Chairman Netero sat at the head of the table, with Linne to his right and Zeno Zoldyck to his left.
Upon Akira arrival, they narrowed their eyes slightly, observing the young man discreetly.
Zeno had heard much about Akira, but this was his first time seeing him in person.
What left the deepest impression on him was the day he returned home after completing a job, only to hear from his son Silva that his grandfather, Maha Zoldyck, had lost to a young man!
And this young man was none other than the current Strongest Floor Master of Heavens Arena, Akira, known as "The Legend"!
Beyond shock, he also agreed with his grandfather Maha decision—such a person could only remain on the forbidden list.
This was why they had resolutely refused when Chrollo tried to hire them.
Some contracts were simply impossible to accept.
As Zeno studied Akira, Akira likewise took notice of the elderly man.
Like Silva, Zeno had pure white hair without a single strand of black.
It was said this was proof of the Zoldyck Family powerful bloodline, with each generation of white-haired members possessing significantly greater talent than their black-haired counterparts.
His sharply defined face was slightly gaunt, but his eyes were bright and piercing, with two long white mustaches hanging down.
He wore the same distinctive training outfit as in the original story, as if this was Zeno attire no matter where he went.
What drew the most attention were the four large characters on his chest: [One Kill Per Day].
This represented his work philosophy, though sometimes the characters would change to [Active for Life].
Zeno Zoldyck was a seemingly friendly old man with hidden sharpness, as evidenced by the words on his chest.
But these weren't Akira main focus.
The key point was that the characters on Zeno chest weren't in the common script of the Six Continents—they were in Japanese.
At Chairman Netero invitation, the group took their seats near the front of the table.
The moment he sat down, Akira suddenly felt drawn to look diagonally across the table.
There sat Pyon, wearing her rabbit headdress.
She smiled warmly and waved at Akira.
Akira nodded in response.
Scanning the room briefly, Akira noted many distinctively dressed individuals—it seemed all of The Twelve Zodiac had gathered.
Menchi also noticed Pyon greeting Akira but remained silent, simply smiling at him instead.
On the other side, Gel seemed intrigued, her gaze shifting between the three with a faint smirk.
"Hohoho..."
A laugh similar to Chairman Netero but higher-pitched and more feminine rang out.
Truly, Biscuit Krueger lived up to being Chairman Netero disciple—their laughter was nearly identical.
If anyone was most delighted by this scene, it was undoubtedly Biscuit sitting beside Pyon.
Wearing white gloves, Biscuit covered her mouth as she laughed, her wine-red eyes curving into crescents.
Even while trying to suppress it, her laughter still escaped uncontrollably.Back in Greed Island, she had been looking forward to witnessing this scene.
To her surprise, it seemed the main protagonists themselves had underestimated the number of participants.
At this thought, Biscuit Krueger couldn't help but glance at Gel on the other side.
She hadn't expected that Gel of the Snake, another member of The Twelve Zodiac, also seemed to have some connection with Akira.
So now it wasn't just two women competing, but three?
This must be her reward from heaven for a lifetime of good deeds.
Otherwise, when would she ever get the chance to witness such a drama in person!
Biscuit wandering eyes and eerie laughter couldn't help but make Akira break out in a cold sweat.
Was this really the time for such amusement?
Wait, was there even anything amusing about this situation?
He looked at Menchi gentle smile, then at Pyon sweet grin and finally stole a glance at Gel intrigued expression.
Akira suddenly realized something.
Could it be... was this what they called a "Shura" battlefield happening to him?
Or maybe he was just overthinking it.
Menchi aside, Pyon at most had some slight affection for him, while both Gel and Biscuit were clearly just enjoying the show.
The elders on the other side remained silent too, simply watching the drama unfold with great interest.
When it came to gossip, the elderly were far more invested than the young.
Biscuit could probably be counted among that elderly group.
"Hohohoho."
Chairman Netero stroked his beard, observing the scene before him with an amused chuckle.
Ah, to be young again...
***
As time passed,
more and more people arrived at the conference room until the scheduled time finally arrived.
"Well then, since the time has come, let me explain the specifics."
Seeing the clock hand reach the mark, Chairman Netero addressed everyone directly.
Now that all attendees were present, each listened carefully to Netero words.
The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, with only Netero voice filling the space.
Naturally, as the exclusive secretary of the Hunter Association Chairman, Beans stood behind Netero, meticulously performing his duty of recording the proceedings.
"You're all presumably aware of the World's Top Five Nen Users."
