It was clear that Pariston and Netero were going head-to-head, pushing each other's limits, but everyone else subconsciously overlooked it. Netero himself, however, seemed to be enjoying the game.
When Mizaistom Nana shifted the topic, Pariston remained silent, his usual warm smile never fading.
"If you want to talk about rewards~" Saccho suddenly grinned, crossing his arms on the table. "Then those who played a crucial role in rescuing the Chairman and defeating Jed should be properly rewarded, right?"
"You mean Ronnel, that man~" Cheadle Yorkshire propped her chin up with one hand, speaking with interest. "It's quite admirable that he stepped up and took responsibility at such a dangerous moment."
As soon as Cheadle mentioned Ronnel's name, Gel, who was seated at the same table, involuntarily shuddered, a complicated expression flashing across her face. By now, she had developed a conditioned response—whenever she heard his name, memories of that day flooded her mind.
It was that potent toxin that left such a deep impression on her.
The detoxification process had come at a heavy cost, forcing her to make restrictions and vows before she could fully purge it from her system.
"Ronnel is indeed an exceptional person~" Saccho, who didn't seem to realize he was handing Ronnel a compliment, smiled. "Standing up in a crisis and doing everything possible to resolve it—that deserves recognition."
"Seconded~" Kanzai raised his hand. "He successfully stopped Jed's rampage, ensuring the trapped audience remained safe. He definitely deserves a commendation."
"I agree~" Pyon added in a monotone voice. "He upheld the title of Hunter, didn't waver when it mattered most, and fulfilled his responsibilities."
Botobai didn't say much, simply smiling softly before raising a hand to show support.
"That guy is definitely strong. No objections from me~"
Lowering the hand that had been covering his mouth, Ginta wore an eager expression.
"I really want to fight that guy! He went head-to-head with Jed! Tsk tsk! Jed was from the same era as the Chairman!"
"Seconded," Pyon muttered as she glanced at her phone before agreeing.
With more than half of the Zodiacs in favor, the next discussion point was the type of reward Ronnel should receive.
"I propose an exceptional star promotion," Cheadle said.
"As I understand it, Ronnel is currently a One-Star Ruins Hunter. His contributions could be rewarded with a star upgrade."
"But wouldn't it be a bit excessive to immediately grant him a Three-Star ranking?" Pariston countered with a smile. "After all, a Three-Star Hunter must achieve significant accomplishments across multiple fields and leave a lasting legacy in history. If we grant it so easily, wouldn't it seem unfair to other Three-Star Hunters?"
"You mean yourself, right?!" Kanzai snapped, unable to tolerate Pariston's tone any longer.
"That man saved countless lives, rescued the Chairman, upheld the Hunter Association's reputation, and prevented V5 from escalating the global crisis due to the Black Report! I'd say those feats more than qualify him for a Three-Star ranking!!"
"That's enough, Kanzai!" Pyon shot him a sharp look, her eyes widening.
"Hmph." Kanzai, realizing his misstep, clicked his tongue in frustration. Seeing Pariston's ever-present smirk only made him more irritated.
"Pariston is steering the discussion again~" Cheadle and Mizaistom sighed inwardly, shaking their heads.
From the start, Cheadle had only suggested a star upgrade, never specifying Three-Star. Pariston had deliberately framed it that way, provoking Kanzai into taking the bait.
"Although Ronnel has contributed greatly to the Hunter Association, his achievements are still field-specific. A Three-Star rank would indeed be too much. What I propose is upgrading him to a Two-Star Hunter."
"A One-Star Hunter who has mentored another and made outstanding achievements in at least two fields can be exceptionally promoted to Two-Star. I believe V5 wouldn't object to that."
Normally, Hunters applying for a star promotion followed standard procedures through the Hunter Association and reported their accomplishments to V5. However, an exceptional star upgrade required additional documentation and V5's approval.
After the Chimera Ant crisis, Morel was promoted from One-Star to Three-Star due to V5's need to compensate for the loss of Chairman Netero. They had been unusually lenient with the title.
Otherwise, even though the Chimera Ants were incredibly powerful, to V5, they were just another problem to be eliminated.
If one shot wasn't enough, they'd fire two.
Compared to the Chimera Ants, Jed's impact was far less significant. The Three-Star Hunter title, in that case, had simply been a political move to stabilize the Hunter Association.
After all, well-fed dogs stay loyal and keep hunting.
"If it's Two-Star, then there's no issue at all." Pariston smiled faintly, though a shadow passed over his eyes.
"But if it's just an honorary promotion, wouldn't that be too insignificant? What if Ronnel isn't satisfied with just this? Shouldn't we offer something more?"
"Ronnel isn't that kind of person!" Saccho's tone turned sharp. "And suggesting otherwise is disrespectful to him!"
"That's right!" Pyon said firmly. The colorful markings on her face, typically expressive, now appeared calm and resolute.
"A Hunter who stands up in a crisis isn't someone who chases after fame and fortune!"
"Yeah!" Ginta nodded enthusiastically. It was the only thing he could do since he wasn't quick enough to add, "Me too."
"I fell into the trap again…"
Cheadle's eyes twitched as she observed the conversation, feeling a sense of helplessness.
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Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (799 chapters in total)