Chapter 160

Morin pulled out a chair and sat down next to Zeno.

Zeno, without a word, shifted slightly to the side, subtly increasing the distance between them.

"In my view, martial arts have levels, and strength has degrees," Netero began slowly. "In this world, many people are striving toward their respective goals."

"Our Hunter Association has always recognized and rewarded hunters within our ranks, but it's important not to overlook powerful Nen users outside the Association who have made significant contributions."

"So, to inspire Nen users worldwide to strive for greater heights, I intend to create a list of the World's Top Five Nen Users."

"The World's Top Five Nen Users?!"

The Zodiacs were momentarily stunned by the title, except for Botobai and Ging, who already knew of this plan and remained silent.

"Ah, so that's it!"

Cheadle turned toward Ging and Botobai, realization dawning on her.

"So the 'announcement' they mentioned was about this. That means Morin and Zeno were brought here for…" Cheadle's thoughts grew clearer.

Pariston's eyes briefly gleamed with intrigue before his expression returned to its usual calm.

"In short, the goal is to identify the five strongest Nen users in the world," Netero said, nodding slightly before pointing directly at himself with no hesitation.

"If we're selecting the strongest in the world, then this old man must claim one of those spots."

This self-praise, though brazen, left no room for objection.

After all, Netero was universally recognized as the strongest Nen user alive—an irrefutable fact.

Still…

The Zodiacs glanced at Zeno, then at Morin, their eyes glimmering with understanding.

Though they might not be geniuses, they weren't fools either. With Netero summoning Morin and Zeno and introducing the concept of the World's Top Five Nen Users, they quickly grasped his intentions.

"Besides myself, I've also identified two individuals within the Zodiacs who are worthy of this title," Netero continued.

At this, nine of the Zodiacs immediately turned their gazes toward Botobai.

Meanwhile, Botobai and Kastro both looked toward Ging.

As for Ging, he simply sat quietly, his expression unreadable.

"In my opinion, both Botobai and Ging fully deserve to hold this title," Netero declared.

There were no objections to Botobai.

His strength, experience, achievements, and demeanor were undeniable, making him the most uncontroversial candidate besides Netero himself.

Whether it was for the Zodiacs, the World's Top Five Nen Users, or any other title, Botobai was a perfect fit.

As for Ging…

After Botobai, the others turned their attention to Ging.

Though they remained silent, their acceptance was evident.

Ging might be eccentric and often infuriatingly unpredictable, but his brilliance was undeniable.

His exceptional talent spanned numerous fields, and his raw strength was formidable.

For the Zodiacs present, none could claim they could defeat Ging in a direct confrontation—not a single one.

Even Botobai, with his immense power, would not dare assert superiority over Ging.

After all, Ging's abilities had been personally acknowledged by Netero.

"Any objections?" Netero asked with a smile, observing the room.

Seeing no one speak, Netero continued cheerfully, "Then that settles three of the spots."

"The remaining two…"

Netero's gaze shifted to Morin and Zeno, prompting the others to follow suit.

"My chosen candidates are Morin and the Zoldyck family's representative."

He met the varied gazes of the room, now flickering with intrigue, and stated calmly, "Do you have any objections to their inclusion?"

The room fell silent.

The Zodiacs exchanged glances, some looking at Kastro, while others glanced at Biscuit, who was sitting on a nearby sofa, swinging her legs.

Ultimately, no one spoke.

Finally…

"As for the Zoldyck family's representative, we naturally have no objections," Pariston said, stepping forward with his usual warm smile.

"After all, the Zoldyck family has reigned as the world's top assassins for countless years. That reputation alone is more than sufficient to justify their place."

Cheadle and Mizaiastom subtly furrowed their brows, catching the implied message in Pariston's words.

Was he suggesting that Zeno's position was due more to the Zoldyck family's legacy than his personal strength?

Glancing at Zeno, they found him unbothered, calmly sipping his tea.

But in truth, Zeno's personal strength alone was enough to earn the Zodiacs' respect.

Even without exuding any aura, his mastery was evident to anyone with experience and insight.

