Tap-tap, tap-tap—
Chairman Netero paced in front of the long table in his tall wooden clogs. Every so often, he lifted his loose sleeves, picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote on a scroll.
In the blink of an eye, a piece of calligraphy took shape before him.
He set the brush on its stand, rubbed his hands together, raised his head, and asked, "So, the father and son have reconciled?"
"More or less." Gelman bent over to look at the fish in the large tank. Their scales shimmered, though he couldn't tell what species they were. "Ging invited Gon to investigate some ruins with him tomorrow."
"Oh-ho-ho!" Chairman Netero let out his trademark laugh and stroked his beard. "That's very Ging."
Gelman tapped the glass with his finger, making two clinks. The fish darted away, swimming behind the little artificial rock in the tank.
"Gon didn't object, but his friends—Killua, Leorio, Hanzo, and Pokkle—stood up for him together."
"Good friends." Chairman Netero nodded repeatedly, then smiled mischievously. "So how did Ging handle it?"
Gelman turned around and replied, "He said more or less what you would've said—'They're good friends,' and 'Gon wouldn't be where he is today without you.'"
"Cunning Ging. He knew the young ones would be too embarrassed to push the issue..."
"Exactly. And Gon didn't mind, either. He even spoke up for Ging, so that was the end of it."
"Mm. Where have they gone now?"
"They went to find Kurapika first," Gelman replied. "Kurapika's close to them, too, so they should see each other. I also asked Kurapika to take Leorio to meet Gido and Shubika."
"Leorio? Oh, right—I remember. He's the student of that fellow from Vanlin Medical University... Good. Furthering his studies with Gido and Shubika is a fine choice.