"That's not for sure." The old man pulled an H-manga over his face, his voice muffled. "In this world, it's very difficult to remain untainted, Zigg."
"Weren't you the one who was conned by that kid Netero back in the day?"
"I was a pure volunteer." Zigg's mouth twitched. He said no more, adjusting the legs of his glasses, glancing at the screen from time to time.
Half a day later.
The young man, hands in his pockets, followed by Tsubone, walked down the gangway and returned to Bato.
At that moment, the screen flashed. A familiar face appeared in Zigg's field of vision. Netero, swinging his wide sleeves, followed by Beans, who was holding a tray. On the tray were freshly bought fried chicken and fries, still steaming. Was he trying to bribe someone?
Zigg's expression was strange. He glanced at Maha, thinking, 'Don't tell me Father was actually right.'
He adjusted his glasses and looked closely. Suddenly, with a ZAP, the screen went to static. Just before it did, Zigg saw Netero stick his face right into the camera and make a funny face at him.
You could guess with your ass that Netero was the one who did it!
"Nice glasses. Let me play with them."
Padokia Republic, Capital Airport.
After waiting in the terminal for two hours, he finally saw Sean. Before Tsubone could react, Netero flashed to her side, snatched the monitoring glasses from her nose, and rubbed them in his hand, extinguishing the electronic arc on them.
Tsubone: "..."
She was angry but didn't dare show it. She placed her right hand on her chest and bowed to him. "Huyin greets the Chairman."
"Ho ho. You're polite. Not like someone who sees an old man and doesn't even know to say hello." Netero tossed the glasses back to Tsubone, looking at Sean with a smile.
Sean walked right past him, grabbed the fried chicken and fries Beans was holding, and began to eat without ceremony.
"I'm serious. You're an old man, stop being so passive-aggressive." Sucking a chicken wing clean, Sean grabbed a fry and crunched it. "You went to all this trouble to wait for me here. Just say what you want."
Once could be called a coincidence. Twice... that could only be called having ulterior motives.
"Sly brat. Just as sly as your grandfathers." Netero grabbed the cola Beans handed him and took a slurp, sighing as he held his waist. "I'm old. I can't stand for long before getting tired."
"Sean, pity this old man. Why don't we talk sitting down?"
Sean rolled his eyes at Netero. 'Old, and still drinking cola. Watch out for osteoporosis!'
He couldn't be bothered to snipe at Netero. Sean knew that if he didn't humor the old man today, he probably wouldn't be able to leave as easily as last time.
He simply picked a seat and sat down, waiting to see what crap he was about to spout.
"That's a good boy." Netero sat down next to Sean and got straight to the point, extending his right hand. "I don't like playing vague, roundabout games. I'll say it plainly right here."
"Sean, I want you to join the Hunter Association!"
'No wonder he had to disable the monitoring glasses. So this is what he was waiting for. Poaching someone in broad daylight?'
'Master, you have to see this!'
Tsubone, standing behind Sean, couldn't help but reach for the phone in her pocket.
"Sorry, my hands are greasy." Sean showed his oil-covered palms, rejecting Netero. This made her let out a sigh of relief, and she pulled her hand back.
"Is that so?" Netero pretended to glare angrily at Beans. "Can't you see our guest's hands are dirty? Why haven't you brought a napkin over to wipe them for him?"
"Huh?" Beans, having followed Netero for so long, had never heard the Chairman make such a request. His big, dark eyes widened. It was hard to tell if he was excited to see Master Ben An or just flabbergasted by Netero. His little brain fumed, and he just froze.
"What are you standing there for?"
"Ho ho. My subordinate is so thoughtless, what a laugh. Here, Sean, let this old man wipe them for you."
"Don't! I'll do it myself." 'This old man is too disgusting. Doesn't he know that sudden intimacy is frightening?'
Sean quickly stopped Netero, gaining a new, clear understanding of the old man's thick skin. He decided to just lay it all out. "Sorry, this kid is ignorant. I can't be a Hunter. You should find someone more worthy."
"You're being too modest, kid. At your current level, passing the Hunter Exam would be a piece of cake."
"But I don't have time to take the Hunter Exam."
"You do. If not this year, then next year. This old man can wait."
"I won't have time next year, either. I'll never have time."
"Sean!" Netero suddenly reached out and grabbed Sean's shoulder, his tone leaving no room for refusal. "Name your terms, child."
"As long as it's within a reasonable range, this old man will grant it. The condition is that you take the Hunter Exam and join the Hunter Association!"
"Ahem. Young Master, for something like this, shouldn't you consult with the Master?" Tsubone gave a dry cough, glancing cautiously at Netero.
Sean waved his hand. "My own business doesn't need his interference."
He squinted at Netero. "Old man, are you serious?"
"What if... I said, I want your heart. Would you give that too?"
The young man held up one finger and wagged it in front of Netero. "One chance to take the Hunter Exam in exchange for one lesson in Shingen-ryu."
"Otherwise, no deal."
Sean had long wanted to witness the power of the heart. Lacking any guidance, he had been fumbling in the dark on his own. Now that he'd run into Netero, he certainly wouldn't let this golden opportunity slip by!
"Deal." Netero was surprisingly straightforward, agreeing with a beaming smile.
Slap! Their hands clasped tightly. Sean smiled too. "Then let the show begin, old man."
"Honestly, I can't wait to see your Shingen-ryu."
"Right here?" Netero raised an eyebrow.
"Right here." Sean calmly pulled his hand free, spread his arms, and rested them on the back of the chair, watching Netero quietly.
Humanity's strongest fighter's lip quirked upward. "Gu ho ho. Very well. The Zoldyck family taught you how to kill, but they never asked for your opinion."
"Do you even want to kill? What kind of person do you plan to be? Let this old man take a peek!"
BZZZ An inexplicable aura spread out. Their eyes met. Sean suddenly felt his vision blur, and his body felt light. He was pulled into a boundless, empty, void-like space!
[Heartdrop: Kencho]!
A special sensory state that rejects all external interference!
In this state, no one can perceive the existence of "time" or "space"!
It strips away everything but the "heart"!
That's right! [Heartdrop: Kencho] is all about the clash of spirits!
Once in this void, all telepathy is infinitely amplified through the "heart" axis, helping the user to quickly understand and grasp the opponent's strategy and thoughts in an extremely short time, thus gaining a tactical advantage.
However, what Sean didn't expect was that Netero would play so big!
He wanted to see Sean's heart, that was true, but by the same token, his own, Netero's, was also being infinitely amplified!
'As humanity's strongest, what is your heart like?'
Sean, hands in his pockets, stared at Netero opposite him, a sharp light flickering in his eyes.