Back then, Netero only took Knov and Morel to execute the commission. Based on the initial agreement, when the severity of the situation further escalated, the Review Department would take charge and select a team of Pro Hunters from the Association to provide assistance.
Due to Pariston's intervention, all the Pro Hunters sent for assistance were Temp Hunters.
This was the openly available roster of the Chimera Ant Extermination Team, and the list did not include Law, Ging, Kite, Tonpa, or Machi's group.
Only the personnel list handled by the Review Department could be recorded.
In other words, if credits were to be allocated based on the roster, those like Law, who were part of the covert line, would not receive them.
However, in their reports, though Knov and Morel concealed some minor details, they did not omit the existence of Law and the others.
Regarding this matter, the Association's internal department had not reached a direct conclusion.
Everything would wait until Netero woke up.
Though unspoken, both sides maintained this point quite tacitly.
As for the explanation to V5, there was no need for a complex report. A single sentence, 'The Chimera Ants have been dealt with', was what V5 wanted to hear.
They only cared about the result. Once the result was achieved, they would merely give the Association corresponding rewards and compensation. How many people the Association lost, or whether Netero would die, had nothing to do with them.
Therefore, while Law and Ging weren't on the action roster, Pariston and Cheadle knew those two had put in significant effort in this operation.
Even so, Nique's reaction, wanting to restrain but unable to conceal it, was truly intriguing.
Why was the fear so hard to mask?
Was it knowledge of Law's terror, or having witnessed something?
Too little information… difficult to infer.
The corridor was wide but couldn't withstand the number of people, making it quite crowded for a moment.
Law entered and noticed the gazes of Pariston and Cheadle, then looked at Nique.
"..."
Just an ordinary, casual glance. Nique's pupils reacted immediately, sharply constricting to pinpoints. Following that, his sweat glands went into overdrive, and within a short time, copious sweat seeped out, drenching his fur and clothes.
Just one glance, and he was drenched.
An extremely jarring reaction.
Law was puzzled. Even if he killed the Ant King, the reaction shouldn't be like this.
After all, when they first encountered Nique, he hadn't been this pathetic.
There must be a particular reason, though Law would never imagine what it was.
He could detect the voyeuristic gaze from Merman Clairvoyance, but he absolutely couldn't detect the existence of [The Unseen Thing]. This was the difference among similar abilities.
Nique's exaggerated and jarring reaction immediately attracted the attention of the other Zodiac members, as well as Knov and Morel. For a moment, gazes shifted between Law and Nique.
'What's going on?'
Everyone couldn't help but wonder.
Even Knov and Morel didn't understand why Nique reacted this way.
If it was because Law killed the Ant King, that seemed too far-fetched.
Currently, Law had no interest in exploring the reason for Nique's reaction. He allowed the others to watch and walked directly to Gon's side.
Gon was staring intently at Netero on the bed, too shocked to speak.
It was hard to imagine that the withered old man on the bed was the same Netero who had played volleyball with them on the airship.
Only now did Gon realize Netero was already of advanced age.
"Law."
Gon looked up at Law and asked, "Can the Chairman recover?"
This was a question no one present could answer with certainty, but Law could.
"Of course."
Law's tone when answering was utterly resolute.
However, including Biscuit, most people in the corridor looked at Law, their silence tinged with some surprise, feeling this certainty seemed more like naive optimism.
It was like a chief surgeon, before a major operation, confidently stating the success rate was 100%.
Gon, however, harbored no doubts, revealing a relieved smile and replying, "That's good."
Law just reached out and patted Gon's head, still ignoring the others' gazes, quietly watching Netero on the bed.
'Old man, did you have your fill of fun?' Law silently asked in his heart.
Biscuit looked at Law's profile and slowly dismissed the slight doubt that had arisen in her heart.
Within the crowd, Pariston observed Law's back carefully and seriously, then looked at Netero on the bed.
From the moment Law answered Gon's question, Pariston no longer regarded 'Netero' as a 'Netero' who would be difficult to wake and recover.
In other words, Netero would absolutely recover.
Consequently, subsequent plans would need to be altered and adjusted.
Most importantly, Beyond's attitude.
Pariston didn't think Law's statement was mere bluster, so he needed to inform Beyond of this possibility.
If Netero could fully recover, it wouldn't be good news for the Kakin Empire, Beyond, or the team members.
There's a saying that might be harsh here, but it fits quite well.
That is: Netero's death would be something worth celebrating for them.
The visit concluded, and the Zodiac members left one after another.
Not long after, Knov and Morel also left with their disciples and Nique.
Eventually, only Law, Biscuit, and Gon remained in the corridor.
Pariston returned to his office, sat at his desk, and looked at the two desk phones.
A thoughtful gleam flashed in his eyes. He then took his phone from his pocket and dialed Beyond's number.
A moment later, the call connected.
"Any developments?"
Beyond's hearty voice came from the other end of the phone.
"Law said the Chairman can recover," Pariston said.
"Is that so? The old man's life force is quite tenacious," Beyond said nonchalantly.
From the casual tone, Pariston discerned Beyond's attitude and then asked, "Then should we continue waiting?"
"Of course. I won't lay a hand on him. Even if I have to wait for him to die of old age, it's fine," Beyond said seriously.
"You'll wait, but will the Kakin side?" Pariston said pensively.
"Whether Kakin wants to wait or not, what does it have to do with me?" Beyond retorted.
"I understand."
Pariston replied.
After that, the call ended.
Beyond, like Pariston, believed in Law's statement. He didn't even need Pariston to elaborate and chose to believe it.
This kind of utterly unreasonable trust was equivalent to trusting an enemy.
Through this call, Pariston understood Beyond's attitude.
Despite the condition that 'Without Netero's death, they couldn't go to the Dark Continent', Beyond, standing from the position of a son, would absolutely not use underhanded methods to hasten Netero's death.
But similarly, he wouldn't stop any external factors that might accelerate Netero's death either.
So, the meaning he conveyed to Pariston was simple.
He would patiently wait for the day Netero died. But if his partners couldn't wait and took action privately, he would also choose to stand by and do nothing.
One day later, Ging brought a friend named Shiro to the hospital.
As one of the founders of Greed Island, the [Angel's Breath] card was largely derived from Shiro's ability.