Zeno's inclusion as the Zoldyck family's representative was unquestionable.

Actually, what the others didn't know was that this particular spot among the top five wasn't intended for Zeno.

Netero had only said "a strong member of the Zoldyck family" without explicitly naming anyone.

Zeno was well aware that he was just a stand-in.

The ones truly deserving of such a title were either his father or grandfather.

In this situation, Zeno was merely a middleman, a temporary representative.

"For the Top Five Nen Users, most of the spots are undisputed. It's just the final one…"

Pariston, with his signature warm and charming smile, radiated friendliness as he spoke:

"It seems we don't know much about Mr. Morin, do we?"

He turned to Morin, grinning.

"So far, all we know is that you are a disciple of Miss Biscuit"—he quickly corrected himself upon sensing Biscuit's menacing aura as he almost said "old"—"the mentor of Kastro, and a friend of Ging."

"Beyond that, we know nothing about where you're from, what you've accomplished, or any exceptional deeds you might have done."

"If we were to hastily include you in the World's Top Five Nen Users, it might raise some unnecessary doubts."

"Of course, I'm not saying you're unqualified," Pariston continued smoothly. "But this is a list personally curated by Chairman Netero, and if it were to be misunderstood, it could tarnish his reputation."

The atmosphere in the room grew noticeably tense.

Everyone shot subtle glances at Pariston, their expressions revealing that they weren't buying his seemingly innocent concern.

But Pariston, unfazed, maintained his gentle smile. "So…"

"So, are you saying you don't think I should be on the World's Top Five Nen Users list?" Morin interrupted, his tone calm.

"No, no, of course not!" Pariston quickly waved his hands, his smile growing even wider.

"If Chairman Netero placed you on this list, he must have had his reasons. It's clear you have some extraordinary qualities."

His expression was so sincere that it almost seemed he was genuinely advocating for both Morin and Netero.

"It's just that we know nothing about your identity, strength, or accomplishments. Could you perhaps share a little with us?"

At this point, Pariston's true intentions were clear—he wanted more information about Morin.

Morin, of course, saw through this instantly.

"Well, share a little? Sure," he said with a smile.

He began introducing himself:

"I'm Morin, a toolmaker."

"I was born in Meteor City, and my current occupation is…"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the room filled with the Hunter Association's elite, before breaking into a grin.

"…a member of the A-rank criminal group, the Phantom Troupe."

"For now, you could say I'm a criminal."

The room fell into stunned silence.

The revelation was staggering. Morin had just casually admitted, in front of the entire Hunter Association leadership, that he was part of one of the most notorious criminal organizations in the world.

Even seasoned Zodiacs like Kanzai and Cheadle, who prided themselves on their composure, were left wide-eyed and speechless.

As for Pariston, even he hadn't anticipated this twist. Though his face briefly betrayed his surprise, he quickly masked it with a chuckle.

"So, Mr. Morin, you're a member of the Phantom Troupe. Well, well…" Pariston said, his tone filled with intrigue. "That's certainly unexpected. A real wolf in sheep's clothing, huh?"

The other Zodiacs alternated between shock and disbelief as they stared at Morin.

They were taken aback by two things:

First, Morin's audacity. To openly admit, in such a formal setting, that he was a member of the Phantom Troupe—it was either incredible courage or sheer confidence. His words could easily be interpreted as a deliberate provocation, a blatant disregard for the Zodiacs.

Second, his identity. The Phantom Troupe was a band of thieves and criminals of the highest caliber.

After the destruction of the Kute Thieves, the Phantom Troupe's influence had risen dramatically.

Under Chrollo's leadership, their activities had intensified, with their hunt for treasures and artifacts related to the Dark Continent causing widespread chaos.

Members like Uvogin, Nobunaga, Feitan, and Phinks had also been wreaking havoc in various regions, leading to a significant increase in the group's threat level—from B-rank to A-rank.

But what stood out most was Morin's bold, unapologetic admission of his membership in such an infamous group.

In the presence of so many hunters, he had laid bare a fact that others would have gone to great lengths to conceal.

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