NenMaster
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Chapter 130
🕑 Added 2024-12-29 15:39:12 +0000 UTCIn fact there was someone else who sneaked in undetected, though no evidence was ever found.
This man’s name is Beyond Netero.
He’s the son of Chairman Netero.
“By the way…”
As if suddenly remembering something, Netero turned to Beans.
“Beans?”
“Ah, oh, I’m here! Please speak!”
Beans snapped out of his daze, quickly putting on a serious expression to appear professional and attentive.
“What about Pariston? Didn’t he try to go inside and take a look?”
Netero was rather curious about this point.
“Yes, Vice Chairman Pariston did indeed attempt to use his position to enter the archives and inspect if any documents were missing,” Beans replied, as knowledgeable about the association’s internal affairs as ever. “However, he was met with strong opposition from both Botobai and Cheadle.”
“They vehemently refused to allow Vice Chairman Pariston to enter. Reportedly, Mr. Botobai’s reaction was the most intense—he even used Nen abilities right at the door of the archives.”
“Thus, Vice Chairman Pariston had to give up.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
Netero smiled. “I didn’t expect Botobai to care so much about those things.”
“Well, to him, it’s practically a sacred place. He hasn’t even been inside yet himself, so naturally, he wouldn’t let Pariston get there first.”
“Though some of those training insights are indeed useful, most of them are old-fashioned. Of course, if someone with enough dedication were to study them carefully, they might still learn something worthwhile.”
Old-fashioned training insights?
They were clearly very valuable! Back in the day, Chairman Netero himself frequently visited the archives.
It was precisely because Mr. Botobai knew what was inside that he became so incensed at Pariston.
Beans silently thought to himself:
“No matter how old-fashioned they may seem, they are certainly far better than stumbling around in the dark on your own. It’s fine if those materials end up in the hands of someone kind-hearted, but…”
“If someone malicious or reckless were to get hold of them, that could be quite dangerous.”
In Netero’s mind, scenes from the Hunter Exam replayed—the assessments of Kastro and Shalnark.
Kastro wasn’t a problem, but that Shalnark...?
Netero, having lived for so many years, had a sharp eye for people.
Naturally, he saw through Shalnark’s essence at a glance and could even roughly guess where he came from.
“He should be from Meteor City. People from there are used to living without laws or restrictions.”
Netero spoke as he placed some classified documents from his private archive onto the table in neat rows.
Those documents contained detailed personal information and photographs—Pariston, Botobai, Mizaistrom, Kanzai…
All of them were key figures currently making waves within the Hunter Association.
“I’ll keep Kastro’s file here for now. As for Shalnark, let’s put him aside.”
Having lived for a century or so, Netero had long let go of distinctions between good and evil.
He personally didn’t care about such things—he even maintained friendly relations with the Zoldyck family of assassins. During his trips to the Dark Continent, he traveled with Zigg Zoldyck and had even held a baby Zeno Zoldyck.
Whether Shalnark was from Meteor City or not, whether he was a righteous light-bringer or a shadowy harbinger of destruction—it didn’t matter to him.
However, as Chairman of the Hunter Association, when considering the organization’s interests, he would not prioritize someone with Shalnark’s personality for special training.
Beans timely handed over Kastro’s file so Netero could place his photo and records alongside Pariston, Mizaistrom, and the others.
From a broad view, most of the individuals in this folder were the familiar faces who would later form the Zodiacs.
“I also heard that Kastro asked about Biscuit, is that true?”
Netero seemed to have dug this information out of his memory.
“Is that so?”
Beans was stunned. “I hadn’t heard about that.”
“Hohoho, I think so. That kid must have some connection to Biscuit.”
Netero tugged at one of his unruly mustache hairs and pulled it outward.
“However, Biscuit has been active in the Republic of Bartoria lately.”
Beans reported what he knew. “And Kastro is from the Yorubian Continent, so he shouldn’t have crossed paths with her.”
