HxH: I Will Be Supreme

A powerful yet mischievous voice echoed from the second floor corridor of the exhibition hall, "My, my, my... did I manage to startle you?"

"..."

Hearing that distinctive voice, Oboro's tense muscles instantly relaxed.

He knew that his strength hadn't reached the peak of the Hunter world, but he shouldn't be so weak that any random person could slip past his senses... At the very least, it should be impossible for ordinary hunters in the Association to fool his perception, except for those with highly specialized abilities.

Even someone of Bisky's caliber would have trouble pulling off such a feat.

But this person... was something else entirely.

Oboro turned to face the figure, who fell gracefully from the second floor and landed on the polished floor without a sound.

Isaac Netero, chairman of the Hunters' Association.

Everything about him was iconic - the traditional robe that had seen countless battles, the distinctive topknot that seemed to defy gravity, the elongated earlobes and eyebrows that spoke of endless years of meditation, and the wooden sandals that somehow never made a sound.

The old man seemed absolutely delighted with his "surprise", his eyes twinkling like a child's as he gauged Oboro's reaction, clearly proud of having caught him off guard.

"I never expected someone as insignificant as me to receive a personal welcome from the chairman of the Hunters' Association... Should I be honored or worried?" Oboro placed one hand on his hip, the other dramatically shielding his forehead as he let out an exaggerated sigh. After a pause, he added with mock concern, "Are you here to disqualify me from the test? There's really no need... There's no explicit rule that requires participation in the preliminaries."

Pure provocation, and they both knew it.

Wing had mentioned that Bisky had contacted the chairman, but Oboro hadn't taken it seriously at the time. The actual appearance of the old man here surprised him... It also meant that Netero had correctly predicted that he'd be the first to arrive at the test site.

"With your abilities, becoming a hunter is practically inevitable. If it were not for fairness to the other candidates and the potential controversy it might cause... I could give you a license right now." Netero stroked his beard, his smile never fading.

"Oh, I can be incredibly discreet!" 

Oboro took on his most serious expression and shamelessly extended his hand. "Just give it to me..."

Netero closed his eyes and feigned sudden deafness. "Young man... patience is a virtue. Rush to the goal too quickly and you lose the taste of life itself. It's a matter of enjoying the journey." He opened one eye and fixed Oboro with a knowing look. "Just like your Mafia efforts... A position as one of the Ten Dons would have robbed you of experiencing your own growth..."

*There's more to those words than you're letting on, old fox!

Oboro's lip curled up. "So... you came all this way to judge my motives? If you think I see the Hunters' Association and the Mafia as interchangeable tools for my ambitions..."

"Everyone has their reasons for becoming a hunter... Different goals are natural." Netero shook his head calmly. "My visit... stems purely from recent boredom... nothing more. Though Bisky keeps mentioning you in our conversations... so I thought I'd come and see for myself..."

Watching the old man casually tugging at his ear, Oboro felt completely speechless.

He knew exactly what kind of person he was dealing with and maintained an instinctive caution... The chairman's previous statement clearly concealed a deeper meaning, yet his follow-up seemed so genuinely casual... It was... impossible to get a real read on him.

*Truly annoying...*

"Ah..."

Netero blew on his little finger after removing it from his ear, then looked at Oboro as if he had suddenly remembered something important. "Did you misunderstand my intentions? Don't be so serious... Even if you want to use the Covenant for your own purposes, that's perfectly fine. I welcome such ambition... If you can actually do it, even better!"

"Tch."

Oboro showed his characteristic sign of annoyance.

That old man was... really annoying.

Netero typically acted like an overgrown child. The Twelve of the Zodiac, including even the wily Pariston, were essentially his "playmates," Bisky included. Playmates meaning... those who could entertain him with their schemes and struggles.

Oboro had absolutely no desire to become the old man's target before even officially joining the Association...

"Oh no! I just remembered something absolutely urgent... Thank you for coming all this way! I really have to go! We'll talk some other time..." The expression on his face suddenly changed and Oboro slapped his forehead in feigned concern.

He waved hastily and turned to make his strategic retreat.

The moment he turned, Netero materialized behind him with impossible speed. "My, my... What a rude young man. This old fellow came all this way just to see you... and you leave after barely exchanging words, leaving me here all alone..."

"You sound positively delighted... doesn't quite match your complaints..."

Oboro's eyes gleamed coldly behind his sunglasses as his aura rose in response to the threat.

For... the old man's "anger" was pure provocation, designed to elicit exactly this reaction...

In an instant, Oboro struck. A dark blur erupted as his arms moved like hardened steel rods, striking at Netero's position with devastating precision.

Not surprisingly, they hit nothing but displaced air...

His vision cleared to find his sunglasses missing - now perched on Netero's face as the Chairman playfully bounced back on one foot. "My... Not only neglecting a lonely old man, but willing to resort to violence..."

He adjusted the stolen glasses with theatrical flair. "How do they look? Do they suit my distinguished features?"

"Apparently there is no escape... I should have known you had ulterior motives from the start... Why not just admit that you came to test my abilities?" Missing the blow, Oboro stood perfectly still, methodically removing his cloak and rolling up his sleeves while releasing his aura to maximum intensity.

A sudden realization hit him like a bolt of lightning.

*Bisky set me up!

*That sly old woman!

This is pure revenge...*

Miles away, in a bustling shopping district, a certain blonde girl whistled happily as she browsed the storefronts, feeling inexplicably satisfied.

"Hehehe... I haven't had any real exercise in ages. My joints are getting stiff. It's so rare to find a promising youngster who can play with me, help loosen up these old bones... You wouldn't refuse an elder's simple request?" Netero shrugged dramatically, changing the subject with practiced ease. "Besides, aren't you enjoying this opportunity? Your expression gives you away completely..."

Indeed, despite his protests, Oboro's face betrayed unmistakable excitement and fighting spirit.

His expression completely contradicted his complaints.

"A rare opportunity to face the world's strongest Nen user in battle!"

Oboro moved forward step by step, his movements measured and deliberate.

"I'm getting old... Decades ago, I might have claimed this title without reservation... Not now. More and more exceptional young people like you appear every year, and eventually these old bones must pass the torch to the next generation."

For a moment, Netero's modesty seemed genuine.

Then his aura exploded and his voice turned into something ancient and terrible. "But first... you must prove yourself worthy to take it... If you cannot reach that level, then stay where you are! You ambitious youngsters are not the only ones with pride and dreams..."

Whoosh!

The answer came as a piercing sound and a flash of cold steel, Oboro's attack already in motion.