Regarding Nobunaga's request, Netero had no reason to refuse.
Uvogin was exhausted, but his physique was monstrous to begin with. He forced himself to get up.
Seeing this, perhaps out of affection for the 'sandbag', a hint of appreciation flashed deep in Netero's eyes. He then went to the rest area seats to pick up his phone.
Turned it on, dialed.
After a moment, the call connected.
"Where are you?"
On the other end was Law, who replied, "On the Martial Arts Hall's roof."
"Coming."
After getting the exact location, Netero hung up directly.
He turned, looked at Nobunaga and Uvogin, and pointed towards the ceiling a few times.
"Law is on the roof?" Nobunaga asked.
Netero nodded.
"Heh."
A ferocious smile immediately appeared on Nobunaga's face. The hand gripping his sword hilt showed faint veins.
Netero and Uvogin looked at Nobunaga's reaction, thinking his resentment was about to burst through the ceiling.
The three quickly arrived on the curved roof. The wind at the end of June swept over, carrying an irritating restlessness.
They saw a person standing with his back to them at the roof's edge. The hem of his black clothes was lifted by the wind, fluttering like a flag.
"Law!"
Uvogin and Nobunaga called Law's name loudly.
The former was happy, while the latter was resentful.
Hearing these distinctly different emotional calls, Law turned, looking at Netero and the two approaching from the other side. He chuckled softly against the wind.
Although utterly exhausted, Uvogin spread his arms and strode forward, habitually wanting to give Law a big hug.
However, Nobunaga's steps were faster and more urgent. His hand tightly gripped his sword hilt, a smile on his lips that made people want to avoid him.
Uvogin had thick nerves, but he wasn't stupid. He reflexively slowed down, watching Nobunaga aggressively walk towards Law.
"Law, I missed you so much."
Nobunaga reached Law, slightly bending his knees.
"Uh..."
Law looked at Nobunaga, who was starting to release Aura, and scratched his cheek with a finger.
Ten seconds later, Nobunaga sat on another part of the Martial Arts Hall roof with a big bump on his head, hugging his knees, looking up at the blue sky. His eyes were filled with lingering frustration.
Uvogin crouched beside him, patted his shoulder, and sighed, "He's always been a monster. You know that."
Nobunaga turned his head mechanically, giving Uvogin a deep look, almost making Uvogin think something was on his face.
Then, Nobunaga mechanically turned his head back, looking at the azure sky with a deep sigh.
'Damn it, what do you know?'
'My sword wasn't even drawn before I was taken down.'
'Can you understand that feeling?!'
'Someone like you, who can still smile after being abused, how could you possibly understand!!!'
Uvogin couldn't tell what Nobunaga was thinking at all. He just felt Nobunaga currently exuded a deep Aura, a sense of vicissitudes his language skills couldn't describe.
On the other side of the Martial Arts Hall's roof, Law and Netero stood side by side at the edge, watching the traffic on the road ahead.
Law said, "I met with Beyond, and we talked about some things."
Netero asked calmly, "What did you talk about?"
"About the Dark Continent, and the restriction you placed on him."
"Oh, seems you had a pleasant chat."
"Not really, but we got to the point. I agreed to his condition. In other words, there's now a cooperative relationship between him and me, though not very formal in terms of contract spirit."
Hearing this, Netero showed no reaction. He turned to look at Law. "Let me guess. He wants you to approach me to resolve the restriction preventing him from going to the Dark Continent?"
"Correct." Law answered extremely straightforwardly.
Netero's eyes instantly turned profound. He suddenly let out a long sigh, somewhat emotional. "I stopped my son, I stopped Ging, but I couldn't stop you. Thinking about it now, I should have seen early on that you would be the most dangerous fuse."
"You couldn't stop it. As the Chairman of the Hunter Association, you should be the one who understands this the most. And I merely accelerated the process, I'm not the most critical fuse."
Law looked ahead, his tone very plain.
What is a Hunter?
Netero couldn't possibly not know.
However, Law also understood why Netero tried everything to stop Hunters from going to the Dark Continent.
Regarding Law's statement, Netero was speechless. He looked at Law's profile, remained silent for a long time, then said, "The five Calamities remain unresolved to this day. If we launch new explorations of the Dark Continent, there's an 80% chance of bringing back at least one more Calamity."
"You stayed on the Dark Continent for so long, no one understands this better than you."
Law subconsciously touched his left shoulder, nodding. "Indeed."
Law's agreement seemed to give Netero momentum. He took a step closer to Law, using an extremely serious tone. "Each Calamity possesses the potential risk of destroying the human world. This statement isn't an exaggeration at all."
"Yes."
Law agreed with Netero's statement again.
Because the Calamity sealed in his left arm had the ability to destroy the entire human world.
Netero took another step forward, saying gravely, "Even so, your current mindset hasn't changed one bit?"
Law smiled. "Didn't I just say? You are the one who understands what a Hunter is the most."
"..."
Netero was speechless again.
Looking at the silent Netero, Law said seriously, "Netero, the momentum has already formed. You cannot stop it."
The so-called momentum was the currently poised Kakin Empire. Even without Beyond as a guide, another person with considerable reputation would willingly step up.
When the Kakin Empire's national strength is displayed openly, let alone the Chairman of the Hunter Association, even V5 cannot stop its arrival.
Netero didn't understand what momentum Law referred to. The necessity of whether he could stop it wasn't that clear. He stared at Law, calmly saying, "But I can stop Beyond and Ging from going to the Dark Continent."
"I will make you remove the restriction," Law said seriously.
Hearing this, Netero laughed loudly a few times. Though not intended as mockery, laughing at this moment had a mocking appearance.
His greatest worry was capable Hunters going to the Dark Continent.
Because weak Hunters going to the Dark Continent meant certain death… naturally, they couldn't bring back Calamities.
But experts like Law, Beyond, and Ging were different. Their survival rate on the Dark Continent was much higher than others. As long as they returned alive to the Six Continents, they might bring back Calamities.
This was also why Netero only targeted Beyond and Ging. As for Law, he originally wanted to dig a pit for Law to jump into, but didn't succeed.
Thinking about it now, it was truly regrettable.
Netero restrained his laughter, looking at Law, also extremely serious. "I will absolutely not withdraw the restriction. That's not something that can be resolved by fighting once or many times."
This statement clearly expressed Netero's stance.
So eager to fight Law, to avoid the Dark Continent's potential risks, he was even willing to give up self-satisfaction.
Law scratched his brow, also seeing Netero's resolve.
Thus, Beyond and Ging considered this a very difficult task. After all, it could make Netero, who, to satisfy his own selfish desires, challenged the Chimera Ant King alone, give up an opportunity for greater self-satisfaction.
Netero stroked his beard, with an expression of 'What can you do to me?', looking quite arrogant.
Law stared at Netero with a look that quietly watched him act cool, then said, "Old man, I'm now exercising that request you owe me."
'Didn't expect that, hahahaha!'
In his mind, a classic scene seemed to appear.
Hearing this, Netero was dumbfounded, 'Damn, I forgot about this.'
He did owe Law a request, but that was how many years ago?!
At this moment, Netero, who always dug pits for others to jump into, felt like he dug a pit and jumped in himself.
"Should I go back on my word?"
Netero silently thought.
Law seemed to see through Netero's thoughts, saying quietly, "If you want to go back on your word, so-called 'promises' and 'restrictions' would become child's play."
"..."
The corner of Netero's mouth twitched slightly.
If you often walk by the river, your shoes are bound to get wet. Whether he acknowledged it or not, he had to acknowledge it.