When they learned the specific contents of the list...
Netero, Botobai—these names were unquestionable.
The Zoldycks? Even though they were assassins, no one could deny their strength, and they were fully deserving of their place on the list.
[Tool Master] Morin? Who is this? Never heard of him???
The group of hunters began asking around, only to find that many of them had never heard of this name either.
This naturally piqued their curiosity.
However, no one doubted that Morin might be some nobody or that the list was unfair in any way.
After all, this was the World's Top Five as acknowledged by Netero himself, and it had been disseminated by the Zodiacs.
Even Netero, who was also on the list, had no objections, which only added to the credibility of the rankings.
For a while, hunters everywhere were speculating:
This [Tool Master] named Morin was likely some hidden master of Nen, a true martial artist who cared nothing for fame or fortune, preferring to remain secluded and dedicated solely to the pursuit of martial arts.
This realization made many hunters believe once again that the world was full of hidden experts, and they should never underestimate anyone.
At the same time, many were impressed by Morin, who had quietly earned the title of one of the World's Top Five.
They saw him as a true martial artist, unwavering in his focus and undisturbed by external distractions.
Some were curious about Morin, while others wanted to meet him. There were even those who wanted to test his strength and spar with him.
The reactions varied, but one thing was certain: Morin's name had sparked widespread discussion within the Hunter Association.
Regardless of their opinions, all the hunters had firmly etched Morin's name into their memories.
But when they continued reading the list and saw another very familiar name...
The atmosphere among the group instantly turned heavy.
Then...
"Why is that bastard on here again?!!"
There was no denying that Ging had been making waves lately.
Not only had he gained worldwide recognition for his work on the Ruruka Ruins restoration, but his inclusion among the Zodiacs had also caused quite a stir within the Hunter Association.
But what no one expected was that the newly released list of the World's Top Five Nen Users would also include that bastard Ging?!
This guy was like a fly—he was everywhere!!!
Seeing his name on the list made everyone feel as if they'd just swallowed a fly.
However, this also made the list feel even more credible.
Disliking Ging's personality and methods was one thing, but acknowledging his strength was another.
Still, a large number of people began clamoring for Ging to be removed from the list, which only extended the time he spent as the Hunter Association's most controversial figure. Meanwhile, this gave Morin plenty of time to leisurely enjoy his tea.
"Your tools... I don't know much about them, as they're your personal secrets, but..."
Netero said calmly, "From what I do know, some of the effects and power of your tools are more than enough to earn you a spot on this list.
"Just from what I've heard from Zeno about your [Super Fall Expert Z], I can tell...
Morin definitely possesses tools powerful enough to overwhelm even Nen users!!"
This alone was enough for Netero to place Morin at the top of his list of concerns and include him among the World's Top Five Nen Users.
What those who didn't know Morin—or those who thought he didn't deserve to be on the list—didn't realize was...
No one was more deserving of a spot on the list than Morin.
Even Netero himself wasn't sure if he could handle Morin's [Super Fall Expert Z].
Because of this, Netero was deeply curious about Morin's tools, which was why he had invited him over for tea.
"Old man, I don't mean anything by it. I just want to see what kind of tools you have."
Netero stroked his beard and smiled. "Of course, I know it's taboo to pry into a Nen user's abilities.
"So if you're not comfortable showing them, or if you can't, that's fine.
"This tea session can just be a simple chat."
He spoke casually.
"Is that so? If it's just some less important tools, then showing them to you, Chairman Netero, wouldn't be a problem."
Morin smiled. "I thought you called me here because you wanted to fight me?"
"Hohoho, if it were Botobai or Ging, I might be interested, but you..."
Netero picked up his teacup and took a sip:
"Let's just forget it.
"I have a feeling that fighting you would be... rather dull."
Morin's greatest strength lay in his tools.
If Netero were to fight someone, given his personality and his pursuit of martial arts, he would want his opponent to go all out.
And for a Nen user, going all out meant using their Nen abilities.
But for Morin, using his Nen abilities would simply mean pulling out his various tools.
If it were a straightforward fistfight, Netero would be more than happy to spar with Morin.
But if it involved all sorts of flashy and bizarre tools...
