Hello everyone. I'm Gon Freecss, currently in my mascot form. The recoil from my transformation was even worse than I expected; it really makes me respect the sheer height of the summit that is "Strongest Gon."
"So you're really coming along? It's bad enough having Gon here, but having Hisoka follow us is even worse," Killua groaned.
"Of course I am. Kurapika and Leorio are swamped, and Gin is busy babysitting the twins," Gon replied in his high-pitched, tiny voice. "I couldn't let you go alone, so I'm the only one left to back you up."
"I won't do anything unnecessary, so don't mind me... ♦ Protecting Gon... this too is a rare and precious experience... ♥" Hisoka added, his voice dripping with its usual unsettling sweetness.
Inside a blimp bound for Kukuroo Mountain, Killua's ancestral home, the trio was traveling in a rare state of relaxation. Since meeting at the Hunter Exam, they had done nothing but train and fight. Now that the lethal struggle against the Chimera Ants—their greatest challenge yet—was over, they had decided to take a much-needed break.
Furthermore, with Chairman Netero and Biscuit caught in the chaotic aftermath of the war, the personnel and locations required for high-level training had drastically decreased.
"Man, I've never been so glad to be a kid," Killua mused. "Knuckle and even Goreinu looked like they were ready to drop dead from all the paperwork."
"It's true," Gon agreed. "I'm sure we'll have to deal with it eventually, but for now, I'm happy to let the adults handle it."
"How diligent of you... ♠ If you don't want to do it, you should simply refuse. ♣"
Victory against the Chimera Ants hadn't meant an immediate end to the crisis. There was the matter of investigating the NGL man-hunts, monitoring the Remnant ants, mediating between the species and the public, and managing the massive wave of immigrants seeking entry into the Sun Nation of Memphis. As the victors, the Hunter Association's responsibilities had ballooned.
While the adults and professional Hunters worked themselves to the bone, Gon and Killua had used their "child" status to slip away. They were heading to Kukuroo Mountain to complete a long-delayed objective: rescuing Killua's younger siblings, Alluka and Nanika, from their confinement within the Zoldyck estate.
Initially, the others had been hesitant to let Killua go with only a weakened Gon, but Hisoka had volunteered as a "bodyguard." His involvement was so ominous that some had actually begun to feel pity for the Zoldyck family.
"But how are we going to save them?" Gon asked. "Is Hisoka going to cause a riot while you sneak them out?"
"That's not a bad idea... ♥"
"It's a terrible idea!!" Killua barked. "I don't hate my family enough to let them be wiped out! We're going in through the front door and taking them out the right way!!"
While Gon and Hisoka had been the only ones to secure "complete" victories during the raid, Killua's growth rate had been the highest by far. While Gon and Hisoka had reached new peaks, the gap between them and Killua had visibly narrowed. Even with the "monsters" beside him, Killua had evolved into someone who could stand on his own without being a liability.
"Just... please stay quiet until I give the word," Killua sighed, his head aching. "I haven't grown strong enough to manage you two if you start acting up."
He felt the crushing weight of the absence of Leorio, Kurapika, Bisky, and Netero. Managing a powered-up, psycho clown and a "bugged" muscle-mascot was a level of stress that surpassed even the threat of the world's deadliest assassin family.
"Fine. I'll just ride on Hisoka's shoulder in case anything happens," Gon chirped. "Don't worry about me, Killua. Do your thing!"
"Being ridden by Gon... that too is an amusement... ♥" Hisoka writhed, his body contorting in delight as Gon hopped onto his shoulder.
Killua watched the two of them—the tiny mascot and the writhing clown—and offered a silent prayer that they would reunite with Leorio, the team's designated straight-man, as soon as possible.
***
While the trio enjoyed their flight, a very different atmosphere reigned in a massive office at the Hunter Association headquarters. The room echoed with groans of exhaustion and the rustle of endless paperwork. Clerks and administrative Hunters were pushing through a death march they hoped would end in a few days.
But they didn't know that a new, high-caliber bomb had just been dropped. Inside the conference room, the Twelve Zodiacs were facing off.
"Hmm, as Vice Chairman, I find myself unable to agree!" Pariston chirped.
"I also object," Cheadle added firmly. "We still need the Chairman's leadership."