"This is a list that was established many years ago, right in this very conference hall."
"Among these five are myself, Linne, Zeno, Ging, and Botobai."
"The World Top Five Nen Users may not necessarily be the absolute strongest five in the world, but their strength undoubtedly places them among the very best."
Netero spoke slowly and clearly, ensuring everyone could hear him perfectly.
Even in the vast conference hall filled with many people,
Netero words reached each listener with perfect clarity.
"After all these years, this list has lost some relevance and no longer fully reflects the current situation."
"So today, we will remove one member from this list and replace them with another."
As he carefully explained, Netero glanced sideways at Linne composed expression.
This announcement didn't cause much stir, as it only involved replacing one person's position.
It wasn't as if all five members were being replaced with others.
After so many years since the list's creation, replacing one or two members seemed quite reasonable.
Except for those few who had already guessed the outcome, everyone else paid close attention, waiting for Netero to announce the selection.
"Linne has grown quite elderly, with abilities no longer what they once were, and thus has voluntarily stepped down."
There was no disagreement on this point.
Linne was the oldest hunter in the Hunter Association and her strength had naturally declined considerably.
What they were more concerned about was who the new top five would be.
The list of the "World's Top Five Nen Users" wasn't like the position of the Hunter Association Chairman, which was determined through strict voting.
Instead, it was verbally proposed by Chairman Netero for everyone to witness.
It was best if there were no objections, as any dissent would be difficult to resolve.
After all, this list was a reflection of individual strength.
Not being among the "World's Top Five Nen Users" didn't mean you were weak.
But being on the list meant you were undoubtedly strong!
Everyone had their own preferred candidates, and if the chosen individuals didn't align with their expectations, conflicts were bound to arise.
Unlike the Twelve Zodiacs, whose fame even ordinary people knew of, the "World's Top Five Nen Users" was a list that circulated only within the Nen User community due to the nature of the term "Nen User."
Akira wasn't entirely sure when the "World's Top Five Nen Users" was first proposed.
This concept was only mentioned in the original work when Biscuit Krueger spoke to the two young ones about Ging during their time on Greed Island.
Biscuit had said that Ging was one of the World's Top Five Nen Users.
Thus, it was an unofficial list proposed by Chairman Netero and witnessed by representatives of various factions.
Even so, the "World's Top Five Nen Users," acknowledged by the former "Strongest in the World" still held extraordinary influence.
As a Nen User, you might not know about One-Star or Two-Star Hunters.
But you would definitely know about the "World's Top Five Nen Users"!
Such a list could also serve as motivation for others to pursue martial arts and maintain an upward-climbing spirit.
Amid the tense gazes of the crowd, one person expression stood out.
It was Pariston, the Rat of the Twelve Zodiacs and Vice-Chairman of the Hunter Association.
With his usual sunny smile, he now looked meaningfully at Akira, whose expression remained composed.
'Akira, huh...'
'He really is strong~'
Pariston himself was no slouch in terms of strength, so his judgment was sound.
Some of Akira subtle movements unconsciously gave him a sense of pressure.
With strength like this, Akira was more than qualified to be ranked among the World's Top Five Nen Users!
But...
Pariston wanted to make things more interesting.
Though he might die in the process....But?
His deep pupils gleamed with excitement as he stared unblinkingly at Akira.
Oddly enough, Pariston had once admitted that his favorite thing to do was to make others dislike him and he had succeeded in doing so.
Of course, not just anyone was worthy of his attention.
Only those with high strength or those who piqued his interest were worth provoking.
In a way, Pariston and Hisoka shared some similarities.
The difference was that Pariston simply enjoyed the feeling of being disliked yet untouchable.
Hisoka, on the other hand, did it to constantly challenge others, seeking the thrill of battle.
"As for the replacement for Linne, I've already made arrangements."
"It's none other than the Triple Star Hunter sitting here—Akira!"
Netero chuckled as he pointed at Akira beside him, successfully drawing everyone attention to him.
For a moment, most people were surprised—it was unexpected, yet made perfect sense.
Akira reputation was far greater than he had imagined.
Everyone present had heard of Akira fame, though the extent of their knowledge varied.
The one title universally recognized was that of the Strongest Floor Master of Heavens Arena.
This was largely thanks to Heavens Arena aggressive promotional campaigns across all six continents in their pursuit of profit.
Thus, this title became Akira's most widely known accolade.
'The "Legend" of Heavens Arena, Akira? If he's the one taking on this role, it makes sense.'
This was the general sentiment among most people...
