To confirm the matter of their star promotion, Law and Kurapika came to the Association's office area.
Every employee of the Association showed their busyness on their faces and in their movements, but that wasn't the key point.
The moment they stepped inside, Law and Kurapika sensed a serious atmosphere.
Kurapika simply thought this was the Association's normal work environment, but Law knew the reason.
Involving the matter of the Chairman's succession, the Association's internal environment was at its most sensitive recently. Every department member was on high alert, ready to handle any sudden changes in the situation.
Law had little interest in these power struggles between factions and was unwilling to get involved.
Even with Linne's request, there was little Law could do.
At the moment, Beans was already overwhelmed with work, buried in piles of documents.
Law and Kurapika came to his desk.
"Law, and Kurapika."
Beans looked up at the two, looking utterly exhausted.
He knew their purpose for coming. Before Law could speak, he rummaged through the piles of documents and quickly found the confirmation receipt for the promotion.
Pushing the receipt to the edge of his desk, Beans said listlessly, "Take this receipt to the Review Department and you're all set."
Seeing Beans so exhausted, Law suddenly wondered what Netero was doing right now.
If that old man Netero was leisurely relaxing somewhere during such a sensitive and critical period, then Law really had nothing to say.
Given the importance of the succession matter, any normal person could distinguish priorities, but if that person was Netero, it was hard to be certain.
Law shook his head slightly, picked up the confirmation receipt, said goodbye to Beans, and left the office area with Kurapika to head to the Review Department.
Upon arriving at the Review Department, compared to the tense and serious atmosphere of the office area, this department seemed quite relaxed.
The Review Department's staff member responsible for receiving Law and Kurapika was a middle-aged woman wearing thick black-framed glasses and a black professional suit, holding a thick book in the crook of her arm. It seemed to be a book recording all the Association's rules and regulations, which she actually carried with her.
The middle-aged woman took the receipt, confirmed the contents, and said to Law and Kurapika, "Please present your Hunter Licenses."
Upon hearing this, Law and Kurapika each took out their Hunter Licenses and handed them to the woman.
"One moment, please."
The woman took the licenses, returned to her desk, inserted them into a card-slot device, and began entering information.
The whole process wasn't troublesome and was quickly completed.
When the woman pressed the enter key for the final time, Law and Kurapika were each promoted at that moment… the former to a Double-Star Hunter, the latter to a Single-Star Hunter.
With a star rating, they could enjoy various privileges and have priority access to various association resources.
The woman pulled out the licenses, returned to the reception desk, handed them back to Law and Kurapika, and said, "The Single-Star and Double-Star licenses will take until this evening to be produced at the earliest. If you don't want to make a wasted trip, it's best to come back tomorrow to pick up the new licenses."
Law nodded and said, "Thank you for your trouble."
"Just doing my duty," The woman replied flatly.
After handling the promotion for Law and Kurapika, the woman turned and left, returning to her desk.
With matters settled, the two didn't stay long and left the Review Department directly.
Walking down the corridor of the Association building, Law looked ahead and said, "I'll have my friends start investigating your matter as soon as possible."
"Mm," Kurapika responded.
In reality, if Law's friends could find the whereabouts of the final batch of eyes, then whether Kurapika became a Single-Star Hunter or not was irrelevant. Because once he could retrieve all his clan members' eyes, he wouldn't need to rely on the Association's resources.
They decided to return to the Review Department tomorrow to pick up the new licenses and went back to the Lawlin Museum together.
Kurapika borrowed a few books from Salin to read, while Law entrusted the matter of the eyes to Ickshonpe and contacted Netero and Cheadle, saying to call him if they needed help.
Regarding Law's call, Netero didn't have any particular reaction, but Cheadle, somewhat embarrassingly, felt a sense of security… no, more precisely, a sense of reassurance.
The day passed quickly.
At noon the next day, Law and Kurapika went to the Review Department and received their newly updated star-rated Hunter Licenses.
But they didn't leave the Review Department immediately, because a man stopped Law.
The man had white hair, neatly combed, with many wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. He wore a dark blue suit with a yellow tie. He appeared to be in his fifties or sixties but was very energetic, giving off a vibrant, youthful feeling.
"Law, could we have a word?" The man said to Law, very politely.
"Do we know each other?" Law had never interacted with this man before and spoke casually.
The man didn't mind Law's attitude at all. He habitually raised his right hand, lightly pressed it against his chest, and smiled. "That was presumptuous of me just now; please forgive me. I'm Teradein, a Double-Star Talent Hunter."
'A Double-Star Hunter...'
Law was slightly surprised internally. Looking at Teradein, he said calmly, "What is it?"
"Yes, something important," Teradein emphasized.
"Lead the way."
Unable to immediately figure out Teradein's reason for approaching him, Law first told Kurapika to go back on his own, then followed Teradein to understand his purpose.
There were many places within the Association building rented out by members. As a Double-Star Hunter of the Association, Teradein naturally had his own room in the Association… a very impressive office.
Judging from the decor and size, one could see the status and position Teradein had built for himself, as well as his ambition.
The moment Law stepped into the office, he roughly understood Teradein's purpose in seeking him out and also had a good idea of Teradein's identity.
There weren't many association members who held the Double-Star title, and every Double-Star Hunter was qualified to serve as the Hunter Association's Chairman. Clearly, Teradein was one of them and also a hawkish member dedicated to reform.
"Please, have a seat."
Teradein invited Law to sit on the sofa and personally poured him a cup of hot tea.
This was something a secretary or assistant should do, but there was no sign of a secretary or assistant in the office, for unknown reasons.
After pouring tea for Law, Teradein unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat down opposite Law.
Just as he was about to state his purpose, Law spoke first, asking, "Are you from the hawkish faction?"
This question directly caught the words Teradein was about to say in his throat.
"Is it, or isn't it?"
Law didn't look at Teradein but instead looked down at the teacup steaming with white vapor, a sharp Aura radiating from his body.
Enveloped by this Aura, beads of sweat involuntarily slid down Teradein's wrinkled face.
Looking at Law, who exuded immense pressure, he realized he had thought things were too simple.
This man before him...'
...
Meanwhile, Pariston was strolling down a corridor, a spring-like smile on his face.
The direction he was heading pointed directly toward Teradein's office.