After Hanzo left, the spiky-haired boy, Gon, came in.
He pushed the door open, his eyes clear and his steps light, completely unaffected by the oppressive atmosphere of the interview.
"Hello, Chairman!"
Gon greeted him loudly, then sat properly in the chair with both hands on his knees.
As Netero looked at the energetic boy, the smile at the corners of his eyes grew a little more genuine.
"Gon, don't be nervous. Just a routine question: who would you most like to fight?"
"Hehe." Gon scratched his head, barely hesitating.
"I can't beat him yet, but I want to challenge Hisoka most! And... actually, I'd really like to see what Number 81, Lin Yan, can do."
Gon's eyes sparkled as he gestured and spoke.
"He was amazing in that battle in the dining hall. The way he ate, it was like he was going to suck in an entire cow! But he seemed to be injured then, so we couldn't have a proper match."
"Oh?" Netero stroked his beard. "Then who would you least like to fight?"
"Killua!"
Gon answered without hesitation. "Because we're friends."
Simple, direct, without a single stray thought.
After Gon left, the atmosphere in the room changed abruptly.
No Nen pressure had been deliberately released, yet an inexplicable hint of dangerous unrest crept into the air.
Hisoka walked in.
His gait was casual, and he idly shuffled a deck of playing cards, the cards fluttering between his fingers without making a sound.
He approached the chair, but instead of sitting properly, he leaned sideways against its back.
Holding a queen of hearts between his slender fingers, he hid it against his lips and smiled meaningfully.
"Mr. Chairman ♦"
His voice was languid and resonant, rising slightly at the end. "You went out of your way to