This title alone was enough to attest to Akira strength.
Yet, there were still those who voiced skepticism—though their true motives remained unclear.
"Mr. Akira, is it?" Pariston, with hidden intentions, smiled warmly.
"Yeah." Akira responded casually.
Seeing Akira acknowledge him, Pariston smile widened.
"Mr. Akira reputation is truly impressive~ I'm sure many have heard of you."
Rather than immediately questioning Akira, Pariston first offered praise.
Chairman Netero, seated at the head of the table, remained silent, quietly observing their exchange.
Outwardly, he showed no emotion, but inwardly, he mused:
'Playing around with an old man like me is one thing, but some people just shouldn't be provoked~'
Netero had no intention of speaking up—some lessons had to be learned the hard way.
Beside him, Ging, who had adhered to the principle of "silence is golden" since sitting down, also watched the two in silence.
Behind his scarf, however, his lips curled slightly into an amused smirk.
[Pariston, this time, you're about to hit a steel wall!]
The thought of what might happen next invigorated him.
It was high time this hypocrite got a taste of his own medicine.
Akira didn't bother responding further, simply watching as Pariston rambled on.
"It's said that Mr. Akira is the Strongest Floor Master."
"But doesn't it seem a bit... inappropriate for someone with just the title of Floor Master to be counted among the 'World's Top Five Nen Users'?"
Pariston feigned contemplation as he spoke.
"Everyone knows the Floor Master position at Heavens Arena isn't exactly prestigious."
"Being the Strongest Floor Master doesn't necessarily guarantee real strength, does it?"
There was some logic to Pariston words, and a few in the crowd nodded in agreement.
Indeed.
To most, a Floor Master of Heavens Arena was a formidable figure.
But for those in this room—many of whom were no pushovers—the Floor Masters' strength was nothing special.
Even the weakest among them could easily claim a Floor Master title at Heavens Arena.
"So... would Mr. Akira are you willing to demonstrate your strength to everyone?"
"That way, we can all be convinced." Pariston finally revealed his scheme.
By swaying the crowd, he pressured Akira into a public display—otherwise, doubts about Akira abilities would linger.
After all, seeing was believing.
Just as everyone expected Akira to act, Chairman Netero chose to speak.
"Ahem, I'm well aware of Akira strength."
"In fact, I once sparred with him—and suffered a crushing defeat!"
Netero delivered this shocking revelation with an air of nonchalance.
The man hailed as the [Strongest in the World], the Chairman of the Hunter Association—had lost to Akira!
Such a household name, someone considered invincible, had actually lost to a young man!
Didn't that mean Akira was now the new "Strongest in the World"?!
"Akira strength far surpasses mine."
Before others could digest Chairman Netero's words, Linne, who had been resting with her eyes closed, suddenly spoke up.
Zeno glanced at Netero and Linne, taking it as an opportunity to curry favor with Akira, and chimed in.
"Akira's strength exceeds this old man."
Seeing all three elders voice their opinions, Ging, who had personally witnessed Akira god-defying power, also chose to speak.
"Without exaggeration, Akira could easily defeat five or six of me single-handedly."
Ging words shocked everyone even more, leaving their minds in chaos.
For a moment, they couldn't even tell whether Ging was stating facts or lying.
If it were true, wouldn't that be too exaggerated?
Though many disliked Ging and his personality.
They had to admit his strength was formidable—otherwise he wouldn't be called "One of the World's Top Five Nen Users."
Yet even such a person claimed Akira could defeat five or six of him...
Four of the former top five Nen Users had already voiced their stance.
Though Botobai hadn't originally intended to speak, Seeing everyone's eyes on him, he had no choice but to add.
"I've never fought Akira before."
This statement made many breathe a sigh of relief.
If all five admitted they were no match for Akira, what would be the point of electing the "World's Top Five Nen Users"?
Wouldn't it be more fitting to simply declare Akira the "Strongest in the World"?
Before they could finish that sigh, Botobai deep voice added another sentence.
"But I definitely can't defeat Akira, because I can't defeat Chairman Netero." Botobai words were very fair.
I haven't fought Akira, so I don't know who would win, But I have fought Chairman Netero and I lost to him.
As for comparing Akira, who defeated Chairman Netero, to me...
The answer is self-evident.
All five of the old world top Nen Users admitted they were inferior to Akira!
In an instant, countless people were confused about why they had even come here.
Weren't they supposed to announce the new top five?
How had it turned into announcing the new Strongest in the New World?!
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