“They wouldn’t have met directly, but…”
A gleam flashed in Netero’s eyes. “I recall Biscuit’s last disciple was also from the Yorubian Continent.”
“That’s true.”
Recalling the Hunter Exam a few years prior, Beans nodded in confirmation. He remembered that event vividly.
That same Morin injured Cluck and Kanzai (who stubbornly claimed he had hurt himself) and took down Botobai.
He later withdrew from the Hunter Exam for seemingly whimsical reasons, infuriating Biscuit.
What stood out most was his Nen ability—an array of tools with magical effects.
Though he hadn’t met Morin in person and had only seen a photo from the exam, he recalled Morin using highly effective tools during conversations with Biscuit, leaving quite the impression.
Especially at the end, Morin even sent over the prized Age Spring, which Biscuit valued immensely—something even Netero himself hadn’t been allowed to have.
Later, Netero persistently pestered Biscuit until she begrudgingly handed him a single glass.
After drinking it, Netero clicked his tongue in amazement:
“I actually got one year younger.”
It was just one year, and Beans couldn’t see any difference, but Netero’s excitement revealed that this Age Spring likely did have miraculous rejuvenating effects.
Beans had secretly worked to locate this Morin for Netero’s sake.
Unfortunately…
No matter how he searched, it was as if Morin had vanished into thin air.
(At that time, Morin was secluded on the game island Greed Island, training Kastro alongside Ging.)
Beans began researching Morin’s background, but there was nothing—no records whatsoever, as if this person had appeared out of nowhere.
The only explanation was that Morin came from Meteor City.
People from Meteor City had no official identity and no recorded past.
Wait—Meteor City?!
A sudden realization struck Beans like a bolt of lightning.
“Kastro and Shalnark both follow Shingen-Ryu training. Kastro has a mentor-student relationship with Morin, and Morin, like Shalnark, comes from Meteor City…”
“Does this mean Morin serves as the link connecting Kastro and Shalnark?”
Beans speculated internally.
By then, Netero had already organized Kastro’s documents and resealed the folder.
“It still feels like something is missing…”
Looking at the folder cover—decorated with a doodle of his old man’s face—Netero pondered briefly.
Then, raising an eyebrow, he picked up a brush and began to write.
“Done!”
After a flourish of strokes, Netero set the brush down and nodded contentedly at his work.
“What is it?”
Beans curiously glanced over.
“Playmates for leisure time…”
The bright, bold characters made a bead of sweat slide down Beans’ smooth, hairless face.
“That’s definitely something the Chairman would say…”
Beans silently held his tongue while inwardly mourning for the individuals inside that folder.
If the Chairman “valued” them this much, then their future would undoubtedly be… colorful.
Just then, the phone rang in the office.
Netero retrieved a special phone from his pocket, glanced at the number, and cleared his throat.
Click.
“This is Netero from the Hunter Association.”
The line was silent for a moment before a voice on the other end said:
“Are you aware of the Mosibia Palace bloodshed incident from a year ago?”
“I am. Didn’t they say it was caused by the royal treasure, the crown of Mosibia? It disappeared afterward, leaving behind many strange rumors.”
Netero nodded knowingly.
That incident involved too many high-profile individuals.
Both the Hunter Association and V5 sent experts to investigate and concluded:
“They were killed.”
While the Hunter Association and V5 knew this, they didn’t publicly disclose it.
After all, publicly stating that nobles were murdered would only humiliate the aristocracy, burden the association and V5 with the task of catching the perpetrator, and open them to criticism—far too much trouble.
Declaring it an “accident” was easier and far more palatable.
But the matter wasn’t truly over.
Among the dead was Chograma, an important member of V5’s Navigation Bureau—an organization deeply tied to the Dark Continent.
After a year of searches, investigations, and tracking down capable Nen users, V5 had finally found the culprit.
“The Phantom Troupe, huh?”
