Chaper 154

He had always been advancing toward this goal until he met Morin.

"With your tools, I feel like nothing is difficult anymore," Ging said with a knowing smile.

"Even venturing to some extreme locations doesn't seem like a problem at all."

Morin's tools often exceeded Ging's expectations. Some of them even seemed specifically designed for exploring the Dark Continent.

Although the designated cards in Greed Island also had extraordinary effects, their usability outside the game came with extremely restrictive conditions.

In contrast, Morin's tools only consumed aura and nen, making them far more practical.

"After the Ruluka Ruins were restored, the chairman gave me a call," Ging said, leisurely chewing on a blade of grass.

"He's planning to create a new organization called the Twelve Zodiac with twelve members."

"The first confirmed member chosen by Chairman Netero is Pariston. That guy has already taken a seat."

"Pariston?" Razor interjected. "You mean the vice-chairman of the Hunter Association?"

"He's only acting vice-chairman for now, but he's not far from formally taking the position," Ging replied.

According to the timeline, Pariston officially became vice-chairman three years before the story began, in 1996. However, it seemed he had already started acting in the role.

At this point, Pariston was only eighteen years old, just having reached adulthood. By the time of the chairman election, he would be twenty-five.

"The chairman wants me to join the group, partly to act as a counterbalance to that guy," Ging continued.

"Though I suspect the chairman also enjoys having the type of opponent he's least comfortable dealing with around for entertainment."

"That said, he's also well aware that if Pariston is left unchecked, the Hunter Association could either fall apart or become his personal playground."

"Aside from me, the chairman has already decided on Cheadle and Botobai as members. The other spots are still under consideration."

Ging shared everything he knew. Overall, the structure was close to the original composition of the Twelve Zodiac.

"So, what's your take on it?"

Morin pulled out the Gourmet Tablecloth, filling the table with a spread of fine food and drinks.

"The conditions the chairman offered are pretty good," Ging said with a grin, taking a seat at the table and digging into the feast. Clearly, he had already decided to become a member of the Twelve Zodiac.

"The final list of members will probably be decided in about a week."

"A week? That soon?" Razor remarked, sipping from a glass of wine.

"The whole process is being handled by the chairman. He decides who gets in—no complicated selection process," Ging said through a mouthful of food.

"Pariston wanted a voting system to select members, but the chairman shut that down immediately.

"If voting were involved, half the Zodiac would probably end up being Pariston's people."

Even without a vote, Netero's selections weren't immune to Pariston's manipulations. Morin thought of Saiyu, the Monkey of the original Zodiac, who had been planted by Pariston as a mole.

As the chairman of the Hunter Association and founder of the world's strongest martial arts school, Shingen-ryu, Netero held unparalleled prestige.

His decisions were beyond reproach, and no one dared question the members he selected. Only someone with Netero's level of influence could unilaterally resolve such a complex matter.

"Once the members are finalized in a week, the list will be publicly announced."

Ging swallowed a piece of Dongpo pork and added, "You should come along with me then, Morin."

"Huh? Why?"

Morin raised an eyebrow at Ging. "I'm not even a Hunter. What's the point of me going?"

"Your apprentice, Kastro, is on the selection list, isn't he?" Ging said casually, sipping a bowl of soup.

"Your apprentice is about to join the Hunter Association's upper ranks. Aren't you going to cheer him on?"

Morin simply stared at Ging without replying.

"Alright, fine. I'll be honest."

Ging sighed, putting down the sausage he was about to eat and raising his hand in surrender.

"The chairman specifically asked me to bring you along."

"For what reason?" Morin asked directly.

"Well, besides the Zodiac selection, the chairman is planning another evaluation."

So this was the higher-level, more secretive evaluation Biscuit had mentioned.

"What kind of evaluation?" Morin's eyes glinted slightly.

"An evaluation of nen users," Ging said, chewing on another piece of sausage before continuing.

"If the Twelve Zodiac is meant to select people to manage the Association's operations internally..."

