The moment Netero finished speaking, every member of the Zodiacs except Pariston and Ging froze.
"Could the rumor be true? Is the Chairman really planning to remove one of the Zodiacs?"
A rumor they had all dismissed as absurd surfaced in their minds again.
No way, right?!
Time slowly passed, but Netero's expression did not change at all. Everyone realized that Netero was not joking. This time, he was serious.
For a moment, everyone straightened in their seats and began guessing who the Chairman was dissatisfied with, and who he wanted to kick out of the Zodiacs.
"Is it Pariston? Is the Chairman planning to use the fact that he also serves as Vice Chairman of the Association and has no time to handle Zodiac duties as a reason to take back his Rat title?"
Cheadle and Mizaistom glanced at Pariston, only to find that he had been smiling from the very beginning.
"His expression hasn't changed. Did he already know about this? Or does he simply not care, certain that the one being kicked out isn't him?"
Although Pariston was the target of many people's guesses, the overwhelming majority still looked toward Ging, who was eating potato chips together with Roy.
The Zodiacs' wandering troublemaker. Sloppy, unkempt, and always acting without rhyme or reason. Back then, none of them had understood why the Chairman had recruited this guy into the Zodiacs in the first place.
It was true that Ging was powerful. The Chairman had called him one of the five strongest Nen users in the world. His contributions were also undeniably great. Ging had restored and developed the Lurka Ruins, and his achievements were renowned worldwide, becoming a textbook example in the field.
However, Ging was no help at all when it came to the Association's management and operations! He simply was not someone suited to administration!
Not only had he failed to help, he had even caused quite a few messes, such as privately releasing death-row inmates and the like.
Although there was no clear evidence pointing directly to him, there were suspicious points. If this had been any ordinary Hunter, they would have been thrown into prison for trial long ago.
As for Ging, he paid no attention at all to the strange gazes coming at him from every direction. Instead, he grabbed another handful of potato chips and tossed them into his mouth.
For a moment, the scene fell silent again. Only the sound of potato chips being chewed was especially clear.
While everyone's eyes drifted toward Ging, they were also waiting for Chairman Netero's heavy judgment to come down.
"Then let's start by briefly evaluating everyone's work. Beans…"
"Yes, Chairman."
Beans very quickly pulled out a document and handed it to Netero.
"Kanzai."
"Yes, Chairman!"
"A while ago, did you get into a conflict with someone, beat him into the hospital, and knock down seven or eight houses in the process?"
"Uh, Chairman, you can't blame me for that. That guy was just way too irritating. He even mocked the Hunter Association and said that you, Chairman, were already one step from the grave!"
The more Kanzai spoke, the more worked up he became. His hands even moved along with his tone. If that irritating guy had appeared in front of him right now, he probably would have beaten him up again.
"It's one thing that you beat him up, but do you know who he is?"
"Uh… who?"
"The son of a deputy military commander from one of the V5 nations. On top of that, every house you knocked over belonged to someone wealthy or influential. They are now strongly questioning the Hunter Association's professionalism."
"At worst, I'll go a little easier next time and make less of a commotion…" Kanzai's voice lowered, but he only said he would go easier. He showed no intention of changing at all.
"And Pyon."
"Huh?" Pyon, who was looking at her phone, raised her head.
"Shouldn't you put your phone down a bit more often? Recently, it seems you've delayed quite a bit of work."
"Ah… have I? Even if I have, I need to receive information too. There's a lot of work I have to handle on my phone…"
Smack!
Kanzai, who was sitting beside her, snatched the phone straight out of her hand without another word and slapped it onto the table.
On the screen was row after row of chat logs about buying cosmetics.
"Beauty is also for the sake of working better."
Under everyone's strange gazes, Pyon muttered quietly as she took her phone back. She did not forget to turn around and glare at Kanzai.
"And Gel. Your poison reagents have exploded several times, haven't they?"
"Ginta. Your emotions are too abundant. Restrain yourself a little. They've already started affecting your work."
"Slurp… Okay, got it, Chairman."
Ginta looked at Ging and Roy, swallowed his drool, and replied, but his eyes remained fixed on the potato chips in Roy's hand.
"…Cluck. Your problem is the same as Kanzai's."
"Yeah, yeah. Got it."
Kanzai straightened his back. Pyon perked up her ears. Botobai, who had been sitting with his arms crossed and eyes closed, opened both eyes. Ginta withdrew his gaze. Cheadle pushed up her glasses. Only Pariston still maintained that warm smile of his.
"You have too many issues, and they're too serious, so I won't list them one by one! You need to restrain yourself as well. Don't let similar incidents happen again."
Netero withdrew his gaze.
Kanzai: "…"
Pyon: "…"
Ginta: "…"
Cluck: "…"
Too many issues, and too serious? So he would not list them one by one?
Chairman, is it really okay for you to be this blatantly biased and let her off this lightly?!
As if he had not noticed the resentful gazes from the others, Netero coughed twice, then said seriously, "Next, we will discuss the issue of the Zodiacs' membership."
As he spoke, Netero's gaze did not waver in the slightest.
"Based on the information I have obtained, some of you occupy a seat among the Zodiacs, but have done things that fundamentally go against the Zodiacs' principles. For example, killing Hunters within the Association."
As he said that, Netero looked directly at Saiyu.
There was no concealment. No buildup.
He was that direct.
Everyone was stunned by Netero's words. Then, almost subconsciously, they moved a little farther away from Saiyu.
"It's Saiyu?"
While distancing themselves from Saiyu, the others' eyes filled with shock and suspicion.
They truly had not expected that the person the Chairman wanted to kick out this time would be Saiyu!
And it was because Saiyu had killed Hunters within the Association.
(End of Chapter)
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