Chapter 156

Morin: "..."

Even though Ging had calmed down, his mouth was still as sharp as ever.

The commotion on the first floor of the Hunter Association was finally resolved.

After Morin left, the group gradually came to their senses.

They realized they had been manipulated.

But—

After glancing at one another's swollen and bruised faces, they silently agreed to keep quiet.

With the other party able to control their emotions and beat them so thoroughly, what could they possibly do?

After a few seconds of awkward silence, they pretended nothing had happened and dispersed.

Meanwhile, the other protagonist of the conflict, Ging, stepped into an elevator heading upward.

As he observed the [Peace Antenna] in Morin's hand, he was intrigued.

"Such a small thing can control our emotions and stop a fight?"

Ging clicked his tongue in amazement.

Considering the device even worked on him, its effectiveness was unquestionable.

After listening to Morin explain its effects, Ging couldn't help but imagine the waves this little gadget could create in the outside world.

Ging's mind raced with scenarios where the [Peace Antenna] could be applied globally.

Every time Morin revealed a new item, Ging would think about its potential uses.

Who knew—during their future journey to the Dark Continent, one of these seemingly inconspicuous tools might prove to be invaluable.

Unconsciously, Ging had already begun grouping Morin and his tools into the team he envisioned for the Dark Continent expedition.

As Ging pondered the possible applications of the [Peace Antenna], the elevator doors opened smoothly, arriving at the floor with the meeting room.

Room 163 was a massive conference hall.

Under Ging's guidance, the two quickly arrived at the room.

The hall was semicircular in design, with a central podium at the front. The seating area, shaped like a crescent moon, surrounded the podium.

The space was expansive, capable of accommodating nearly a thousand people.

This was the same venue where the election for the new Chairman was held in the original story.

At this moment, a handful of people were already present in the room, scattered in small groups.

Although this meeting to appoint members of the Zodiacs didn't require all Hunters to attend, many nearby Hunters still came to witness the event.

When Morin and Ging entered the room, several people instinctively glanced over.

Their gazes lingered on Morin for a moment before quickly shifting to Ging, locking onto him with unrelenting focus.

They didn't recognize Morin, but Ging, a frequent figure in the Association, was someone they knew all too well.

Especially after the publicity surrounding Ging's recent efforts to restore the ruins of Ruluka, which had garnered worldwide attention.

As a result, Ging naturally became the center of attention upon entering the room.

Morin, on the other hand, barely drew any notice.

Even those who did notice Morin and figured that anyone accompanying Ging must be significant couldn't place him.

No matter how hard they wracked their brains, Morin remained a complete mystery.

This made some people wonder:

"Who is this unfamiliar face? Is he even part of the Hunter Association?"

Of course, Morin wasn't a Hunter and didn't know anyone in the room.

After casually scanning the crowd, his gaze landed on a small figure waving enthusiastically at him.

A faint smile appeared on Morin's lips as he signaled to Ging before heading in that direction.

"Over here, over here!"

Biscuit Krueger waved cheerfully at Morin.

For someone as lively as Biscuit, there was no way she would miss such a bustling event at the Hunter Association.

"It's been years! You couldn't visit or even have a proper chat in person?"

When Morin approached, Biscuit initially beamed with joy but quickly adopted a pout, letting out a haughty huff.

Her attitude shifted again in an instant when Morin spoke.

"Long time no see, Biscuit-sensei. You're looking more beautiful than ever."

"What nonsense!!"

Biscuit's eyes twitched slightly, and she quickly covered her mouth with her hand.

"You always know how to flatter people! Sometimes you should learn to hide your emotions better."

Her reaction made Hunters Guild representative and observer Kastro swallow the words he was about to say.

Yes, he decided it was best to remain silent for now.

"Yes, yes, I got it," Morin replied with a chuckle as he sat down beside Biscuit.

He exchanged a glance with Kastro, nodding slightly in greeting.

"How's the preparation going?"

"Not bad," Kastro replied awkwardly. "I've done everything I could. The final outcome depends on Chairman Netero's arrangements."

"He's got a good chance," Biscuit interjected, patting him on the shoulder with more confidence than he had in himself.