"I'm with them! It's too early for retirement!" Mizaistom barked.
"Thaaat's right! You're young again, so you should work more and more!" Pyon chimed in.
"I cannot permit this! No one is more suited for the role than you!!" Botobai roared.
"I don't like to be overbearing, but I'll be lonely if you leave," Gel added.
"There is no replacement. At least wait until someone is ready to take the mantle," Saccho sighed.
"Ohhh! Chairman, please don't quit!" Ginta wailed.
"It's literally impossible," Saccho noted. "Do you know how much popular support you have right now?"
"Denied!" Ginta added.
"There is still too much we have to learn from you," Saccho said. "Unless there is a valid reason, we cannot accept this."
"I think it's fine," Ging said casually.
""IT'S NOT FINE!!!"" the others roared in unison.
"Well, I figured you'd say that," Ging shrugged.
Netero had issued an order that faced near-total opposition from the Zodiacs: the next Chairman of the Association would be decided by a general election. Coming in the middle of the Chimera Ant cleanup, it was a bombshell that only Ging and Pariston seemed prepared for.
"Shut up, you're too loud," Ging groaned. "Cheadle, Pariston—you guys know this too, right? This isn't a proposal. It's a decision."
"But without a valid reason, the other Hunters won't accept it," Cheadle argued. "And personally, I truly don't want you to go."
"Exactly," Pariston added with a smile. "What is the point of a meaningless election? It seems like a waste of time and money, wouldn't you agree?"
The three smartest members of the Zodiacs began a war of words, leaving the rest of the group struggling to keep up.
"What do you mean 'meaningless'?" Kanzai asked. "Does it mean Netero is just going to win again anyway?"
"Wrong! ☆ Simply put, the moment someone becomes Chairman, they could just re-appoint Chairman Netero immediately! ♪" Pyon explained.
"Wait, you can do that?"
"There are steps," Netero explained. "The Chairman has the authority to appoint the Vice Chairman. If I am appointed Vice Chairman by the new winner, and that winner then resigns, the authority passes back to me. Provided I have the majority's trust, it's no problem."
"That sounds tedious," Kanzai grumbled. "Just keep Netero as Chairman then."
"That authority also belongs to the Chairman, so it's a done deal," Saiyu interjected. "Are you a bird-brained cat, Kanzai?"
"What was that, Saiyu?!"
"Did you just call me an idiot too?! Stop playing around! Die!!" Pyon shrieked.
"Alright, alright..." Beans tried to interject.
The meeting room descended into a chaotic cacophony of insults and shouting. Finally, Netero, who had been sitting quietly with his arms crossed, unleashed a god-speed clap that silenced the room by force.
"As has been said, this is a fixed decision. Between the Chimera Ant incident and what's coming next, I will soon have to take responsibility for a major situation."
"Something other than the ants?" Cheadle asked, her voice turning serious.
"Yes. To put it simply, there is someone about to turn the world upside down in relation to the Dark Continent."
""The Dark Continent?!"" the room echoed in shock.
Netero tapped his tablet, and an image appeared on the screen behind him—a man who bore a striking resemblance to the Chairman himself.
"His name is Beyond Netero. He is my biological son, and a Hunter to his core with a massive ambition for the Dark Continent."
""YOU HAD A SON?!""
Netero quieted the sudden uproar and explained why his son—despite being a top-tier Hunter—wasn't part of the Association, and how the Dark Continent factored into everything.
"In my youth, I decided the Dark Continent was forbidden. I had a falling out with Beyond when he tried to force his way there. I managed to make him wait until I was dead... but now that I'm young again, he's definitely going to make his move."
"Surely the V5 won't stay silent?"
"Irrelevant. There is no way to stop him short of killing him. And even if we did, he's likely already prepared others to carry out his plan."
Netero gave a subtle glance toward Pariston and Saiyu. Their reactions confirmed his suspicions. He knew that once the truth about the ants and the looming Dark Continent expedition came out, Isaac Netero would have to resign to take the political fall.
"Very well. Then let us at least decide the election rules," Cheadle conceded. "Though calling you 'Chairman' and 'Isaac' is going to be confusing. Let's think this through carefully!"
"No need to announce your plan to rig it right in front of me," Netero chuckled.
