A fight that escalated from a brawl to a life-or-death struggle ended before everyone's eyes.
An unexpected beginning.
A heart-stopping process.
A not-surprising result.
This battle would likely be deeply etched into the hearts of all spectators.
Setting aside other aspects, when Netero's 100-Type Guanyin unleashed those storm-like palm strikes, putting themselves in that situation would only result in seeing darkness.
Yet they saw Law use only one hand to make 100-Type Guanyin's attacks turn into self-restraint.
To quickly get Netero treatment, they didn't linger long.
That night, a suburban villa.
This was one of Morel's properties.
In the city where the Association was located, basically every higher-ranked Hunter would own a property here.
Morel was certainly no exception.
Apart from Salin and Bruna, who returned to the Lawlin Museum earlier, the previous spectators remained at Morel's house.
In the spacious, somewhat European-style living room, everyone sat scattered.
Ging stared at the door, waiting for someone's arrival.
Soon, the doorbell rang from the entrance.
As the host, Morel didn't get up. Shoot, without Morel's instruction, rose first and headed towards the door.
He reached the entrance hall and directly opened the door, seeing Shiro with a large vermilion pipe in his mouth.
"Please come in."
Shoot knew Shiro's identity and politely stepped aside.
Shiro nodded slightly, satisfied with Shoot's respectful demeanor.
'This was the attitude juniors should have towards seniors… natural and proper.'
Shiro passed Shoot, walking into the house.
He passed through the entrance hall, entered the living room, saw everyone sitting there. Without staring at anyone in particular, as his gaze shifted, he said, "Lead the way."
If not for Ging calling him here, as long as the injuries weren't life-threatening, he wouldn't have made a special trip.
Morel hurriedly stood up, but Ging pressed his hand on Morel's shoulder, pushing him back down, then said, "I'll take Shiro."
"Okay." Seeing this, Morel could only agree.
Ging led Shiro upstairs.
A moment later, Law stood up, saying to Machi and the others, "I'll go up and take a look."
Having said that, he walked directly towards the stairs leading to the second floor.
Reaching the second floor, he saw Ging standing outside the door.
Shiro's treatment didn't show immediate results, meaning this time Shiro didn't draw the jackpot. Probably another time-consuming and patience-testing treatment.
Ging watched Law approach and asked, "Have you contacted Beyond yet?"
Law came to Ging's side, leaning against the wall like Ging, shaking his head. "No, a few days earlier or later are the same."
"True."
Both fell silent, the corridor grew quiet.
With their hearing, they could listen to sounds in the room anytime.
But they didn't. Both looked up at the light fixture on the corridor ceiling, saying nothing.
"Let me try."
After a long while, Law suddenly said.
"What?"
"Persuade Shiro."
"Okay."
Ging agreed extremely straightforwardly, then walked towards the stairs at the corridor's end, waving back at Law without looking. "Then I'll leave this to you."
"Where are you going?" Law asked.
"Drinking."
"Alone?"
"Yeah, I want some peace and quiet."
Law didn't speak further, watching Ging's back.
About five steps from the stairs, Ging stopped, hands in pockets, turning back to meet Law's calm gaze. "Aren't you curious at all?"
"Curious?"
Law raised an eyebrow.
'Curious why you suddenly seem a bit melancholic? And want to drink alone?'
Law considered seriously, then asked seriously, "Don't tell me, I really am a bit curious: who's the 'peace and quiet' you just mentioned? Why do you miss her? Drinking alone because she dumped you?"
"..."
Ging looked carefully at Law's expression, confirmed Law was serious, then slightly shook his head.
Seriously spouting nonsense.
This conversation can't continue.
Ging simply turned back, continuing towards the stairs.
Netero's attitude today touched something deep within him.
Then, Cheadle, wearing a light green floral dress, came upstairs.
She glanced at Ging nearby, then at Law not far away, pushed up her glasses, and stood to the side.
She had heard the entire boring conversation word for word.
Ging merely nodded at Cheadle as a greeting, then went downstairs.
Cheadle watched Ging go down to the first floor, then walked towards Law.
She knew about Netero's condition and what happened today, hence coming here.
Also, she knew Shiro was treating Netero, so there wasn't much to worry about.
"The Chairman was too reckless."
Looking at the closed door, Cheadle couldn't help but sigh.
"Hasn't he always been like that?" Law said.
"Can't refute that." Cheadle gave a bitter smile. Actually, she wanted to say Netero was always reckless but kept refreshing the upper limit of their perception.
Like this time: now was the critical moment of the moderate faction and reform faction's confrontation. Netero, as the core, not only didn't oversee things but went to fight Law. It's really reckless!
"How's the Association's current situation?" Law hadn't kept up with the Association's movements, so he didn't know whether the moderate faction or the hawkish faction had the upper hand.
"Suppressed. If nothing unexpected happens, they lost," Cheadle replied.
"That's good." Law nodded slightly.
"But..." A shadow lingered deep in Cheadle's eyes.
"What?" Law looked at Cheadle.
Cheadle bit her thumb, saying gravely, "Although the situation is good now, during this period, Pariston has been too quiet. So quiet it feels abnormal to me."
"Even if he has hidden moves, you should still press forward with momentum," Law said.
"Yes, you're right." Cheadle looked up, met Law's deep, calm eyes, and subconsciously looked away.
No matter what hidden moves Pariston had or what he was planning, given the moderate faction's current situation, there was no need to worry so much.
As Law said, when having the upper hand, don't get careless or show off. Press forward with momentum, crush the opponent, win this fight.
Suddenly, Law pinched his chin, connecting some dots, murmuring softly, "Two thousand five hundred Chimera Ant eggs."
"What?"
Law looked at the confused Cheadle. "The eggs produced by the Ant King and the three Royal Guards. Each egg contains a half-human, half-ant creature born knowing Nen abilities. This is likely Pariston's capital for sitting calmly. What? You didn't know?"
"..."
Cheadle's face twitched slightly, turbulent emotions rising within her.
Just then, the door opened.
Shiro came out, seeing the man and woman not far from the door, casually quipping, "Building affection?"
Hearing this, Cheadle's forehead immediately filled with black lines.
"Shiro, come with me."
Law didn't ask about Netero's current condition nor specifically peek into the room.
Because he believed Shiro had already healed Netero.