44 Chapter 41: Looming Shadows
Several weeks had passed since the conclusion of the Hunter Exam.
Gon and his companions set out on a journey to visit Killua in the Republic of Padokea.
Meanwhile, in an unfamiliar setting filled with people dressed in suits hurrying down the corridor, Beans guided a short, elderly man with gray-white hair and a long mustache.
They walked until they reached a door, where Beans knocked twice.
"Come in..."
A cheerful voice answered from inside.
Beans quietly swung the door open, gesturing for the elderly man to enter ahead.
"Please, Elder," he courteously invited.
The short old man chuckled as he entered, observing Beans with a nod of approval.
"You have a polite one here, Chairman," he remarked, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Ohohoho..."
Netero laughed jovially at the compliment.
"He's certainly top-notch in manners," he agreed, turning to face his guest with a warm smile.
"Are you in a rush, Zeno?"
"Alright, let's cut to the chase. I'm not keen on idle chatter, especially at my age. I prefer the comfort of my home..."
The elderly man, now identified as Zeno Zoldyck, said with a sigh.
His tone was firm as he addressed Netero.
Netero knew Zeno just completed a commission, but he didn't say anything as he gestured for Beans to leave them on their own.
Beans nodded in understanding before stepping back and closing the door behind him, leaving the two men alone for their discussion.
Standing outside, he patiently awaited their discussion, ready to assist if needed.
"Hmm, let's play one game of shogi..."
Netero pondered for a moment before changing his mind, "No, wait... Let's play chess instead."
With a swift movement, Netero retrieved a chessboard from his desk and set it over on the table.
"Take a seat..."
Taking a comfortable seat on the nearby sofa, he invited Zeno to join him.
"Did you really bring me here just for a game of chess?"
Zeno questioned, shaking his head as he took a seat across from Netero.
"Ohohoho..."
Netero chuckled in response, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
"..."
Understanding that he wouldn't receive a direct answer, Zeno sighed and decided to humor the Chairman of the Hunter Association.
They engaged in a game of chess, with Netero occasionally stroking his beard in thought.
After a while, the game concluded.
Zeno's expression soured slightly as he conceded the first game.
"Well, since we've started, why not make it a best of three?"
Netero chuckled heartily in agreement, "Of course, let's go for another round."
The two engaged in a second game.
But once again, Netero emerged victorious, much to Zeno's mild frustration.
"Hmmm..."
Netero then fell into a thoughtful silence as Zeno just slightly clicked his tongue, "Come on, spill it. Why did you ask me to come here?"
Netero chuckled softly, "Ohohoho, I just wanted to have a friendly game."
"You don't expect me to believe that, do you?"
"I just wanted to test if I can still outplay you."
"Sigh... I see... Well, you've always been the better player," Zeno frowned.
He felt slightly displeased.
"But... I just lost a game a few weeks ago."
Zeno's eyebrows shot up in surprise, "A sly old man like you lose? Has that kid returned from the other side?"
"No, it's not Ging. It's someone else..."
Netero shook his head, recalling that Ging was still somewhere exploring the world.
And he was referring to Raymond.
Although he did make some clumsy mistakes.
It was deliberate, as he noticed that Raymond's chess moves were so flawless that they were almost intimidating.
So, he purposely let himself lose.
"Oh?"
Zeno's surprise deepened, his earlier displeasure replaced with genuine curiosity about the young man who was able to outplay Netero.
"Who could it be?"
"...Ohohoho!"
Netero paused briefly in response to the question before breaking into laughter once more.
Regaining his usual jovial demeanor, he spoke with a chuckle, "There's some interesting activity in your home country. You might have the chance to encounter him there..."
"Hmm?"
Zeno frowned, understanding that Netero wouldn't joke about such matters. If it was deemed interesting by the old man, it meant there was real power behind it.
"Then, that young man was behind the movement?"
"Ohohoho, who knows."
"...I see."
Deep in thought, Zeno turned to Netero and asked with a serious tone, "Is he strong?"
"..."
Netero didn't respond, just smirking in a way that sent a chill down Zeno's spine.
"Hmm alright..."
Observing Netero's demeanor, it appeared that even though the young man in question was formidable...
Zeno could tell that Netero was confident in his ability to prevail should a clash arise.
Shaking his head slightly, Zeno rose from his seat and made his way to the door.
"If there's nothing more, I'll take my leave. I look forward to meeting this young man who bested you in chess. It should be interesting..."
"Ohoho, it's great to see you're still as healthy, Zeno..."
Netero chuckled warmly, but Zeno didn't respond, exiting the room.
As he left, Netero's jovial expression faded, replaced by a serious expression as his eyes gleamed.
Despite their connections, they struggled to gather intel on the situation in the Republic of Padokea.
Fortunately, a higher-ranking association member in the republic sensed some movement from Celestial Force that raised concerns.
Netero sighed, reflecting on Raymond's character and methods. He knew Raymond was a man of principle.
"...Let's hope it's nothing serious," Netero muttered quietly to himself.
In the bustling city of Padokea, a tall building bearing the Celestial Force logo stood prominently. A line of cars pulled up in front of it, each gleaming in the sunlight.
Sakujiro moved to open the door for Raymond, but Raymond beat him to it with a casual gesture.
"No need, I've got it," he said with a smile.
"Of course," Sakujiro replied respectfully, bowing slightly.
He then led Raymond toward the building entrance.
As Raymond walked through the building, employees respectfully stepped aside, nodding in acknowledgment.
Raymond returned their nods with a casual wave while ignoring their gaze on his head as an adorable giggles were heard across the corridor.
"Baba..."
Ignoring the playful babbling, Raymond continued on his way, heading towards a large meeting room.
Sakujiro held the door open for him, ushering him inside with a respectful gesture.
The room was filled with anticipation as Raymond entered, prompting everyone to rise from their seats and bow respectfully.
Taking his place at the head of the table, Raymond surveyed the room.
Rows of chairs stretched out before him, occupied by lower-level and key executives.
As Raymond settled into his seat, the attention of everyone in the room was drawn to a baby girl clinging to Raymond's head, her tiny hands tangled in his hair as she giggled playfully.
"Ray Ray..."
"..."
She adorably giggled while calling his name which prompted the room to fall into silence.
"Let's ignore my niece and focus on the matter at hand," Raymond said calmly.
He gently placed his niece on the desk before him while a man wearing thick glasses in a black suit entered the room.
With a wave of his hand, a barrier of Nen energy formed around the baby, creating a protective cocoon to shield her from the distractions of the upcoming meeting.
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