Netero would rather pass.
Morin was the type of opponent that straightforward Enhancer types like Netero disliked the most.
Netero could already imagine how frustrating it would be to fight Morin, constantly being restricted by his tools.
Rather than subjecting himself to that, he decided to drop the idea altogether.
So, this tea session was truly just that—a chance to chat, with no intention of fighting.
Not in the past, not now, and not in the future.
"Is that so? To be considered an opponent that even the Chairman of the Hunter Association, Netero, doesn't want to face... I feel quite honored. This is a great recognition for me."
Morin crossed his arms and smiled.
"Would you spread that around? It would do wonders for your reputation."
Netero glanced at Morin.
"Obviously not."
Morin shrugged, his smile carefree.
If he truly cared about fame, he would have already made a name for himself in the world long ago.
"Well then, Chairman Netero, keep your eyes open. You wouldn't want to miss any details."
With a flip of his hand, Morin pulled out the [Gourmet Tablecloth], the tool that had been with him the longest.
It was the tool that had introduced him to Uvogin and Nobunaga, helped him integrate into this world, and even allowed him to share his first lunch with Machi.
For Morin, this tablecloth held great significance.
Morin showed Netero some of the simpler tools that he rarely used or were relatively harmless.
Most of them were peculiar and flashy yet had rather trivial effects.
For example:
[Ignore Bug]: Once you decide to ignore someone, if you accidentally speak to them again, this bug will bite you.
[Insect Specimen Collection]: A book containing various flowers and plants—when decorated, it attracts a swarm of insects.
And many more similar items that had small, niche effects and were not particularly practical.
Even so, the sheer variety of these tools left Netero marveling in amazement.
"So many incredible tools... Having all of these is practically the same as possessing an all-purpose wish-granting machine that can assist in every aspect of life."
Netero sighed with admiration.
Then, all of a sudden, he let out a deep sigh.
"If only you had been there back then... perhaps our journey wouldn't have ended so abruptly."
Journey... Was he referring to that Dark Continent expedition with Zig and Linne?
"I wonder if I'll have the chance to set foot on that land again in my lifetime."
Netero seemed lost in his memories, and for a moment, an air of solitude surrounded him.
"There will be a chance."
Morin gently pushed the teacup forward.
He knew about the Dark Continent, and Netero knew that he knew about it.
Thus, there was no need for either of them to hide anything, making their conversation flow more naturally.
"Will there really be another opportunity?"
If Netero were still in his prime, before becoming the Chairman of the Hunter Association—when he was still free of obligations—then sneaking into the Dark Continent wouldn't have been an issue.
But now, as the head of Shingen-ryu martial arts and the Chairman of the Hunter Association, under the watchful eyes of the V5 and many other powers, there was no way he could act as recklessly as before.
Even though he still had the heart of an old rascal who enjoyed playing around, he could never truly return to those days.
Unless he completely resigned from his position and abandoned his responsibilities, the dream of venturing into the Dark Continent again seemed nearly impossible.
But clearly...
That was not a role he could simply walk away from.
Netero remained silent, and Morin did not attempt to interrupt.
And so, the tea session concluded in a quiet yet reflective atmosphere.
Morin's vast array of tools stirred up old memories within Netero.
Although these memories did not waver his resolve, they still evoked a certain level of emotional turbulence.
"Another chance to go to the Dark Continent, huh?"
As he stepped outside, Morin first glanced back at the towering Hunter Association building before shifting his gaze toward the direction of the Kakin Empire.
"That chance will come, old man."
With that, Morin's visit to the Hunter Association came to an end.
And the gains from this trip were abundant.
Not only had his disciple, Kastro, become part of the Twelve Zodiacs as "Monkey," officially entering the upper ranks of the Hunter Association—
But Morin himself had been personally recognized by Netero as one of the "Five Strongest Nen Users in the World."
While this title wasn't as publicly recognized as the Twelve Zodiacs, it was still a significant mark of acknowledgment, especially within the Hunter community.
Whether within the official domain of the Hunter Association, which oversaw Nen users, or in the independent circles.
Read advanced chapters at:
[email protected]/NenMaster