The meeting proceeded more smoothly after that. As if guided by the "Correction Force" of history, Ging's proposal was chosen. Every Hunter would be both a candidate and a voter. If no one received a majority, a re-vote would occur—a set of rules designed to draw things out.
"We will hold the election the moment Mr. Beyond makes his move," Netero announced. "Cluck, you are in charge of notifying the Hunters. We will decide the voting dates as needed."
"Is that it? I've got work to do, so I'm out," Saiyu said, standing up.
"I'm leaving too," Cheadle added. "Before I become Chairman, I'm definitely hiring more office staff."
One by one, the Zodiacs paid their respects and left the room. Soon, only Ging, Pariston, Netero, and Beans remained.
"So, Ging, Pariston... what do you two want? I assume you didn't just stay behind for the view."
"I wanted to ask Pariston something," Ging said, ignoring Netero. "You knew all about this. Why didn't you do anything?"
"Hmm? I don't know what you're talking about. But I was relieved to see your rules were chosen, Ging. I knew you'd come up with something fair."
"Tch. Always so composed."
Ging kicked over the box containing the rule submissions from all the Zodiacs. He pulled one out, snorted in amusement, and tossed it away. It was a blank piece of paper. Pariston watched him with his usual, oily smile.
"I look forward to seeing how much of this goes according to your plan. See ya, Old Man. You might be young again, but you're still an old man—don't overexert yourself."
Ging walked out without cleaning up the papers he'd scattered. Beans began to pick them up, confirming that every single sheet—except for one—had rules written on them. He felt the same sense of awe for Ging's preparation that he did for Pariston's unwavering smile.
"And you? What is your business?" Netero asked the Rat.
"I wanted to confirm the Association's stance regarding Mr. Beyond's actions," Pariston replied. "As Vice Chairman, I felt I should know."
Pariston asked the question knowing Netero had already linked him to Beyond. Netero answered honestly.
"I'll leave that to the next Chairman. Personally, I won't help, but I won't interfere either. This recent incident taught me that we need to be prepared for the unknown, and that it is possible to find a way through."
Netero's obsession with the Dark Continent had faded. He had come to believe that rather than trying to hide the danger like the V5, it was better to inform the public and foster a sense of urgency. Humanity likely would have been wiped out long ago if not for the "Guides" at the gate, so he didn't think a few humans scurrying around would change the fundamental reality.
More importantly, he had seen that a "Strongest Gon" could be born in this tiny garden. He had decided to leave the complicated politics to the young and live his life as a simple, rough-around-the-edges martial artist.
"This is your era now. But both you and Ging have a flaw: you use too many schemes."
"...I will keep that in mind."
Pariston left the room. As he walked down the corridor, he wore a rare expression of loneliness. He had been happy when Netero regained his youth, thinking his "fun" would be extended. But he had realized that the new Netero was far less "interesting" than the old one.
(Calling it 'youthful vigor' sounds nice, but it means he won't be playing with me much anymore...)
Furthermore, he realized that Ging had been "playing" with him more than usual, likely having anticipated this shift.
(How annoying. Should I just break everything?)
For a moment, Pariston considered sabotaging the Association, Beyond's team, and the entire world. But then he remembered the smirks on Netero and Ging's faces and stopped himself. If Netero had become boring by becoming young, he could simply wait for him to get old again. And the thought of Ging's triumphant face if he threw everything away was too unpleasant to bear.
"I suppose it's the election, then. I don't care if I win or lose, but seeing their faces as they try to make me lose... that has its own charm."
Pariston plastered his usual suspicious smile back onto his face. He felt a rare surge of motivation to win. Affected by his favorite person's change and challenged by the only rival he truly acknowledged, Pariston too was beginning to change.
"Gufufufu!"
"What's with that laugh, Chairman?" Beans asked.
"Nothing. It's just fun to see Ging and Pariston react exactly as I predicted. Even as I enjoy watching my prey's movements... I guess I'm still a Hunter at heart."
The intellectual didn't believe he could lose a mental war to a "Muscle Head." The Muscle Head didn't think he could outwit the intellectual, but he didn't plan on losing either. Both recognized the other as their greatest obstacle.
And both had missed their last chance. Because behind them both, a muscle-bound freak was approaching, ready to smash the entire board.