves: 'Ruthless.'
This way, it seemed all Law's previous efforts were in vain. From the start, as long as Law obtained a Single-Star title, the matter would be settled.
But Pariston only brought it up after Law got the sixth vote...
Since it was already seven votes, the three who hadn't voted didn't hold back anymore, all expressing they would vote directly.
Thus, only Pariston's vote with the 'Single-Star condition' attached remained.
"Fine."
Law agreed.
One-star was relatively easy, it's just grinding some achievements.
Fortunately, it wasn't Double-Star… otherwise, where would he find a Single-Star disciple on short notice?
Ging glanced at Pariston.
'Based purely on verbal rules, if you seized on one point and didn't let go...'
'Then, with Law's hasty agreement, even if he had complaints, there was nowhere to voice them.'