The old men hiding behind the curtain completely ran out of drama to watch and started yawning out of boredom.
"Twisting wind into a whip, a natural characteristic. Even if it's just a superficial grasp, the power is extraordinary."
As Tsubone retreated, the perspective shifted. Netero took one last look at the wall Sean had cracked with a single whip, and removed his glasses with one hand.
"Does the brat know his stuff now?" Maha casually tossed his glasses onto the table and began chewing on a large piece of beef tongue. "Same as before: if you're envious, go have one yourself. Don't get any ideas about my Sean."
"People change, old man." Netero chuckled, looking at Maha meaningfully. "A child will always grow up one day. You can't keep him cooped up at home forever. What's more..."
The great Chairman stroked his white beard, saying confidently, "If this kid Sean chooses to join the Hunter Association himself, as the Chairman, could I possibly stop him from joining?"
"Heh. Only a kid like you would treat that broken association like a treasure." Maha scoffed. "My grandson has money if he wants it, people if he needs them, strength if he wants it, and backing if he needs it. The world is vast, where can't he go? Who'd covet that little privilege of yours."
Just as Maha said, for ninety-nine percent of Nen users in the world, joining the Hunter Association was a good choice.
But the Zoldycks, alone, didn't need it!
Silva and Zeno were living proof. They weren't Hunters, nor had they ever joined the Hunter Association, but who in the underworld didn't tremble in fear at the mention of their names?
"Heh. Forget it, forget it. We're all just old bones. Let's not argue over this trivial matter anymore." Zigg, trying to smooth things over in the middle, felt a headache coming on. He grabbed Netero and Maha, one on each side. "The kid is still young. When he's a bit older, if he really wants to go play at the Association, just let him go play."
"There is one point that needs attention, though." Zigg rubbed his ear, which was a little sore from his glasses. He said in a low voice, "I'm worried that Sean has been drawing too much manga and hasn't fought anyone in a long time. It'll be troublesome if he ends up suffering a loss."
"That girl and the priest in the church are both fairly accomplished Nen users. There's no guarantee that someone even stronger won't appear in that area."
"Father... you were a bit reckless letting him go down the mountain in the first place. You shouldn't have let Tsubone follow him alone."
"Life and death are ordained by fate, riches and honor are decreed by heaven." Maha wiped his mouth and picked up his H-manga, completely unconcerned. "If he really dies out there, it just means his own ability wasn't good enough."
'Oh? So cold-blooded this time.' Netero pouted. "Where's Silva?"
"Call him over. I've been here for half a day, and as the head of the Zoldyck family, he hasn't even shown his face. If word got out, it would be your Zoldyck family's face that's lost."
"Who could know?" The old man lay back on his rocking chair and whistled guiltily. "You all said it, when children grow up, you can't keep them cooped up at home. Silva's legs are on his own body. He doesn't need to report to a decrepit old man like me wherever he wants to go."
'So that's how it is.' Zigg smiled, letting out a visible sigh of relief.
He just knew his father would never fight a battle unprepared. With Silva following, nothing could go wrong.
Speak of the devil. The cabin door creaked open. Zeno, acting as part-time server, walked in through the dark, holding a phone in his hand.
"Grandfather, it's Silva on the phone. He says he has something to report to you."
Maha's mouth twitched. "Not answering."
He had just said Silva didn't need to report to him, and the call came right after. Wasn't this just slapping his face right in front of everyone?
The old man was furious when he saw Netero's smug, triumphant expression!
"Ho ho. If he doesn't answer, forget it. Zeno, give me the phone," Netero said, glancing at Maha with amusement and smiling at Zeno.
"Is it any of your business?!" The old man snorted coldly and hooked his hand. Before Zeno could pass the phone over, a Nen thread coiled out and snatched the phone in mid-air. "The dove occupying the magpie's nest. Brat, be careful people don't curse you for overstepping your bounds as a guest."
"Hello?" The call connected. Maha's brow immediately furrowed.
"What did you say? Louder. Can't hear you."
"I said, three old hands. Two have broken their Nen limit. One is suspected to be a second-level limit breaker. Do you want me to kill that second-level limit breaker in advance?" Silva's cold voice came through.
Netero and Zigg exchanged a look, both seeing in each other's eyes that this was no ordinary matter.
Meteor City, a place not even dogs would go, suddenly had a group of skilled Nen users pop up. Only a fool would believe there wasn't something going on behind the scenes!
"Anything else?" Maha was clearly also a bit surprised. He originally thought Sean's trip was just minor skirmish. From the looks of it, he might have actually run into a big fish!
"Yes... that guy who's suspected to be a second-level limit breaker looks a bit familiar. Let me think."
The other end of the line fell silent for a short while. After a moment, Silva's faint voice was heard, "I remember. I saw him at Ai-yi-yi's place."
'Ai-yi-yi?!' Netero's brow furrowed. Before Maha could reply, he jumped in and asked, "Are you sure, Silva?"
"What's wrong? Is there a problem?" Zigg noticed Netero's unusual reaction. There weren't many things that could make his old friend frown.
"I can't say it's a problem, only that it's very troublesome." Netero's tone was grave. "Ai-yi-yi has a very close relationship with the Kakin family's fourth prince."
"As the leader of the Kakin Empire's underworld forces, her second-level limit breaker is definitely no ordinary second-level limit breaker. If that kid Sean really has to face him, at best he'll be injured, at worst he'll die. There's absolutely no possibility of victory. Besides..."
Netero glanced at Zigg and Maha. "The Kakin family's fourth prince, Tserriednich... from what I've observed, he's just naturally evil. Ai-yi-yi appearing in Meteor City was likely at his instigation."
"Mm. I found quite a few little girls in their lair," Silva added from the other end.
A flash went through Netero's eyes, and he said with hatred, "That settles it. The thing Tserriednich loves to do most is destroy!"
"Destroy all beautiful things, and collect their remains as a collection."
'Rape and then kill?! What a dog-shit prince.' Maha peeked out from behind his H-manga and shot Netero a cold look. "Don't tell me, old man, that you knew nothing."
Netero was uncharacteristically silent. After a long moment, he finally let out a breath. "The higher-ups gave me a heads-up. Kakin is going to join the V5 in the future, becoming the V6."
"At this critical juncture, someone kept this from me... there's nothing I could do."
"Haha. Hahaha." Maha slapped his thigh and laughed loudly. "Right. Back then, Jed could die at your hands, so a few more dead children... it doesn't matter, does it."
"Father." Zigg shot Maha a subtle look, seeing that his old friend's face had already turned ashen.
Maha's smile abruptly vanished. He glared at him. "You shut up!"
He snatched up the phone and put it to his mouth. "Watch over those kids. Let Sean kill for me!"
"Damn it! A mere second-level limit breaker dares to posture in front of me? Cut off his head and send it to Kakin!"
"Doesn't Tserriednich like to collect things? Then send it to him! Let him have a good look at his collection!"