"Chairman, if there's nothing else..."
Luke said politely: "Then I'll be taking my leave."
"Mm, then you may… Huh?"
Chairman Netero instinctively began to respond, then immediately realized something was wrong.
"You're leaving?"
"Of course."
Luke replied naturally. "Didn't I just say I fully support your plan to form that group?"
"Don't worry, chairman. Even though I just became a professional hunter this year and only recently joined the association..."
"At least I am an official hunter now."
With a perfectly earnest face, Luke continued: "So when the time comes, if you need me to cast a vote in support, I'll absolutely, without hesitation, vote for you!"
Chairman Netero: "…"
You think this is a chairman election?! You're giving me your vote now?!
And since when do I need your support to start something like this?!
Also… that's clearly not what he meant!
Chairman Netero stared at Luke's righteously serious expression, his eyes turning into dead-fish eyes.
This guy was doing it on purpose.
He had to be doing it on purpose!
He clearly understood what he meant, and he's using that as an excuse to dodge it?!
"Oh, right, chairman."
Luke kept going. "Where do I claim my hunter license? From that, Mr. Beans, who brought me in earlier?"
"The hunter license can wait."
Chairman Netero waved his hand. "It's not going to grow legs and run away; it will reach you soon enough."
"That's good."
Luke let out a playful sigh of relief.
"I thought you might find some excuse not to hand it over, like saying I didn't meet your expectations or you didn't like me, something like that."
Chairman Netero: "..."
"Hohoho, how could that be?"
Chairman Netero's eyes stayed fixed on Luke's face. "Would I ever do such a thing?"
He actually predicted all of his movements.
This guy definitely came prepared!
And… He was pretending to be clueless on purpose!
As expected, this man, who calls himself an inventor and someone who can mingle with freaks like Ging Freecss and Ickshonpe, is a troublesome and formidable character himself!
"Well then, I won't keep you guessing any longer."
Thinking of this, Chairman Netero simply spoke directly: "I'll just be frank."
"With your strength and ability, I believe you're fully qualified to serve as one of the members of the Zodiacs."
"Not to mention your previous achievements."
"If you're willing to join, your past merits and influence will naturally be recognized and promoted by the Hunter Association."
"In other words..."
Chairman Netero coaxed: "All it takes is a nod from you, and fame and fortune will be yours for the taking."
"You could say it's a free windfall. Why would you refuse?"
"That's true, it all sounds very tempting..."
Luke nodded in agreement. "It's me who would be gaining all the benefits."
"But..."
Luke smiled lightly and shook his head. "Precisely because of that, I can't accept or agree."
"I've always believed in one saying."
"All gifts from fate are already secretly marked with their price."
"On the surface, all I'd need to do is nod and have a friendly exchange with you, chairman, to gain such rewards."
"But I know that once I sink into that mire, I'll never get free again."
"The Hunter Association may seem like it's entirely under your control, Chairman, but the V5 standing behind you wouldn't see it that way."
"If one day an order comes from the V5, instructing the Zodiacs to do something they don't want to do..."
"Tell me, would they have to do it or not?"
Luke calmly gave his answer to this rather serious question: "As for me, if something goes against my beliefs, I won't force myself to comply."
"I have no intention of becoming a tool they can command or manipulate at will."
"So rather than have things turn ugly later, it's better not to join in the first place."
Luke spoke his reasoning lightly.
Of course, there was one more thought he kept to himself, 'I also don't want to become a toy for you to play with when you're bored, chairman.'
Yes, Chairman Netero still cared about his dignity.
Better not to say that part out loud…
As for Chairman Netero, "Hohoho, is that so?"
He suddenly laughed. "I see. Your thinking is indeed different from that of the hunters I've met before."
"Or perhaps, as expected of someone from Meteor City, your ideas and principles are truly unique."
"We accept anything you leave here, but don't try to take anything from us. Is that what you mean?"
"You've gone beyond the usual mindset of ordinary hunters, already looking toward the distant V5?"
"So in your hearts, the ideals and principles you cling to, even the V5 cannot take them away and change your will, is that it?"
"It seems this old man still has much to learn from you."
"Hohoho!"
Luke wasn't surprised that Chairman Netero knew he came from Meteor City.
There were only a few hundred professional hunters in total.
And each year, only a handful of applicants passed the exam, sometimes none at all.
Under such circumstances, it would be strange if the association didn't do background checks.
Not to mention, in this world, there were all sorts of bizarre Nen abilities.
Investigating someone's identity and origins wasn't difficult at all, especially for someone of Chairman Netero's level.
To him, there were almost no secrets left in this world.
"The former chairman of the Mom's Help Foundation, Risnorth, his death was your doing, wasn't it?"
Chairman Netero's tone returned to calm.
"And now, you've formed a group and started moving out into the world."
"I believe it's called..."
"The Phantom Troupe… Correct?"
Chairman Netero spoke faintly, but his tone carried full certainty. "Your companions have done many troublesome things."
"Especially that one called Uvogin, and Feitan. The bloodlust those two carry is no ordinary matter."
"The association is already preparing to evaluate the level of threat they pose."
As the members of the Phantom Troupe scattered across the world, their individual flaws naturally began to surface.
Or rather, being born and raised in Meteor City, their values and worldview were bound to differ greatly from those of normal society.
Some of them might still be tolerable.
But Uvogin, reckless, defiant, always eager for a fight, and Feitan, quick to anger and quicker to kill, those two were the most likely to stir up serious trouble in the world.