"Although it seems like Chairman Netero picks the 12 Zodiacs based on personal feelings and preferences…"

"But when it comes to managing the operations of the Hunter Association, Chairman Netero will undoubtedly consult with Beans to ensure all aspects are considered," Biscuit said, snapping her fingers.

"For instance, it's already more or less decided that Cheadle and Botobai will join. They're a medical hunter and a terrorist hunter, respectively.

"The Hunter profession has numerous classifications, and Chairman Netero aims to cover all the main categories," she explained.

Indeed, in the original Zodiacs lineup, every member had a distinct specialization.

Aside from Pariston, whose profession was unclear, the rest had well-defined roles:

Mizaiya as a crime hunter,Kanzai as a treasure hunter,Piyon as an ancient text hunter,Gel as a poison hunter,Saccho as a troubles hunter,Ginta as an anti-poaching hunter,Cluck as a botany hunter, andGing as a ruins hunter.

"Right now, Kastro is positioned as a bounty hunter. From what I know, the only real threat in his field is that bounty hunter named Sayu."

Biscuit crossed her arms. "I've heard that Sayu is a martial artist whose Nen abilities are specifically developed for combat. He's quite a troublesome opponent."

Sayu? The mole planted in the Zodiacs by Pariston?

Morin recalled the information about Sayu:

Sayu was a bounty hunter and martial artist with a tall, slim build. His arms bore moon and star tattoos, and he was known for his uninhibited speech.

He resembled a monkey in his appearance and attire—complete with a staff that mimicked a Ruyi Jingu Bang (the weapon of Sun Wukong).

Sayu's Nen ability, "See Monkey, Hear Monkey, Speak Monkey," allowed him to summon three monkey-shaped Nen beasts. If they successfully struck their target, they could deprive the victim of sight, hearing, and speech, rendering them unable to activate or maintain their own abilities.

For Enhancement-type users, being struck would also disrupt their focus and expose their aura flow, making their movements highly predictable. In this state, Sayu would use his staff to overpower them.

This Nen ability, a combination of Enhancement, Emission, and Manipulation, was crafted purely for combat.

Later, during the expedition to the Dark Continent, Sayu would join the defense team, representing bounty hunters.

Currently, Sayu was Kastro's main competitor for a spot in the Zodiacs.

"I understand all that, but…" Morin turned to Biscuit. "Why do you call him 'Little Kastro'?"

"What's the problem?" Biscuit blinked her large, sparkling eyes innocently.

"He's my disciple's disciple, and I'm his grandmaster. Why can't I call him that?!" she said matter-of-factly.

"It's an affectionate nickname from an elder to a junior. Do you have a problem with that?"

Morin: "...No."

He glanced at Kastro, who twitched slightly and lowered his head in silent acceptance.

Clearly, he wasn't fond of the nickname either, but he didn't have much choice in the matter.

Morin continued chatting casually with Biscuit.

Although most of the Hunters in the room didn't recognize Morin, those who had encountered him before remembered him all too well.

"That guy's here too?!"

Kanzai, who had been lounging lazily with one arm draped over the back of his chair, snapped to attention upon seeing Morin. His dangling leg immediately dropped, and he subconsciously shrank back.

"Not him again…"

Cluck, who had been resting her chin on her hands in boredom, nearly slammed her head on the table when her elbow slipped after catching sight of Morin.

Just seeing him made her feel a dull ache in her chest.

"Why is he here…" Cluck muttered, her eye twitching.

Usually, she wouldn't even remember someone who injured her in a fight.

But Morin was different—both Kanzai and Botobai had also fallen at his hands. And since he was Biscuit's disciple, it was impossible for Cluck to forget him.

"Morin…"

Botobai, sitting upright with arms crossed, also glanced at Morin. His expression was serious, and his demeanor shifted noticeably.

The changes in Kanzai, Cluck, and Botobai didn't go unnoticed by those around them.

Following their line of sight, others spotted Morin, a handsome young man, chatting with Biscuit.

Kastro sat beside them, listening attentively with a respectful expression.

"That guy's pretty good-looking," some of them thought as their first impression.

"Wait… Isn't he the one Botobai and the others encountered during the Hunter Exam a few years ago? The one called Morin?"

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