"Then this evaluation of nen users is aimed at the world at large."

After swallowing a bite of sweet and sour squirrel fish, Ging spoke seriously, enunciating each word clearly:

"The chairman plans to identify the World's Top Five Nen Users."

"The so-called World's Five Strongest."

The World's Top Five Nen Users, as the name suggests, are the top five nen users globally.

Given the exceptional power of nen users, being ranked among the top five was incredibly challenging. Only those with unparalleled strength could achieve such a distinction.

Although this wasn't as formalized as the Twelve Zodiac selection, the list of five was essentially defined by Netero himself.

While the World's Top Five wasn't as well-known as the Twelve Zodiac among the general public, among Hunters, awareness of these five was considered basic world knowledge.

As the saying goes, "In literature, there is no definitive first place, but in martial arts, there is no second."

If the Twelve Zodiac represents status and reputation, then the World's Five Nen Masters represent pure, undeniable strength.

If anyone else attempted to create a list of the so-called strongest individuals, it would spark endless debate, with everyone proposing their own preferred candidates.

But if the list comes from Netero—the world's strongest man and nen user—then his personal recognition of the Five Strongest becomes indisputable.

The concept of the World's Five Nen Masters was first introduced by Netero himself.

In the Greed Island arc, Biscuit mentioned the concept to Killua and Gon after hearing Ging's name, explaining this legendary group within the Hunter world.

This ranking wasn't supported by data or achievements. It was purely Netero's personal judgment of the five strongest nen users.

Even so, this was enough to demonstrate the weight and credibility of the list.

Morin didn't feel particularly moved by Netero's selection. Instead, he quipped,

"Isn't handling both the Twelve Zodiac selection and confirming the 'Five Strongest' a bit too much for Netero?"

"Is that something you need to worry about?" Ging retorted, slurping a bowl of Yi noodles.

"That's how it is. The old man asked me to bring you along. I've passed on the message and done my part."

"So, whether you go or not is up to you."

"Do you want to go or not?" Ging asked, finishing his noodles and reaching for a bowl of white soup.

"Pfft!"

He took one sip before spitting it out immediately.

"What is this stuff?!"

"It's mung bean soup," Morin replied calmly. "Made from green beans. It cools you down and is good for your health."

"It tastes like my dirty socks soaked in water for three days!" Ging wiped his mouth, utterly repulsed.

"I absolutely can't get used to this stuff."

"Yeah... I can't drink it either," Morin admitted.

"Then why did you give it to me?!"

The two bickered a bit longer before they polished off all the food—except the mung bean soup.

"So, what's your decision? Are you coming with me?" Ging asked formally.

"Hmm..."

Morin thought seriously for a moment before nodding.

"I've never been to the Hunter Association," he said with a smile. "Might as well go."

The Twelve Zodiac selection meant that if Kastro secured a position, someone from the original list would have to be replaced.

Given how the trajectory of fate had already shifted, Morin suspected unexpected changes might arise. It would be worth going to see what unfolds.

Additionally, he was genuinely curious about the World's Five Nen Masters and who they might be.

After Netero's death, this list was never mentioned again.

The Five Nen Masters were undoubtedly the five strongest people in the world.

Netero's place on the list was unquestionable, as was Ging's.

Morin speculated that Botobai would likely secure a spot. As one of the closest in both strength and reputation to Chairman Netero, Botobai was undoubtedly among the Association's elite.

In fact, if not for Ging's existence, Botobai would be considered the second strongest in the Association.

Beyond that, the Zoldyck family was a strong contender. Either Maha or Zigg would likely take a place.

Maha's power was legendary, and Zigg, in his youth, had been recognized by Netero and accompanied him on an expedition to the Dark Continent.

As for the final candidate...

"Beyond, huh..."

Morin thought of Beyond Netero, Netero's son, who had made a pact with him to only travel to the Dark Continent after his death.

Beyond Netero.

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